Milan to Bellagio travel question
 

Hi,

I just purchased our air tickets to Milan (MXP) for our honeymoon next May. The plane is scheduled to arrive at 4:40 pm. We want to head directly to Bellagio upon our arrival. From searching this board, I know there are a couple different ways to get there (via bus to Como and ferry or train from Milano Centrale to Varenna and ferry to Bellagio). However, I am concerned about the timing of our arrival being so late in the day. How late do the trains to Varenna run and how late do the ferrys run from Varenna to Bellagio? Would I run the risk of getting stuck in Varenna? I am debating whether to go ahead and reserve a hotel in Varenna, or take a chance and reserve one in Bellagio? Any information would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

We had our honeymoon there this past June. Just beautiful! We actually stayed in Varenna. I highly recommend Albergo Milano www.varenna.net, ask for room 1 or 2. And I'd recommend the boat. Take a bus from Malpensa to Como, then the hydrofoil or ferry up to Bellagio. Much nicer views and easier. We took the bus to the train station and got stuck at the ugly train station for 2 hrs b4 our train to Varenna. Talked to other couples that went through Como and had a lovely trip! YOu can search on this board for the websites but the schedules for next May won't be out yet. www.trenitalia for trains, I don't remember the bus and hydrofoil ones. I also read you can have a taxi or car and driver take you for under 80 euro which would be a comfortable hassle free nice way to start your honeymoon (unfortuantaly I learned that after we returned!). Congrats!!

Last train from Centrale to Varenna leaves around 9:10 PM. The trip takes about an hour and 15-20 minutes with two stops along the way (Monza and Lecco).
Trains leave about every hour starting at 4:15 PM.

Of greater concern may be the ferry connection Varenna to Bellagio. Check schedules at http://www.navigazionelaghi.it/

Thanks for the information. I checked out the ferry schedules and from what I can decipher, the last boat from Varenna is 9 pm and the last boat from Como is 7 pm. So, it looks like while it is possible to get to Bellagio via train/bus/ferry, the schedule would be pretty tight, especially if our plane was delayed. I think I will stay in Varenna, so I don't have to worry about the ferry trip across the lake.

Thanks for the info!

Have you checked with your hotel to see if a private car (taxi service) can be arranged? I know that Hotel Belvedere provides this service as they suggested it to me. The rate for pick up is around 140 euro from Milan and 60 euro from Como.

Read my TWO very recent postings: Malpensa to Como by Train. Here are two options: Take the SPT Como Airporter Bus leaving Malpensa at 18:30 (daily) and arriving at the Como Bus Depot at 19:32, connecting to the local bus line C30 at 19:43 (Mondays thru Saturdays only), arriving Bellagio at 20:48. If you miss the connection, there is a last bus leaving Como Depot daily at 20:14, arriving Bellagio at 21.24.

You MIGHT reach Bellagio a little sooner (assuming the plane arrives on time and luggage is quickly retrieved) by taking the Malpensa Express Train to Saronno and transferring to the Ferrovie Nord commuter train line to Como Nord Lago Station, as outlined in my previous postings. Travel time is 89 minutes, including the connection. If you're really lucky, you might arrive in Como in time for the bus leaving the Depot at 18:49 and arriving Bellagio at 19:54. If you can't make the 18:49 bus in Como, you might as well wait for the direct Malpensa Airporter bus leaving at 18:30, thereby avoiding the train change at Saronno.

A taxi from Malpensa to Bellagio would be prohibitively expensive (90 Euros just to Como).

The one-way fare of the SPT Como Airporter Bus from Malpensa to Como is 13 Euros. The local bus fare from Como to Bellagio (SPT Como Line C30) is 2.50 Euros.
www.sptcomo.it

The one-way combined ticket from Malpensa to Como Nord Lago on the Malpensa Express/Ferrovie Nord trains is 6.95 Euros. Service is every 30 minutes.

We had the same problem this September. We arrived from SF at Malpensa about 5:00pm. I read on this board that there were private car hires right next to the Malpensa Express Bus that goes to the Centrale Stazione. The other poster said that they negotioated a price(70for a ride to Tramezzo/Mennagio,then the ferry to bellagio) ...so, ready to take the bus, and then the train, we stoped by the car hire desk and asked for a price (we were going to Locarno)....they started at 220, we said sorry...and 5 mins later we were in a car for 150. Expensive, yes, but we arrived totally relaxed after a 19 hour trip, and ready to start our vacation. It was worth the extra money . Could we have gotten it for less, probably, but that was the price we had in our mind that would be worth it to us....