Como Travel Forum

Hi. I am staying in Milan for a couple of nights in Ocober before moving on to Cadenabbia for one night. From what I have read,the best way to get from Milan to Lake Como is to catch a train from Milan Cadorna station to Como Lago station. Is that correct ? The next problem is how do I get from Como Lago station to Cadenabbia ? Can anyone advise me please ?

Unlike most towns in Italy, Como is served by both the national rail service, Ternitalia, and by Ferrovie del Nord, a private rail company.

Milan Cadorno is a Ferrovie del Nord station (not Trenitalia). As it turns out, there are three stations in Como that serve Ferrovie del Nord, with the Como Nord Lago station being right near the water in the center of town.

Trenitalia serves a number of stations in Milan - Milano Centrale being the main station - but has only one station in Como, called Como San Giovanni. This station is on the edge of the city center, although to be fair, it's only a kilometer or so walk from Como Nord Lago.

So, to me, the "best" way to go depends on where you are starting in Milan.

As for Cadenabbia, there is no rail service here, so you'll have to look for buses or ferries...

Bill

Bill,
Thanks for that. That's how I understood it with regard to Trenitalia going to Como San Giovanni,with Ferrovie del Nord going to Como Nord Lago. However,I got even more confused the other day by looking at the Trenitalia website. That shows a timetable for trains from Milano to Como Nord Lago,which although it doesn't say so,I assumed would be run by them. Anyway,the bottom line is that there are two ways I can do it. You helped me out by telling me that the two Como stations are close together - Never having been before,I thought I had read somewhere that San Giovanni was about 30km from the lake ! So,as I said,I guess I can choose which way to do it when I get there. I take it both journeys are equally picturesque ? The only thing I have to find out now is a mode of transport from the staion to Cadenabbia.

Graeme.

Hmmmmn, Trenitalia is confusing sometimes in that they sometimes - but not all the time - have the train schedules for private rail companies. I didn't realize that Trenitalia carried the Ferrovie del Nord timetables, but I see that they do (now, anyway - I don't think they used to).

In the interests of full disclosure, I will note that I have not been to Como; however, you can see the locations of the train stations in Como by going to www.viamichelin.com, going to Maps, entering Como and Italy, then zooming in. When you zoom in enough, all the stations will appear...I do see that Como San Giovanni appears one zoom before the others...

Bill

Can I suggest a different way, as Como to Cadenabia is a relatively long ferry or bus journey, the hydrofoils to not stop at Cadenabbia.

Take the direct train from Milan Centrale to Varenna-Esino (one an hour, journey time one hour). It is a five minute walk downhill to the ferry terminal in the village of Varenna where you will have many options to cross to Cadenabbia either directly or via Bellagio.

The website for the ferry timetable is (from Varenna)

http://www.navigazionelaghi.it/eng/com/ora/nlc_ora_t4a_e.html

The website for the ferry timetable is (from Bellagio)

http://www.navigazionelaghi.it/eng/com/ora/nlc_ora_t1a_e.html

Regards,

Billy

If you choose to go to Como take the train from Milan Centrale, the train station you arrive at is San Giovanni or Como Stazione FS as it will appear on the bus timetable for Como to Cadenabbia.

The website for the timetable is

http://www.trasporti.regione.lombardia.it/int_perc.exe?9&19&10&134&65&0&974&640

I have travelled to and on Lake Como many times and I still believe the best way to the centre of the lake is via Varenna.

Billy

Billy,
Thamks for that - I didn't realise that it would be so confusing ! Let's see if I understand this - you recommend going from Milan to Varenna and then getting a bus or ferry to Cadenabbia rather than Milan to Como and then trying to get to Cadenabbia,because there will be more options. Is that right ? Look forward to hearing from you mate. Thanks again,Graeme.

Not Quite!

When you reach Milan Central station you have 2 options

1) Train to Como followed by bus to Cadenabbia

2) Train to Varenna followed by ferry to Cadenabbia

It would be helpful to know what time your flight is expected to arrive so I can advise you further.

Regards,

Billy

Billy,
We are staying in Milan on the Friday & Saturday nights,then checking out on the Sunday morning before travelling to Cadenabbia for just the one night,so obviously we would like to be in Cadenabbia as soon as possible. We fly back from Bergamo on the Monday night at 1920. Obviously what we want to do is spend as much time as possible exploring the lake. I have transport booked back from Milan at 1630,so whatever happens I can't miss that.I guess it's just the reverse journey - Cadenabbia to Varenna then onto Milan ?

How's this for bad luck ? Although I didn't tell the wife,my whole motive for booking a weekend in Milan was to take in a match at the San Siro. I thought it would be a safe thing in October,but just my luck - there are no games at all that weekend because Italy are playing a European Championship qualifier in Genoa ! So I will just have to try and indulge my other passions of eating and drinking.

If you have any tips at all for the short time we are there,they will be greatly appreciated. Thanks,

Graeme.