I'm planning on visiting the Lake region early next year and not rent a car. Thanks to this website I can get from Malpensa to Stresa either by van or train. What is the best way to get from Stresa to Bellagio. From there I will be taking the train to Milan. Thanks a lot.

There is no direct service between Stresa and Bellagio, and there are several alternatives. One which comes immediately to mind is the following:

1. Train from Stresa to Milano Centrale
2. Train from Milano Centrale to Varenna
3. Boat from Varenna to Bellagio

Another way is to transfer in Como City and proceed to Bellagio by boat or bus.

When in the trenitalia.com website, see what connections are available between Stresa and Como and between Stresa and Varenna.

I assume there's also no direct service from Varenna to Stresa? I realize that Varenna -> Milan, Milan -> Stresa is perfectly doable, though a bit inconvenient.

Unless there is some sort of bus service (and I am not saying that there isn't) the only alternative to driving Bellagio to Stresa would be via train from Varenna or ferry to Como then onward. Someone may know about bus services.

Do you mean there's a train from Varenna to Stresa? (I didn't check that yet--have been focusing on Cremona, Matova, Pavia, etc.)

Or is there a bus from Varenna to Stresa?

What I'm suggesting is that you check the possibility of a bus connection between Stresa and Bellagio. There is rail service from Varenna to Stresa and vice versa but it would mean changing trains in Milano at Centrale or in some cases actually traveling between stations in Milano, either the Porta Garibaldi or Greco Pirelli stations.