Spending a couple of days in the Lake Como area and wanting to go into France for a couple of days. I am thinking Annecy and Chemonix but not opposed to other suggestions. I think we will fly back out of Milan. Also suggestions on this. Thanks.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16894 posts
This whole loop will take at least a day's train travel in each direction, as well as a few nights at the destination(s).
If you're starting in Varenna or along that train line on the east side of Lake Como, the fastest schedules to Chamonix-Mont Blanc involve going back to Milano Centrale station, then connecting north via Brig or Sion and Martigny. Heading straight north by train to Tirano puts you on the scenic Bernina pass, and then you could connect to the Glacier Express heading westward, buy you'd have to sleep somewhere along the way.
From Menaggio on the west side of Lake Como, you can take a local bus to Lugano to catch a northbound train.
If you do continue to Annecy, then the fastest return route to Milan will be through France, with a connection at Chambery, Grenoble, and/or Torino. These include a fast TGV train that is expensive if not reserved ahead.
Looking Up Train Schedules and Routes Online gives you the Deutsche Bahn train schedule link and tips for using it. This will automatically offer the fastest connections, unless you request a detour through a specific "Stopover" like Tirano. Unfortunately, both this site and www.sbb.ch are not working at the moment to show the connections from Martigny to Chamonix-Mont Blanc. Try again in a week.