BEST WAY FROM MXP TO BELLAGIO
 

my wife and i are arriving at MXP in mid may at about 9:00 am. how is the best way to get to bellagio. i know that this has been discussed before, in 2010, just checking to see if it has changed. thank you in advance for your help.

I've only done it one way -- others may have a better idea:
Train to Milano Centrale, takes about 40 minutes, and then MC to Varenna, about another hour. From Varenna, you can take the ferry to Bellagio. The ferry stop in Varenna is a short downhill walk from the train station. You'll have to transport your bags, but that's not a problem if you pack light and have wheeled luggage.

Best way personally, especially with luggage, is a private car transfer.

The public transport ways have not changed fundamentally from what you have read in the past. You can probably also find more up to date specific details on the variety of options by checking hotel websites ("How to arrive") and Tripadvisor forums for Bellagio.

thanks, checked into private transfer and all were between 120-160 euro. a great way to bust a travel budget on the first day.

Private transport is almost always the "best" way, but I assumed you were looking for public transport.

Malpensa Express to Saranno
Regional Trenord train to Como Nord Lago
Short walk to the ferry pier
Ferry to Bellagio

Anybody looking for the second best?

Just out of curiosity, what is the total cost for 2 people taking the public transports above? (Just curious.)

120-170E from all of the people i checked with

I meant the costs of public transports -- airport train tickets, other train tickets, ferry tickets -- for the "best" way that asps outlined. I am too lazy to look it up (!) but I was just curious. I am sure it is cheaper than 120 euros, but I was curious by how much per person.

Well, I factor in 'time & ease' as part of the cost - whether or not it is worth it to take a direct route (hire a private transfer) or take public transportation. Yes, the actual travel time by train may only be 1:40 but it will be longer depending on train & ferry schedules. After an international flight (which I assume you will be taking), I would gladly pay the 120 euros to sit back & enjoy the picturesque ride along the lake to Bellagio.

I got over my laziness, and I think this is the cost of each transport element that asps outlined in his or her post:

Malpensa Xpress: 7 euros x 2 = 14 euros
Trenord: 3 euros x 2 = 6 euros
Ferry boat: 10 euros x 2 = 20 euros

40 euros for two people to take public transportation

So for me the question would be:

If I could get a private car for 120, the real "extra" cost is 80 euros, or 40 euros per person. First, I would ask my travel partner if they preferred to pay 40 euros for the added comfort and time savings. Get off the plane, get into a waiting car, get dropped off at the hotel door in about 90 minutes.

Too lazy to look up the real amount of time it would take to use the "best" public transportation route, but looks to me, even with optimal connections, to be at least 3 hours from the airport -- but that could be way off.

Malpensa Express to Saranno
Regional Trenord train to Como Nord Lago
Short walk to the ferry pier
Ferry to Bellagio>

or cheaper you can take a bus from Como Nord station to Bellagio as well as boat.

Timetables for Friday May 15th:

Malpensa Terminal 1 dp by train 10.28 - Saronno 10.44/11.04 - Como Nord Lago ar 11.44, dp by hydrofoil 12.15 - Bellagio ar 13.07 or dp by boat 12.00 - Bellagio ar 13.46

Malpensa Terminal 1 dp by train 10.13 - Milano PG 10.54/11.09 - Como SG ar 12.07, dp by bus 12.17 - Bellagio ar 13.27

Malpensa Terminal 1 dp by train 11.13 - Milano C 12.05/12.20 - Varenna ar 13.23, dp by car ferry 13.45 - Bellagio ar 14.00

Other timetables for other days.

Fares:
MXP - Varenna: 19 EUR
MXP - Como Lago: 10 EUR
MXP - Como SG: 17 EUR
boat Varenna - Bellagio: 5 EUR
hydrofoil Como - Bellagio: 15 EUR
boat Como - Bellagio: 10 EUR
bus Como - Bellagio: http://www.asfautolinee.it/LinkClick...language=en-US

Looking at neckervd's timetables, something else about deciding which is the "best" way to go if you are arriving at 9am involves calculating whether you can make the 10.13 train departure from Terminal 1 at MXP and make multiple train and ferry switches (some of them fairly tight) -- or whether you'd rather hang out at the aiport until 11.13 and have a simpler journey.

Finally, whichever route you pick, you have to realize that if your flight is delayed landing, even by a few minutes, you may need to recalculate when you arrive about taking trains other than the ones you planned.

If you are at all tempted to spring for the 120e car transfer, they will pick you up whenver your plane lands. They can follow the arrival time via the internet.