Parma Travel Answers

Before 8 in the morning, there are some bizarre rail solutions, but after 8 a.m., there will be a number of rail solutions that are pretty straightforward: Como S. Giovanni to Milano Centrale, then Milano Centrale to Parms. The cost will be (for tomorrow) anywhere from 12.75 euro to 28 euro, depending on how much the segment from Milan to Parma costs (this is a "premium" trains whose prices very based on time of day and on discount programs). See www.trenitalia.com; English at the top.

I haven't looked but the odds are 99 to 1 that there are at least some car rental agencies near the train station, because this is the way that Italians do things. The Avis location appears to be about a kilometer to the west of the station (but the address is confusing, so that may not be exact). Hmmn, if this is right, it's halfway between the train station and the airport. There is a Hertz office at the airport as well, as well as several others I'll leave you to look up.

Worst case - you'll have a short taxi trip with your luggage to the local office...

Bill

Thank you so much! This is very helpful!

We are worth every penny you pay us...oh, wait! Let me rephrase that!!!

This will be a simple trip by train, and if you look at a map, you'll see that the airport in Parma (assuming that you even need to go that far) is a short ride...Check on some of the European brands like Europcar - they may have even closer offices.

Oh, Como S. Giovanni station is a station somewhat distant from the lake (15 minutes' walk?). There are three other stations in Como, but they belong to LeNord, a private rail company. You want the Trenitalia or "FS" (for Ferrovie dello Stato) station - everyone will know where it is.

Bill

My preferred link for Trenitalia is:

trenitalia.com/homepage_en.h...

which takes you straight to the English version. As Bill notes, it's a simple enough journey even though you'll need to change. Italian stations and platforms are very well-signed and you'd need to make a real effort to get confused. You don't need to buy tickets in advance online: ticket machines are easy to use, with English language options. They accept cash and give change and will also accept cards with chip & PIN.

Como San Giovanni is indeed around 10-15 mins walk from the lakeside.

why bizarre before 8am?
COMO S.GIOVANNI 06:36
CANTU'-CERMENATE 06:47 06:48
SEREGNO 06:57 06:58
DESIO 07:01 07:02
MONZA 07:08 07:09
MILANO CENTRALE 07:20

chance train - Freccia Bianca 9803
MILANO CENTRALE 07:35
PARMA 08:44

OK, cgf, you found the one sensible soluton before 8 a.m....how about

• Como S. Giovanni dep 05:22
• Milano Greco Pirelli arr 06:14 
• Milano Greco Pirelli dep 06:25 
• Milano Rogoredo arr 06:44 
• Milano Rogoredo dep 07:00
• Parma arr 08:16

or

• Como S. Giovanni dep 05:41
• Como Nord Camerlata arr 05:51
• Como Nord Camerlata dep 05:56
• Milano Nord Bovisa arr 06:42 
• Milano Nord Bovisa dep 06:55 
• Milano Rogoredo arr 07:22 
• Milano Rogoredo dep 07:33 
• Parma arr 08:54

or

• Como S. Giovanni dep 07:22 
• Milano Greco Pirelli arr 08:14
• Milano Greco Pirelli dep 08:40 
• Piacenza arr 09:51 
• Piacenza dep 10:20 
• Parma arr 10:44

or

• Como S. Giovanni dep 07:42 
• Monza arr 08:10
• Monza dep 08:20 
• Milano Lambrate arr 08:36 
• Milano Lambrate dep 08:47 
• Piacenza arr 09:51 
• Piacenza dep 10:20 
• Parma arr 10:44

These are NOT well-known stations...you're wandering all around Lombardy... ;-) hey, maybe this is a good thing for someone who REALLY wants to get off the beaten path!!!

Bill

The solutions with change ot stations should be avoided not because those stations are not well known, btw for a lot of people are very familiar, you won't be on time if you had to change at  Rodogredo which is about 12 km from Bovisa station, little bit shorter is from Greco-Pirelli, both LeNord stations are at opposite side of town, early morning is not the best time for a tourist tour in Milan.

About other solutions without changes of station it would take almost one hour more then the one to Centrale, *if me* at that point I would take a car and solve two matters, first to have no timetable to go and back, second to do not look for a rent a car in Parma, finally go straight to destination which doesn't seem to be Parma downtown as a rental car close to the station is asked

Thanks for your input!