Bellagio Travel Forum

We are traveling to Italy in September, and will be arriving in Milan about 2:45pm. Since our hotel reservations in Milan don't start until the next day, we thought we might go up to Bellagio for the night, and then travel back to Milan the next afternoon. In looking at the boards, there are a number of ways to do this and I am looking for some opinions on the options. We could take the train / ferry. This would mean we would have to take the Malpensa Express to the Central Train station, then take a train to Varenna, then take a ferry from Varenna to Bellagio. Depending on the schedules, this could take us about 4 hours total. Another option would be to hire a car to take us to Bellagio right from the airport. Although this option is much more expensive, it gets us to Bellagio by 5pm. Since we don't have much time in Bellagio, this seems like a better idea. Then we have to get back to Milan the next day. If we use a driver to get there, We can't go back thru Varenna, because I have read there is no ticket machine at that station. So I guess we would have to take the ferry to somewhere else to catch a train back to Milan. Any thoughts on all of this would be appreciated.

An option from Milan is to train to Como and catch the hydrofoil or ferry directly to Bellagio. From either of the como train stations to the boats is a short taxi ride. This might be faster than the train to Varenna and will give you a lot more lake scenery. Yet another alternative ( ours, BTW) is to rent a car and drive directly to Bellagion through Como and up the east side of the lake. This trip along the east side of the lake is very pretty, but a really serious problem with a car rental is - where do you return it? Milan is very difficult driving. The Lake is beautiful and worth what ever it takes to get there. >~!

Hi Teegolf ... wow! someone born on the same month/year as I am ;=)

We took a similar trip last year, but we used Varenna as a day trip from Milan. We took the train to Tirano from Milano Centrale and left the train at Varenna. I would go straight to Varenna, although I'm not certain of the train schedules and stay at Alberco Olivedo http://www.olivedo.it/ - I will do a shameless plug to my Lago di Como VT page at http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/9e639/252 ... we had a meal at this hotel and it was heaven. Staying at this hotel should be a memorable experience. I am confident Bellagio is beautiful (we went during tourist season after visiting Varenna and got on the next boat out because it was too crowded, but I'm sure that it should be great) ... but Varenna is a wonderful place. So you could spend the night in Varenna, then slowly make your way back to Milan (make sure you have meals at the hotel mentioned, I just got a good all star notice for this restaurant tip). After exploring Varenna, take the ferry to Bellagio. Then take the ferry to Como. From Como you can take the ferry to Cadorno station in Milan and take the metro to your hotel (hope I got the name of the station right) - it's close. The Tirano route to Varenna is beautiful, the route to Cadorna from Milan is not great - mostly industrial, but gets to Milan quickly. You may want to spend some time in Como - there's a great funicular that gets you up to a wonderful view of the lake. Don't underestimate Varenna!

Nomad

Take the train to Como San Giovanni station...then you can take a ferry or fast boat to Bellagio. The last ferry as I understand it is at 3:15 but there are later fast boats. Take a taxi from the station to the boat harbor...or walk...it's about a 15 minute walk. And finally, if you can find the bus schedule, there is a bus directly from the train station in Como to Bellagio. It is the fastest way....BUT here lies the problem...I can't find the schedule on line...it's how I got to this web sight. I took the bus BACK from Bellagio to the Como Station last September and it was terrific...but I am also coming back this September and my train doesn't get in till 3:05...so I need to find that bus schedule. Good luck to both of us! As for hotels, if you can get into the Florence it is sublime, but it might be tough in September. howerver there are lots of places to stay in Bellagio...try for along the lake or you'll find yourself dragging luggage up lots of steps. But DO get to Bellagio....one of my favorite places in Italy. And I'm in Italy every spring and fall...have an apartment down in Buonconvento south of Siena.