IMo you don't even want a car in Bellagio


Take the train from Varenna across the lake to Milan and change there for the trip north to the Berner Oberland

There are several reasons we are wanting to rent a car at Milan Malpensa: it seems that it will be cheaper for us to rent a car for 3 days rather than purchasing train tickets. Plus, the hotel we are staying in our first night is a little off the beaten path (outside Bellagio). We just don't want to depend on public transportation. Unfortunately, the car will be parked in Bellagio for two of those days, so we will be paying for "nothing" in a sense. I'm sure parking expenses are quite hefty there as well. After 3 days in Bellagio, we hope to drop off the car at the Como Centrale train station, where we will then go to Lauterbrunnen. Does this not seem to be a wise plan?

You will have multiple connections however you do this. Consider dropping off the rental car before you reach Bellagio to provide the most options.

If you go with your original plan, you would start from Como S. Giovanni station and your first transfer would be at Milano Centrale. Without the car, you could ferry from Bellagio to Varenna and taxi or walk a short distance uphill to the train station for a train that would take you to Milano Centrale for that first transfer. So, you decide, drive to Como, deal with the car and get to the station -or- ferry to Varenna and get to the station.

A third option also assumes you've dropped the car before Bellagio. Ferry from Bellagio to Menaggio, bus to Lugano and train from there.

You'd have to investigate which option is the fewest transfers, shortest journey time and preferred route (if that matters to you scenery-wise). When searching the Varenna option, use it's proper station name of Varenna Esino. Ditto Como S. Giovanni.

http://www.sbb.ch/en/

The car rental rate may compare favorably to the train fares, but you also need to factor in the tolls, high cost of fuel and parking fees wherever you go. On the last point, depending on where you're driving, traveling by car can be less convenient when you discover you have to park outside a town and walk in (vs. trains that usually arrive in the city center) and avoid traffic fines that are assessed when you drive into an area you shouldn't.

Which hotel in/near Bellagio? And you're moving after the first night? What is the second hotel? If you're thinking you'll use the car to drive into Bellagio to catch the ferry, go shopping, have dinner, etc., there is very little parking in the town which I assume will be even more difficult to find in June.

Thanks for the heads up. I am considering your idea of dropping off the car before going to Bellagio - probably in Como. Then I suppose I should take a bus to Bellagio? Or is there a better/cheaper alternative? We are staying at Castello Casiglio our first night (near Erba) then traveling to Hotel Florence in Bellagio for the next 2-3 nights. If you have any knowledge of either of those hotels, I would appreciate a heads up! Again, THANKS!!! : )

We picked up our car in Milan , drove to the Berner Oberland, Grindelwald, next over to Pontresina and then returned to Italy dropping it off in Como before staying in Bellagio. You will take a ferry(slow or fast ferry) from Como to Bellagio. We walked from the car rental agencies to the ferry dock.

In your opinion, what's it like driving in Northern Italy? Is it hectic? Would a "foreigner" be overwhelmed? I am used to driving in the U.S. only.