is there a train or bus to bellagio from the airort, or to anywhere on lake como? can we get from linate to bellagio without a car?

If you've already booked your hotel, it's easier to do this the other way around: Ask your hotel how to get there. (Sometimes hotel websites on the lakes will answer "How to reach us" on their website).

I've never flown into Linate, but it has a shuttle to Milan. From there you would need to take a taxi (or subway, if you want to plunge into the system) to Milan's Central Station. The train leaves from there to Varenna or Como (the town of Como), and both offer you a ferry ride to Bellagio.

All that said, your hotel may know of a better route, like a direct bus to the lake from Linate.

HI

Is it better getting a ferry from Varenna or como to Bellagio?

To Bellagio from Varenna is a 15 minute boat ride (with very frequent service).
If I remember correctly, from Como to Bellagio will take about a hour on a 'fast boat/hydrofoil' or about two hours on a regular service boat.

Here's ONE, but not the only way: take either a bus (I'm sorry I don't know the schedules) or a taxi (what I have done in the past) directly to Milano Centrale. Trains from there to Varenna-Esino leave about every two hours. The trip takes about 1.5 hours. You can easily walk from the train station in Varenna to the ferry dock in ten minutes and it is, literally, downhill all the way. Take the first ferry over to Bellagio; some of these are passenger-only and others are suto and passenger combinations.

While you are waiting at the ferry dock kick back at the hotel outdoor tables across from the dock and soak in the atmosphere with some wine or other goodies.

You can get an airport shuttle bus from Linate directly to Milan Centrale, where you can catch the train to Varenna, or to Como. The airport buses run about every 20 minutes.

Whether to take the ferry to Bellagio from Como or from Varenna is simply a matter of choice. I've done it both ways and they are both pleasant.

If you have the time and the weather is good, the longer ride from Como on the regular ferry is very enjoyable and very scenic. Check train and ferry schedules before deciding.

On the other hand, the train ride from Milan Centrale to Varenna is also very scenic, and the ferry from Varenna to Bellagio takes only about 15 minutes. It's very easy and as the previous poster said, the short walk from the train station in Varenna to the dock is all downhill.

So it's just a matter of what you prefer.

thank you all for your help! i see it can be done......

The ferry is the way to go. Are you leabving soon?

the ferry sounds good! will be there end of june, coming from dolomites (castelrotto) thanks to a panecott suggestion...........