Hello. This group is always so helpful. My research is sending me in circles so I am hoping for some advice. I will be in Val di Fiemme mid September for Nordic Combined Summer Grand Prix, so I will have a rental car to drive back and forth to events. Afterward, I am planning to go to Lake Como for two days (traveling on Sunday 9/21), but want to ditch the car as soon as possible. I have to use Enterprise Rent a car so I'm beholden to their options for drop off. Option #1 Drive to Como and drop rental car there and get ferry to Varenna (there is no rental car drop off in Varenna). Option #2 Drive to Milan and drop rental car there and get train to Varenna (looks like a direct train). I am a great mountain driver but not a fan of city driving. Am I missing a better option?
Posted by
San Diego, California
6611 posts
I'd avoid the Milan drop off because of the train construction issues on the Varenna line. Where are you staying?
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16825 posts
I'd keep the car and actually get to Varenna by driving this more beautiful route through the Tonale Pass and the Valtellina.
(PS. from Colico you can stay on the eastern side of lake Como and exit the highway at Bellano. Not sure why Google Maps sends you to Menaggio to take the ferry)
Posted by
OP
6 posts
Thank you. I did not realize the train is under construction to Varenna. I think keeping the car and driving may make the most sense. And thanks for the advice on the route. I need to look closer because Google wants to send me down to Milan and up. I'm fine if it takes a bit longer and is more scenic.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16825 posts
Google Maps would normally send you down the A22 freeway to the A4 freeway toward Milan, then up to Varenna at a certain point. The A22/A4 route is longer but faster because on the freeway you can drive at 130km/h.
The route I linked you through the SS43-SS42-SS39-SS38 is almost as fast and more scenic. It stays mostly in valleys, therefore not major mountain roads, except for some short stretches on the passes.
An even more scenic route would be through Trafoi and the Stelvio Pass. But that will take you about one hour longer, because it goes through the famous Stelvio Pass switchbacks. It will be a gorgeous drive however.
Posted by
Munich
946 posts
I'd keep the car and actually get to Varenna by driving
Yes, you can do that, but it's important to know that parking in Varenna is no fun. There's a large parking garage, but it can be full by mid-morning.
We arrived in Varenna at noon on the car ferry and actually couldn't park the car there until the evening (we had rented an apartment in Varenna for a few days). So we put our luggage in the apartment and drove to Lecco to have coffee and pass the time until the evening :-) I honestly still don't know if we could have reserved our parking in advance.
Posted by
San Diego, California
6611 posts
We observed what Mignon said about the Varenna parking garage. It was full by 10:00am this past May, 2025. Cars tried lining up , waiting on the street, but there was a traffic control officer waving them past. If a car left the garage, one was allowed to enter. Best of luck !