Lake Como - Questions on ferry and itinerary
Hi everyone, I am looking for some advice about an upcoming trip to Lake Como during the 2 to 3June. We are staying in Laglio for 2 nights.
On the second day, we want to visit Bellagio and Varenna. We have a rental car, so our current plan is to drive to Moltrasio, park there and take the ferry from there
Current itinerary is:
08:37 – Ferry from Moltrasio to Bellagio
09:10–12:30 – Explore Bellagio + lunch
13:00–14:45 – Spend time in Varenna
15:10 – Ferry from Varenna to Moltrasio
17:15 – Back at Moltrasio
I also considered taking the ferry from Varenna to Menaggio and then taking the bus back to Moltrasio since it seems much faster. However, I have read that the buses can be crowded and unreliable, so I am unsure whether that is a better option.
I have a few questions and would really appreciate any feedback or advice.
If I take the 08:37 ferry from Moltrasio, is there a risk it will already be very crowded and that I may not get a ticket or seat? I plan to arrive around 08:15 to buy tickets and board the ferry.
Can I buy the return ticket in the morning when I buy the outbound ticket, or do I need to buy it later in Varenna before boarding?
3.If I cannot buy the return ticket in advance, is there a risk the 15:10 ferry from Varenna could sell out? Should I arrive significantly earlier because of queues?
Would you recommend sticking with the direct ferry back to Moltrasio, or doing the quicker Menaggio + taxi option instead?
Can I book tickets online? I am seeimg mixed feedbacks on this when searching.
Thanks for any help on this matter.