Lake Como Peace Lodge

Directions (how to arrive at the hostel):

From Milano to Varenna by train and ferry boat to Menaggio - RECOMMENDED if you can arrive in MILANO CENTRALE train station before 5pm (approx 2 hour journey):

Take a local train from Milano Central Station to Varenna-Esino (6.70€) then a Ferry to Menaggio (4.60€).
See www.trenitalia.com for long distance train schedules or www.trenord.it for local trains. IF YOU ARE LATE AND MISS THE 5.20PM TRAIN, PLEASE CONSIDER TAKING THE TRAIN MILANO-COMO AND THEN THE BUS TO MENAGGIO (SEE OPTION B).
From Varenna-Esino get the ferry across the lake to Menaggio (Ferry takes 15 minutes, leaves about every hour, last ferry to Menaggio leaves at 8 pm (7.40 pm on Sundays), there are later ferries at 9.00 or 11.05 pm to Cadenabbia (9.40 pm on Sundays), which is 2.5 km South of the Hostel; a taxi can be arranged, but call us at +39-0344-32356 if you are late).
See www.navigazionelaghi.it/eng/c_orari.asp

(The ferry timetable will change from the 4th of October 2015)
b. From Como (approx. 55 mins):

The C10 bus from Como (Euro 4.10, from the 2 train stations of Como) stops right in front of the hostel. Buy the ticket either at the Bus Station (to your right as you walk out the station towards the Lake and end of the track) if you arrive at Como Lago (from downtown Milano or Malpensa airport) or at the Station Cafè if you arrive at Como S.Giovanni (Como Central Station). The last bus leaves at 8.30pm (make sure to verify with the link below as schedule may change during the year). Absolutely ask the driver to stop at Ostello Menaggio, walk back 20 meters to the ERG Gas Station and follow the sign up the small path up the hill that starts from the Gas Station. You will be at the Hostel in 2 minutes. See www.sptlinea.it click on the left menu on LINEE E ORARI then find ORARIO LINEE IN PDF, then find EXTRAURBANA LAGO then click on the C10 Como-Menaggio-Colico (Meaning of Abbreviations: Como Stazione Autolinee= Como Nord Lago; Como S.Giovanni FS = S.Giovanni Central Station; Fer6 =Mon-Sat; Fer5=Mon-Fri; Fest =Sun and Holidays; Gior=daily; Scol=School days from approx. Sept10 till June10; see other notes with Google Translator). Sundays and Holidays Schedule (Festivo) may be at the end of the work day schedule (Feriale).
Buses do run (with less frequency, but well spread throughout the day) on Sundays. With Good weather between April and September and if you arrive in Como before 3 pm, you may want to try the pleasant slow ferry option (see below) to enjoy the day even on your day of arrival.

c. From Milan Bergamo Airport (approx. 2 hrs):

Take the airport bus to Bergamo Train Station, then take the train to Varenna-Esino via Lecco (2nd class Euros 5.50) (www.trenord.it for train schedules). From Varenna-Esino get the ferry across the lake to Menaggio (Euro 4.60) (Ferry takes 15 minutes, leaves about every hour, last ferry to Menaggio leaves at 8 pm (7.40 pm on Sundays), there are later ferries at 9.00 or 11.05 pm to Cadenabbia (9.40 pm on Sundays), which is 2.5 km South of the Hostel; a taxi can be arranged, but call us at +39-0344-32356 if you are late).
See www.navigazionelaghi.it/eng/c_orari.asp (find pdf timetables to the right bottom: Car Ferry Service, even if you don't have a car).

d. From Milan Malpensa or Linate airports (approx. 2 hrs):

From Malpensa Take the Malpensa Express form the airport to Saronno (20 min.) then from Saronno to Como Nord Lago (40 min, ticket from Malpensa to Como approx. 9€) see www.trenord.it then click on the + sign (Dettaglio) for the Saronno connection. Then take the bus C10 (see above Euro 4.10 - 1h) or consider the Slow Ferry Option (see below) to Menaggio if you arrive in Como well before 3 pm.
From Linate take the Bus to Milan Central Station then train to Como S.Giovanni (see www.trenord.it) then C10 bus (see par. b. above or Slow Ferry Option see below) to Menaggio. From Milan Central Station you may want to choose the option to Varenna-Esino (see paragraph a. above and www.trenord.it and the car ferry (also if you don't have a car) across the Lake to Menaggio, you will be skipping Como, with the proper connections it can be faster, as the train to
Varenna from Milan takes 1h,15 minutes and the ferry across just 15 minutes).

e. From Lugano (Switzerland)

(Careful few buses on Sunday, if you expect to arrive to Lugano later than 6 pm better proceed to Como and take the C10 Bus, see directions above). Take the Funicular to downtown, walk South 20 minutes to the Cassarate Lido, in front of the Swimming Pool (Piscina) a kiosk sells the tickets to Menaggio (7 Chf) with C12 Bus (same www and time table abbreviations of C10 from Como bus above). The Blue bus stops behind the Kiosk on the other side of the parking Lot. Beware the sign is small, Last bus is at 6.40 pm. Stop at Menaggio Centro walk South to ERG Gas station, then path to Hostel). If you can arrive to Como well before 3 pm, you may want to try the slow Ferry option described below, so you may want to travel all the way to Como.

SLOW FERRY OPTION TO ENJOY THE LAKE EVEN ON YOUR ARRIVAL DAY

(please read thoroughly above how to get to Como, as the slow Ferry may not be your option if you arrive from Switzerland or from Milan Central Station, and it is definitely not your option if you arrive from Bergamo Airport). Slow Ferries run only between April and September, and to take the slow ferry you must arrive in Como before 3 pm. If the weather is good, we highly recommend to start enjoying the Lake by taking the slow ferry from Como to Menaggio, there are about 3 slow ferries a day, it costs about € 10.40 (reduction for children). The slow ferry takes about 2 hours but it is the best way to enjoy the Lake (some times they even show where Clooney's Villa is). You can relax and have a café or even a meal if you take the lunch time boat. If the weather is not so good and you arrive later than the last Slow Ferry (at about 3.20 pm, from the Ferry Docks) don't bother and just take the cheaper Bus C10 (see above paragraph b.) for €4.10. You will have plenty of time to take boats the next days to go to Varenna or Bellagio. Please do not consider the slow ferry as a mean of transportation, we normally use the bus, it is simply a very relaxing way to start enjoying the Lake particularly if you just stay at the hostel for one or 2 days, and if you have the time on your arrival day before getting to the hostel. The € 6.30 extra charge and extra time of the slow ferry vs. the bus it is really well spent to enjoy the Lake even on a long travel day. Travelling on a slow Ferry brings you back in time when life was going at a slower pace, you are on holiday isn't it? On the day you leave if you need to go back to Como you will presumably take the cheaper and quicker bus as everyone does. For the slow ferry timetable see www.navigazionelaghi.it/eng/c_orari.asp (find pdf timetables to the right bottom: See Ferry Service Como-Colico-Como, notes are in English, some ferries don't make it all the way to Menaggio, so just follow the arrows to Menaggio on the time table). If you miss the Slow Ferry from the Ferry Dock just walk 5 minutes to the right, by looking at the Lake, to the small Bus Station and take the C10 Bus, see paragraph b. above). To go to the Ferry Dock if you arrive to Como Nord Lago (from Malpensa or Downtown Milan), just walk 5 minutes to your left as you walk out the station towards the Lake, if you arrive in Como S.Giovanni (Como Central) walk down the stairs in front of the Station, walk 5 minutes to your left (at the 2nd traffic light there is a Carrefour Supermarket to your right, walk right about 5-10 minutes along the Lakeshore Park, until your reach the Lake and the Ferry dock) see also Como on Google maps.

By Car

a. From the airports it takes approx. 90-120 minutes. From Linate or Malpensa A8 to Saronno then A9 (see below). From Bergamo Better A4 to Milano then A8 then A9 (see below).
b. From Switzerland (Gotthard, Lugano Sud exit, then go to Centro, and follow signs to Gandria, ST. Moritz), Menaggio is at approx. 20km from the Border. When in Menaggio at Lake level there is a traffic light. Go straight after 200 m there is an ERG gas station, after 200 meters there is a parking lot on the left, look back above the road and you will see the Hostel.
c. From Milan, airports and other regions in Italy take the A8 then A9, take the Lago di Como Exit (3rd exit after Como Toll Barrier) on the autostrada (motorway) A9. Menaggio is 30km north of Como. After the MENAGGIO sign, there is a short tunnel, the hostel is above the 3rd parking on the right after the short tunnel.

GPS ADDRESS: 46.016008, 9.236062 - Via 4 Novembre 106 - Menaggio, Italy (absolutely choose the NO FERRY option, Via Como, unless you intentionally want to go to Varenna (last car ferry at about 7.55 pm, 7.40 on Sundays) or to Bellagio (last car Ferry to Cadenabbia about 11. pm). You can find your self stuck on the other side of the Lake with no Car Ferry Service which in general ends at 8 or 9 pm.