My family and I will be staying in Varenna next year, and would like to know : Should we take a water tour, or just do it ourselves with Water Taxi's?
How long does it take to get a crossed the Lake to the other side to Menaggio, or to Bellagio and San Giovanni. Is this practical and affordable?
It is only 13 minutes between Menaggio and Varenna. You can get a 3 zone all day ticket for 15 EUR, 12 EUR for seniors 65 and up, 7.50 EUR children 4 to 11. covers Varenna, Menaggio, Bellagio, S. Giovanni, Lenno.
http://www.navigazionelaghi.it/eng/c_illago.html
http://www.navigazionelaghi.it/c_download/E2016_NLC_Navetta%20CL.pdf
The boats that chug along between towns on Lake Como would be more accurately called ferries. There may be taxis, but what you suggest is the ferries. They carry vehicles as well as foot passengers. The people who live in those towns go back and forth on the ferries the way other folks would use buses. Menaggio has more basic businesses, like grocery stores and hardware stores. It also seems to have more hotels. If you want to take a bus somewhere like Switzerland, you take a bus from Menaggio.
