Hi, I'm planning to travel from Milan Centrale to Lugano Paradiso Then, going back from Lugano Paradiso to MXP terminal 1. Both routes are in the same day. Questions: 1. How do I book multi-trip tickets? The website only allows me to book round trip between Milan Centrale to Lugano Paradiso, which the screen shows as " Arcobaleno Transfrontaliera Day Pass " [upl-image-preview uuid=b0892785-15d5-4b87-aa9e-462cef620f70 url=https://static.community.sbb.ch/2025-05-14/1747198276-251970-image.png alt={TEXT?}] 2. If I buy " Arcobaleno Transfrontaliera Day Pass ". Can I use the pass to travel like this: a. Milan Centrale - Lugano Paradiso [upl-image-preview uuid=d36e8f0b-df3c-4fc4-b870-09618d9430db url=https://static.community.sbb.ch/2025-05-14/1747198612-530072-image.png alt={TEXT?}] b. Lugano Paradiso - MXP terminal 1 [upl-image-preview uuid=3defd7a9-218a-40fc-9625-344bd0335d16 url=https://static.community.sbb.ch/2025-05-14/1747198580-892885-image.png alt={TEXT?}] 3. Can I use Arcobaleno Transfrontaliera Day Pass for Funicolare Monte San Salvatore (round trip)? 4. Can I use Arcobaleno Transfrontaliera Day Pass for bus in Lugano Paradiso to Lugano? 5. How do I validate Arcobaleno Transfrontaliera Day Pass? Do I need to validate in Milan Centrale Station? Are there any validation machies? 6. Can I reserve seats for these trips? 7. What are the differences between 1st and 2nd class? Is it worth it to buy 1st class for additional ~20-30 euro? 8. Is there any toilet in these trains? Thank you!

thank you so much! I have follow up questions: 1. Would you recommend me buying the ticket online or in person at Milan Centrale Station? RE80 (Milan to Paradiso) 2. Is there any ticket machine at Lugano Paradiso Station? this for booking lugano paradiso to mxp terminal 1. S50 3. For 2nd class, are there always 4 by 4 layout? What's the best seat?

Question Regarding Multi-city trips - "Arcobaleno Transfrontaliera Day Pass

blueturtle191

Hi,
I’m planning to travel from Milan Centrale to Lugano Paradiso
Then, going back from Lugano Paradiso to MXP terminal 1.
Both routes are in the same day.
Questions:

How do I book multi-trip tickets? The website only allows me to book round trip between Milan Centrale to Lugano Paradiso, which the screen shows as “ Arcobaleno Transfrontaliera Day Pass ”
If I buy “ Arcobaleno Transfrontaliera Day Pass ”. Can I use the pass to travel like this:
a. Milan Centrale - Lugano Paradiso

b. Lugano Paradiso - MXP terminal 1

Can I use Arcobaleno Transfrontaliera Day Pass for Funicolare Monte San Salvatore (round trip)?
Can I use Arcobaleno Transfrontaliera Day Pass for bus in Lugano Paradiso to Lugano?
How do I validate Arcobaleno Transfrontaliera Day Pass? Do I need to validate in Milan Centrale Station? Are there any validation machies?
Can I reserve seats for these trips?
What are the differences between 1st and 2nd class? Is it worth it to buy 1st class for additional ₂₀-30 euro?
Is there any toilet in these trains?

Thank you!

Danhiel

Hello blueturtle191

1/ and 2/ You can buy day passes only if for a return trip (for example Milano - Lugano - Milano). If you go to the airport, you need two one way tickets (Milano - Lugano and Lugano - MXP).

3/ No, such tickets are not valid in the funicular.

4/ Tickets are also valid in the buses in Lugano, but only during the period of validity (4 hours).

5/ Such tickets must not be validated. Show them to the staff in Milano Centrale.

6/ You can reserve seats in the Eurocity trains, but note that Arcobaleno tickets are valid only in the regional trains in Italy. No seat reservations are available in regional trains.

7/ The seats are almost the same in 1st class.

8/ Toilets are available, but sometimes out of order…

Pleas note that not all cars of the trains continue to MPX, observe the indications to board the right ones.

Kind regards
Danhiel

Danhiel

blueturtle191

A correction:

5/ Such tickets must not be validated, if you buy them on sbb.ch or in the SBB Mobile app. Other rules may apply if you buy them on vending machines in Milano or in Trenitalia app.

Danhiel

blueturtle191

7/ Watch this video to see the difference between 1st class (red) and 2nd class (blue):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_AQzcAczXI

blueturtle191

thank you so much!

I have follow up questions:

Would you recommend me buying the ticket online or in person at Milan Centrale Station? RE80 (Milan to Paradiso)
Is there any ticket machine at Lugano Paradiso Station? this for booking lugano paradiso to mxp terminal 1. S50
For 2nd class, are there always 4 by 4 layout? What’s the best seat?

Danhiel

blueturtle191

1/ You could visit the ticket office of Trenord, but I guess that only ticket vending machines are available:

I have no experience with the vending machines in Italy, I don’t know if it is easy or not to buy tickets. If you have time, you could try on another day without paying. You can also try in the SBB Mobile app.

2/ Yes, a ticket vending machine is available at this station. Vending machines could also be available at the bus stations or in the buses if you take a bus to Paradiso.

3/ In Switzerland you have usually only 4 by 4 layouts. To see the Lake Lugano it is better to seat on the left side in direction of travel. After Melide on the right side, because the train crosses the lake on a dam.

blueturtle191

Danhiel
Re:
a. How do I know if the train is fully booked or not? I’m traveling on Saturday May 24 around late morning to noon.
b.Should I book the ticket now?
c.Can it be refunded in case something happens?
d. I heard some bad stories and reviews regarding the SBB Mobile App. Would it be wise to book via 3rd party like Trainline or in the website? Is RE80 and S50 same company?
e. and I need to buy the full fare instead of the half fare right? The website defaults to half-fare for some reason and I don’t have half-fare membership.

f. Also, what do you mean by “If you have time, you could try on another day without paying.”

5/ Such tickets must not be validated, if you buy them on sbb.ch or in the SBB Mobile app. Other rules may apply if you buy them on vending machines in Milano or in Trenitalia app.

g. Re: So, there won’t be a person to check a ticket?

Danhiel

blueturtle191

a. How do I know if the train is fully booked or not? I’m traveling on Saturday May 24 around late morning to noon.

It is impossible to know in advance how many people will travel in this train, but it is not a peak time. In Switzerland a low occupancy is expected.

b.Should I book the ticket now?

It is not necessary and a ticket gives no guarantee to have a seat in this train. The price is always the same.

 c.Can it be refunded in case something happens?

If you buy a ticket in the SBB Mobile app with an account you can obtain an online refund before the start of validity.

 d. I heard some bad stories and reviews regarding the SBB Mobile App. Would it be wise to book via 3rd party like Trainline or in the website? Is RE80 and S50 same company?

Im this case, I don’t recommend to buy tickets via 3rd party vendors, sometimes you have to pay a booking fee. These trains are operated jointly by Trenord (in Italy) and SBB (in Switzerland) under the brand “Tilo”.

 e. and I need to buy the full fare instead of the half fare right? The website defaults to half-fare for some reason and I don’t have half-fare membership.

You must buy the full fare. Half fare prices are usually displayed first because most travelers have a Half Fare Travelcard.

f. Also, what do you mean by “If you have time, you could try on another day without paying.”

If you want to understand how an app or a vending machine works, you can make tests but not buy tickets.

g. Re: So, there won’t be a person to check a ticket?

In Milan you have gates to access the platforms and some gates are staffed if it is not possible to scan the tickets. In Switzerland tickets are checked in the trains, you need also a physical passport for electronic tickets.