train from Venice to Como

On what exact date are you planning to travel? You'll want Como Nord 'Lago'; here's some info on buses if you are interested in using them, esp. b/n the train station and your hotel: http://www.asfautolinee.it/en/Home/tabid/266/language/en-US/Default.aspx There are several trains that cost around €51/€37 per person (1st/2nd class). I would feel comfortable with buying tickets there (unless it's a busy travel day - holiday, etc.), as soon as possible (to avoid lines at ticket windows), and since part of your trip requires a seat reservation, buy early to get the train you want. I assume you'll be in Venice for a few days before you travel to Lake Como?

We're leaving Venice on March 27, 2011. I would like to leave around 10:00am.

You should check the fares and schedules on the Trenitalia site, although you likely won't be able to purchase there. It is worth a try, though. If you do want to buy in advance, I'll just say that I am not as negative about RailEurope for tickets in Italy (and only Italy) as others here are. The prices for the ES train from Venice Santa Lucia to Milan, departing 9:50 am, is 31 euro from Trenitalia, and $43 from RailEurope. Converting the euros at $1.36, the Trenitalia ticket is $42.16, or 84 cents less than the RailEurope price. On the other hand, you will likely have to pay a 3% Foreign Transaction Fee if you buy the ticket in Italy, which brings it to $43.42, or 42 cents more than the RailEurope price. The price for the ticket on the 1:10 pm EuroCity train to Como is $16 from RE; 11 euro from Trenitalia. If you do buy from RailEurope you will have to add $18 for handling fees. It is up to you if the reduced stress of having the tickets in hand is worth that $18. (We got a prepaid SIM car, loaded with $20 in minutes, with our RailEurope order last summer, but I don't know if they still do this.) I thnk it is fun to purchase the tickets from the agent at the station in Italy, practicing my Italian. But that is only at the smaller train stations, where there is no line, and the agents have time to chat (and flirt.). For larger stations we used the machines (and there was still a line). If you decide to wait and buy the tickets in Venice, you should do it a day or more in advance to be sure to get the train you want. This means a special trip to the train station, which may or may not be fun for you.

Karen, It's NOT a good idea to use Rail Europe either as a source of information or for purchasing tickets. Could you clarify whether you're going to the town of Como or to one of the others along the lake such as Varenna (which is a BIG favourite with many here, including me)? It's very easy to purchase tickets in Italy, either at the staffed ticket offices or from the automated Kiosks. That will likely be the most cost effective method also, especially if you can get the new Mini fare. You might purchase the tickets for your outgoing journey when you arrive in Venice, since you'll be at the station anyway. Using the Trenitalia website, there are numerous trains each day from Venice to Como. Note that you'll be travelling from Venezia Santa Lucia (there are two stations) and if you're going to Como, you'll need to decide which of the four stations you want. Some of the connections on that route involve a change to Milano Cadorna station, which you can reach by Metro from Milano Centrale (keep that in mind when you're choosing trains). If you could provide more detailed information, it would be easier to provide more specific suggestions. Cheers!

Ken, We will be staying in Como at the Hotel Metropole Suisse. Thanks for any help and guidance to make this part of our trip less stressful.

Trenitalia shows trains at 8:32. 8:58, then it skips to 11:02, 11:32, etc. They all take around 4h15m, with 2 changes in trains. And, of course, all that Ken and Lola have said (I was typing at the same time as Lola). The train station in Venice is ALWAYS extremely busy, EXTREMELY busy. Buy your tickets as soon as you get there. The last time we tried to use the ticket kiosks they didn't work for us...but that's been a few years ago...so definitely try them first - that'll be MUCH quicker! Unless there are very short lines at the windows when you happen to be there ;-)

Eileen---that is a different assortment than what I saw. The page showed the 8:32 departure, taking 3 hours 11 minutes to Como San Giovanni, then a 9:50, 10:50, etc, taking 3 hours 23 or 3 hours 53 minutes (depending on the connect time in Milan). Those tricky Italians. . .

Thanks for all the info!

Lola, San Giovanni is actually just south of Bellagio...(it kept popping up during my 'plugging in' of dates)... Tricky Italians is right ;-) And tricky Italian websites, not just Trenitalia...:-/ I assume the OPs hotel is the Hotel Metropole Suisse in Como, not another Hotel MS on Lake Como...Was this a correct assumption, Karen?!? I sure don't want to send you off to the wrong place!

Isn't Como San Giovanni the main railway station for Como town? The one on the line between Milan and Lugano? As opposed the stations on the private Nord train line like Como Nord Borghi, Como Nord Lago, etc? One can switch to that line if any of those stations are closer to the hotel for Karen.

The map on the hotel site shows Como Nord Lago. Oh boy, I thought I got it now I'm not so sure.

Yes, Como Nord Lago is the closest to your hotel. Como S.Giovanni is the station on the main train line going into Switzerland; it is on Google maps simply as "Stazione FS". It is away from the lake, on th edge of the greenbelt south of the town of Como. Look for Piazalle San Gotthardo and the intersection of Viale Tokomachi on Google maps. Como Nord Lago is right down by the lake and MUCH closer to your hotel. That is the terminal station for the Nord line. eileen is correct and I apologize if I confused you! If you are on the Trenitalia site and input "Como" it will ask you which station. Just select Como Nord Lago and you'll get the right train.

Oh, Karen - sorry (mopping brow)...Welcome To Italy! For starters, it's helpful to know that the station referred to here (and by Trenitalia) as "San Giovanni" is called "Stazione FS" on maps, bus timetables, etc. It would be nice if Trenitalia called it that...#:-( ...So Lola and I were actually talking about the exact same trains...Trenitalia was helping me make it more complicated than necessary! Welcome To Italy! So, what I said still stands, except for the extra time and the train departure times LOL; you can either walk for 10 mins, or ride the bus and walk for a total time of 5 minutes...according to the bus website I'll give below. Trenitalia thinks it'll take you 40 minutes to reach your hotel; perhaps if you ped-and-rolled...LOL! On Google Street View, I just did the walk from Stazione FS/Como San Giovanni (argh) and I vote for walking if at all possible - it's a gorgeous walk! I also vote for walking along the water...ooooh!!! Even if it DOES take you 40 minutes! I'll shut up now LOL! Thanks, Lola, for the gentle thwack upside the head! I'm planning my own Italian trip right now; perhaps I'll throw everything out and go to Lake Como now. I certainly know the ins-and-outs of how to get there... Lola - While I was 'up at San Giovanni just south of Bellagio' (oy!) I clicked on one of the little icons on Google Maps; the one I chose said it was a train; hmmm, all of the others turned out to be BUSES!!! I trust Google a bit more than Wikipedia, but sometimes even Google gets it wrong: for the longest time, the Venice car parking lot was labled as the train station...some volunteer finally corrected it! http://www.asfautolinee.it/en/Linesandtimetables/Findapath/tabid/286/language/en-US/Default.aspx Use "Como-Stazione FS" and "Hotel Metropole Suisse"...

ROFL!!! Trenitalia didn't care much for my "Como Nord Lago"; it thought the whole "San Giovanni/Como-Stazione FS" was better... (sigh)

Eileen-just put in "Como" for the "to" station and the next screen will give you the choices- three Como Nord stations, or Como S. Giovanni. And don't forget tomwave your hands wildly as you do so. The trip to Como Nord Lago is a bit over an hour but really cheap,mlike 6 euro. The trip to Como S. giovanni is only 33 minutes, but 11euros. nord Lago station is right down on the lake just a few blocks from Karen's hotel. Now I'm going tonwalk that street view from S. Giovanni (aka Stazione FS) down to the hotel. gotta love Google maps.

Lola, that's what I did - I chose "Como Nord Lago" from the "Comos" because it was closest to the hotel, not knowing it was a different train line. Trenitalia said take the bus from San Giovanni...(shaking head) NOW I know to wave my hands in the air; things will be different now LOL! Maybe I'll try that trick while attempting to purchase tickets online...;-) You might just be onto something here...