My friends and I will be in Milan for 2 nights in Oct. We're coming in on Monday around 1 pm (train tickets booked), have Last Supper tickets at 2:30 on Tuesday, then fly home on Wed. One of my friends would really like to see Lake Como and the Alps as she feels this will be the one and only time she will ever be in Italy because of her health issues. My question then is...is this a possible day/morning trip? We are open to renting a car if it would be more efficient. Hoping for some suggestions or thoughts from those of you out there. Thanks!
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32404 posts
Claudette, I agree with Roberto's suggestion. The easiest solution would be to move your Last Supper viewing to Monday afternoon, which will allow time for a day trip to Varenna and Bellagio on Tuesday. I've done that trip and it's easily possible. While Varenna is only about an hour each way from Milan, going there for a few hours on Monday afternoon is hardly worth the effort. By the time you check into your hotel and actually board the train, it could be 15:00 (the trains only run about every two hours). Therefore it would be slightly after 16:00 before you actually got to Varenna. It's getting dark earlier now, so you probably wouldn't be able to see a lot. If you decide to go to Varenna on Tuesday, be sure to buy return tickets in Milan as the small station in Varenna isn't staffed AFAIK. As that's a Regionale train, be sure to validate the tickets prior to boarding the train on the day of travel, or you'll risk hefty fines which will be collected on the spot! Don't validate until you actually use the tickets, as they have a "shelf life" once validated. Good luck and happy travels!
Posted by
OP
Huntington Beach CA
1170 posts
Unfortunately, Last Supper is closed on Mondays and we are unable to move our time slot. So, it looks like a half day trip isn't possible then?
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16236 posts
Move the Last Supper to Monday afternoon and you have one full day on Tuesday where you can go to Varenna and maybe Bellagio (train or car to Varenna+boat to Bellagio). Leave early morning and come back in the evening. Milano to Varenna is about 2 hrs. each way when everything is said and done (walk/bus to train station, buy tickets, wait for train, train ride, disembark, walk down to shore). The train ride is just over 1 hr and is faster than a car. The mountains you will see around the lake are called Prealpi (lit.: Before the Alps). For the Alps you'll need to go further north.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16236 posts
Check the schedule: www.trenitalia.com The first train departs from Milano Centrale at 6:20 and arrives at Varenna-Esino at 7:23. For your return trip, you need to board, at the latest, the 12:37 train back to Milan (arr. 13:40) if you want a chance to make it by 14:30 at Santa Maria delle Grazie.
If just a few morning hours in Varenna are enough for you, technically you can.
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
I personally don't feel that a few hours in Varenna are worth the trouble. I agree with Rick that the point of the Lakes is to "see how low you can get your pulse" (meaning it's to be "experienced" rather than just "seen"). So, while a full day might be nice, a few hours, to me, would be a waste. As a bucket list, one-and-only chance thing, that's harder to assess, but for me, the answer would still be "no." Of course, if your friend really wants to go, you can. But do check the train schedules carefully; as you've been told, they only run from Varenna to Milan every two hours. Also, you mentioned seeing "Lake Como and the Alps." Varenna is not in the mountains, so you won't see the Alps on that trip.