We are arriving into Italy ex Switzerland via rail and I have the option of arriving either into Locano (Lake Maggiore region) or Lugano (closer to Lake Como).
I have 2 nights to stay in the Lakes area and looking for advice - Maggiore or Como ? Is it easy to connect from Locano to a Lake Maggiore town or Lugano to Lake Como town ?
From the Lakes we will be heading via rail to Venice.
For everyone who has helped so far with my 2 month itinerary - THANK YOU !
I think Varenna sounds nice from what I've read. Would this be easy to get to via rail ex Como ?
Just a note that if you heading for Locarno and Lugano from the Bern, Interlaken areass of Switzerland, and you have a Swiss pass of some type, it is good all the way through to Lugano. During the journey, the train will drop down into Itay to Domodossola. Domodossola is probably the only place beyond the Swiss border where their pass is good. The reason is that it's a viable way to get to Locarno and Lugano which are in Switzerland. So, the pass is good for the entire run.
To get to the three towns mentioned by Kent, you can take a local bus about 20km from Lugano to Menaggio.
Sonia: The bus Larry mentions from Lugano is the only way to get from Lugano to mid-lake on Lake Como, there's no rail from Lugano. That bus will bring you out onto the Lake at Menaggio, you can take the ferry from Menaggio to Varenna (directly across the lake from Menaggio) or to Bellagio. Most people approach Varenna from Milan, that's easy b/c there's rail, you won't have that choice unless you go to Milan first.
Having traveled that area several times, I would still go to the RR station in Locano or Lugano and ask the rail clerk for advice.
He can tell you where the trains run and how long the trip takes. Some will even print a computer itinerary for you showing the stations and times when you buy your tickets.
You can also go to the Tourist Information Office in some towns for advice. In some towns the TIO is in the RR station.
Thank you Carl, Larry & Kent. I'm loving all this advice and taking it all on board.
