Hello,
My wife and I are doing the Best of Italy tour in September. We're travelling from Milan to Varenna at the start of our trip. I saw the train can only get so far and then we'll need to take a ferry to Varenna. Is buying tickets from Milan Centrale to Varenna-Esino still the best option? Will the train ticket cover the cost of the ferry? Thanks!
Posted by
San Diego, California, USA
1145 posts
Hello mjrozan7, and welcome to the boards,
Varenna-Esino is the train stop in Varenna so you can just book from Milan to there and that's it.
You may have been reading about a recent landslide that cut off Varenna but the track has been reopened for some time now and regular train service from Milan has been resumed.
Have a great trip,
=Tod
Posted by
Irving
3277 posts
From Varenna, there’s a 15m ferry to and from Bellagio. Both Varenna and Bellagio are doable as a single day trip from Milan.
Posted by
San Diego, California
5649 posts
The train takes you to Varenna. You then have a ten minute downhill walk into Varenna.
The ferry takes you to Menaggio and Bellagio, and other Middle Lakes stop.
The ferry company is different from the train company, so yes, you pay for the ferry separately, I believe it's 15 euros for a ferry day pass. We were just there in May.
Enjoy this beautiful area!
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thanks for your quick answers! We’re looking forward to an amazing trip!
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32363 posts
It sounds like the temporary disruption on the rail line has been cleared, so that will be an easy trip for you.
As I recall, that train departs from one of the outlying tracks at Milano Centrale (Binario 1?). The final destination may be listed as Tirano, but that's the correct train. If you're buying your tickets locally from one of the kiosks, be sure to validate them prior to boarding the train or you'll risk hefty fines.
Be sure to choose a direct train. A few of them have changes. The trip will be 1H:04M, and you'll go through a tunnel just prior to arrival at Varenna-Esino. Familiarize yourself with the door release mechanism and be prepared to disembark quickly as it doesn't stop for long. Try to sit on the left when facing forward as that will provide best views of the lake as you approach.
You can see details on all departures on the day you'll be travelling to Varenna by checking the Trenitalia website.
I assume you'll be staying in the Hotel Royal Victoria. The pre-tour information will provide detailed instructions on how to reach the hotel. It's not a long walk.
Have a great time on the tour!