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Italy Itinerary... Lake Como worth it?

Posted by on

I’m planning my boyfriend and I’s 14 day trip to Italy at the beginning of this May. We made the mistake of flying into Venice instead of Milan which would have made the routes a lot easier. Anyway, What I have planned so far is 3 full days in Venice, a day and a half in Lake Como, 2 and a half days in Florence, 2 full days in Siena and then 3 full days in Amalfi coast. This is in order. It’s a long train ride from Venice to Lake Como and long from Lake Como to Florence. Do you think making the trip to Lake Como for 2 nights is worth it? Or should we spend more time in other areas? Thank you :)

BTW We are flying out of Naples for the plane ride back home.

Also, people are suggesting to go to Lake Garda instead of Lake Como because it is closer. Thoughts?

Posted by
16179 posts

I don’t think you necessarily made a mistake flying to Venice. You are going to Venice as well.

Count the nights you have then decide based on your preference and travel style. I don’t like to spend less than two nights at any location, but I’m not the type that could spend more than 4 nights in one place, unless it’s a major city like Paris or unless I’m taking a lot of day trips from that location.

My recommended allocation is:
Venice, 3 nights
Lake Como, 2 or 3 nights
Florence, 3 nights
Siena, 0 nights (add the nights to Florence and visit Siena from Florence for the day, it’s only 40 miles away or 75 min by bus or 90 by train)
Amalfi Coast/Gulf of Naples, 3 nights min (4 nights min much better)

Posted by
5766 posts

Once you get to Lake Como, you will love it, and it's very relaxing, and you won't want to leave. You have some wonderful destinations planned. Question: are you flying to the Amalfi Coast, or going by train? In which cities will you be on the weekends? The Friday night and Sunday night commutes can be crowded.
Safe travels!

Posted by
2 posts

Pat, We are going by train to Amalfi. On the weekends we will be in Venice maybe leaving to Como and next weekend in Siena leaving for Amalfi on a Saturday.

Thank you!

Posted by
303 posts

There are Frecca (fast trains) tha can speed you from Santa Lucia train station in Venice to Milano Centrale train station in Milan. From there you can take a regional train ( purchase at the train station) for the hour train ride to Varenna Esino stop at Varenna on Lake Como. When I planned this out, we took a Fecciarossa train that left Venice at 8:20 am and arrived in Milan at 10:45. I believe we left on a regional train around 11:30 for a direct trip to Varenna-Esino stop. I used www.trainline.eu to purchase the tickets in 2018. You don't want to miss Lake Como on a romantic trip!

Posted by
16895 posts

Lake Como is lovely, but there are other places of interest (not on lakes) that you could add into your trip without much or any detour from the most direct Venice-Florence train lines. For instance, you could spend the same 1.5 days at Padua/Padova, Ferrara, or Verona.

Posted by
386 posts

Lake Como is wonderful! That said, if you don't have the time, Verona is a romantic city. Lake Garda is also nice, and not as far out of the way.

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