Travellin_family

We are a family of 4 (2 young children) and will be travelling from Bellagio to Milan. We plan to take a ferry from Bellagio to Como then a train from Como to Milan. How far is the train station from the Duomo? We have booked to stay at a hotel near there. Would it be better if we just took a taxi from Como to Milan? Pls advise. Cost is a factor but if it's not very much more expensive, we may consider taking the taxi. What do you think?

Viajero2

There are two main stations in Milan-- that said, use Google Earth to find your answer.

vox_iena

The main station (Stazione Centrale) it's only 4 stops away from Duomo by metro (Line 3 - Yellow).
If your train is arriving in Porta Garibaldi, you need to take metro line 2 - Green to Stazione Centrale (2 stops) and then the Yellow line to Duomo.
If your train stops in Cadorna FNM station you are 800 metres away from Duomo (or a couple of stops using metro line 1 - Red).
In any case do not take the taxi from Como, it's expensive and a waste of time (most of the time the Highway between Como and Milano is jammed by traffic), if you don't like using public transportation, take a cab once arrived in Milano.
Enjoy your stay!

greg

Taxi = better for simplicity = not better for cost. You are talking about a 90min - 120min drive.

Here are other options:
1. Boat to Como, walk/taxi to Como Lago station, take Le Nord train to Milano Cadorna station www.trenord.it/media/11350/4751.pdf , taxi to the hotel.

2. Boat to Como, taxi to Como San Giovanni station, take Trenitalia train to Milano Centrale www.trenitalia.com, taxi to the hotel.

3. Bus to Como, walk to Como Lago station, take Le Nord train to Milano Cadorna station www.trenord.it/media/11350/4751.pdf , taxi to the hotel.

4. Bus to Como San Giovanni station http://www.sptlinea.it/LinkClick.asp...language=en-US, take trenitalia train to Milano Centrale, taxi to hotel

However, if getting to Como is not needed, this is what I would do:

5. Ferry to Varenna, walk/taxi to Varenna-Esino station, take trenitalia train to Milano Centrale, taxi to the hotel.

Both stations in Milan have subway access to Duomo, but, it is not recommended with luggage, not with children, not during peak hours, and not unless the Duomo station is near your hotel.

Travellin_family

Wow! Thank you all very much for your suggestions. Am so glad I asked.

Travellin_family

Greg, if you're still reading this, if you dont mind me asking, why do you suggest taking a ferry to Varenna instead of to Como? Isnt Varenna further north? Thanks!

ellenem

Greg's suggestion of Varenna is a good one depending on how you want to spend your time.

Yes, Varenna is slightly north of Bellagio, a 10-15-minute boat ride away. However, Varenna has a train station with trains that go directly to Milano Centrale in a about 90 minutes. This might be the quickest, easiest way to reach Milan. (Keep in mind that the train shcedule is once every two hours.)

If you want to enjoy some views of Lake Como, the boat ride from Bellagio south to the city of Como is lovely. I don't think you get to enjoy the views as much from the fastest boats (30 mminutes?), but this might be enough for you. The slower boats offering better views take more time. Then you connect to a train in Como that takes about 60 minutes.

So if you are trying to get to Milan quickly, a train from Varenna might be the better option. If you want more scenery, a boat to Como might be better. You decide.

NYCFoodSnob

Intentions are good but some of the answers here are incorrect.

Depending on time, the OP has options:

1. You can ferry to Como from Bellagio but you need to determine what kind of ferry, slow or fast. The fast boat gets you there in an hour but there are no seats outside and the windows from inside are cloudy. The hour ride is efficient but joyless. The slow boat (local stops) takes longer but those ferries offer outdoor seating, offering a prettier ride.

Como's train station is about a half-a-mile from the ferry docks. So, depending on the schedule, you could miss your connection if your family tends to linger or no one in your group knows how to navigate a map.

2. The ferry ride from Bellagio to Varenna (if you select a direct route) is only about 15 minutes. In nautical terms, Varenna is just across the lake from Bellagio. In a car, driving on a parallel plane, Varenna is 4 minutes north of Bellagio (you can think of Fiumilatte as Bellagio). Varenna does have its own train station but its about a mile from the ferry dock and the walk is uphill. You can ask for a taxi, the short ride will cost about 10 Euro.

The ride to Milano Centrale is 60 minutes (you can see this on the Trenitalia website) and the schedule depends on the time of year. In summer, morning trains run every hour.

A taxi from Como to Milan can easily cost you 80 Euro. I've done this a few times. If you get stuck in a traffic snarl, beware, the trip can take 3 hours. From Bellagio to Milan, a taxi will cost closer to 200 Euro. A car service is similar, if slightly more.

The train from Varenna is the most cost-effective and efficient way to get from the lake to Milan and back. The secret to success is planning your trip with precise care, which will require you to learn the train schedule and the boat schedules, and plan for a specific day you of travel. There is a learning curve to deciphering the schedules. Good luck.

ellenem

NYCFood Snob, Thanks for the corrections to my good intentions. My last visit was a few years ago so some of my timing was misremembered.

Travellin_family

Good intentions all round, you guys are superb. I'm understanding this so much better now.
Thanks again everyone. I'm inclined to take a ride over to Varenna then down to Milan from there. Will check schedules..

greg

Now that you are looking at the Varenna route, the train station at Varenna is unmanned (at least it was.) Which brings to how to get tickets. Here are the options:

1. Use a ticket machine at the station. They are usually functional.
2. Find a travel agent who can sell Trenitalia tickets.
3. If you are at a manned train station before going to Bellagio, buy Varenna-Milano tickets at that time so you have an option of using machines or in person. At Varenna you must use a machine.

Since I have always used train to get to Bellagio, I have always bought the return tickets at the same time.

While the walk between the dock and the station is perhaps around 10min or 500m, the last, hmm, 180m is very steep. Most people walk this section rather than waiting for one (?) taxi that seem to go back and forth between the two.

Travellin_family

Thanks for the tip Greg! Where do I find the travel agent? Or I could try get the tickets online first. Maybe that's better.

Thanks also for the tip on the last 180m walk. With 2 young kids in tow, we may need to get a cab. I'll gladly part with the Euro10 to keep our sanity.

Realise I cant cut it too close, will try to arrive 1.5 hours before train departs for Milan.

Thanks Greg.

NYCFoodSnob

When is this trip? I have copies of the schedules and could possibly offer a suggestion or two. 1.5 hrs is unnecessary, even though Varenna is a lovely town worth exploring. Not sure you'll want to wear yourselves out before a visit to Milan, though. Still, the ferry dock in Varenna is a lovely hangout. I could sit on a bench there and easily kill an hour of wait time, loving every minute.

jim21

A few slight corrections if I may. The train station in Varenna is only about 200 or 250 meters from the ferry dock. The walk is almost entirely uphill so it may be a little challenging but it does not warrant a taxi ride.

The station is unmanned so you must purchase tickets at a travel agency. I am guessing you can do this in Bellagio. If not, there is a travel agency in Varenna which in on the way to the train station. As you cross the small bridge you turn right to ascend to the station. The travel agency is about 20 meters up on your left. They are very friendly and will take care of your ticket needs. This is where we purchase our tickets when we are in Varenna.

NYCFoodSnob

<i>"The train station in Varenna is only about 200 or 250 meters from the ferry dock."</i>

People have varying impressions of distance. And 99.9% of travel posters have never done official measurements. At average walking pace, the walk uphill from the ferry can take 7-10 minutes. Coming downhill is a tad faster. The walk can take longer if you're out of shape and need a minute to catch your breath. If it's hot and humid, the walk will make you wet.

A taxi ride is not warranted. It's not necessary. But for those people who can't make the walk uphill, for whatever reason, all you have to do is ask the ticket booth attendant to call for a taxi, and a taxi will come by to take you to the train station. This is a common request in Varenna.

Taxis don't normally hang out at the ferry dock because there is no idle room for them, given the car ferry lines that form there. But taxis do hang out at the train station when the trains, coming and going, stop there. The booth attendant will typically tell you how long the taxi wait will be.

Travellin_family

We'll be there early June. Appreciate any suggestions NYC FoodSnob.Thanks also for the tip Jim21 for the tip to get the tickets from Bellagio first. I'll certainly do that if I can and if not, your detailed instructions to get to the travel agency in Varenna is very clear. Thanks for that!