We have been studying the train schedules and are not having much luck. We will be going to the lake area and staying at Hotel Britannia in Griante Italy. You suggested we break up our trip from Rothenburg by staying in Zurich and going on to the lake area after that. We are having a hard time seeing how to get to our Hotel. Should we take the train to Como and then does anyone know how to get to the smaller towns like Griante? Would it be better to take the train to a town closer to the northern area of the lakes that we are going to? Can you go to Lugano by train and then try to get to the hotel? It seems no trains go to these smaller towns on the lake. I have emailed the hotel twice but they havent answered. We would appreciate any suggestions. This is our first time in Italy and dont feel as comfortable as traveling in Germany & Austria. Thanks! Anne & Jim
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
Griante is at mid-lake, across the lake and to the west of Bellagio. It's not at the northern part of the lake.
I've traveled in the area but haven't done your exact trip--so this answer is based on internet research and not on personal experience with the exact trip you're doing.
I'm not aware of any rail connection between City of Como and Griante. However, a public ferry system connects the City of Como to various mid-lake towns including Bellagio and Cadenabbia, Cadenabbia is just south of Griante. So you may want to train to City of Como, then take the ferry to Bellagio, and thence to Griante, which on the ferry schedules (see below) is I think referred to as Cadenabbia, not Griante. Cadenabbia is adjacent and just south of Griante.
I'm not certain but think you may be able to get from Bellagio to Griante by ferry (although the ferry timetable seems to list Cadenabbia rather than Griante). This part of it you'll want to try to research further.
It may be possible to get from City of Como to Griante/Cadenabbia, without going to Bellagio, but I haven't found any verification on that point.
Alternatively, the ferry also connects Varenna to Griante, and Varenna can be reached by train, although Varenna is small and the City of Como is probably a better rail destination from Zurich. If you were in Milan, Varenna would be easier to reach by train.
Here's the ferry system website, I found the site is not so user friendly:
http://www.navlaghi.it/eng/com/nlc.html
This part of the ferry site click here makes me guess that it's necessary to first go to Bellagio or Varenna, to get to Cadenabbia, which again, is immediately south of Griante.
The ferry system offers a high-speed hydrofoil from the City of Como to some destinations such as Bellagio and Varenna (makes stops but is faster than the regular ferries).