Transportation in Lombardy
 

I'm planning to stay in Lombardy for 8 days with my family (me, my wife and our children of 6 and 3). We do not want to rent a car and are thus finding information about public transport. Maybe someone has more knowledge on this topic.

First. What would cost a weekly bus pass for the region of Lake Como - which includes trips within Como, funicolare to Brunate, trips from Como to Bellagio and back, from Menaggio to Lugano in Switzerland (would that pass include that line which goes to another country) and etc. Is there a reduced price for children?

Second. There's that "Io viaggio in Lombardia", which seems good too. Does it really include all that - busses in the city of Como and around lake Como and to Lugano (as mentioned earlier), funicolare to Brunate, train from Como to Milan, train from Como to Bergamo, busses/subway in Milan, busses/funicolare in Bergamo, airport bus in Bergamo? I could only find the site in Italian (http://goo.gl/m2s1N), so I am not certain in all of that.

Thank you in advance!

Do you really want to buy a 1 month Pass if you stay only 1 week in the area?
May be the 7 day Pass for the ASF buses only will be the better choice: http://www.sptlinea.it/LinkClick.asp...language=en-US

Thank you for your answer! Of course I am interested in a weekly pass and there is such "io viaggio" also (http://goo.gl/8z1kz). It costs 43€ and I still wonder whether it includes all those things I listed.

Thanks for the SPT link too. Actually it is really difficult to understand if one does not speak Italian :) For example I know that I should look for "settimanale" passes, but for what "tarrifa"? I am interested in the following: busses within the city of Como, the funicolare to Brunate, busses to Bellagio region and even busses from Menaggio to Lugano ...

And now I seem to understand that thees weekly passes are from Monday to Sunday? If I buy one one Wednesday, then I will have to get a new one for the next Monday-Tuesday?

Sorr for all this trouble :)

Do you really want to use buses around the lake and not the boats?

http://www.navigazionelaghi.it/c_dow...202014_ENG.pdf

>>>Second. There's that "Io viaggio in Lombardia", which seems good<<<

Trenord operates the trains in the Lombardy so you will find the info there in English for that pass. It would include certain trains to Milan, not the EC trains coming from Switzerland that stop at Como S. Giovanni.

http://www.trenord.it/en/tickets/ticket-day-passes.aspx

Transport coverage maps.

http://www.trenord.it/en/the-lines/r...l-railway.aspx

The services the "Io viaggio in Lombardia" (IVIL) card covers are outlined at http://www.trasporti.regione.lombard..._rev140324.pdf.

The list of providers under "Si intendono esclusi" are those the card ISN'T valid on. The link to the map in this brochure is broken (cosa vuoi? Siamo in Italia) but there IS a working map of the relevant railway and Milan Metro system at: http://www.regione.lombardia.it/cs/S...&ssbinary=true


It's worth noting that few Italians outside commercially-managed tourism really have any grasp of English, and in many parts of NW Lombardy, the second language (if there is one) will be German, not English. Like many with limited grasp of the outside world, many Lombards will just assume all foreigners understand the one foreign language they have a smattering of. So if you're going to use public transport, it'd help you a lot to sharpen up your Italian.

You should note:
- Trenord operates most purely local, though not all, trains in Lombardy - but the IVIL covers all trains (including Trenord), except for a clutch of premium or international lines.
- IVIL excludes all boats on Lakes Como, Maggiore and Garda and airport buses (except Milan buses 73 and X73)

The documents published by the Regione Lombardia are not easy to understand indeed.

I can just try to translate into English the following:

Biglietti integrati per 1, 2, 3 o 7 giorni
Biglietti per muoversi 1, 2, 3 o 7 giorni consecutivi utilizzando qualsiasi servizio di trasporto pubblico locale in Lombardia:

bus urbani ed extraurbani,
tram, filobus
metropolitane, compresa la nuova metropolitana di Brescia,
battelli sul Lago d’Iseo,
servizi a chiamata
funivie e funicolari di trasporto pubblico
treni suburbani e regionali, anche in 1a classe, nell’ambito di validità della tariffa ferroviaria regionale Lombardia (vedi mappa).
treni Malpensa Express (solo per viaggi che non comprendono l'aeroporto di Malpensa: vedi tabella)

The ticket gives you the right to use during 1, 2,3 or 7 consecutive days any LOCAL transport service in Lombardy, namely:
citybuses and overland buses
trams and trolleybuses
metros (Milan and Brescia)
boats on lake Iseo
local buses on request
cablecars and gondolas of public interest (most probably: Como - Brunate, Arcegno - Pigra, Varese - Sacromonte, but probably NOT touristic services to places that are not inhabited all the year round, like those of Laveno or Bormio)
Regional trains
Malpensa Express trains between Milan and Busto Arsizio.

Frankly, I don't understand why they mention Lake Iseo, but not Lake Como although according to the above, Lake Como boats should be included. I'm sceptic nevertheless as a hydrofoil pass for the whole lake (and nothing else) costs 42 EUR too.

Boats on the Lombardian legs of Lake Lugano (Porlezza - Gandria Confine, Ponte Tresa Italia) are not included for sure.

The Swiss leg on the Menaggio - Lugano bus line is extremely short; a ticket from Menaggio to Lugano costs less than 1 EUR more than a ticket up to the border.

Lake Como boats:
flanneruck gave the answer: they are NOT covered by the Pass.
Thanks

Thank you all for your answers, now I seem to understand these thins better and can calculate if buying that "Io viaggio in Lombardia" for a week is worth it. It should be.

My Italian is not that good indeed, but luckily I do understand a bit of German, so that could help then :)

Now everything is clear with the "Io viaggio ..." part and I'll try to read a bit more about the possible week pass for the SPT busses. The main reason I'm thinking of moving around by bus is of course the price of the ferries. I have planned using it for some trips, but I believe it would be a bit too much if I used it almost every day (comparing to the bus service).

Thanks again!

But the ferry is much more relaxing than the bus
http://www.navlaghi.it/c_download/NL...202014_ITA.pdf

If you clicked mtheTrenord link, it gives it in English.

Day Passes [Io viaggio in Lombardia]

Tickets for short periods valid for travel on the entire local public transport network (urban and intercity buses, metropolitan trams and suburban and regional railways) of Lombardy.
They allow you to travel throughout Lombardy using any means of public transport: urban and suburban buses, trams, trolley cars, subways, 1st and 2nd class suburban and regional trains, boats on Lake Iseo, on-demand services, cable cars and funiculars within the public transport network.

FARES
1 day (16,00€)
2 days (27,00€)
3 days (32,50€)
7 days (43,00€)

WHERE CAN I BUY TICKETS?
The passes "Io Viaggio Ovunque in Lombardia" are on sale at all railway station ticket offices[LIST] or from self-service ticket machines[LIST].

Alternatively, they can be purchased from local transport agency resellers.

Your itinerary isn't clear, but if you are returning from Lugano to Milan, look at the Swiss rail website sbb.ch for advance purchase discounts (if you want to take the EC train). They have to purchased several weeks in advance (the discounted tickets can sell out).

Your 3 year old would ride free on most transport (perhaps all). The 6 year old would also be discounted (or free on some). With only 8 days in the area, I would be surprised if any type of pass is economical.

Thank you kybourbon! You have been very helpful.

Our itinerary is not 100% clear yet. We have 8 nights in Italy and at the moment it is just certain that we will arrive to Malpensa and leave from Bergamo (we have bought the tickets).

I was thinking of spending 7 nights in Como and 1 night in Bergamo prior to the flight. But now I'm also considering a few nights in Como and few nights somewhere along the lake (Nesso, Bellagio, Menaggio etc). Which would be best in your opinion - to stay in Como for the whole period or in different places? Since we have small kids we can not walk around too much.

And within these days I'm interested in exploring the lake, visiting Lugano and Milan (day trips). I'm just interested in visiting Switzerland and see the centre of Milan.

Como is a transport hub, handy for day trips by train to
Milan, Monza - Bergamo, Monza - Lecco - Varenna - Colico, Lugano, Bellinzona, Locarno, Varese, Laveno/Lake Maggiore
as well as for trips by bus to
Menaggio - Colico, Bellagio, San Fedele - Lanzo, Chiasso - Valle du Muggio.....
but it's not the most scenic place in the area. May be you check Cernobbio (on a Como citybus line) or Brunate (cablecar to Como).

Hi njosnavelin - I am planning a trip to Lake Iseo next summer - I wondered if you can advise me from your visit about public transportation from Milan, north - any other trip information would be helpful (hoping to visit Venice as well)...thank you.

Timetables Lombardy (Iseo cuadro 187):
http://www.trenord.it/it/orari/scari...-dicembre.aspx