Train from Varenna/Lake Como to Venice

Posted by vatripx4 on 06/09/15 01:01 PM

Has anyone recently taken this trip? We will be staying in Bellagio this Fall and would like to get to Venice in the most efficient way possible. Evidently if you catch the train in Varenna it is a regional train called Trenord? We are weighing the options: taking the 15 min. ferry across the Lake to Varenna from Bellagio versus taking the train out of the San Giovanni Station which would be an hour ferry ride before we could catch the train. Evidently ticketing is an issue if you leave from Varenna as there is no attendant there?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Posted by Nigel

Northamptonshire, England

06/09/15 01:55 PM

32767 posts

Crossing to Varenna and walking up the hill to the station is fastest, but taking the slow ferry down to Como could be more romantic if the day is beautiful and you are in no rush. There are places to get tickets ahead for both the ferry and the train. How are you planning to get to Bellagio?

Posted by vatripx4 OP

06/09/15 03:30 PM

27 posts

Taking train from Zurich to the San Giovanni Station. Will be spending three days in Bellagio area so not important to take a scenic ride on the ferry once again upon departure.

Posted by Laura

Rick Steves' Europe

06/09/15 05:48 PM

16893 posts

You can buy train tickets for departing Varenna at San Giovanni station as you pass through, at the travel agency in Varenna, or online at www.trenitalia.com (together with the Milan-Venice portion of the route).

Posted by Ken

Vernon, Canada

06/09/15 05:56 PM

32212 posts

In order to minimize your travel time, my suggestion would be to take the Ferry across to Varenna, walk up the hill and then take the train to Milano Centrale (~1H:03M). As Laura mentioned, you have several options for buying tickets for the trip from there to Venice (the easiest method would probably be to buy at the San Giovanni station). The "official" name of the station is Varenna-Esino. One important point to note is that the train on that route is a Regionale, so if you buy tickets locally, you MUST validate them prior to boarding the train on the day of travel, or risk hefty fines.

The train from Milano Centrale to Venice (~2.5 - 3.5H) will be one of the high speed versions, which have compulsory seat reservations. The ticket will be specific to one train, date and departure time, and can ONLY be used for the one train listed on the ticket (again, hefty fines for those that board the wrong train). Note that your departure station will be Milano Centrale and destination station Venezia Santa Lucia.