I will be driving from Milan to Bellagio for the first time - Which would be more 'scenic,' along Lake Como's western leg through Nesso? or the eastern leg through Mandello del Lario? Any other considerations besides 'scenery'? thank you
Posted by
11647 posts
The first time we drove to Bellagio it was very slow along the west side of the lake and a large tour bus got stuck on a turn delaying everyone else. This trip includes a ferry ride across to Bellagio, from, I thin, Menaggio. Another time we had a driver and he drove up the peninsula to Bellagio at the end. The first option was more scenic but you can run into problems like we did.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16168 posts
The shortest and fastest way is via Onno. I don’t see why you would go to Mandello. Mandello (and also Menaggio used by Suki) would be on the wrong shore if your final destination is Bellagio. If you prefer to drive through the Como branch of the lake, which is probably a bit more scenic, then you would go via Nesso. It’s about 30 min longer. Regarding the possibility of being stuck because of a stalled bus, that can happen anywhere. They are all pretty narrow two lane highways.
Posted by
Southwest Florida
905 posts
On the western leg of the lake, follow 583 along the peninsula. While it is certainly the most scenic, keep in mind that as the driver you will have limited opportunity to view the scenery. Tight road, narrow lanes. Unless you have driven here before, it is quite the experience. Having a car in Bellagio is difficult. I'll leave it at that. However, for a different experience, consider shooting up the middle of the peninsula, then driving down into Nesso and follow the shoreline from there. Personally, I enjoy driving the mountain roads.
Posted by
Firenze, Italy
1747 posts
If you are leaving from Milan inner city (not from MXP, to be clear) my preferred route would be through Pusiano, Canzo, Asso and the low Ghisallo pass - an inland route. Or Como, Erba, Asso and Ghisallo. The two lake routes leading to Bellagio are quite narrow and more intense to drive.
As pointed by other posters, Mandello is on the wrong side of the lake. You are not completely wrong, however, as you could consider a ferry from Varenna to Bellagio. Still, the Ghisallo routes look the shorter.
The total running time depends very much from exactly where in Milan are you leaving. As getting out of the city may take some time, some alternate route can actually be faster of the apparently shorter ones.