scteach

I am in the planning stage of our upcoming trip to Italy. I'm having difficulty finding the best train/ferry/hydrofoil route between Santa Margherita Ligure and Bellagio. Then, from Bellagio to Malpensa for our trip home. I'd appreciate any help and pointers! Thanks so much!<BR>Judy

Judyrem

Me too Judy! We are taking the train from Nice to SML, and spending 4 nights there. Tentatively, we are then going to take a train from SML to Milan, then pick up a car from Auto Europe in Milan train terminal to travel around the Lake region. Bellagio and Stresa are are our 2 towns as a base. We are dropping off the car at Malpensa. We are then flying out of Maplpensa too. When are you going? We are going to in the beginning of May. Judy

GAC

Here is a start:<BR><BR>From SML to Como San Giovanni Station by Italian rail: www.trenitalia.com<BR><BR>From Como to Bellagio by local SPT bus:<BR>www.sptcomo.it<BR><BR>From Como to Bellagio by ferry/hydrofoil<BR>www.navigazionelaghi.it<BR><BR>From Bellagio to Malpensa, take the hydrofoil or the local SPT bus to Como, then the SPT Malpensa airporter bus to Malpensa. <BR><BR>The bus station and ferry/hydrofoil dock in Como are very close; whereas the San Giovanni train station (Italian rail) is nearly 1 kilometer away.

GAC

You will notice from the SPT Como bus schedules that bus service to Bellagio (Line C30) originates at the San Giovanni FS Train Station in Como, thereby avoiding having to walk the 1 kilometer to the bus station/ferry dock. This makes the connection from the train from SML extremely easy. Buses leave nearly hourly, fewer on Sundays.<BR><BR>From Bellagio to Malpensa, the first bus leaves Bellagio Lungolago Marconi at 6:00 a.m. (Mon thru Sat), arriving at the Como Bus Station at 7:03 a.m. The SPT Malpensa airporter bus leaves the bus station at 7:23 a.m. and arrives at Malpensa at 8:25 a.m. There are other buses leaving later.

scteach

Can anyone tell me how often the hydrofoil runs from Como to Bellagio? If our train arrives at 15:05, would there be a hydrofoil leaving fairly soon after?

GAC

If your train arrives in Como at 15:05 (I am assuming at the S. Giovanni FS Station), you have at least two options:<BR><BR>1. Take the SPT bus (Line C30) from directly outside the station, leaving at 16:05 and arriving Bellagio at 17:15. (On Sundays, the bus leaves at 15:49).<BR><BR>2. Take the hydrofoil leaving at 16:20 and arriving Bellagio at 17:10. However, you need to walk or take a taxi to the ferry dock, which is about 1 kilometer away. The hydrofoil costs 8.70 Euros. The bus is about half that amount. Some people have commented that the hydrofoil is not a great way to travel, since the choppy waives and water spray make it difficult to admire the scenery through the windows of the craft.<BR><BR>3. There are also slower ferries. You can see the complete schedule at<BR>www.navigazionelaghi.it