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Milan to Lake Como "Menaggio" advice

Hey guys, My wife and I are going to Lake Como for the first time next September and I'm looking at booking a place in Menaggio instead of Varenna, as Rick suggests (only because there are more options available). However, the train map states that it will take 2 hrs & 28 mins to get there.... though only 1 hr & 12 mins to get to Varenna. Isn't in only about a 10-minute ferry ride over to Menaggio from Varenna? Would it not be a better idea to take the train directly to Varenna and ferry over to Menaggio?? What are the drawbacks of this strategy? It's our 25th wedding anniversary and if it's going to be a big PITA, I'd rather just ride longer on a train. Any help will be appreciated.

Posted by
303 posts

Absolutely take the train from Milano Centrale to the Varenna Esino stop. It is about an hour ride on a local train. Be sure to validate your tickets on the platform before you board. Sit on the left side for the best views! At Varenna walk from the station down to the ferry. There might be signs. If not, ask. Buy a ferry ticket to Mennagio. Ferries crossed frequently when we were there in May. It is about a 10 to 15 min ride across the lake to Mennagio!

Posted by
34 posts

The ferry is quick.

What you do depends on how much stuff you have to lug around. And where you’re staying in Menaggio.

Although I personally would stay in Varenna... it doesn’t disappoint.

Posted by
8889 posts

There is no rail line to Menaggio.
It is on the west side of the lake, there are two train lines:
1) Up the east side of the lake, Milan - Varenna (plus other places) -Tirano
2) Como town (south-west end of the lake), Milan - Como - Lugano

Where are you coming from?
You have 3 options, either as you say train to Varenna, then ferry. In this case you need to walk from the station to the docks, and wait for the next ferry. This could account for the extra time.
Ferry times are here: http://www.comoanditslake.com/timetablenavigation.htm

Or, plan B, train to Lugano, then bus to Menaggio. Bus times here: http://www.menaggio.com/ita/e-lakes/Orari_bus.pdf

Or plan C, train to Como town then bus. Info here: https://lakecomotravel.com/bus-service-around-lake-como/#c10-como-menaggio-colico
timetable here: https://s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/wps-lakecomotravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/C10-como-menaggio-colico-19.pdf

Posted by
4616 posts

We were in Lake Como this past April, [staying in Varenna], and found that on the weekends, the ferry schedule became erratic . It seemed that larger ferries were used on the weekends, so the loading/unloading of passengers took considerable time. Also, a scheduled ferry would just be canceled.
I'm sharing this so that if you are planning on catching a specific train, such as a train returning to Milan, you need to allow flexibility and extra time. Again, on the weekends, the Varenna-Milan [or return] train was often like a commuter route, which meant standing room only. We didn't have any problems with weekday trains [except Friday, of course .]
That being said, we found Lake Como beautiful and enticing, and plan to return next spring.
Safe travels!

Posted by
11055 posts

A road goes up the west side, a train travels up the east side. We prefer Bellagio as there is no noise from trains or traffic. Menaggio is very pleasant.

Posted by
15043 posts

The highway along the western side of the lake that goes through Menaggio is diverted away from the lakeshore into a tunnel under the mountain, so there is no way you will be disturbed by the traffic. Even the Main Street in town (the corridor Via IV Novembre, Via Lusardi, Via Diaz) detours toward the interior away from the historical center along the lake. If you stay on or around Piazza Garibaldi, the main Piazza on the lakeshore, there is no traffic and the area is a pedestrian ZTL.

You can take a train to Varenna and the ferry as you suggested. That is probably the faster option.

Another way I like is to take the train to Como then a fast hydrofoil to Menaggio (45 min). This latter option would give you a chance to see the most beautiful branch if the lake from the water, and also pass by George Clooney’s villa in Laglio. I recommend you try that either going or coming back.

Posted by
2281 posts

hey hey gk
you've gotten great advice here about transportation. on the other side here's some info you may be interested in
italymagazine.com/10 best things to do in como
italymagazine.com/varenna/lake como charm
theculturetrip.com/top 10 things to do and see around lake como
have a great adventure, happy anniversary, don't stress, go with the flow
aloha

Posted by
32519 posts

When I stayed in Verenna I heard the water lapping at the shore but heard no trains. Due to the narrowness of the road I heard no traffic either.

Posted by
67 posts

Thanks, guys! I really appreciate the great advice and suggestions. @Roberto, the hydrofoil sounds like a great idea, but I couldn't find any useful info about it. If you have a valid link where I can find times and prices, I'd love to have it. I'm sure my wife would enjoy a high-speed boat ride from Como to Menaggio, where she can see the beautiful villas along the way. I know I would. But, if we can't swing that, I suppose we will do as yo others suggested... train to Veranna and ferry across to Menaggio. Thanks again.

Posted by
32519 posts

bear in mind that the visibility from the hydrofoil isn't great, and it stays away from the shore, making the most direct route.

One day I spent too much time gently making my way on the slow boat along the shore that I ran out of time by Como. I ran over to the hydrofoil and hotfooted it back to Varenna. Quick, but nowhere as scenic as the slow boat drawing into every small village.

Posted by
15043 posts

This is the image of one of Lake Como’s hydrofoils.
If the windows are open the view is not too bad (if you keep them closed the glass is not that clear with all the water splashes).
The slower boats offer better views as you can sit outside in the deck as shown here. I don’t think the hydrofoil permits outside sitting. So the slow boat allows for a more enjoyable and scenic journey, as long as you don’t mind a 1 hour journey instead of 35 min with the hydrofoil from Como to Menaggio. I guess when on vacation one should not have reason to rush.
Boats’ timetables below:
https://www.navigazionelaghi.it/

Posted by
3067 posts

When we went that route a few years ago, we had to walk along the main road from the ferry dock to the main square of Menaggio.
It took about 10-15 mins walk with luggage and was quite narrow.
It may be different now, but the dock is , or was, away from the main area of the town.