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Lake Como area— how long?

We are considering a two week holiday in the Lake Como area and wondering if basing ourselves in Bellagio for that time is realistic. We stayed in Positano for a week last year and thoroughly enjoyed it and definitely felt we could have hung out there longer with various daytrips etc. But I’ve read that some have said two weeks is too long in this area. We are in our early sixties, enjoy moderate activity but don’t mind an afternoon siesta as well. If the thought is that two weeks is too long, suggestions on another area to combine it with would be appreciated. We will likely be flying in and out of Zurich (as I hate flying and Zurich is the closest non-stop city we can get from where we live) and expect to be traveling early fall. Thanks in advance. Any specific accommodation recommendations also gratefully accepted.

Posted by
15041 posts

Do you have flights to Milan Malpensa? That would be closer.
Personally anything more than 4 nights on Lake Como would be way too long for me.
If you stay in Menaggio you can also take a day trip by bus to Lugano (less than one hour each way).

Posted by
63 posts

I don’t wish to fly more than once in country. And it’s either Rome or Zurich that are direct non stop from my city. If 4 days would be your suggestion of time for Lake Como area, would you combine it with Bologna or other towns in that area? Or even the villages of the Dolomites?
Thx.

Posted by
367 posts

We recently did 5 nights in Bellagio, and we didn't get to see everything. I could easily have spent more time there. Before we got there, we spent few days in Locarno and Lugano, which we loved as well.

Posted by
63 posts

That’s sounds lovely. Did your extra time in Lugano and Locarno take you to about 2 weeks in total? Do you have any accomodation recommendations in any of those places? Thanks 🙏.

Posted by
41 posts

I don't think there can be any hard and fast rule about how long you should spend at any one spot. It depends on what kind of person you are and what your travel goals are. Slow travel can be really wonderful. It's something my wife and I are trying to do, and we love it. We just blend into a place for a week or two, getting the really know some of the local shop keepers, and really relaxing instead of the usual go-go-go that a lot of people do. We're too old for that anyway! You can schedule just one main thing per day, and spend the rest of the day just wandering around aimlessly, sitting in a cafe, people-watching, or soaking up the scenery. Or shopping for food. It's great to just exist in that place and ask yourself, what would it be like to live here?

I think you have a really great trip idea, but how long to stay in one place cannot really be answered by anyone but yourself. Just make sure that if you do get bored, you have some nearby bus or rail connections to other places you can go for a day.

Posted by
63 posts

Thank you Marty. I’m an overthinker and have not done a great deal of traveling but you are 💯 % right in that the one thing I do know is myself. Other trip advise communities seem to have some extremely judgmental opinionated advise givers (almost a bit intimidating) but I like this community for exactly the kind of response and people like you. My husband and I are exactly as you mentioned. We love meeting shopkeepers etc and hanging out at coffee places and getting to know locals. Heck it takes me a few days just to get over jet lag. May I ask one more question and perhaps you can dispel another myth I have read in other boards? Would staying at two different places on the lake make sense? One week or so in each town (I know Bellagio is well located at mid-lake and we don’t need to move just for the sake of moving) but I didn’t know if there might be anywhere else that would be worth a few days of hanging out ( even if not Bellagio). For example we said if we ever went back to Positano, we would still spend the bulk of our time there, but maybe also stay in Ravello or Amalfi for a little time as well. Thanks again.

Posted by
41 posts

joancait, I don't know enough about Lake Como to answer that question. Actually I hope you come back and tell me the answer. Because I would really love to go there. So please come back and tell all of us how it went, how you felt, what you did, and all that. It sounds like you are going to have a really wonderful trip.

Posted by
6783 posts

Two weeks in Bellagio sounds a bit long. Since you're coming in from Zurich, you could spend a few days (4 perhaps?) in Locarno or Ascona, on the shores of Lake Maggiore. From there you can explore the lake (different from Lake Como) as well as the castles in Bellinzona.

Posted by
63 posts

A big mea culpa ... apparently we can get direct non stop flights to Milan from Toronto. So that’s good and I wonder with that in mind, would anyone who has used Milan as a starting point for the Italian lakes , recommend any other towns worth stopping at. If we are mainly going to stay on Lake Como, then Verona would not be on our way but we could possibly do a loop and include Lake Garda if I have my directions correct. Or because we are in the early stages we could alter our itinerary. I know we could get a train from Milan to Venice but I doubt we would do that as we were wanting to keep the trip to the lakes and nearby. Thanks 🙏.

Posted by
3 posts

I could make 2 weeks work in the Lake Como area but not just in Bellagio (only there a few hours however; max time there for me I think would be 3 nights but other great Lake Como towns to stay/visit). I could enjoy myself for 2 weeks in the LC area, staying in 2-3 towns. There's not much to do in any one town but it is glorious to be there - I think one of the most beautiful places in the world. I would spend 4-5 nights in Varenna, 4-5 nights in Menaggio (or Bellagio if that's your preference) and 4-5 nights in Lugano (a bigger town than LC towns). LC towns except Bellagion pretty much shut down by 8 or 9 PM.

My wife and have been to Lake Como area once for 3 days and are going back this month (June) to visit again. We stayed in Varenna as it was the easiest place to get to from Milan. Glad we did as we loved Varenna. There is a regional train from Milan Centrale to Varenna-Esino train stop (it's top of the hill and you can walk to Varenna town in about 20 minutes but I think a better option is to take a taxi that is usually taxis there - I'd plan ahead and order one thru hotel you stay at just to make sure you have a ride; it's a small train station). Note which side of the tracks you are on as if you take the train back to Milan you need to be on the correct side as the train only stops for a minute or 2).
We used the RS recommended hotel of Hotel du Lac - a great place and fantastic views of the lake looking toward Bellagio from their outdoor restaurant balcony (also rooms have views west to Bellagio - great for sunsets). It is a 5+ minute walk to the main part of Varenna - excellent hotel, location, staff. This trip we are staying at the Albergo Milano (210 euro for lakefront room with a balcony) - we ate at their restaurant last trip (very good) and it's in the center of town. we REALLY like Varenna - we stayed only 2 nights last trip and it was way short............I could EASILY stay there 4-5 days.

LC ferry boats from Varenna first stop is Bellagio about 15 minutes across the water. Could easily spend a day taking the ferry to various lake towns and tourist places. We also really like Menaggio - across the lake pretty close to Varenna - I could easily stay there 4-5 days (just read earlier post that you can take a bus to Lugano in Switzerland but feels like Italy - was there and another town I could spend 4-5 days). We looked at and liked another Hotel du Lac in the center square (Via Mazzini 27).

If you don't stay in the LC area for at least 10 days I think you'll be sad you didn't - but you have to like hanging out, relaxing, eating, tourist stuff........... RS has very good info on the LC area.

Posted by
3 posts

And don't forget to spend at least a night or 2 in Milan so you can see the Last Supper (reserve 3 months in advance or get on a walking tour from a tour operator to get inside).