Day trip to Lake Como from Milan

Old Feb 21st, 2017, 09:16 AM
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Day trip to Lake Como from Milan

We are flying into Milan for 2 nights in Sept. before going to Levanto & the Cinque Terre region. I have a another post with our itinerary and train travel questions. Thanks to my fellow Fodorites for assistance in my planning. We have it all pretty much worked out to our liking. Back to Milan, depending on our arrival time, we hope to prebook tickets to see the Last Supper and tour the Duomo. With 2 days available we plan to take the train to Verona for the day and would like to go to Lake Como the other day. I would like some suggestions on how best to spend the day there. I have looked at the trains and there is a train that leaves Milan Centrale to Lake Como. I'm open to your suggestions!
Thank you!
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Old Feb 21st, 2017, 10:07 AM
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I have looked at the trains and there is a train that leaves Milan Centrale to Lake Como.

that is a mainline train to Como's mainline (Trenitalia) station but you are better off IME taking the Nord de Milan commuter train from central Milan to Como-Nord - terminus -right opposite the boat docks - get a boat day pass and head off for Bellagio and all around the lake. The mainline station is about a mile or so from Como-Nord and the boat docks. Probably cheaper too if a tad slower and unlike many mainline trains seat reservations are not obligatory before boarding - in fact on local trains like that there are no seat reservations even possible - more frequent service perhaps to boot.

I like Lake Maggiore just as much as perhaps Stresa, on a mainline from Milano Centrale to Switzerland, is easier to plan a day trip - again boats are the way to navigate the lake- and just off Stresa are the three famous Borromean Islands, each with a different delight on them:

https://www.google.com/search?q=borr...HYzOBD4QsAQIGQ

Como's Bellagio is famous but IME of being there even later in the fall it is one of the biggest tourist mob scenes in Italy, right up there with Portofino and Sirmione- boats ejaculate zillions of day trippers every time they dock - quite a scene but if expecting an old fishing village...well the angling now is mainly for tourists' euros - at least avoid weekends.
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Old Feb 21st, 2017, 11:17 AM
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Once again, PalenQ, you have given me good information! I will check out your recommendations. You have been helpful in my trip planning with your advice.
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Old Feb 21st, 2017, 04:21 PM
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Where you train to on the lake depends on what you want to see/do. My interests may not be your interests, so I suggest you read some guides (online, paper, whatever) and decide what and how much you want to do.

If you're a go-go, early-start sightseer, and what you want to concentrate your time on is in the middle of the lake (Cadenabbia, Tremezzo, Menaggio, Bellagio, Varenna), it might be a better plan to train from Milano Centrale to Varenna-Esino, use the mid-lake ferry to get around, and save the longer ferry ride to Como for the end of the day after shops and sights with entry hours have closed. Or just stay in the mid-lake area all day and train back to Milan from Varenna.

The ferry timetables for September aren't posted yet, but you can peruse the current schedules to see where the stops are and the travel time between stops. I find it easier to view the pdf files of the timetables rather than use the search function.

http://www.navigazionelaghi.it/eng/c_orari.asp

As for trains, the only direct, no-connection trains to the Como Nord Lago station near the ferry dock depart from the Milano Nord Cadorna station. If your hotel is closer to the Centrale station, you'd probably take the metro or a taxi to the Cadorna station. Most of the return trains from Como Nord Lago to Milan in the evening make a connection somewhere, although there are a couple direct, no-change trains.

Trains from the Milano Centrale station go to the Como S. Giovanni station which is a taxi ride from the ferry docks, or you can change trains and continue to the Como Nord Lago station. The trains from Milano Centrale to the Varenna-Esino station and the evening return trains to Milan are all direct, no-change.

You can search the train timetables. Use Italian spellings (Milano Centrale, Varenna-Esino, etc.).

http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en

Whichever way you decide to go, I suggest you buy round-trip train tickets at the start, but there is no need to pre-purchase ferry tickets.

If you decide to train back to Milan from Varenna, make sure you understand the time of the last ferry back to Varenna so that you don't miss the train.
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Old Feb 21st, 2017, 10:31 PM
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I agree with Jean that if you want to see the mid-lake region by boat, it would be better to take the Trenord train from Milano Centrale to Varenna-Esino. The train station in Varenna is a short walk from the ferry dock, and there are signs pointing the way. You can get a mid-lake day pass and visit all the towns, if you have time.
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Old Feb 22nd, 2017, 03:46 AM
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I thought Como itself was a pleasant vibrant city - markets, etc - maybe take train to Varenna-Esino and work way south by boat to Como Nord - bop around town- shop -whatever and return to Milan.
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Old Feb 22nd, 2017, 03:53 AM
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If I only had a day, the town of Como would not make my list unless the timings of ferry and train fit my needs. But that's me and my interests/priorities.
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Old Feb 22nd, 2017, 04:58 AM
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Como may be a lovely small city, but that's not what most people want to see on Lake Como. The boats between Como and the mid-lake area (towns of Varenna, Bellagio, Menaggio, Tremezzo) take about an hour, so a round trip would cost you two hours out of a day trip that would also involve several hours on the train.

The trains to Como Nord take longer than the trains to Varenna-Esino, so unless you especially want to visit Como town, you'd save a lot of time by going directly to Varenna.

On a day trip, you'd have time to visit maybe two of the towns, plus perhaps one villa.The towns are small, and there's not much to see, other than touristy shopping. Varenna has a few interesting old churches. Bellagio has a lakeside walk that is nice. There's a boat stop at Villa Carlotta, which makes that a convenient visit, if you want to see one of the villas. The big draw to Lake Como is the scenery, which is best seen from the boats. We didn't find any good restaurants, and I've read that cuisine is not the high point of the mid-lake towns; so, to save time, I would suggest a quick lunch at a bar and a nice dinner back in Milan.

I myself would prefer to spend an extra day in Milan.
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Old Feb 22nd, 2017, 09:55 AM
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I must admit that I have not done my research on Lake Como yet. Will need to do some on what it is we expect to see. I've read that Varenna and Bellagio are very pretty. I think our expectations are a nice boat ride around the lake stopping off along the way to get a quick glimpse of one or two of the lovely towns. Back to Milan for an anniversary dinner.
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Old Feb 22nd, 2017, 10:13 AM
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Some mid-lake sights:

http://www.visitfai.it/villadelbalbianello/?lang=eng

http://www.villacarlotta.it/home.php?lang_id=2

http://www.giardinidivillamelzi.it/G..._PAGE_ENG.html

http://www.villamonastero.eu/index.php/en/

http://www.castellodivezio.it/inglese/storia.php
[Also houses a falconry; birds are released nearly every day.]

http://www.varennaturismo.com/en/por...el-fiumelatte/
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Old Feb 22nd, 2017, 11:26 AM
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What Jean and bv said.

Varenna is a nice little town to start in and has good and convenient ferry connections.
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Old Feb 22nd, 2017, 02:02 PM
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Jean, thanks for the links. I am drooling over the beautiful pictures! I think I like the idea of starting in Varenna via train from Milan, taking a boat along the lake to Como, & then train back to Milan. Sounds like a lovely day trip!
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