Carol0324

I'll be in Italy in October. The plan is to spend a night at either end of the trip in Milan, 3 nights at Lake Como (either Varenna or Bellagio, depending on where we can find the best accommodations), 4 nights in Stresa, and back to Milan before flying back to the U.S. I'm getting totally confused as to the best transportation options...if we stay in Varenna, it looks like we can take a train directly to Varenna, then directly to Stresa, and then directly back to Milan (i see there's the Centrale and Garibaldi stations...I think we're planning to stay closer to the Cadorna station...is there a train directly there?). If we stay in Bellagio, however, it looks much more complicated...how would we do Milan-Bellagio-Stresa-Milan? I was hoping not to rent a car unless that would simplify things. Thanks so much.

PalenQ

.I think we're planning to stay closer to the Cadorna station...is there a train directly there?)>

Not from Stresa but from Como - Nord de Milan line goes there but only to Como - ends at boat dock for boats to Bellagio.

If we stay in Bellagio, however, it looks much more complicated...how would we do Milan-Bellagio-Stresa-Milan?>

By train easiest to bounce back to Milan and out or investigate buses or transfers.

For lots on Italian trains check www.ricksteves.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.seat61.com.

All your trains are regional trains -no reason to buy in advance but as you go -no discounts and no reserved seats possible. And do NOT forget to validate your own regional train ticket before boarding the train or you will be traveling without a valid ticket -stick them in cancelling machines trackside or in stations.

You definitely do not need to rent a car -boats go all over the lakes.

thursdaysd

For Bellagio the quickest way is probably a train to Varenna and the ferry from there. You could also take the train to Como and then the ferry, but it is a much longer boat ride. wonderful scenery, though.

Ferry schedules:

http://www.navigazionelaghi.it/eng/c_orari.asp

greg

>>> The plan is to spend a night at either end of the trip in Milan

Unless your return flight is into the afternoon, a simple time computation would tell you that you need to be in Milan the last night and use the train or stay in Stresa and use one of these if you don't want to pay for a taxi http://www.safduemila.com/alibus-201...aggiore-1.html.

Direct trains to Malpensa leave both from Cadorna and Milano Centrale, each every 30 minutes.

If you put Bellagio at the beginning of the trip, the difference between Varenna and Bellagio is minimum. Several ferries run frequently between the two.

Dukey1

You need to know that Bellagio has NO rail service.

Any train you take from Varenna to Stresa is going though Milan.

Yes, you can take a train directly to Milan from Stresa and vice versa.

The trains to and from Varenna-Milan are regionals. There ARE other services to and from Stresa-Milan which have First and Second class sections in addition to any slower regional services.

frencharmoire

If you are going to Stresa and flying out of Malpensa, there is no reason to go back to Milan city as part of flying home. Simply take the airport shuttle bus from Stresa to Malpensa airport. Your hotel in Stresa will reserve a seat on the bus for you, but you must give them 24 hours advance notice.

However, if you want to go back to Milan to visit the city before flyiing home, and If you want to stay in the Cadorna area of Milan, then it is simple to either take a train into Milan and then a taxi to your hotel if you don't like dragging luggage, or you can use the underground metro if you don't mind dragging luagage. Something else you can do if you are coming from Stresa is reserve a seat on the bus from Stresa to Malpensa airport and then take the Malpensa Xpress train directly to Cadorna station. But it is somewhat more expensive to do that.

neckervd

Don't worry and choose between
Train Milano Centrale - Varenna
Train Milano Centrale or PG - Como SG - bus - Bellagio
Train Milano Centrale or PG - Stresa
Train Milano Cadorna - Como Lago - catamaran - Bellagio
one you are at Milan and according to the time of the day you plan to travel.
There are of course metro trains between Cadorna, Porta Garibaldi and Centrale

PalenQ

Train Milano Cadorna - Como Lago - catamaran - Bellagio>

Seems the most romantic - arriving by boat but yes all are good options.