Fodorites are awesome! We used this site extensively to plan our trip. We (2 couples)arrive in Milan in mid October and have hired a driver to take us to Lake Como for 6 days-staying in Bellagio without a car as most recommended. We then train to Venice for 4 days and fly home from there. We have some last minute concerns about being too restricted in Lake Como w/o a car?? Also, had anyone been in Como - Venice during that time in terms of weather as we begin to think about what to pack? Lastly, we want to train from Varenna through Milan to S. Lucia train station in Venice but the trenitalia train site will only show trains from Varenna to Mestre. Are there trains (ES) that continue to S. Lucia? Thanks for all your help and I'll be glad to provide a breif trip report when we return.

You will be fine in Bellagio without a car, as there are boats and buses serving the lake. And Varenna and Como are connected by train, should you desire to go further afield.

Haven't been to Como in October, but imagine that it will be chilly and windy.

Just make sure you leave yourself enough time to ferry over to Varenna from Bellagio and then make the trip UPHILL to the RR station so as not to miss your train. The RR station at Varenna-Esino (the actual name) is unmanned but there are only two platforms and trains to Milan will approach from your LEFT.

The trip ferry docy to RR station on foot usually takes about 10 minutes. If you absolutely must have a taxi the folks in the ticket booth at the ferry dock will usually call one for you.

There are numerous "local" trains that run the approx 5-10 minute trip from Maestre to Santa Lucia.

Hi Emilymarie - If you put Venezia S. Lucia as your arrival point, the trenitalia.com site will show you those trains which go all the way (- without a change in Mestre).

Your best (- fastest) bets seem to be:

Dep: 07.25 or 10.20 from Varenna (- changing onto Eurostar Milan-Venice S.L at Milano Centrale).

Other departures take longer or are not ES trains.

Hope this helps ...

Steve

Places you can get to from Bellagio without a car:

- everywhere the boats go, which includes several villas - see http://www.navigazionelaghi.it/ for the boat schedule

- from Varenna, take the train north to Morbegno (40 minutes) and visit the famous Ciapponi food and wine store (see http://www.beginningwithi.com/italy/.../slowfood.html as to why that's worthwhile!)

- from Varenna, take the train south to Lecco (30 mins) then the bus up to the funivia (cable car) for a fantastic view and hiking (see http://www.beginningwithi.com/italy/travel/lecco.htm for photos and video)

- if you want to rent a car for one day, you could head north to Chiavenna and, just beyond, Lanterna Verde - our favorite restaurant in the world (see http://www.beginningwithi.com/food/lantverd.html for mouth-watering photos)

- or you could hire my driver friend Antonello to put together a day car trip for you, see http://bestviaggi.com/home/?lang=EN

Have fun!

best regards,
Deirdré Straughan

beginningwithi.com

You could also take the train from Varenna to Chiavenna and then get the swiss post bus to Soglio. It is high in the Engandine Alps--completely different from Lake Como--and definitely worth the trip!

Thanks for all your suggestions. Steve: - I did finally find the correct train schedule from Varenna - Venice. Dukey - if the train station in Varenna is unmanned, can I board with my internet purchased ES ticket. Also, we are going into Milan to see The Last Supper and need to there by 9:00 am. There is a Varenna train leaving at 7:30 which is fine but the local ferry schedule changes October 1st so we don't know if there is a ferry that leaves early enough to make the train, and Varenna doesn't have "self-service" ticket machines so how do we get a train ticket assuming the ferry can get us there. If not are there taxis in Bellagio that could take us to Varenna?

Your internet purchased ES ticket does not cover the route from Varenna to Milan. Only smaller local trains travel that route and there are no reservations. i think in Rick Steves book he mentions buying a ticket at the travel agency in Varenna.

Varenna is a ferry ride across the water from Bellagio, so a taxi wouldn't work--check a map. If you opt for a taxi, take it all the way to Como and catch a train to Milan from there. There are two train stations in Como with two schedules--one Trenitalia, one not--so check carefully.

bookmarking

Emilymarie,I did Bellagio last year,stayed at the Metropole,I am thinking this is your first time in Bellagio.IT IS UNBELIEVABLE! So beautiful ,my vision of heaven,We also went in Oct. early part of month.I felt the people working there were a little burnt out from what must be hectic summer to say the least.I was there for 4 days,and felt a car wasn't needed.The ferry Will take you to Varenna,and I think Ravenna,with six days you can take a short bus trip to Switzerland,you can purchase the tickets in Varenna, hop on the bus and in about 45 minutes your there.THE WEATHER WAS 70 TO 75 CRYSTAL CLEAR.Leaving we took the ferry across the lake to the unmanned train station.Scenic is not the word for the walk up the hill to the station ,the walk is a little hard walking uphill with three pieces of luggage, but there is a cab parked next to the ferry to zip you up.LISTEN CLOSELY, when we went from Bellagio back to Milan the train direct to Venice was full because we got there a little late.We then had to take a train with a transfer .We stopped at the Bologna station left the train went downstairs which was a tunnel we were totally lost trying to read the screens to see which train to take ,as I remember , the ticket did not correspond with the final destination, confusing to say the least.To add to this confusion where the train lets you off on the platform there are no agents and you only have 10 maybe 15 minutes to get to the next train.My experience was if you were not in the large cities it was very difficult to find people who spoke english well enough to help.

You can purchase a future train ticket at the Varenna travel agent (on the way down the hill from the train station to the dock).

ellenem - thanks for your comments. The schedule does show the train leaving from Varenna- changing trains in Milan for the ES to Venice - do you mean the price shown is only from Milan - Venice?? Also, how long is the taxi ride to como idf we go that route instead? Miaspapa - it is our first time in Lake Como and we will be arriving on October 14th then going to Venice as my girlfriends son is running in the Venice Marathon on October 22nd.

The fare shown probably includes the whole trip, but you will need two separate tickets--one local ticket for Varnenna to Milan, which you can't buy online. And the ES Ticket for Milan to Venice, which can be purchased online.

I'm not positive about the taxi, though years ago I rode a public bus from Bellagio to Como that took about 30 minutes. It is a winding narrow road along the lakeside.

When we were in Varenna a few years ago and were expecting to take the train to Milan, it ended up that the train was cancelled and they put us on a bus that was packed with people. Our B & B let us know that this happened so we were not surprized but they told us that it was cancelled periodically. So make sure to check so that you go to the right place. They did not charge us for the bus however.

Sounds like a nice trip. I'd be a little concerned about getting to Milan (Last Supper) by 9AM from Bellagio. Quite a few "logistics" involved. No one has mentioned the hydrofoil back and forth from Como to Bellagio...(and it departs and arrives only about 30 yds. from the Hotel Metropol. Sorry, I guess someone else mentioned tht hotel). We took this hydrofoil from Como to BEllagio and it worked out fine.
We always think driving a car is great, but I guess it's really not necessary in the Bellagio region. On our trip that time we didn't have the car, as the boats go to all the surrounding towns, villas etc..., however next time we'd probably try the car for "other" sights!
It would be a hassle to boat to Verenna, climb the hill to the train lugging your bags, and then train to Milan. However plenty of people do it.

If you have hired a driver from Milan to Lake Como on arrival,,,could you not hire the driver on the return trip to Milan from Bellagio.?

Thanks for your comments. We have decided to hire a car to return to the airport on our departure day. We still have the concern of getting into Milan by 9:00 am during our Bellagio stay for the Last Supper tour. Right now the ferry schedule from Bellagio -Varenna shows one leaving at 6:30 am (ouch)so we could make the 7:30am train to Milan. However, the ferry schedule will change on October 1st. so we'll have to wait to see the changes. Because we won't have a car, we did consider staying in Verenna with the convenience of the train station, but ultimately chose Bellagion - hope it was a good decision.