Is it worthwhile to rent a car to drive from Milan to Lake Como where we will be spending 4 days? We are flying to Venice, staying there for 3 nights and then taking the train to Milan. We have been told that it is not worth having a car in the Lake Como area and that the drive from Milan Lake Como is difficult. Instead, we have been told to take the train to Lake Como. What are your suggestions. We are traveling as a couple without kids.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
See also some answers on Don & Lisa's other thread.
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
We have been told that it is not worth having a car in the Lake Como
area and that the drive from Milan Lake Como is difficult. Instead, we
have been told to take the train to Lake Como.
What you've been told is correct.
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
The "Lake Como area" is large, due to the lake's inverted-Y shape. The areas that most people seem to want to visit are mid-lake (Varenna, Mennaggio, Bellagio) which is where the arms of the Y meet, and the town of Como, which is at the south of one of the branches. The advice about trains vs cars certainly applies to these two areas. If you wanted to see other places on the lake, the advice may be different.
Posted by
1542 posts
tho, if there is another village you want to visit..... lovely ferry rides make day trips a pleasure
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32406 posts
It's difficult to provide an answer without having an idea of where you want to stay on Lake Como. Most of the group here like to stay in the small mid-lake town of Varenna (which also allows easy access to Bellagio).
If your plan is to stay in Varenna, travel by train would be the best option (IMO). The trip will be ~!H:03M via Regionale train from Milano Centrale. DON'T forget to validate your ticket prior to boarding the train on the day of travel, or you'll risk hefty fines which will be collected on the spot! You'll pass through a tunnel just prior to arrival, and be ready to disembark promptly as the train doesn't stop for long.
When you buy ticket to Varenna, it would also be a good idea to also buy your outbound tickets, as the ticket office in Varenna is not staffed. You can buy the tickets in Venice either at the station or from one of the travel agents listed in the guidebook. With Regionale tickets, don't validate them until you use them as they have a "shelf life" once activated.