We will be on Rick's Village Italy tour in October. It ends in Lake Orta and we are wondering how difficult it is to take public transportation from there to the Lake Como area. At first glance it doesn't look easy via train or bus, maybe requiring routing through Milan. Has anyone made this little journey?
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32201 posts
Lew,
I haven't been on that tour yet, but this travel route should work.....
- Take a Taxi or whatever from Orta San Giulio to Orta Miasino rail station (it's only a short ride).
- Travel by train via Novarra to Milano Centrale. That trip will be about 1H:45M.
- Travel from Milan to whichever location on Lake Como you want. Most of the group here prefers Varenna on the east side of the mid-lake area. If that's where you'll be going, it's only 1H:03M from Milan to Varenna.
Buon Viaggio!
Posted by
OP
Cortez, CO, USA
103 posts
Thanks, Ken. That's a big help with our post-tour planning.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32201 posts
Lew,
You're very welcome! Your guide will co-ordinate departure arrangements for everyone in your group, but the method I suggested should work fine.
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
13931 posts
Yes, the guide will start on maybe Day 3 figuring out exit strategies for everyone. You may be able to buddy up with others and share a taxi from the hotel in Orta San Giulio to Milano Centrale to start your final train segment to Lake Como. Last October (and I am presuming it continues to be this way) there is no way to buy tickets at the station in Orta so your guide will have you buy them ahead of time in Levanto. We spent an extra night in Orta and it was too much...but it was pouring rain so touring was limited. We wound up taking a taxi in to Milan with other travelers from the tour, arranged by Trina our guide.
This trip is such fun! I did it last October as well. Take a waterproof rain jacket as we did have a couple of days of rain. In Orta, DO eat at the Gelato stand on the piazza by the lake called Gelato Artiginale Eliot. He had simply amazing pear and green apple sorbet. I waited a day too long to get the fig sorbet. He ran out of figs on his tree so that was done for the season. Now, that's fresh! Lots of fun eating/drinking experiences on this trip.