From Milano Centrale to Lake Como??
 

Hi I'm traveling from Roma termini to Milano centrale. What's the best way to get to lake como?

Which part of the lake? Bellagio, Varenna, Mennagio, Cernobbio, city of Como ...

Bellagio

"Best"?

Assuming you mean by public transportation, the easiest would be Milano Centrale to Varenna-Esino by train, walk downhill to the ferry dock, and then go from Varenna to Bellagio by ferry.

If you intend to reverse this route when you leave the lake, buy your return train ticket when you pass through Milan the first time.

You can check train and ferry timetables here:

http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en
[Use Italian spellings of city names.]

http://www.navigazionelaghi.it/c_dow...20CL_E2017.pdf

Thank you!!! Appreciate your help!

If I'm at varenna-esino should I take a cab/private driver to take me straight to my hotel? Rather then taking the ferry and walking to my hotel!!?

Hmmm. That's a good question. I don't even know if the taxis are allowed on the ferry, but I suppose you could ask when you get there. Make sure you ask and understand what it would cost before you commit. You'd have to pay a round-trip fare for the taxi, plus the standby time (both ways?) and time on the ferry (both ways?). It could be expensive I also don't know whether a taxi would be waiting at the Varenna-Esino station or if you'd have to walk to the ferry dock to find one.

Unless you have mobility issues, I'd ride the ferry as a pedestrian. It's an easy walk to the dock and only a 17-minute ride. There are usually taxis waiting near the Bellagio ferry dock.

Which hotel in Bellagio?

IF you took a taxi to any hotel across the lake then tnat taxi would have to wait until one of the ferries which takes cars arrived at the Varenna-Esino dock.

Lots of extra money when you could take ANY ferry as a foot passenger including the ones that take vehicles and either walk to your hotel in Bellagio or take a taxi THERE.

The walk down to the dock isn't a difficult one, but make sure to pack light. You won't want to be dragging multiple heavy bags. And then of course you'll have to go up the hill to the train station when you do the return trip.

I understood your taxi question to mean avoiding the ferry altogether and having the taxi take you to Bellagio by land. That would be a long, expensive ride (look at a map to see for yourself) that seems impractical.

BTW, you can also buy return tix at the travel agency at the bottom of the hill from the Varenna train station.

My hotel is Casa Lory at Via Al Crotto 4/A, 22021, Bellagio, Italy

If I'm at varenna-esino should I take a cab/private driver to take me straight to my hotel? Rather then taking the ferry and walking to my hotel!!?>

Most hotels in Bellagio are near the boat dock and driving to them problematic.

From www.trenitalia.com buy a thru ticket Rome-Varenna-Esino - changing of course in Milan Centrale. The train to Varenna is a regional train - no reserved seats possible - for lots on Italian trains and booking discounted tickets check www.seat61.com -for general info www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com.

If wanting to take a taxi from a train station to your Bellagio hotel maybe taking a train to Como S Leandro Trenitalia station then taxi would be shorter road trip and overall quicker.

Your hotel is definitely too far to walk from the Bellagio ferry dock, at least with luggage in tow. It's about 2 miles....

Were you planning to ride the ferries much during your time in Bellagio? If so, you may find your hotel's location somewhat inconvenient. You may know that there is a dock at San Giovanni which is closer to your hotel. It is a stop on the mid-lake shuttle, but service is fairly infrequent.

http://www.navigazionelaghi.it/c_dow...20CL_E2017.pdf

Como S. Leandro? I think PalenQ means the train station at Como S. Giovanni. Whatever. Any option involving a taxi from another point on the lake will be expensive. But it's your money, and if this is what you'd rather do, consider getting off the Milan-Varenna train at Lecco and taking a taxi from there. It would be a slightly shorter cab ride than from Como with less potential for traffic delays. From Como S. Giovanni, you'd first have to traverse the town of Como.

Como S. Leandro? I think PalenQ means the train station at Como S. Giovanni. >

Yes should have thought of Lecco! Knew from Varenna a long long drive and your hotel is not in Bellagio proper.

Sorry guys it will be my first time in Europe so Ima trying to get it right. I'm a bit confused.

Ok so if I'm getting this correctly
Milano centrale ➡️ By train ��to Como s. Giovanni
Como S. Giovanni ➡️by ferry ⛴to bellagio

The Como S. Giovanni / ferry route is probably the slowest way to get to Bellagio. Also, the ferry stops running around 7.20pm. The boats are not frequent either.

You biggest issue is after you get there. I think your current hotel is for those with a car and one who is happy to just stay there doing nothing. It is a very inconvenient location to visit other places.

Here are the choices:

Train to Varenna-Esino, walk down 10 min to dock, ferry to Bellagio. Varenna-Bellagio is served by all ferry services. You will probably take the car ferry which runs frequently between the two until just before 11pm. This is probably the fastest using the public transit. You will then need to find a scarce taxi to take you to your hotel. The car ferry here is easiest to use if you have large luggage. You can stay at the ground level reachable by car.

Train to Como S. Giovanni or Lecco then taxi. The Como to Bellagio road is very winding. Taxi will take you to the hotel door step.

Train to Como S. Giovanni, then bus c30 to one of the bus stop about quarter mile from your hotel. The bus does not run at night.

Train to Como S. Giovanni, bus/taxi/walk to the dock, then ferry slow/hydrofoil boat to Bellagio. The boats stop running about 7.20pm. Both boats are awkward to get in/out with large/a lot of luggage. This is probably the most time consuming way to get to Bellagio. If you want to see the scenery, don't take the fast hydrofoil. You get locked inside inside with scratched windows you can't really see outside.

Here are the boat schedules http://www.navigazionelaghi.it/eng/c_orari.asp

"This is probably the most time consuming way to get to Bellagio."

But also very scenic if you get the regular ferry. Once you navigate the steps at the station the walk to the ferry is easy.

I would want a hotel an easy walk from the ferry.

This is going to be a very long day whatever the route. The OP is starting in Rome.

Personally, I would choose the option with the fewest and easiest transfers. For me, unless a private driver or taxi in Lecco or Milan is an option, that would be train to Milan, train to Varenna, ferry to Bellagio, taxi to hotel.

Thank you everyone for your tips!! I appreciate it so much!! I'm a bit nervous about traveling since it will be my first time. I just wanna get it right. Thanks again!��

jessica87 - I live in Como so I have a different viewpoit to many posters on Fodors. Unfortunately many Fodors posters have been infected by a strain called Varennitis which is an infection typical in Americans promulgated by the Rick Steves virus. This causes an extreme reaction which pushes certain subjects (notably Americans) to choose Varenna as the only (or almost) location to arrive at mid-Lake Como resorts such as Menaggio, Cadenabbia and especially Bellagio. I would be prepared to wager that 95% of Comaschi (people from Como) have never been to Varenna and at least 95% of Milanese (people from Milan) when visiting Bellagio have not done it via Varenna.

My advice is to take the train from Milano Centrale to Como San Giovanni and then take the local bus from the station to Bellagio - the bus starts at the station and the number is C30 - here is the link http://www.asfautolinee.it/content/it/linee-e-orari Select Rete Extraurbana and then scroll down to C30. Click on Orario to see the times - Feriale means Monday to Saturday whereas Festivo means Sunday and public holidays.

There is a stop just before Casa Lory called Frazione Vergonese which is about 1500ft from your destination with most of it slightly downhill. Write it down for your driver saying that you actually want to go to Casa Lory so could he actually stop at angolo Via al Perlo. With a smile he may do it for you.

Write at on a piece of paper - Ho una prenotazione alla Casa Lory. La più vicina fermata è quella chiamata Frazione Vergonese. Sarebbe possibile lasciarmi scendere un pochino più avanto all'angolo Via al Perlo?

The perfect Fodor's post. Not only advice, but a requisite put-down of others who took the time to provide advice.