When the seasonal summer direct bus from Malpensa to Lago Maggiore is not running, the next-best way to reach Stresa is by train. There have been a couple of different ways to achieve this, and now, with the inauguration of the new Freccia Rosa direct service from Malpensa Airport to Milano there is one more.

To recap train service as it has been: To reach Malpensa by train from Stresa one can go through Milano or switch in Busto Arsizio. The only way to reach Malpensa from Milano was from Stazione Cadorna, and vice versa, from Malpensa trains only stopped in Cadorna. Passengers who wanted to talk another train from Stazione Centrale needed to take a bus from Cadorna to reach Centrale. And passengers traveling from Milano Centrale could not reach Malpensa directly by train.

But now that has finally changed. The new Freccia Rosa high-speed line connects Malpensa with Centrale. At present only two trains a day are running this route: 12:21 and at 19:21, and the trip takes 40 minutes.

Now, what does this mean in terms of your options for getting to or from Stresa from Malpensa by train? Directly from Malpensa to Stresa your best train option is still to take the train toward Milano Cadorna but disembark in Busto Arsizio and change for a train going to Stresa from Milano.


If you are going to Milano first, before heading to Stresa you now have your choice of the above-described lines to either Cadorna or Centrale. And you can reach Stresa with trains at many different times from either of those stations.

Use the Trenitalia English website to plan your train travel.