Limo/taxi from Malpensa to Lake Como
 

We won't be taking a car to Lake Como and so I'm looking at alternative modes of transport. Seems like a lot of fooling around to take the train from Malpensa to Milan Centrale and then from Milan Centrale to Varenna. Wondering if by paying a bit more we can go from Malpensa to Menaggio by taxi or limo and then ferry to Varenna. Has anyone done this? Roughly how expensive? Any limo companies to recommend? Thanks for your help.

I hope someone responds because I have the very same question...how best to go from Malpensa airport to Varenna without a car.

Don't know about the second half of this, but you can't take the train directly to Centrale.

You can take the Express to the metro at Cardona and ride it a few stops to Centrale. Or you can catch the MXP shuttle bus to Centrale.

Here's a thread with suggestions, including a car service:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34740787

Julie,

First of all, your post is confusing (at least to me)..

you talk about going to Varenna but then you talk about doing so by way of Menaggio?

Where is the FINAL destination?

You are going to pay quite a lot more than "a bit more" for a private transfer service vs. taking a taxi to Centrale and then a train to Varenna.

Julie - A taxi transfer from Malpensa to Menaggio would be in the range € 120-150, I think.

There's is also an occasional Malpensa-Como bus service. For details see:

http://www.sptcomo.it/vantaggiMal.php#eng

Hope this helps ...

Steve

There is a very convenient bus from Malpensa to Como. Just ask at the information desk where to line up for it. From Como you can ferry to wherever you want to go on the lake.

Thanks everyone. Seems like there are multiple answers. I just need to figure out which one will work best for us.

Intrepid, sorry to confuse you. My ultimate destination is Varenna, but as I look at the map, it certainly appears that Malpensa is closer to the west side of the lake so that we'd find transport to Menaggio and take the lake steamer from there to Varenna.

Here's a link to a similar question:

http://tinyurl.com/d27c5

Hello Julie and Mrsjbtobe,

If you're still looking for transporation from Malpensa to Varenna, I can recommend a very affordable car service. I'm a new member so I'm not sure how you will be able to contact me if you wish.

Your best bet is either follow Guy18's suggestion of MXP to Como and then taking the ferry, or taking the airport bus to Milan Centrale and the train to Varenna. Either way, you'll have a beautiful ride, either on or along the lake.

The Malpensa-Como bus service currently only runs 3 times per day (deps. 08.30, 13.00, 19.30).

http://www.sptcomo.it/malpensa.php

(For hydrofoil connection times from Como see:
http://www.sptcomo.it/coincidenze.php


Otherwise the best public transport option is usually
- Malpensa Shuttle bus to Milano Centrale (deps. every 20 mins), then
-train to Varenna-Esino.

www.malpensashuttle.it
www.trenitalia.com

Hope this helps ...

Steve

P.S. Libellula - The best way is to post the name/website/e-mail address of your recommended car service here - so everyone can benefit :)

The cheap way: Airport bus to Milan Central Station (1 hour, depending on traffic, about 6 euros), then direct train to Varenna (about every hour, also around 6 euros)

The easy way: hire a car, e.g. my buddy Antonello at http://bestviaggi.com/ - not sure of his exact rate to Varenna, to Lecco it's 120 euros so Varenna should be slightly more.

best regards,
Deirdré Straughan

beginningwithi.com (personal)
www.tvblob.com (work)

What about the C250 bus which leaves at 9.25, 11.00, 12.15, 16.25, 19.25? See the website www.ewh.ieee.org/soc/im/imtc/imtcur/maco.html

Guy - I believe the service is more frequent in high season - so maybe the website you listed shows summer times.

The C250 service is operated by SPT - so presumably their own website is up to date.
http://www.sptcomo.it/malpensa.php

(Dangerous assumption, perhaps ;) )

Maybe someone else can confirm ...

Steve

Another car service option:
website: www.viaggiosereno.com
email: [email protected]
from Malpensa to Varenna: $190