Getting from Geneva, Switzerland to Bellano (Lake Como) Italy
Feb 8th, 2006, 10:58 PM
#3
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 7,689
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Fastest way is train. There is a train station right in Geneva airport, you can buy tickets in the aiport train station as well. Go to rail.ch for schedules.
The train will take you to Varenna. This is a long trip because you are coming from far to the west in Switzerland. It will be 6 hours and one change on the fastest train, other trains will take you 8 hours and require more changes. From there you will have to take a ferry, bus or taxi, not sure how long it will take, I don't think more than 30 minutes tops. I don't think there is any train station that is closer to Bellano on that side of the lake, perhaps others have better knowelege. Your best source for precise information is of course your hotel.
Another option would be to take a train to the town of Como and then a ferry up the lake to Bellano, a good way to see the gorgeous lake if you time it during the day. Train time to Como is 5.5 to 7 hours, then the ferry is about an hour I think.
If you can fly into Zurich, it would only be 4 hours by train to the town of Como and 5.5 to 7 hours to Varenna, so this would be a better option. If you can fly into Milan it would only be an hour to both Como and Varenna by train, but you need about an hour to get to the train station in Milan as Milan airport does not have a train station. Still, it would save you a significant amount of time.
If you drove from Geneva arport, AND if you knew exactly how to get there, AND if you had no traffic at all, you could probably do this drive in 5-6 hours. However, you have to add in the time to rent the car, figure out how to get to the highway, stopping to eat, of course there will be traffic (potentially legions at borders in August), and of course you will get lost. On top of this gas is almost US$7 a gallon, car rental is expensive, and if you arne't going back to Switzerland the drop off charges are high. Finally, you don't need a car in this area, ferries are faster, give better viewing advantages, and parking is hard to find and expensive All in all the train, long as it is, may actually be faster.
The train will take you to Varenna. This is a long trip because you are coming from far to the west in Switzerland. It will be 6 hours and one change on the fastest train, other trains will take you 8 hours and require more changes. From there you will have to take a ferry, bus or taxi, not sure how long it will take, I don't think more than 30 minutes tops. I don't think there is any train station that is closer to Bellano on that side of the lake, perhaps others have better knowelege. Your best source for precise information is of course your hotel.
Another option would be to take a train to the town of Como and then a ferry up the lake to Bellano, a good way to see the gorgeous lake if you time it during the day. Train time to Como is 5.5 to 7 hours, then the ferry is about an hour I think.
If you can fly into Zurich, it would only be 4 hours by train to the town of Como and 5.5 to 7 hours to Varenna, so this would be a better option. If you can fly into Milan it would only be an hour to both Como and Varenna by train, but you need about an hour to get to the train station in Milan as Milan airport does not have a train station. Still, it would save you a significant amount of time.
If you drove from Geneva arport, AND if you knew exactly how to get there, AND if you had no traffic at all, you could probably do this drive in 5-6 hours. However, you have to add in the time to rent the car, figure out how to get to the highway, stopping to eat, of course there will be traffic (potentially legions at borders in August), and of course you will get lost. On top of this gas is almost US$7 a gallon, car rental is expensive, and if you arne't going back to Switzerland the drop off charges are high. Finally, you don't need a car in this area, ferries are faster, give better viewing advantages, and parking is hard to find and expensive All in all the train, long as it is, may actually be faster.
Feb 9th, 2006, 12:24 AM
#4
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,260
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We are assuming you are speaking of Bellagio.
As Cicerone has pointed out, the cisalpino services from Geneva (www.cisalpino.com) are the fastest but these do NOT start out at the Geneva airport but at the main Geneva station (so you'd have to change).
The trip from Milan to Varenna takes 1 hr and about 20 minutes.
The ferry dock is about a ten minute walk all downhill from the RR station and the fery over to Bellagio takes about 10-15 minutes (some of them stop at Menaggio first)
As Cicerone has pointed out, the cisalpino services from Geneva (www.cisalpino.com) are the fastest but these do NOT start out at the Geneva airport but at the main Geneva station (so you'd have to change).
The trip from Milan to Varenna takes 1 hr and about 20 minutes.
The ferry dock is about a ten minute walk all downhill from the RR station and the fery over to Bellagio takes about 10-15 minutes (some of them stop at Menaggio first)
Feb 9th, 2006, 01:08 AM
#5
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 7,689
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Intrepid, I wouldn't assume. There is also a little town on the east bank of Lake Como called Bellano, just north of Varenna. You may not have heard of it, but it is quite charming. I believe that is what ptd is referring to.
Feb 9th, 2006, 01:19 AM
#6
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 7,689
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I also feel compelled to point out that the fastest train is the EC Cisalpino which does NOT require a change at Geneva main station when boarding at Geneva airport. The only change required is a Milan. The total time is 6 horus and 18 minutes. It only runs once a day, at 11:01 am.
The next fastest train takes 6 hours and 21 minutes and that also does NOT require a change at Geneva main station. It only runs once a day at departs at 3:01 pm.
In fact none of the Cisaplpino trains from Geneva airport to Varenna require a change in Geneva, some require a change in Lausanne or Brig, but none in Geneva main station. Don't confuse the poor guy.
ptd, just go to rail.ch and use Geneva airport as your start point and varenna as your end point.
The next fastest train takes 6 hours and 21 minutes and that also does NOT require a change at Geneva main station. It only runs once a day at departs at 3:01 pm.
In fact none of the Cisaplpino trains from Geneva airport to Varenna require a change in Geneva, some require a change in Lausanne or Brig, but none in Geneva main station. Don't confuse the poor guy.
ptd, just go to rail.ch and use Geneva airport as your start point and varenna as your end point.
Feb 9th, 2006, 01:23 AM
#7
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,260
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well, Cicerone, I feel compelled to tell you that not all the Cis services start out at the airport.
At least not accroding to the Cook timetable AND the timetable at www.cisalpino.com
At least not accroding to the Cook timetable AND the timetable at www.cisalpino.com
Feb 9th, 2006, 01:46 AM
#8
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 7,689
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Intrepid, take a look at what I wrote. I wrote that if you take a CIS train from Geneva Airport to Varenna you do not have to change at Geneva main station. I did not want you to confuse ptd that somehow the rail.ch scheulde was wrong and that he had to change trains at Geneva main station to get a CIS train. I did not say the "all CIS trains start at Geneva airport". Of course that is not the case.
Sorry ptd to highjack your thread.
Sorry ptd to highjack your thread.
Feb 9th, 2006, 01:13 PM
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thank you so much for all of your great feedback.
I should have said that we are willing to take any means of transportation- be it drive, fly, train travel, etc. Train travel is ideal. We had thought that having a car wouldn't be necessary due to the ferry access, as mentioned here.(and more expensive, etc)
Yes, it's the town of Bellano, that Cicerone described. (also, any feedback on the town of Bellano would be greatly appreciated!)
We are sure train travel will be beautiful. It looks like it's going to take longer than we were thinking though... The hotel wrote me back saying that the train will take us directly to Bellano.
I now think that we should add a night onto the hotel (only 2 booked right now, since it looks like our first night will be just that- a night)
Again, thank you all for your great information!
I should have said that we are willing to take any means of transportation- be it drive, fly, train travel, etc. Train travel is ideal. We had thought that having a car wouldn't be necessary due to the ferry access, as mentioned here.(and more expensive, etc)
Yes, it's the town of Bellano, that Cicerone described. (also, any feedback on the town of Bellano would be greatly appreciated!)
We are sure train travel will be beautiful. It looks like it's going to take longer than we were thinking though... The hotel wrote me back saying that the train will take us directly to Bellano.
I now think that we should add a night onto the hotel (only 2 booked right now, since it looks like our first night will be just that- a night)
Again, thank you all for your great information!
Feb 9th, 2006, 04:38 PM
#10
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 7,689
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If the hotel says you can take a train right to Bellanno, I'd suggest you use the http://treinitalia.com website for train schedules. When I put in that tonw in the Swiss Rail site, it does not show any town at all, which sometimes happens when there are Swiss towns with similar names. I find the treinitalia.com website a little user unfriendly, so seldom use it.
Bellanno is really a very lovely little town, it has a few churches, I think it is best known for the the Bellano gorge which is a rushing torrent of water– and – but is really just very lovely and has a nice setting on the upper part of the lake. I think it is a good choice and certainly not well traveled by people on this board. I have only stopped there a few times myself on many trips to Como. (and obvisouly have not found the train station!) You can take a very good walk to Varenna from here, which is the main reason I have gone in the past.
I would definately recco staying another night, you will also want to explore some of the towns, get to Villa Serbinelli, etc.
Bellanno is really a very lovely little town, it has a few churches, I think it is best known for the the Bellano gorge which is a rushing torrent of water– and – but is really just very lovely and has a nice setting on the upper part of the lake. I think it is a good choice and certainly not well traveled by people on this board. I have only stopped there a few times myself on many trips to Como. (and obvisouly have not found the train station!) You can take a very good walk to Varenna from here, which is the main reason I have gone in the past.
I would definately recco staying another night, you will also want to explore some of the towns, get to Villa Serbinelli, etc.
Feb 9th, 2006, 07:28 PM
#11
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,194
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The question seems to have taken on the element of "assunming that you are starting from the airport" (i.e., landing there from another country, and wanting to immediately move on to Lake Como).
<i><b><u>If</u></b></i> that is true... then air travel is waaayyy faster than anything else - - flybaboo.com has a flight that departs GVA at 8:35 and arrives Lugano 09:25 (also available 12:35/13:25) for only 55 GBP, accodring to opodo.co.uk (I didn't check the FlyBaboo website directly).
From Lugano, I would personally elect to rent a car; Menaggio is under an hour away (depends on traffic which can frequently double the normal 30 minute driving time). From there, ferry service and driving onward to Bellano ought to be under an hour also.
Best wishes,
Rex
<i><b><u>If</u></b></i> that is true... then air travel is waaayyy faster than anything else - - flybaboo.com has a flight that departs GVA at 8:35 and arrives Lugano 09:25 (also available 12:35/13:25) for only 55 GBP, accodring to opodo.co.uk (I didn't check the FlyBaboo website directly).
From Lugano, I would personally elect to rent a car; Menaggio is under an hour away (depends on traffic which can frequently double the normal 30 minute driving time). From there, ferry service and driving onward to Bellano ought to be under an hour also.
Best wishes,
Rex
Feb 9th, 2006, 07:40 PM
#12
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 7,689
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Did not think about flying, that is a possiblity. ptd would be very hard pressed to make the 9:30 Lugano flight however, as he has to clear Immigration and collect his bags, go through customs and re-check them in Geneva, his first port of entry in Switzerland. Just too many flights and too many people landing at GVA in the morning to make that connection IMO.
At that point the layover for the 12:30 flight, the flight time, getting the car, drive time, etc might be working out equal to the train time from Geneva, esp if the Lugano flight is delayed in taking off.
He will also have drop off charges in Italy if he rented a car. Of course you could train to Bellano from Lugano as well. Take a look at train schedules.
At that point the layover for the 12:30 flight, the flight time, getting the car, drive time, etc might be working out equal to the train time from Geneva, esp if the Lugano flight is delayed in taking off.
He will also have drop off charges in Italy if he rented a car. Of course you could train to Bellano from Lugano as well. Take a look at train schedules.
Feb 9th, 2006, 08:47 PM
#13
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,194
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
<< ptd would be very hard pressed to make the 9:30 Lugano flight however, as he has to clear Immigration and collect his bags, go through customs and re-check them in Geneva, his first port of entry in Switzerland... >>
I missed have missed something somewhere. How do we even know that ptd is originating at GVA, let alone whether it is on an incoming flight... or at what time?
I missed have missed something somewhere. How do we even know that ptd is originating at GVA, let alone whether it is on an incoming flight... or at what time?
Feb 9th, 2006, 09:16 PM
#14
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 7,689
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
rex you are absolutley right. I am wrong. ptd let us know your itineary. I assumed he was coming in in off an international long-haul flight from the US, like most people on this site. As I myself never am doing the first, and rarely the second, I should learn better.
Feb 11th, 2006, 05:59 AM
#15
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,393
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Wow, such an invigorating exchange! You folks are better than caffeine. Why not tuck into Rivaz or Cully or Lutry on Lac Leman and forget the whole thing.
Does anyone remember Calvin and Hobbs? Hobbs, my stuffed tiger hero, used to say "When things get too complicated, I take a nap and wait for dinner." or something like that. Affectionately, J.
Does anyone remember Calvin and Hobbs? Hobbs, my stuffed tiger hero, used to say "When things get too complicated, I take a nap and wait for dinner." or something like that. Affectionately, J.
Feb 11th, 2006, 07:07 AM
#16
Guest
Posts: n/a
According to the Die Bahn website there is a Bellano-Tartavelle Terme station (we have always gotten off at Varenna-Esino). We found Bellano to be a very nice town. Some of my better photos are from there.
While there is a special mid lake boat service, I don't believe that Bellano has car ferry service. At Lake Como, for most people a rental car would be an unused extra expense. I recommend the train.
Have a nice trip (and write a brief report when you return). What is your hotel?
While there is a special mid lake boat service, I don't believe that Bellano has car ferry service. At Lake Como, for most people a rental car would be an unused extra expense. I recommend the train.
Have a nice trip (and write a brief report when you return). What is your hotel?
Feb 12th, 2006, 04:28 PM
#17
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
So much great information!
We are actually overnight in Geneva, then going to Bellano the next day. Flying part way would definitely be an option... I did a quick check on the website to see about GVA to Lugano. Seems like a great idea to save travel time. Ideally, a train to Bellano vs car rental- not sure if that's possible though... Can look into other transportation options/ bus, etc from Lugano to lake.
We're staying at a place called the Hotel Villa Stupenda. We did book a third night. http://www.villastupenda.it/index_eng.htm
Again, thank you all for your help!
We are actually overnight in Geneva, then going to Bellano the next day. Flying part way would definitely be an option... I did a quick check on the website to see about GVA to Lugano. Seems like a great idea to save travel time. Ideally, a train to Bellano vs car rental- not sure if that's possible though... Can look into other transportation options/ bus, etc from Lugano to lake.
We're staying at a place called the Hotel Villa Stupenda. We did book a third night. http://www.villastupenda.it/index_eng.htm
Again, thank you all for your help!
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
elrodtex
Europe
1
Jun 27th, 2011 11:58 AM
