Ceinwen

Is it possible to get from Salo to Bellagio without having to go back to Milan, for example, bus or boat to Desenzano - train or bus to varena - boat to Bellagio? If so, would any time be saved.? Not having much luck on trenitalia.

PalenQ

I think it's possible via Brescia but involves changes and may be slower - put Brescia to Varenna in search engine and Brescia to Varenna.

I tried on German Rail site - great for schedules - www.bahn.de/en and even from Brescia it is quicker to go via Milan- not always Milan Centrale but in some cases Milan Greco Pirelli- Brescia is just 20 minutes from Desenzano - so play around with it but in my quick check it seems via Milan is still quicker even though you can go via Brescia without always going into Milan.

Seems via Milan is the best but play around more.

neckervd

Once again:
shortest way to go from Salo to Bellagio:
Bus Salo - Brescia, train Brescia - Milano, then
either train Milan - Como SG, bus Como SG - Bellagio
or train Milan - Varenna, ferry Varenna - Bellagio
according to the time of day.

It's perfectly possible to avoid Milan, but the journey time will be longer:
bus Salo - Brescia, train Brescia - Bergamo (train change) - Lecco (train change) - Varenna, ferry Varenna - Bellagio.

PalenQ

that's what I thought after posting - bus to Brescia not boat to Desenzano is the quickest route -via Milan to Como or Varenna.

Ceinwen

Thanks to all, and especially for your thorough and patient replies, neckervd. We're good to go.