mdk11

We're flying into Milan next month and have a car reserved to drive to Bellagio after 2 days in Milan. Planning on renting a car, driving from Milan to Bellagio where we will stay four nights, after which we will drive back to Milan Malpensa Airport to catch a flight to Amsterdam.

Just not sure if we need a car at all in Bellagio. Would we need a car for sightseeing the Lakes area? However, the thought of dragging our luggage on various transfers is a bit painful especially if there are some hilly walks to be considered.

If taking the train, how much time approximately would we need to make it to Malpensa Airport to catch our Amsterdam airport? Still haven't bought air tickets as not sure on the logistics.

Any suggestions for the most direct, fastest and convenient way of traveling from Milan City Centre to Bellagio and Bellagio to Malpensa Airport would be most appreciated.

Thanks!

sandralist

You will need to drag that luggage to the car rental office, and you are likely to need to drag it from wherever you park in Bellagio to your hotel -- which may be further than if you arrived by ferry and dragged your luggage from there.

Bellagio is a particularly problematic place to have a car because, given where it is located on the lake, you need to drive back and forth off the narrow point to get to roads that go elsewhere around the lake. It's just easier to take the passesnger ferry to go sightseeing or to hiking areas.

If dragging luggage is the issue, take the money you were going to spend on daily car rental charges and parking charges and instead get a taxi to take you from your Milan hotel to the Milan train station, take the train to Varenna and either arrange for a taxi to take you the dock or walk -- the entire walk is downhill. In Bellagio, have your hotel send a taxi to pick you up at the dock if it is not located a short walk away.

Leaving your Bellagio hotel, have a taxi take you to the airport. Costly -- until you realize you would have paid the same money to rent a car and still have been dragging your luggage around.

vincenzo32951

I generally agree with sandra. Unless you have a specific plan that requires a car for sightseeing, I don't see the point in driving to Bellagio and keeping a car there. You can readily explore the Lakes area by ferry, etc.

One note: The walk from the Varenna train station to the dock is indeed downhill and not difficult for the average traveler, but if you have a lot of luggage or mobility problems, you will want to arrange assistance via taxi.

dorkforcemom

We spent 5 nights in Bellagio last April. We took the train from Milan to Varenna, walked downhill to the boat dock (a short pleasant walk), and took the boat to Bellagio. Once we docked at Bellagio, it was a flat, easy walk to our hotel (Hotel Florence). We didn't have any need for a car while there as the boats took us everywhere. What hotel are you staying in once you're in Bellagio? You'll love being on Lake Como!

mdk11

Thanks for all your suggestions. Seems like the train/ ferry route is the fastest and economical way to travel from Milan to Bellagio and back.

Are the trains and ferries schedule reliable? Do we buy train and ferry tickets on the same day we travel? What are the options should there be a strike?

We'll be staying at Belvedere Bellagio hotel.

Jean

It's hard to know how much of an issue the luggage is for you and whether you're spending time in Milan or starting from Malpensa, but here's another idea for getting to Bellagio from central Milan.

Taxi to the Milano Nord Cadorna station (instead of Milano Centrale) and train to the Como Nord Lago station (about an hour). Walk or taxi 450 meters to the ferry dock and ride the ferry to Bellagio (about 2 hours). Taxi to your hotel. The views from the ferry are lovely. If you took the 9:00a train and the 10:30a ferry, you'd be in Bellagio by lunch time. (The 10:30a ferry has a restaurant and bar.)

If you decide instead to take the train from Milano Centrale to Varenna, be aware that the train only stops at Varenna for about 3 minutes so you need to be ready to get off.

I agree with the suggestion to take a taxi to Malpensa. If you're starting from Malpensa and not central Milan at the beginning, I'd suggest taking a taxi in both directions. You could save a little money by having the taxi take you from Malpensa to the Como ferry dock rather than all the way to your Bellagio hotel.

If you want to search train and ferry timetables:

http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en
[Use Italian spellings: Malpensa Aeroporto, Milano Centrale, Varenna-Esino, Milano Nord Cadorna, Como Nord Lago.]

http://www.navigazionelaghi.it/eng/c_orari.asp
[I prefer to view the pdf file version of the timetable rather than use the search boxes.]

Jean

Just re-read your original post again and see that you're starting from central Milan...

Dukey1

Normally i would say take the train but a lo depends on which hotel you are using in Bellagio. If it is the Belvedere then i would definitely use the car. it will be faster than taking the train to Varenna and then the ferry across.

What is more, having a car to use to go DIRECTLY to Malpensa is even better.

Now, there is an alternative: take the train to Varenna and the ferry across to Bellagio; you really don't absolutely NEED a car for the lake.

When you are ready to lave get a CAR SERVICE to take you from your hotel to the aiport.

neckervd

Bellagio - Malpensa by public transport:

Bus or hydrofoil Bellagio - Como Lago
train Como Lago - Saronno
train Saronno - Malpensa airport Terminal 1
(esyjet flights leave from Terminal 2)
http://www.trenord.it/it/orari/scari...rroviario.aspx
http://www.asfautolinee.it/Lineeeora...language/en-US
http://www.navlaghi.it/eng/c_orari.asp

buzzcolin

We did this in October last year. We arrived in Milan and took the shuttle bus to Milan Central. Then caught the train to Como. The train station (San Giovanni) is next to the bus station so had a cup of coffee and waited for our bus. It is a stunning journey all along the lake. We got off at Argegno but you could go all the way to Menaggio and then take the ferry over the lake to Belaggio. WE found it quite easy and I am 69 and my husband is 80. Enjoy!

buzzcolin

Have a look at a taxi from Milan Airport to Como Ferry port. It may work out not too expensive and then you could take a ferry all the way to Bellagio. An internet search of 'transport from Milan to Como' should provide the taxi companies. You can book on line.

RonZ

From MXP you could head directly to Como Nord Lago [1:18], stay in Milan Last.

sandralist

I see no reason to give up spending 2 days in Milan at the start of your trip. Milan has a lot to offer. It's not difficult to get to Bellagio from the city of Milan, whichever route you take. After you've enjoyed the lake, you can just go directly to the airport.

basingstoke2

We had a car in Bellagio having driven from Switzerland. We kept the car parked at our hotel "l'Ulivo" which is an apartment hotel on the grounds of the 5* Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni and staying at l'Ulivo gives you full run of the main hotel. Parking was free at the hotel and the apartment was lovely and very reasonable in price.

There is no need for a car in Bellagio as others have said and we kept it parked during our stay. There is a car ferry that visits all off the central lake islands and 2 years ago it was 15euro/person. It can be used as a hop on hop off or for a nice sightseeing trip around the central part of the lake. It takes a little more than 2 hours for the circuit and is a great way to get around.

If you like I can post photos

mdk11

All fantastic and concise travel instructions! Thanks!

Very much leaning now on either taking the train/ferry from our hotel (Milan city center) to Bellagio and taking a taxi from Bellagio to Malpensa. However, Dukey1's comment caught my attention.

Dukey 1, any particular reason why its best to have a car if our hotel is Belvedere?

bvlenci

I don't believe there's any train that goes to Bellagio, although there is a bus. The train goes to Varenna, and then you have to take a boat to Bellagio. This is what we did last June, when we stopped in Bellagio for a few days en route to Switzerland.

vincenzo32951

bv: I think she said "train/ferry" to Bellagio.

eastenderusvi

mdk11: We are also staying at Hotel Belvedere so I'm piling on for this thread ;-)

Are there no day trips away from the lake that one might want to do by car from Bellagio? Is the car ferry difficult to negotiate?

basingstoke2

The car ferry is simple to use and convenient. In Bellagio is near the hotels on the main drag along the lake.

Jean

There are day trips, but there is a lot to see in towns right on the shoreline that you can reach by ferry. For a first-timer with only a few days, I would use the ferries and not rent a car. You can even go to Lugano and Bellinzona by public trans from Menaggio.

We've taken drives up into the mountains east and north of the lake, into the area immediately south of Bellagio, to Bellinzona, and all around the lake over separate outings. But we've been to the lake several times.

The car ferry isn't difficult. We haven't visited in high season summer, and I'm guessing there could be lines at that time. I suppose it's possible you might not make it on the first ferry with a car, whereas passengers on foot would just walk on. I think the bigger problem, depending on where you'd be going, is finding parking, esp. in high season summer, and perhaps traffic in some towns.