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-   -   Train from Lucerne to Argegno on Lake Como (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/train-from-lucerne-to-argegno-on-lake-como-892291/)

sycamore May 25th, 2011 06:30 AM

Train from Lucerne to Argegno on Lake Como
 
We need to go from Lucerne to Argegno on Lake Como. What would be a good way of doing that? Is the William Tell Express an option? Is it worth a small inconvenience? Is the regular train from Lucerne to the city of Como scenic? Is it difficult to get from Lugano to Argegno?

Also, is their a scenic way to go from Venice to Zurich? Or would it be best to go through Milan?
Thank you in advance.

docdan May 25th, 2011 07:03 PM

Unable to help you too much, but for starters there is no train to Argegno. The closest rail service is to Como, and I velieve from there you can take a bus to Argegno. - To go from aRgegno rto Lugano you'd have to take a bus to Como, thence by rail or bus to Menaggio, and transfer to a Swiss Post bus to Lugano. I have no experience with bus service in this area. As to Rail service - suggest you go to the Swiss Rail website ww.sbb.ch, click on "En" and start serching connections - It is pretty user friendly. From Lucern you connect in Arth-Goldau, then onto Como. From Venice to Just about anywhere in Central or Northern Europe, you have to go through Milano Centrale.

Jean May 25th, 2011 08:52 PM

I think you have two options: (1) Train to Lugano, bus to Menaggio, ferry to Argegno, or (2) Train to Como S. Giovanni, taxi to ferry dock, ferry to Argegno.

I'd probably do #2. You can take a no-change train all the way from Luzern to Como. Journey is 3 hours. The fast ferry to Argegno takes 25-30 minutes, and the slow ferry journey is about an hour. Unless you're in a hurry, take the slow ferry for the views.

http://www.sbb.ch/en/home.html

http://www.navigazionelaghi.it/eng/c_illago.html

You asked about regular train service v. The William Tell Express. The WTE takes a couple of hours longer, and I think it ends at Lugano. At least that's where we got off, but you could connect and continue on to Como S. Giovanni. It starts with a paddle-wheel ferry ride to the far end of Lake Luzern. We enjoyed the entire experience, but we didn't need to keep travelling on to a small town on Lake Como. I think it would make for a very long day and much luggage schlepping.

You can go Venice to Zurich on a route that heads north from Verona via Innsbruck (searchable on the sbb.ch website above), but you'll have multiple connections and the journey will take 11-12 hours. Not my cup of tea, but this is your trip.

sycamore May 27th, 2011 06:09 AM

Thanks for your suggestions! Are the views just as pretty on the regular train from Lucerne to Como?

Jean May 27th, 2011 11:36 AM

It's been a while, but I think so. Part of the WTE is the Gotthard tunnel which for train fanatics is a big reason for taking that route.


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