I'll be in Bormio,Italy this time next month skiing. Looking for a day trip from Bormio. Some of the people on my trip would like to take the train from Tirano (just south of Bormio) to Lake Como. I have no idea if this is possible but I told them, STOP, hold the presses, let me ask the Fodorites. They know absolutely EVERYTHING! So would love to hear feedback on this idea. Possible or not?

Yes, with a boat ride. Train to Colico and then boat from there to Como. To go all the way by rail you have to go to Monza then switch for Como. Boats mainly Apr-Sep.. take 1.5 hrs so rail to Monza and change may be quicker - if going to Como but if going to other lake port boats may be better.

Palq: Do you have any idea how long it would be by train if we went the entire way? I don't fancy a boat ride in the middle of January, plus it sounds like from your posting that the boats don't run at that time of year anyway.

You can also train from Tirano to Varenna on Lake Como on the run that continues to Milan---I have done that.

You can actually take a train from Tirano to Varenna (without changing) which is at the middle of the lake. Ferries run from Varenna over to both Bellagio and to Menaggio.

The trip from Tirano takes one hour and 34 minutes.

Tirano-Milano 2 h 45 min; Milan-Como 45 mins; plus change time but frequent trains Milan-Como. In theory could change at Monza but fewer trains from there to Como perhaps - this route if schedules are OK would be significantly quicker.

Are you trying to get to the town of Como or anywhere along the lake? The first lake stop on the Tirano line is Colico, and, as others have said, further on you get to Varenna, Lecco, Monza, and Milan.


best regards,
Deirdré Straughan

http://www.straughan.com

I think your best option for a day-trip would be the mid-lake towns of Varenna, Menaggio and Bellagio.

The ferry ride between them is only 5-10 minutes. You can find ferry timetables on:

http://www.navigazionelaghi.it/itali...indicecomo.htm

As has been said, the train ride to Varenna is about 90 mins., but NB -morning trains are infrequent.
[Looking at the timetable, you'd really need to catch the 08.50 train from Tirano to make it viable].
www.trenitalia.it

You could either return from Varenna by train, or take the bus from Menaggio up the lake to Colico and catch the train back to Tirano from there.

I think trying to visit Como town itself would add too much travelling time IMO.

Hope this helps ...

Steve