We are just beginning to put together an Italy itinerary. We will need to leave Varenna and travel to Bolzano to rent a car. So far, we have seen train travel times range from 1.5 hrs to more than 6 hrs. Naturally we are interested only in the fastest and most direct train. That being said, we are also trying to keep the costs relatively low. Can someone give us a fairly accurate time frame? Would be very much appreciated. Thanks.
Lisa and Steve
Posted by
San Diego, California, USA
1859 posts
I don't know where you saw 1.5 hours, but it is a 4-5 hour drive disregarding the trains. I can't see 1.5 hours unless it's by helicopter. Best case scenario by train is about 5 hours. You're essentially going Varenna > Milan > Verona > Bolzano so 5 to 6 hours should be about right.
The Milan > Verona part is a fast train and it would be cheaper - but longer - to take a slower train through this section. I would instead book early and get the best price you can on the fast train ticket section of this trip because it will be a long day in any event.
Have a great trip,
=Tod
Posted by
🏝️ Hobe Sound, FL⛱️
3463 posts
I can’t find any connections between them in less than 4 hours 55 minutes and one or two transfers. It would be cheaper and faster if you rented the car in Varenna and drive to Bolzano.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
17292 posts
Unless you are a personal friend of George Clooney, who has a villa on Lake Como, and he’s willing to give you a ride on his helicopter, you will need 5 hours to go from Varenna to Bolzano by train. If you have a car, rented before you head to Varenna, you might make it on 4 hours.
Personally I would probably rent a car before Bolzano. There are no rental car companies in Varenna, however there is Hertz in the city of Lecco (to the south of Varenna). To the north of Varenna there is the city of Sondrio, which has both Hertz and Avis. Both cities are a short train away from Varenna. Between the two I would probably choose Sondrio, then I would take the beautiful Tonale and Amendola State Road (SS42), through the Tonale Pass and Mendola Pass and be in Bolzano in less than 4 hours (plus photo opportunity pit stops).
Another alternative would be to take the train and rent the car in either Bolzano or maybe in Verona, which has several agencies near the train station (Hertz, Europcar, Avis, Sixt), rather than Bolzano where I think most rental companies away from the station (more toward the airport). If you are going to the Dolomites, Verona is not much farther.