Varenna to Lugano for Day Trip - is it worth it?

YES! My Wife and I were just there in September. We ferried across to Menaggio and bought a bus ticket at the TI. About an hour's ride and you will be in Switzerland. Pay attention to the schedule so you can get the ferry back to Varenna. The bus runs later than the boat and you could find yourself in Menaggio for the night. Also, bring your passport in case someone asks to see it at the border, as you are leaving the EU. Our bus was waved through.

Minnie, This appears to be a duplicate post. I'll provide the same answer I listed in your other Thread. I suppose a day trip would be feasible, but it would be better to spend one night and a couple of days in Lugano if possible. Travel by train would be the easiest method, but the trip will take 2-3 hours each way. The routing shown on the Trenitalia website seems a bit complicated, and doesn't provide a good choice of departure times. The route that I'd use is a departure from Varenna at 07:37, arriving Milano Centrale at 08:38. There's a departure from there at 09:10, arriving Lugano at 10:10. Total travel time is 2H:33M. On the return trip, there's a train departing Lugano at 19:48, arriving Milano Centrale at 20:50. The last train of the night departs for Varenna at 21:20, arriving Varenna at 22:36. Fares EACH WAY should be about €27. Note that all of the rail times shown are subject to change. If you decide to make a day trip to Lugano, I'd suggest buying all tickets in advance, as the schedule suggested above wouldn't allow any time for visiting ticket offices. There's a Travel Agent just below the station in Varenna, so you might pay them a visit and make all the arrangements. Most of the trains are Regionale, so DON'T forget to validate. Happy travels!

For traveling from Italy into Switzerland, be sure to carry your passport. When I took the above-mentioned bus trip, passports on our bus were checked at the border. The bus trip across the mountain from Menaggio is scenic. I didn't find Lugano to be very interesting. There are parks and a lake, plus shops, restaurants, etc.

I must respectfully disagree with Ken. If a day-trip is what you are looking for (and that is what I believe you asked about) the easiest way is the ferry to Menaggio with a bus ride to Lugano. Easy as pie. Just pay attention to the bus and ferry schedule. Not saying a train is terribly difficult, but the Varenna to Menaggio ferry is a relaxing 20 minutes of scenery across the lake, never losing sight of either town. Bus tickets can be purchased (very inexpensively) at the local Tourist Info or the tobacco shop on the main piazza, and the bus stop is but a pleasant 3 minute walk down the main street. Ask in the TI and they will give you a map and clear directions. When you get to Lugano, you are a 6-7 minute walk from the historic center and there is much to see in a day. Highly recommended. Bring your passport, and expect lunch to cost twice what it cost in Italy.

Thank you all so much for the advice. I really appreciate it!

Does anyone in this thread know if the bus runs to Lugano on Sunday?