We'll be staying in Bellagio (Hotel Florence) this October, then taking a train to Florence to spend a couple of days there.
We have tickets that depart from Milan 2:48pm.
Looking for suggestions to get from Bellagio to Milan after we check out of our Bellagio hotel.
Spouse and myself, we each will have a small rolly and a backpack.
1) boat from Bellagio to Como then (taxi?) Como to Milan? How much time to allow with plenty of margin.
2) hire driver to drive us to Milan from Bellagio? How much time to allow with plenty of margin.
We are planning some on-water exploration in Bellagio but thought it might be fun to end our time there with one more boat to Como.
Would appreciate links, good details on booking if we go boat option.
Or perhaps we just ask the nice folks at Hotel Florence to help us arrange (we check in Oct 12 and check out Oct 16.
Thoughts?
Thanks in advance!
Robin
Posted by
Green Bay
21218 posts
Neither of these. Take the mid-lake shuttle boat to Varenna, then walk a short ways uphill to Varenna-Esino sttion and take the hourly train to Milano Centrale station, where you will change to your train to Florence. Get the 11:45 am train from Varenna-Esino and you will be at Milano Centrale at 12:55 pm, giving you an hour for a nice lunch at Bistrot Milano Centrale.
Posted by
OP
18 posts
Thanks so much Sam! Sounds like you speak from experience?
Posted by
The Heartland USA
9022 posts
Is the train station in Varenna-Esino still unmanned and no kiosk? If so, you can get tickets at the travel agency a short walk down the hill.
Posted by
Green Bay
21218 posts
Or download the Trenitalia app and buy tickets with that.
Posted by
OP
18 posts
Yup, we DO have that app. However, it would be good info to know IF the station is currently unattended! Would save us some concern just knowing ahead of time. Anyone been there recently?
Posted by
St. Francis, WI
77 posts
There is no Trenord train staff at the station. There is a cafe/bar which has nothing to do with the trains. The travel agency is at the station as well. When you are on the street facing the station, walk around the exterior to the right side and you will find the travel agency. They sold me tickets when I was in Varenna in April.
Posted by
Green Bay
21218 posts
But from the ferry dock in Como, you will have to go by bus or taxi to Como S. Giovanni station (up hill) to get trains to MIlano Centrale.
There is a train station lakeside (Como Lago) but all trains from here go to Milano Cadorna station. Then you will have to go by Metro or taxi to Milano Centrale station to get trains to Florence.
Posted by
238 posts
We've done the trip in the past and decided to hire a driver. We had our Bellagio hotel arrange it for us.
We are returning next month, this time to Varenna, and again have booked a driver from MXP to Varenna. We have booked with Lake Como transfers.
Reading some of the comments on various fora on how crowded the ferries are to and from Como town I'm not sure that I would want to do that.