We’ll be traveling by train from Venice to Tirano and then on to Milan, possibly, on the way to CT. Which lake would you choose? I’d love to know if there is much of a difference in the train routes between Tirano and the two lakes. We’ve not been to either, so we have no preference; however, I am thinking that Garda may be more of a fit for us as it is not as affluent as Como. (Is that a correct statement?) Our extreme activity days are behind us, we’re looking for stunning scenery, ferry access, outdoor spots for reading/journaling, meandering, and experiencing local cuisine. This will be our second trip to Italy having spent three weeks this past October visiting Venice, Bologna, Florence, Siena, and Rome. We’d like to see Italy in the Spring, possibly March or April 2026. I’d love to hear your suggestions, experiences, and recommendations. After spending time in the North we’ll revisit Florence and end our trip in Rome.
Posted by
Mayberry on the Willamette
367 posts
We were in Garda last Fall. We had a car so that was a bit easier to see things. I can't compare the 2 as we did not go to Como. We stayed in Sirmione. It was a bit slow there as we were outside the "normal" tourist season. We walked through the castle & surrounding area, did a thermal bath that was pretty cool. We did the massage & thermal baths. Word to the wise....skip the massage. We did drive around the lake to Limon. That was well worth our travel. Beautiful views. Ferry stop at the bottom. I would think that March might be a bit early in the season. We were there in October. The shops & restaurants were open & we did get great service. Verona is close by & well worth a day there
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16320 posts
Lake Como (Varenna, to name a famous village) is along the rail route between Milan and Tirano, so it would make sense to visit that lake. Peschiera and Desenzano, on the south side of lake Garda are also along the rail route from Venice to Milan, so that one is an option too, however I prefer the north side of lake Garda and to reach that you also need a bus.