aneri27390

Hello.

We are planning a trip to Italy & Switzerland in July-August. Can someone please suggest the fastest and the best way to reach Lugano from Varenna?

Regards,
Aneri

PalenQ

Boat to Como and then Como mainline to Lugano.

aneri27390

Thank you.

bobthenavigator

I concur that via Como may be best, but an option is to ferry to Menaggio and bus from there. May take less time if you coordinate with the bus schedule.

Jean

Well, "fastest" would be a ferry to Menaggio and then a taxi to Lugano but that would obviously not be the cheapest...

The ferry to Como is scenic, but you'd probably have to wait some time for the train. I don't think the ferry schedule coordinates well with the train service to Lugano. You also have to taxi from the ferry dock to the San Giovanni station.

I haven't looked at the Menaggio-Lugano bus schedule in a long time. You might have the same problem coordinating the ferry and bus schedules.

Another option is a combination of trains from Varenna-Esino to Lugano with a change at Monza. Depart Varenna at 7:37a, arrive Lugano at 9:32a or depart Varenna at 1:37p, arrive Lugano at 3:32p. Search from "Varenna-Esino" to "Lugano" here:

http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/inde...005817f90aRCRD

Jean

Oops. I should have also searched trains from Como Lago to Lugano. The Lago station is within walking distance of the ferry dock, and these trains stop at San Giovanni which would eliminate the taxi ride from the ferry dock. However, you'd probably still have a time gap between ferry and train.

Here is the ferry schedule through May 30th. Summer schedules won't be posted for several weeks.

http://www.navigazionelaghi.it/c_dow...015_RAPIDO.pdf

Dukey1

I agree about using the bus from Menaggio...why go all the way to Como?

neckervd

At which time do you want to leave Varenna exactly?

You can choose between:

Train - Varenna - Monza - Lugano (change at Monza):
3 connections in 2 hrs (Varenna dp 7.37, 13.37, 17.37)
all others in 2 3/4 hrs (Varenna dp every 2 hrs from 8.37 until 20.37)

Bus Menaggio - Lugano Cassarate (you need to continue by Lugano city bus for the city center or the railway station or the Swiss bus terminal):
Menaggio dp (weekdays, winter timetable, will change soon):
6.02, 7.25, 8.27, 10.40, 11.43, 13.30, 14.35, 16.00, 17.35; 1 hr journey
connecting car ferries from Varenna:
------, ------, 7.35, 09.40, 10.15, 12.50, 13.50, 15.50, 16.25

Hydrofoil to Como (distance boat pier - railway station 1 km, walk or by citybus):
Varenna dp (weekdays) 6.35, 13.22, 15.17
Como .. ar (weekdays) 7.30, 14.12, 16.07
Como SG dp ...............8.12. 14.47, 16.47
Lugano ar.....................8.55. 15.25, 17.17

PalenQ

I agree about using the bus from Menaggio...why go all the way to Como?>

Again you don't listen or read others comments very well - if there is a convenient bus and that seems a big if - if schedules comport and they may well not - that is why you may have to go ALL the way to Como!

Before saying that did you search whether there is a convenient bus to Lugano - there is the Palm Express but that is often full - if there is a convenient bus - capiche!