Okay, so I decided to pop over to Monza from Milan the other day. Just wanted to share how I actually did it, step-by-step.
Getting Started in Milan
First thing, I woke up and figured, yeah, let’s do Monza. I was staying not too far from Milano Centrale, the main train station. Seemed like the obvious starting point. I just walked over there, took maybe 15 minutes. The station is huge, honestly, lots going on.
Finding the Right Train and Ticket
Inside Centrale, you gotta find the right trains. Monza isn’t far, so you’re looking for the regional trains, usually run by Trenord. Don’t get distracted by the big fancy Frecciarossa signs for the fast trains going miles away.
Needed a ticket, right? I went over to one of the self-service machines. They have language options, so I switched it to English. Found the ‘buy ticket’ option, typed in ‘Monza’ as the destination. It showed me the next few trains. Picked one that worked for me.
Important bit: Paying was easy, used my card. But then you get this little paper ticket. You must validate it before you get on the train. Look for the small machines, usually green or yellow, on the platform or near the entrance to the platforms. Stick your ticket in, it makes a stamping noise. Heard stories about folks getting fined for not doing this, so I made sure to punch mine.
The Platform and the Ride
Okay, ticket validated. Now, find the platform. Looked up at the big departure boards, found my train number listed next to ‘Monza’, saw the platform number, ‘binario’ they call it. Headed that way.
- Waited on the platform.
- Train pulled in, pretty much on time.
- Hopped aboard.
The train itself was decent. Not brand new, not falling apart. Found a seat easily enough, it wasn’t rush hour or anything. The ride is super short, felt like maybe 10, 15 minutes tops. You just kinda trundle through the outskirts of Milan and boom, you’re basically there.
Arriving in Monza
Listened for the announcement, “Prossima fermata: Monza”. That means ‘Next stop: Monza’. Gathered my bits and pieces. Train stopped, doors opened, stepped off onto the platform at Monza station.
And that was pretty much it. Stood there at Monza station, ready to explore. Overall, a really straightforward trip. Getting the ticket and remembering to validate it were the main things to keep in mind. Easy peasy.