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Lake Como Day Trip

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My wife and I are arriving with our teenagers to Milan today, and are planning a day trip to Lake Como for tomorrow. I would love feedback on the following rough agenda I have in mind. Perhaps there are things we should remove or should add, or perhaps we should choose a different route altogether. I value any and all input! That being said, I left out a private boat tour due to the cost, and in person visits to villas as that would not be of interest to our daughters. I would love to figure out a way to visit Porte della Civera affordable in terms of budgeting for cost as well as the time involved. Here goes with my tentative agenda:

  1. Morning express train from Milano Céntrale to Como San Giovanni - about 40 minutes
  2. Como Brunate funicular railway with visit to Brunate and optionally the Faro Voltiano lighthouse
  3. Beach time at Lido Villa Olmo - we’re open for suggestions for beach time elsewhere
  4. Boat from Como to Bellagio or Varenna to check the box of being on the water either the hydrofoil (1 hour) or the slower boat (about 2 hours)
  5. Return train to Milano Céntrale from Varenna
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I took the Rick Steves My Way Italy Tour last fall and we were based in Varenna for two nights. Our tour guide’s opinion was that Varenna was the prettiest of the towns on the lake. It really was beautiful to walk along the promenade there. We stayed at Villa Cipressi, which also has lovely terraced gardens. Twice we enjoyed eating gelato in the center of town, while seated on some stone steps between buildings, looking at the lake. Some of these areas had pillows for you to sit on while enjoying your gelato!

Our fellow tour mates visited Bellagio and preferred Varenna as it was less touristy. We took a boat tour that included the Villa Balbianello , which was the location for Casino Royale as well as one of the Star Wars movies! There was also a wedding happening there when we were visiting. I know you said your daughters might not be interested in a villa tour, but even seeing it from the water was beautiful if you decide to take a lake tour.

This part of our six city tour was called “the vacation from our vacation” by our guide, and I agree…it was lovely!

Enjoy your Lake Como time!

Laurie

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