Hi! We are planning our first trip to Italy in June of 2020. The last 3 nights of a two week trip will be spent on Lake Como. I had planned to stay in Varenna for location to train station, and other features pointed out in Rick Steves' book. However, I am having better luck with hotel rooms in Bellagio. My concern is the added time that will be necessary to get to the airport in Milan on check-out day. Our flight home is not yet booked, and if we end up with a morning departure, how difficult will this be logistically?
Thanks in advance for any advice!
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16032 posts
Caron, just my 2-cents that there's no way I'd want to be staying any further away than Milan if I had a morning flight out of Malpensa.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15452 posts
If you are flying to North America, the flight will almost certainly be in the morning.
I would not plan to spend the last night in Bellagio before a morning flight from Malpensa.
Even in the best of circumstances it is a 2.5 hour journey by train. You should plan to be in line at the check in about 2.5 hours prior to departure for a US bound flight.
If your flight takes you to another European gateway hub first, you can be at the airport 75-90 min prior to departure, but then it is likely those flights will need to leave from Milan much earlier in order for you to make your connection elsewhere in Europe.
I would plan to sleep closer to the airport or at least in Milan near the Cadorna station from which the fastest trains to the Malpensa airport depart.
If you are flying to another European destination from Milan Linate, then you can stay anywhere downtown Milan and take a short taxi ride to the airport in the morn of departure.
If you drive, it is a bit faster, but you still need at least 1.5 hours to drive from Bellagio to Malpensa (if you know where you are going). In the morning there is high chance for some traffic near Milan, so I would give myself at least 2 hours for the drive.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
16774 posts
I suggest you book your flights and then you know what you are dealing with.
Like the other experienced travelers, I would not want to travel from Bellagio (or even Varenna) for a morning flight from Milan, whether Malpensa or Linate.
If Malpensa, you could spend your last night in Stresa on Lago Maggiore, as there are shuttle busses to Malpensa. But check the schedules carefully. If your flight home depart before noon, best to spend the night in Milan. It is a nice city and we enjoyed our time there last time; laooking forward to a return in March.
Posted by
79 posts
Even staying in Varenna the night before a flight may be pushing it. You will have to take the train into Milan and then switch trains to go to the airport. From Varenna it is an hour to Milan. From Milan Centrale it is over 30 minutes. Assume 15 minutes between trains and you are nearing 2 hours from station to station if no delays. Add in the arrival at Varenna station ahead of time and the short walk to the terminal from the station. If you have an afternoon flight it would work. Check the train schedules from Varenna on departure date before you book.
Posted by
11367 posts
We always stay at a hotel near MXP the night before our flight after staying in Bellagio.
Posted by
2 posts
I stayed at Albergo Baretta in Varenna this past august and absolutely loved it.
It was recommended by people on this forum and/or the the Rick Steves' book. Basic, affordable and rockstar location. 2 min walk to the ferries, 5 min walk into town and most importantly an easy 5 min walk to the train station with connection to Milan central station. At central station you can switch to the airport express, all very convenient but I would leave the night before and stay at a hotel near the airport or leave extra time in case there are train delays (happens a lot). When I was there, Varenna seemed less crowded but just as charming as Bellagio and the ferries run rather frequent and late and allow you to comfortably commute back after dinner. For me, not having to deal with my suitcase on the ferries was the right decision.