Originally Posted by
tom tulpe
Take the train - leave Cologne HBF station at 7:55 am, change in Mannheim and Basel, arrive Milano Centrale 16:40 (aka 4:40 pm). Mannheim is an easy cross-platform transfer, and you have about 30 mins to change in Basel).
Or directly to Malpensa airport, arrive 17:41 (via Basel and Lugano).
Thanks but not sure a 8-10 hour train ride is wise given all the complaints I read about how German trains are always late, etc.
Appreciate the input though.