Page 222 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Milan & The Lakes

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Getting to and Around the Lakes

The lakes are easily accessible from Milan, both by car and by
train. Visitors arriving by car will take the Autostrada dei Laghi
motorway or the Valassina superstrada. There are good train
links with all the lakes using either the Ferrovie dello Stato
(FS) or the Ferrovie Nord Milano (FNM) railways. Both offer
frequent services. Bus services link the various towns and
villages around the lakes, or you may well prefer to use the
hydrofoils or ferries in order to avoid traffic jams on the
crowded roads, especially at weekends. Be advised that all
lake ferry companies run a much reduced service in the
winter months, generally between November and March.

Car Hire then follow the signs for A Ferrovie dello Stato regional train
At Malpensa, most car hire Fondotoce and Verbania.
companies are located on the If you go to Lake Orta, take If you are travelling from outside
first floor of Terminal 1. Rental the Borgomanero turnoff and Italy, Malpensa airport (about
companies at the airport include follow the signs for Gozzano– 50 km/30 miles from Milan;
Hertz, Avis, Maggiore, Europcar, Orta San Giulio. The A8 autostra- see pp212–13) is the closest to
Budget and Sixt. Desks are da is also the easiest way to Lake Maggiore.
usually open from 7am to get to Lake Varese from Milan:
11pm/midnight daily. At take the Varese exit and contin-
Linate, car hire firms are on the ue to Gavirate. Lake Como
ground floor (arrivals). Opening Lake Maggiore is also The shortest route from Milan
times vary, with some desks – accessible by train. Trenitalia to Lake Como by car is to take
Europcar, for example – closed at run a regular service from the A9 autostrada and exit at
weekends. Many car rental firms Stazione Centrale to Arona the Como Nord signs. To get
also operate from Orio al Serio. and Stresa (see p214); local to the western side of the lake,
Arrange car hire before you trains go as far as Luino, via from Como take the Statale
travel for a better deal. Gallarate. The Ferrovie Nord 340 road, the ancient Via
railway (see p214) has frequent Regina, which goes as far as
daily train services to Laveno. Sorico. If, however, you are
Lake Maggiore The most enjoyable way of headed for the other side,
To get to Lake Maggiore travelling from one town to go up the state road 583,
from Milan by car, take the A8 another on Lake Maggiore is which passes through Bellagio
autostrada and exit at Sesto to use the hydrofoils and ferries. and goes as far as Lecco.
Calende. From here, take the The main towns are connected Traffic can be very heavy
road to Angera to go to the by the Navigazione Lago during the weekend, and as
Lombardy side of the lake, or Maggiore service, which has there is not much parking space
the road to Arona to go to a fleet of steamboats, motor around, the best solution may
the Piedmontese side. boats and ferries. The timetables be to use a combination of car
To get to the upper part of are posted at local hotels, res- followed by one of the frequent
the lake, proceed northwards, taurants and all the ports, and hydrofoil or car ferry services.
turn off at Gravellona Toce and are subject to seasonal changes. The hydrofoils are particularly
frequent on the Como–Colico
line, with intermediate stops,
while the ferries stop only at
Cadenabbia, Bellagio, Menaggio
and Varenna. For detailed
information, contact
Navigazione Lago di Como.
The town of Como is also
served by the Ferrovie dello
Stato (FS) and Ferrovie Nord
railways. The FS trains depart
from Stazione Centrale and go
to Como on the Milan–Chiasso
line. The Nord trains leave from
Piazzale Cadorna in Milan and
A ferry connecting the main towns around Lake Como arrive at Piazza Cavour.

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