We will be at Milan (LIN) airport midday and traveling up to our hotel in Bellagio in Lake Como. What is the best way to travel?
Posted by
Green Bay
21306 posts
Take the express bus to Milano Centrale, then the train to Varenna-Esino, walk down the hill to the ferry dock and take the mid-lake shuttle to Bellagio. One of several ways I can think of, probably the most straight forward.
Posted by
San Jose, CA
95 posts
A taxi from Linate to Milano Centrale cost us €17 about 3 weeks ago.
For 4 people it ended up cheaper than the bus and you don't have to wait for/find the bus or deal with the crowd.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32402 posts
I agree with the others. Take a Taxi to Milano Centrale, and from there the short one hour train ride to Varenna-Esino.
The ticket office at Milano Centrale is at ground level. Using the Kiosks (next to the ticket office) will be faster than standing in a long queue at the office to buy tickets. If you buy local tickets at the station, DON'T forget to validate them prior to boarding the train or you'll risk hefty fines! Tracks are two levels up, which you can reach using escalators. You'll have to go through the "gates" to access the tracks.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Could I buy tickets in Rome for Milan to lake Como? Or do I have to wait to get to Milan?
Posted by
Green Bay
21306 posts
Yes, you could buy the train tickets in Rome for Milan to Varenna-Esino. Make sure they are for the right date, then be sure to validate them in the stamping machine on the platform at Milano Centrale before boarding.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32402 posts
As Sam mentioned, you can absolutely buy tickets for that trip in Rome. You can also buy online at.....
Online tickets don't have to be validated but must be used within a "window" of the departure time specified. Tickets are specific to the day of travel, so be careful when specifying that at the time you place the order.
Note that your departure station will be Milano Centrale and your arrival station Varenna-Esino. You might want to buy your return tickets also, as the small station in Varenna is not staffed. The train trip is 1H:03M and you'll need to be ready to disembark promptly from the train at Varenna, as it doesn't stop for long.
There may be a Taxi waiting at the Varenna station (or maybe not?), but it's not a difficult walk down to the Ferry dock. There's a ticket booth in front of the dock.