Travel from Varenna (Lake Como) to Venice

Is our best option to travel from Varenna to Milan and then a high speed train to Venice?

that would be my choice.

Depending on your timing you could alternatively take a final boat from Bellagio to Como and then across town to Como San Giovanni station, thence to Milano Centrale and continue as before.

With luggage that might not be my first choice....

Nigel - thank you! Follow up question - is this schedule reasonable?

May 18 - leave Bellagio on the 9:55 ferry arriving Varenna @ 10:10; Depart Varenna at 10:35 train arriving Milano Central at 11:40; leave Milano Central at 13:45 arrive Venice at 16:12.

is it reasonable?

May 18 - leave Bellagio on the 9:55 ferry arriving Varenna @ 10:10; Depart Varenna at 10:35 train arriving Milano Central at 11:40; leave Milano Central at 13:45 arrive Venice at 16:12.

for me that's a pretty late start, but 25 minutes for a 5 minute walk is plenty in Varenna.... 2 hours and 5 minutes is very generous for a 10 or 15 minute connection, probably too much to do nothing but not enough to do something - maybe walk over to the Galleria and window shop and have lunch on an American timetable in the station...

If that's how you'd like it, it is fine.

Just to say, there is a 12:35 Italo train to Venice (arrives 15:03. Journey length 2:28, calls at 6 places along the way) with 9.90€ eXtra Smart tickets available. No changes or refunds at that price, higher prices get changeable or refundable.

If I had a chance to arrive at Venice earlier I would...

good feedback - thank you!

Ken