Our Rick Steve’s Alpine my Way Tour ends in Chamonix and we want to go to Varenna on Lake Como for a few days. Has anyone done this? I understand there’s a Gondola that goes from Chamonix to the Italian Side, can we catch a train there and head to Milan and up to Varenna?
Or would it be best to take the train from Chamonix to Geneva then to Varenna. We will be doing this in the middle of September. Any input would be appreciated.
Posted by
Baltimore, Maryland, USA
413 posts
I've never done that transfer, but I've done the Panoramic Mont-Blanc to cross between Italy and France. It is not set up for using as a transfer. There isn't space for luggage and I highly doubt you could get the luggage up the mountain to begin with. I believe there is a bus from Chamonix to Courmayeur. From the Aosta Valley, bus is probably the fastest way onto Milan.
Posted by
Green Bay
22902 posts
Take the train from Chamonix to Martigny, Switzerland (with a train change at the border town of Valorcine), then to Brig, then to Milan, then to Varenna.
Posted by
OP
Parker, CO
15 posts
HK, thank you. We will look into a bus!
Posted by
Citizen of the World
3765 posts
For that journey— as with the trains—you’ll need to look into two or three different buses taking 10-13 hours.
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
13096 posts
Day 12: Tour Over After Breakfast
From Chamonix, you can book a convenient two-hour shuttle bus ride to Geneva's airport. Your tour manager will help you with any post-tour planning, leaving you well prepared for the road ahead
It seems the simplest thing to do is bus to GVA and fly to Milan and then ride the rails to Varenna
Trying to do a ground transfer from Chamonix to Varenna looks to take 10+ hours
Posted by
Wengen
3506 posts
You are trying to get from a place North of the Alps to one South of the Alps, so you need to Cross the Alps. You are also going from France to Italy. And you are trying to use public transit in France to go to somewhere that is not Paris.
So unfortunately the deck is entirely stacked against you.
Route by train could be:
- Chamonix - Martigny - Brig - Chur - Tirano - Varenna. The scenic trout through Switzerland. Would need to break it somewhere though.
- Chamonix - Martigny - Brig - Milano - Varenna. Fastest all train route.
Partly by bus:
- Chamonix to either Torino or all the way to Milano by coach. The on by train. Would not be my thing,
Alternatively: If all you want to do is spend some time on an Italian lake go to Stresa in stead. Closer, and a lot easier to get to. Route would be Chamonix - Martigny - Brig - Stresa.