Just wanted to let you know that if you plan on taking the train from Milan to Varenna, make sure you buy your return ticket in Milan as the ticket kiosk at the train station in Varenna is broken.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16752 posts
LOL, the ticket machine in Varenna has been non-functional for years. I've no idea why that is as it's a popular entry post for people catching the ferries. We bought round-trip tickets in Bergamo (did Bellagio as a day trip from there) but other travelers report that they've been able to purchase them at a travel agency in Varenna when it's open; I believe it's closed on Sundays.
Posted by
Alexandria, VA
771 posts
There is also a tobacco shop on the town square, near the Royal Victoria Hotel that sells tickets for the region also, so we could buy tickets to Milan, but not to Verona. We took care of that leg once we got to the station in Milan.
Posted by
Idyllwild, CA, USA
32 posts
I was told that we could buy tickets onboard the train.
Posted by
California 🦋
5301 posts
Regarding Barbara's statement:
I was told that we could buy tickets onboard the train.
I definitely wouldn't count on doing this.
If the conductor comes around to check tickets, and you don't have one, you may get a hefty fine!
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16752 posts
I wouldn't count on it either. I'd pre-purchase tickets at a different station or at the travel agency in Varenna, if it's open.
Posted by
California 🦋
5301 posts
I just realized that this is an old thread & it's been resurrected along with many others here on the Italy forum.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32404 posts
For future reference, as mentioned above you can buy train tickets at the helpful Tivano Tours office, which is just below the station. I normally buy my return ticket before leaving Milan and then just validate before boarding the train.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
The Tivano travel agency has posted on their door (if I remember correctly) that tickets can be bought onboard the train during the hours that their office is closed. In such cases, try to find the conductor upon boarding; he might even be hanging out the door at the stop. Barilott on the square has also sold the short-distance tickets for several years, but I don't know whether that was affected by the recent requirement for regional tickets to be issued for specific travel dates.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16235 posts
If you buy Regionali tickets ahead of time, you will need to specify on which day you intend to use it.
The ticket can be used only on that date specified at the time of purchase (by 23:59 of the travel day specified in the ticket). The travel day can be changed by 23:59 of the day before.
The day of travel, you still need to validate the ticket before boarding. The ticket will then be valid for traveling for the 4 hours from the time of validation.
http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom/Treni-Regionali/Nuovo-biglietto-regionale