I am looking for specific information on taking a bus trom Lugano to Menaggio. Does the bus leave from a specific bus station? Is that bus station located near the train station? Is there a published bus schedule? How can I look that up? Do you know if the bus departs hourly, for example or only a couple of times a day? Does the bus arrive at the ferry dock in Menaggio? My final destination is Bellagio where I've read that I do not need a car. Is there another alternative means of transportation that I should explore? Thank you in advance for your help. Planning a trip is so much easier with Fodor friends helping!

You can see the schedules if you use the Swissrail website (there is an English version..click on the "EN" at the top) and you use Lugano as the starting point and Menaggio as the endpoint.

The bus does not "arrive" at the ferry dock or at least it didn;t a couple of years ago but rather it stopped at the Menaggio town square which is about a five-minute walk away from the ferry dock

the SwissRail site is:

www.sbb.ch

Thanks Dukey but I get "no connections can be found". Any suggestions to navigate their web site better?

There is one Swiss bus a day, as part of the "Palm Express":

http://www.postauto.ch/en/pag-starts...te-express.htm

However, there are regular buses to and from the Italian side to Lugano. However, they do not go to the train station, but stop down by the lake. Links and an explanation are here:

http://www.hotelsmenaggiolagocomo.it...o_reach_us.htm

Very helpful information. Thank you.

Or you could take the train from Lugano to Como and then go by bus or boat to Bellagio

I did not know that was an option. Interesting choice. Thanks

You mght be getting the no connection message depending on the dates you are using

Try the Lugano Tourism site--they used to have bus schedules.

Hi Skye - The Lugano-Menaggio bus service is run by the Italian operator SPT.

You can find the timetable here:
(- click 'C12')

http://www.sptlinea.it/Lineeeorari/O...S/Default.aspx

The journey takes about 1 hr

Hope this helps ...

Steve

P.S. The link shows the current 'winter' timetable