We will be traveling the following routes in mid May:
#1] Malpensa to Stresa
#2] Stresa to Lugano ( I know, this isn't Italy, I cheated in the title)
#3] Lugano to Varenna

Looking for public transit: bus and/or trains and/or ferries. Fast, inexpensive wins out.
No taxis or private car service, please. We will only have carry on bags.

Can you help me find the best transit routes? Hopefully, I have provided enough info, if not; ask away.

Thanks~

Just #3:
Full disclosure. It's been a while and options change, but I think the best public-transportation route is the bus from Lugano to Menaggio, and then the ferry to Varenna. If memory serves, the bus station in Menaggio is not far from the ferry dock.

MXP - Stresa:
all depends on your arrival time
all by train with change at Gallarate: every 2 hrs
bus to Gallarate railway station plus train: at irregular intervals
prebooked shuttle: http://www.safduemila.com/alibus-201...omaggiore.html
The timetables for this spring are not yeat published. I suppose they will be more or less the same.

Stresa - Lugano:
no direct service, but tons of itineraries:
1. all by train: Stresa - Milano Centrale - Lugano, most boring solution, departures about every hr from 6.34 until 19.22, 3-4 hrs journey
2. boat and train:
a. boat up to Locarno (twice daily) plus train, very scenic and relaxing, takes about 5 hrs
b. hydrofoil to Locarno (twice daily) plus train, much less pleasant, takes about 3 hrs
c. boat or hydrofoil up to Luino plus train (a bit faster)

Sorry, I have to end, whall continue later!

2a. Stresa dp by boat 11.15 and 15.30 - Locarno ar 14.30 resp 18.45. Trains to Lugano (50 min ride) every 30 min.

2b. Stresa dp by hydrofoil 10.00 - Locarno ar 11.30, most probably second hydrofoil in the afternoon

2c. Stresa dp 11.15 - boat - Luino 12.45/13.18 - train - Cadenazzo - Lugano ar 14.48
Stresa dp 10.00 - hydrofoil - Luino 10.40/11.18 - train - Cadenazzo - Lugano ar 12.48

2d. boat to Intra, car ferry to Laveno, train to Luino - Cadenazzo - Lugano: every 2 hrs in the afternoon, 4 1/2 hrs journey

3. boat, train and bus
3a. boat to Intra, car ferry to Laveno, train to Varese, bus to Ponte Tresa, train to Lugano
3b. boat to Luino, bus to Ponte Tresa, train to Lugano
3c. boat to Intra, bus to Locarno, train to Lugano
etc. etc.

Lugano - Varenna:
all by train: via Monza, about every 2 hrs, 2 to 3 hrs ride
http://fahrplan.sbb.ch/bin/query.exe/en
by bus and car ferry or boat:
Lugano dp about every 2 hrs by bus up to Menaggio, then ferry, 2 hrs ride
http://www.asfautolinee.it/Portals/5...modificato.pdf
http://www.navlaghi.it/c_download/NL...0Traghetto.pdf