We will be taking a train from Zurich to the Como S Giovanni train station. We then need to catch a boat to Menaggio. (August)

What is the best way to get from the main staion to catch a boat?

You might want to consider taking the train from Zurich to Lugano, and taking a bus from there to Menaggio. The bus ride is about 50 minutes.

You can find the schedules on the Swiss rail site, www.sbb.ch; select English at the top and input Zurich and Menaggio and it will show buses as well, as this is a Swiss bus which continues to St. Moritz.

The connection is very close. We walked.

The pedestrian ferries in Como leave from opposite Piazza Cavour. You can obtain walking directions from Como San Giovanni to Piazza Cavour (1 kilometer) by going to www.viamichelin.com, driving directions, click options, select "on foot" and input depart station "Como San Giovanni" and arrive "Piazza Cavour".

The easiest and quickest way to get to the ferry dock is simply to take a cab.

I agree---bus from Lugano to menaggio.

taxi

Thanks all for you replies. Approx cost for taxi??

Hi, I live in Milan but often I visit Como and the lake using the train.

If you walk from the station to ferry It takes about 10 minutes. You exit from the station, go straight down to a big stair in a garden and continue.. After some minutes you have to turn left and reach the lake shore.

If the taxi asks more than 10 euros ... they have stolen your money!

Nother option is the get a bus just in front of the station exit. During the day it is (more or less) every hour and takes less than 2 hours. You have to buy tickets before getting the bus.

Ciao.
Gianni

Depends on how much luggage you have. It is a pleasant walk down the hill, about 10 minutes as Gianni stated. We took a taxi from the station to our hotel - Eremo Gaudio which is at least twice as far - that cost 10 euros.

Hmmm Bobby---do you happen to mean at Varenna?

doh! got Varenna on my mind! Sorry.