How to get there

The region encompassing the Varese and Mendrisio districts is situated between Milan (at the South) and Lugano (at the North). Considering the transport network, it is a highly accessible area, thanks to the presence of intercontinental Malpensa Airport, of two international airports nearby, Milan-Linate and Lugano and of the Sempione (at West) and Gottardo (at East) highways.

AEROPLANE
YYou can fly to Lugano Airport via Swiss Airlines; Lugano airports is 25km from Mendrisio and Chiasso. Malpensa Airport is situated in the Province of Varese and is about 30 km from Varese city center, to which is connected via the A8 highway.

TRAIN
You can reach the Mendrisio area (from Milan and Zurich) by train along the Swiss Regional railway network: there are 6 stations between Chiasso and Melide.
You can also explore the cog railway from Capolago to Monte Generoso and the tourist railway from Mendrisio to Valmoreo and Cantello (in Italy).
You can reach the Province of Varese both with the Italian National Railways (from Milan to Varese or to Gallarate and Domodossola) and with Ferrovie Nord (from Milan to Saronno-Varese and Laveno on Lake Maggiore).

CAR
The Mendrisio region is crossed by the A2 highway which connects Northern Europe to the Mediterranean Sea.
You can reach the Province of Varese from:
Genova, via the A26 highway
Milan, via the A8 highway
Como and Switzerland, via the A9 highway
Switzerland and Italy are connected by border crossings at Zenna, Indemini, Fornasette, Cremenaga, Ponte Tresa, Porto Ceresio, Clivio, Gaggiolo

BOAT
You can reach the Province of Varese also from the Lake Maggiore, departing from Piedmont and Switzerland via a ferry boat service managed by Navigazione Laghi.
Capolago (CH) is the main port of the Lake Lugano Boat Co.

USEFUL LINKS

Lugano Airport: http://www.lugano-airport.ch/
Malpensa Airport:  http://www.sea-aeroportimilano.it/it/malpensa/index.phtml
Milan Linate Airport:  http://www.sea-aeroportimilano.it/it/linate/index.phtml
Malpensa Shuttle:  www.malpensashuttle.it
Swiss National Railways:  www.ffs.ch
Italian National Railways:  www.trenitalia.it
Ferrovie Nord Milano:  www.ferrovienord.it
Navigazione Laghi:  www.navigazionelaghi.it
For any further information about transport in Lombardy: www.infopoint.it