Koshka

DH and I would like to squeeze in a day trip from Milano to Lake Como. We'll be there in late February '06.

I know, I know, that won't do it justice but a day is all we have to spare.

How would you suggest we plan the trip? Train from Milano Centrale to??? Como? Varenna?

I've read the threads and we'd love to see the Bellagio, etc. but is it welcoming to daytrippers? A hydrofoil sounds fun.

We just realized this was a possibility, so I haven't done a lot of research yet. Any help/suggestions appreciated.

PalQ

Is Bellagio welcoming to day trippers? In season thousands of people day trip to Bellagio - one of Europe's great mob scenes almost of Portofinoesque proportions. So yes, it thrives on them. That said in February there will be few folks here - weather probably rainy and lousy - boats may have limited schedules so check that out. I'm not saying not to go for it - Como is an interesting town itself and yes try to get to Bellagio by boat (if boats aren't running buses go from each Como train station to Bellagio - cheaper and quicker and probably running dependably all year. Best to take train from Milano Cordona if doing the boat as that line will take you to a train station right by the boat dock. The mainline station from Milano Centrale to Como S Giovanni is over a mile from the boat dock. Buses to Bellagio serve both.

BTilke

I don't quite agree with Bellagio as being a mob scene. I was there for a three-day holiday week-end in May last year and it was crowded only one day, and even then it was manageable, there were plenty of people about but it didn't feel oppressively crowded. The day I arrived it was fairly relaxed. I have seen places like Brugge much, much, much more crowded. We will be there again in early October of this year and I don't expect hordes.
But yes, it's welcoming to day trippers. Varenna is closer to Bellagio and would entail a shorter ferry ride (assuming the ferries are running on your dates).
The fast ferry from Como is fun but a) it will be a COLD ride, bundle up if you want to be outside...I was chilly even in May and b) it will be dark fairly early, which may actually make it a more interesting ride on the way back to Como around dusk...seeing all the lights come on in the various little towns (aside from all closed down holiday homes and businesses).

PalQ

In season (July-Aug) and some weekends the mob scene at Bellagio is incredible. I was there on a September weekend and the crowds being ejaculated off each boat that docked were huge - kind of like the VW ad - how many folks can keep coming out. The tourist part of town around the boat dock was elbow to elbow - i just sat there and watched and i love these type places. But May and October are fine times to go as this is not nearly peak season. February there will be no one there on weekdays.

Koshka

Well, color me stupid (or at least ill-informed). I thought Bellagio was a hotel ala Vegas.

Big "doh!" for me! Thanks for kindly informing me otherwise.

Doble_Vergasser

Try a train to Varenna. Then a boat (probably a car ferry) to Bellagio. If the weather is not horrible then you could take an extended boat ride to Como (Or Lecco. But boats to Lecco are less frequent). If the weather is not so good, then stay in the Varenna Bellagio area. Return by train from either Como or Varenna.

The boat schedules are definitely different in Winter.

I don't call Bellagio a "Mob Scene". Yes there are tourists. There is one part of the main lakefront drive that is very narrow, so with cars and lots of tourists that one small area can be quite 'tight'. But it is by no means any reason to not go to Bellagio.

For Italy, Lake Como can get quite coldin winter. We have ben told that evening lows in winter can get down to 40 f (4 c).

Koshka

We're going to brave the Torino Olympics as well, so I don't think cold will be unexpected or unprepared for. But thanks for the warning.

Jean

Bellagio won't be a mob scene in February. It will be a ghost town. Very few shops and restaurants will be open. Not much to see and do that time of year. I'd leave it for another trip during a May to early October timeframe.

Koshka

Just to clarify, does the hydrofoil (if its running) go from Como to Bellagio or from Varenna to Bellagio.

And Jean, I'd love to go in May-October, but neither the winter Olympics or Carnevale are happening then. And low season is much more within our budget. We aren't intimidated by cold, fortunately.

Doble_Vergasser

Koshka,

I hope that this answer is not too long.

To understand the Hydrfoil you need to have a map of Lake Como in front of you.
Look at the middle of the lake. Bellagio, Menaggio and Varenna are in a tight triangle at mid lake (BMV Traingle). Any boat ride from one of these three to next is ten to fifteen minutes.

Now look on your map for Como, Lecco, and Colico. The extreme ends of each arm of the lake.

There are at least four types of boat service on Lake Como:

There are car ferries that run the BMV Triangle.

There is also a non car ferry service that runs the BMV triangle (also adds a stop at Bellano).

There is boat service that plies there Como to Colico and back corridor and stops along the way at a lot smaller towns on the lake.

There is 'fast service' in the Como to Colico and back corridor. The fast service stops at fewer towns. The hydrofoils are part of the fast service (but not all of the fast service boats are hydrofoils).

There also is one boat that although relatively new is styled like a 60 or 70 year old boat. It is Lake Como's Bar Boat.

Ask questions and have a nice trip.

Doble_Vergasser

I am thinking about February and what might be open. You will be able to walk through Bellagio but I expect the majority of places will be closed. Menaggio has the commercial traffic headed to Lugano (in Switzerland) and so likely to be more open than Bellagio. Varenna without tourist has about 600 residents so the pharmacy, the small grocery and one or two hotels will probably be the only things open in Varenna.

Holly_uncasdewar

On the other hand, there is the town of Como itself. A lovely little year-round town where people actually live and work. It doesn't get much mention on this board as it is usually overlooked by those not willing to get off the well-beaten typical tourist trail. There are some things to see in the town, as well as great shopping, views, and the funicular for even better views.

Doble_Vergasser

They might also look at Lecco. One of my best photos from our trip is from Lecco. And the trains stop in Lecco although I don't know where (relative to the lakefront).

But for Lake Como, you need a boat trip, even a short one or you might not 'get it'.

Doble_Vergasser

Koshka,

Should you have an interest, here is the website for the all the scheduled boats on Lake Como.
http://www.navigazionelaghi.it/itali...indicecomo.htm

I am having trouble finding the schedules for late February. but It looks like the time from Como to Bellagio is 2 hours with about 18 depratures between 7:30AM and 6:00PM.

I am having trouble understanding their website but it looks like service into out of Lecco might be seasonal (ouch).

Koshka

Doble, what a wonderful site! thanks so much for posting it.

Having studied 4 years of Italian now, I will be able to figure things out.

Funny how they just ignore the winter months on the schedules. We'll hope schedules will be updated as the season approaches.

Jean

They "ignore" (and seriously limit) the winter months' schedule because there are so few people there to use the ferries. I realize how much you want to go, so I guess I can't convince you how dead Bellagio and Varenna will be in February and how little there will be to see and do there.

If you decide to round-trip train Milan-Varenna-Milan, be sure to buy a round-trip ticket in Milan because you'll have trouble buying the return ticket in Varenna.

If you start mid-lake and decide to ferry down to Como on your return to Milan, don't start out too late in the afternoon. It will dark by 5 p.m. (or perhaps earlier), and you'll want to be able to enjoy the scenery.

If you want a nice lunch or dinner, it will probably have to be in Menaggio or Como.

Good luck.

MomKJC

Daughter just took day trip form Milan to Lake Como using a new tour company called Zani Viaggi
Web page is www.zaniviaggi.it
She is a seasoned traveller and doesn't usually gush about trips

She had great accomendations at Tulip Inn in Milan(18.39.02.66.98.12.21)

Koshka

I'm convinced it will be dead, but we do still want to go. Would Como be more lively?

Koshka

MomKJC, Thanks for the recommendation of the tour group! But hubby and I have done a few daytrips in busses and we're both too tall to be sardined into one of those busses they use over there.

Koshka

Let's try another phrasing of the question then.

We ARE going to see Lake Como on a daytrip in February. I know little or nothing about the area.

If you were planning a daytrip by train departing and returning to Milan, but with all other options open, how would YOU plan it to give maximum "look and feel" of the Lake/Lakes?Good restaurants would be a plus, but if a good view was to be had in a dead and closed area, we'd pick the view.

We don't mind cold overly, and DH loves the rain and mist.