you can get here pretty easily by bus and walking 10min but the walk is a bit sketchy at the side of the road. the italians were not very friendly and there was not as much traffic as expected. we were looking for a ride to como. lots of cars were going to varese. we didn't have any hope left but then someone took us all the way to zurich and even recommended a sleeping spot.

PETROL STATION on both sides of A8 (connected by pedestrian tunnel) - BADLY PINNED! it's 2km from Gazzada-Schianno train station (5 min from Varese, about 1 hour 10 from Milano Porta Garibaldi station, 5.30). From Gazzada station, make your way to via Roma (it's 200m, ask locals) and then walk it heading south = downhill! after few roundabouts, when houses and warehouses are finished, 500m after the BRUNELLO village sign, you'll find the entrance to the petrol station on your right - and you'll be on the side headed to Varese and Switzerland. Decent amount of cars stop here but Varese people are quite suspitious - took me more than one hour both the times I started from there, both times I was directed south O_O good luck! :-)

We were heading to Varese so it took us some time. It appears MANY cars go to Como so that should be quite an easy route to take...

decent spot for getting lifts towards como/varese/switzerland