mari5

Maybe this is not the norm,,,,,but we waited at the carousel for our luggage,, Malpensa, for ONE hour. I notice you don't arrive till almost 5 pm. To me it would seem the best to take the bus into Centrale Station , Milan,,, and spend the night at one of the many hotels around that area. THEN start out the next day.
(especially if you arriving on a long flight from U.S...............(though those flight usually arrive in the morning). Messing around at "night" in trying to get to Bellagio might be a little iffy! (especially in late Sept) Our friends were headed that way from Milan Centrale and took a late afternoon/evening train,~~~it was late departing, and arrive in Varenna too late to take the ferry to Bellagio. They luckily found a small hotel in Varenna to stay the night.

nochblad

The last bus for Bellagio leaves Piazza Matteotti - right next to the exit from Como Lago (Lake) station at 20.20

The last train from Malpensa to connect with this is one which leaves at 18.56 arriving at Saronno at 19.13 departing at 19.24 and arriving at Como Lago at 19.55

Even assuming delays with your luggage this train gives you plenty of time and you have the certainty of reaching Bellagio that evening which is not the case if you do the roundabout route involving Milan Central station, Varenna etc

ncounty

You've gotten a lot of good advice already. I looked up my trip report from 3 years ago and included a link in case any details may be of help. I reread that there used to be a train to Saronno that seemed back then to be more efficient than what I did. I don't know if it is still there and what the best way is to get from Saronno to Bellagio though. I noted in my tr to allow plenty of time on your flight back; Malpensa was very difficult with long lines.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...an-bergamo.cfm

mari5

You might keep in mind that Italian trains are usually not "Swiss precision" trains. Often delayed and/or on strikes.
nochblad ..has a great schedule and good idea,, but stating the "LAST" bus, and the "LAST" train would make me a little nervous. This gives you 25 minutes in Como, and if nochblad says the station is right next to the bus station then I guess it is. There are apparently two train stations in COmo,,we must have come into the other one.
Your bus: Como to Bellagio leaves about 8:30 pm,,,,and it will be completely dark the end of Sept. I guess some people are "morning people",, some are "night people".
Nochbald's plan is a good one IF everything goes according to schedule......and I guess one has to be optomistic. (and still have a "Plan B". )

.

TDudette

"I don't understand the running bit - there is plenty of time to change trains at Saronno."

As a general thing to avoid nochblad-not necessarily pertaining to this particular situation. I just like being on the train and not having to change as a good strategy. Like non-stop flights, eh?

3Ds

I am taking a similar trip next week but, arriving Friday morning -- I am flying into Milano Malpensa around 9am and need to get to Bellagio. Given that I would be arriving from a long trip and will arrive on Friday morning, what is the best, easiest and least painful way to get to Bellagio (other than private car service)?
1) Malpensa to Milano Centrale train to Varenna to ferry to Bellagio
OR
2) Malpensa train station to Como(change at Saronno) then boat/bus to Bellagio.

Also, if I decide to take #1 above, how frequently does the ferry run from Varenna to Bellagio during normal business hours (9am to 5pm)?

Thank you!

nochblad

3DS
Both choices involve changes but via Varenna involves 3 ticket purchases rather than two. From the exit of the Como Nord station it is about 50 yards to the buses on the flat. I do not know how far it is from the Varenna railway station to the pier and if it is on the same level.

To answer mari5 - my suggested routing involves trains on the Ferrovie Milano Nord network which are separate from Trenitalia and generally run without problems.

On a more general point the time keeping of Trenitalia has improved considerably over the years and especially so between major cities of the north and on the Eurostar routes. Delays are more likely on those trains with many more stops and especially on those very long trains arriving in Milan - for example - but with a departure point in Sicily or Reggio Calabria, or Lecce or Taranto.

krystle920

3DS, I would be interested to find out what your experience was in getting to Bellagio. Here's what I've researched so far. Can anyone verify some of the costs?


Option 1:

Train from MXP to Saronno to Como
856-913 am then 924-955 am
EUR 7 (?)
www.ferrovienord.it

Hydrofoil from Como to Bellagio
10 am - 1202 pm OR 1110-1153 am
EUR 8.20 OR EUR 11.70
http://www.navigazionelaghi.it/eng/com/nlc.html


Option 2

Bus from MXP to Central Station
every 20 minutes
EUR 7.50

Train from Central Station to Varenna
1020-1123 am OR 1220-123 pm
EUR 7 (?)
http://www.trenitalia.com/

Ferry from Varenna to Bellagio
every 30-45 minutes
EUR 3.60
http://www.navigazionelaghi.it/eng/com/nlc.html

Jean

krystle, we've done both journeys. I think your costs are about right. I have a slight preference for the option through Varenna for three reasons. One (and primarily), I don't find the hydrofoil very comfortable or enjoyable, even compared to the train ride from Milan to Varenna. Two, as you walk downhill from the Varenna train station to the ferry dock, the emerging view of the lake is stunning. Lastly, the ferry ride from Varenna to Bellagio provides lovely views of both towns. However, this route may take longer depending on how long you wait for connections.

krystle920

Yeah, the issue in taking the train from MXP to Como then the ferry is we would have to take all our luggage with us. Unless there is a place to store them in Bellagio? Also, we are definitely taking the train from Varenna on the way back because our hotel is near the central station. And we do want to see Varenna anyway. I guess the question is what route to take to Bellagio. If we take the MXP train and ferry route, it gets there earlier at 1153 am. If we take the Varenna route, the earliest I can get to Varenna is probably 123 pm, assuming I won't make the 1020 am train from central station since my flight lands at 810 am and we would probably want to drop off our bags at the hotel first.

Jean

I'd spend the first/arrival night in Varenna and head to Milan early the next morning, but you may be late in finding lodging in Varenna for 3 weeks from now.