Getting from Bellinzona to Bellagio or Varenna

Hi Suzanne. No, no direct way from Bellinzona. Several options. Definitely stay on train from Bellinoza to either Lugano or Como. Easiest would be to just stay in Lugano, considerd much nicer than town of Como. Or train to Como, believe there is a fast ferry to Bellagio. Or if you are adventurous, there is a fun bus from Lugano to Menaggio; short ferry from there to Varenna or Bellagio. Check a map or Rick Steves book to get an idea. Enjoy your trip!

Hi Bob. Thank you for your help. We were initially going to stay in Lugano, but what I read about it made it sound like it was pretty, but not worth a three-night stay. Have you been there? I will definitely check into the bus to Menaggio. I would rather go from there to Varenna than make the hike down to Como and back up on a 1-hour hydrofoil trip to Varenna at the end of a long day. We decided to make base in Varenna rather than Como, based on Rick Steves' recommendation and my own reading. I also went to the web site for ItaliaTren and found out that there is plenty of service by train from Varenna to Venice via Milano. Trip is 4 hours and 3 minutes one way. So that's a big problem solved. I didn't want to have to worry about dealing with a ferry and connecting with a train in Como. Thanks again!

We visited the Lake Como area a few years back and rode the train to Como and then took a boat to Bellagio where we stayed at Hotel Bellagio, which was very good. When we left to take the train through Switzerland to France we took a bus from Bellagio back to Como. The bus ride itself was a fun adventure as the bus stopped in little villages to pick up or drop off passengers and the route hugged a cliff that dropped off to the lake below. We arrived safely but it was a breath-taking ride. We loved the Lake Como area. Lots to explore in Varenna which is accessible by boat from Bellagio too.

Suzanne, Actually, it's very easy to get from Bellnzona to Varenna by train. When you arrive in Bellinzona, stop for a leisurely lunch. There's a train departing at 15:25, arriving Varenna at 18:23 (time 2H:58M, one change at Milano Centrale, reservations compulsory on first segment). That's not really too late, so after checking into your Hotel you could then go for a leisurely dinner (preferably somewhere with a view of the lake at sunset)! What website are you using for train information? Also, what time do you have to leave Varenna for the trip to Venice? Cheers!

Hi Ken. Thanks for the info. I know there is a train from Bellinzona to Como. From Como, we could take a 1-hour boat ride to Varenna, or we could do what you suggested and ride all the way to Milano and then up to Varenna, but after spending nearly 5 hours on a steamer boat and train from Lucerne just to get to Bellinzona, I think I would be well and truly exhausted. It seems to make sense to catch the short 21-minute train to Lugano and catch a 45-minute bus from there to Menaggio, then a 15-minute ferry to Varenna. Truthfully, it works out at about the same travel time as it does by train via Milano, but at least we won't be doubling back. I don't know if one way is better than the other really. It's going to be a long, long day, that's for sure! I use a combination of Rail Europe and Tren Italia (or ItaliaTren?) to check schedules.

Hi Jerry. I'm very excited about staying in Varenna and exploring Lake Como! We are very lucky and found an apartment to rent in the center of town because the hotels were a) ridiculously expensive b) often got terrible reviews from travelers. The apartment is gorgeous and less expensive than any hotel I tried to book. Thank you for sharing your experience of your bus ride from Como to Bellagio. I think we're going to have an equally "thrilling" bus ride from Lugano to Menaggio from what others have told me! Happy travels.