Chamonix to Bellagio help needed

You've picked two spots that have no direct routes between them. Other alternative routes are train to Martigny, Switzerland, then trains either north to Zurich then down to Como, then bus or ferry to Bellagio, or train to Milan and north to Como, then bus or ferry to Bellagio. There are other permutations, for this, but they all involve lots of changes and a 10 hour day for sure. Look at www.sbb.ch/en to see the possibilities.

If the stars align... But still a long trip.

Bus. Chamonix-Geneva.
IH25m. Need to be at gate 45m-1 hour before.

Fly. Easyjet. GVA-PSA
1H10m.

Car. PSA-Bellagio. 3H41m.

ek,

There are a number of different routes you can use, but whichever way you choose is going to be a long travel day. One way of minimizing the agony of the trip would be to stop at an intermediate destination for a day or two, as that would split the trip into two more manageable segments.

I looked at a number of different possibilities and if you want to make the trip in one day, this seems like the easiest option......

• Take one of the Chamonix / Geneva Shuttle Vans (have your hotel pre-arrange or book online, trip takes about an hour). If you can get to the Geneva Cornavin station early, you'll be able to connect with a direct train to Milan Centrale. It departs at 07:39, arrives at 11:37 (time 3H:58M, EC, compulsory reservation). There are numerous other departures with 1 - 3 changes, but this is one of the few direct departures.
• Take train from MIlano Centrale to Varenna-Esino. There's a train departing at 12:20, arriving 13:23 (time 1H:03M, Regionale).
• Walk down hill to Ferry dock (or take Taxi if there's one at the station), buy tickets for the Ferry and in about 20 minutes you'll be in Bellagio.

Total travel time should be about 6.5 hours, and most of it will be on the EC train where you can snooze. You might want to pick up a Panini or something in Geneva station for lunch, as I'm not sure if that train has a restaurant car (but it probably does).

With this route, you should be checked into your hotel in time to have afternoon cocktails at the Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni.

Buon Viaggio!

The shortest possible itinerary looks to be: buses Chamonix - Cormayeur; Cormayeur-Aosta; Aosta-Milano; and train from Milano. Bus timetables at http://www.savda.it/public/documenti/195.pdf

It looks difficult already on paper, but remember: due to erratic traffic conditions at the road tunnel, connections in Courmayer cannot be guaranteed and through tickets to Milano cannot be issued; the bus terminal in Milano is at Lampugnano, very distant from Centrale station (30 minutes by metro with a change).

Apart from that bus, Chamonix is basically unconnected with Italy. You must backtrack through Switzerland; looking on bahn.hafas.de, I see at least one connection with unavoidable multiple changes, but only 6:30 hours that is not a bad time.

Thanks all for your replies. My choices are very clear now--1. Make it one long horrible day with many transfers; 2. Break it up into 2 days; or 3. Make it a nice but expensive train ride through Switzerland. Happy travels.

ek,

The option I suggested will be a longer day, but I wouldn't characterize it as "horrible". The longest segment will be a reasonable four hours or so, and you'll be able to sleep or enjoy a meal.