I am trying to figure out the best way to travel between Lake Como and Zurich (we fly out of Zurich). I'm hoping to stay in Varenna. It seems like one option is to take the ferry to Como and take a train from there. Another choice would be to take the ferry across to Menaggio, take the bus to Lugano and catch the train in Lugano. I'm a little worried about the bus part of that trip. Buses seem so much more intimidating than trains. This would be on a Saturday in July. Any experience or advice?
Posted by
OP
Chicago
9 posts
About the bus: I guess I'm wondering if it was easy to buy tickets for a non-Italian speaker? Did it seem like the bus was reasonably punctual (since I'd need to catch a train on the Lugano end)? Was it mostly tourists, or also locals? You (Kent) may not know if Menaggio has a TI where I can purchase tickets?
Posted by
OP
Chicago
9 posts
Thanks for the advice Kent. I think you are right to suggest the hydrofoil to Como. I tend to be a nervous traveller (when things don't go according to "plan" it's hard for me to roll with it). Rick's book has a map of Como, so I should be able to make it between the dock and the train station without a problem. And I'm sure those folks in Menaggio will see me during my travels anyway!
Posted by
OP
Chicago
9 posts
Hmmm. I'm glad that you (and William) alerted me to the two train stations. In the meantime, I've flipped through my RS Italy book and realized there is no Como map inside. Must've been in a different guidebook. I'll be sure to track one down before the trip since it looks like I'll need the station Como San Giovanni to get to Zurich.
Posted by
West Sacramento, California, USA
281 posts
If you go to the link below, you will see a map of the Swiss Transportation System. The yellow line going from Lugano to Menaggio is a Swiss Post Bus route. The Swiss Post Busses, and some trains, run through parts of Italy when it is the quickest route between places.
http://www.swisstravelsystem.com/download_sts/uebersichtskarte_en.pdf
You can check the schedule on the Swiss Rail website at this link:
Put in Menaggio and Zurich as you departure and arrival cities, and the date and time, and hit search and it will give you multiple routings. Number 3 and 4 are the quickest, but in any case, you will be leaving in the afternoon and having a difficult time making a flight that same day.
I checked for travel on Saturday, 12 July 2008, and it leaves at 15:05 and arrives at 20:13. The second class ticket is ChF 87 and first class is ChF 128.
With the times, if you have a morning flight, I would suggest a night in Zug--Hotel Lowen is nice.