Milan to Menaggio train/bus/boat advice

Take the train from the airport to Milano Centrale station, then book the next train to Vareena (50 mins) , when you get to Vareena go to the dock for the ferry and book the next ferry to Menaggio. You probably won’t get to your hotel till around 12:00-1:00pm. You will love lake Como!!!

It's " Varenna" , so you get the town right.
The station at Varenna is called Varenna-Esino.
You get off the train there, walk downhill about 10 mins. to the dock, get on the next ferry across to Menaggio.
Walk into Menaggio, about 12 minutes.

Beside the way via Varenna posted above, you also have the alternative to take a train to Como, then from Como take a fast boat to Menaggio through the Como branch (Southwestern branch) of the lake.

The train to Como is faster than to Varenna, but Como to Menaggio is a longer boat trip (52 min from Como to Menaggio vs less than 15 min from Varenna to Menaggio) so overall the trip (train+boat) is of similar length either way.

I suggest to take the Como route at least once (either going or returning) because the Como branch is the most beautiful of the 3 branches of the lake (the boat will even pass by George Clooney’s villa).

You can find the train timetables below
www.trenitalia.com
Below is the current summer ferry timetable
http://www.navigazionelaghi.it/risultati.aspx?lake=Como

Thank you, when we get off our train from Vienna at Milano Centrale is their automatic machines to purchase tickets to either Como or Varenna-Esino or do we find a he ticket office?

You can buy tickets from a machine or from the (usually very long) line at the ticket office. These are in the lowest level of the station; tracks are at the highest level; in between are stores and restaurants. Milano Centrale station will probably remind you of an airport - it's huge - but the levels are connected by inclined travelators as well as elevators.

Note that you don't "book a train" from Milano Centrale to Varenna-Esino or to Como. These trains are unreserved. You buy a ticket, which is good for any train that day (make sure your tickets are for the correct date). You then validate the ticket before getting on the train, so you don't get a fine.

Thanks Harold.