Lake Como/Lake Maggiore

Linda,

You say this:

We have decided to take a more relaxing trip this time enjoying beauty over musuems/sites.

However, you have 4 destinations spread out over 8 nights.

I'd suggest you limit your traveling to 2 destinations (plus one night in Milan before your flight), so you will actually have time to relax & enjoy the beauty of each of your chosen destinations, instead of moving around so much.

Keep this in mind:

• Each time you relocate, you will use at least half of that day.
• 2 nights = 1 full day
• 3 nights = 2 full days

Have you considered visiting Lake Garda?

I'd choose both lakes or one lake & CT, but not all 3 destinations, for your 8 night, 7 day trip.

Enjoy!

Linda,

A few initial thoughts.....

• After arrival at MXP it will take several hours before you actually arrive in Bellagio. You probably won't be able to do much exploring on arrival day as you'll be tired and jet lagged, so basically you only have the following day for exploring "Varenna, Mennagio, and some of the other villages on the lake".
• Although the trip from Bellagio to Stresa will be shorter, you'll again only have about 1.5 days for exploring there. If you plan on visiting all of the Borromeo Islands that could take awhile (depending on how well the boat connections work). I'm not sure how much time you'll have to visit Mt. Mottarone?
• It's great that you'll be staying in Monterosso this time (my favourite!). You won't be able to take a train all the way to Portofino. You'll need to disembark in Santa Margherita Ligure, walk down the hill to the docks and take a boat. You can hike also, but with bad legs I wouldn't recommend that option.
• On the trip from Monterosso to Milan, I'd suggest using one of the direct trains. If you leave after breakfast you should still have time to see The Last Supper although I haven't checked the details on that.

I may have missed it, but when is this trip taking place?

If you arrive at Milan Malpensa (MXP), as I presume you do, you should go straight to Stresa, which is close.
Two nights (one full day) isn't enough for Lake Maggiore, which offers more to see than Lake Como (where, besides, you have been already). In your shoes I wouldn't go to Lake Como this time and would stay at Stresa for 4 nights instead.

From Stresa you can visit: Borromee islands, Cannobio, Locarno (CH), Centovalli scenic railway from Locarno to Domodossola, Lake Orta, Orta San Giulio.
You can't visit all of the above in one full day. You need 3 days, that's why you should stay 4 nights in Stresa.

Thank you Priscilla, Ken, and Roberto!!

You all gave me a lot to think about. And Roberto, you gave me that needed info on Lake Maggiore I didn't know about. You definitely sold me on skipping Lake Como with so many exciting places to see during those 4 days.
I made the mistake of ordering RS "Best of Italy" which really didn't give me much to go by. Should have bought his Italy guidebook, and might still do it.
In regards to questions & statements...we are going Apr 29-May 8. Hoping the weather will be pleasantly around 65-70.
When I referred to a relaxing vaca, I meant not rushing from site to site each day/all day. Travelling to each place, I feel, is part of the enjoyment as long as travel is no longer than 4 hrs. But I didn't realize Milan to Bellagio takes so long. We are flying into the smaller airport, which is close to train station, then 70 min. train ride to Varenna, and then 1/2 hr ferry ride to Bellagio. But if we skip Lake Como, we won't have to worry about it anymore. All I have to do is convince my husband who can't stop talking about Lake Como since we were there 17 yrs ago. But if I show him Roberto's message, I bet I could.
Thanks all...good advise!

LAKE MAGGIORE

Newspaper article:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/travel/lake-view-alpine-background-and-some-heavenly-gardens/2015/06/25/ea9d889a-150d-11e5-9518-f9e0a8959f32_story.html

Official Tourism Board Website:
http://www.illagomaggiore.com/en_US/home

Ferry Schedules:
http://www.navlaghi.it/eng/index.asp

Train Timetable (use either):
http://www.trenord.it/it/orari/consulta-orario-ferroviario.aspx
http://www.trenitalia.com/

Linda,

If your husband has his heart set on Lake Como, you may have to leave that on the Itinerary. Bellagio isn't really a long trip from Milan, as it's only about 20 minutes or so by Ferry from Varenna. If you wanted to minimize travel times you could stay in Varenna, which is only 1H:03M from Milano Centrale.

If you do decide to scratch Lake Como from the list and add time in Stresa, the day trip to Locarno (CH) that Roberto mentioned is very pleasant. I like to use the scenic Cento Valli railway (departs from Domodossola) in one direction and return to Stresa in the evening by boat.

Hi Roberto & Ken,
Well, after reading what has been written here, my husband had no problem with staying 4 nights in Stresta. We definitely want to go to Locarno and travel on the Centro Valli railway. I'm confused though on how to plan this out. If I understand right, the train runs from Locarno to Domodossola, or Domodossola to Locarno. Where is Domodossola located, and how would we get to this location/or back from it depending on which direction we choose to do? I do think that Ken's idea of taking the evening boat back to Stresta sounds inviting. We do not have a car so is it possible to get to Domodossola without one?
Thank you Roberto on the websites you sent me. Great reading & information.

LInda,

Note the spelling of Stresa and Cento Valli as that will be important when buying rail tickets.

I've always travelled to Locarno via the Cento Valli and then returned to Stresa by boat. It's VERY easy to get from Stresa to Domodossola via the "regular" train. Travel time is as short as 22 minutes and fare as cheap as €4.15 PP, depending on which train you choose to take. If you choose a Regionale, DON'T forget to validate! When you arrive in Domodossola, you'll need to go down the stairs to the underground FART railway station (yes, that's the name of the company that operates the trains). The Cento Valli also uses an underground station in Locarno.

Locarno is very walkable and there are lots of nice restaurants surrounding the main Piazza (which is where the Film Festival is held, AFAIK). There's a Casino and lots of posh shops such as Bucherer Jewellry if you're interested in buying a CHF 20K Rolex watch or whatever. As you'll be in a different country, it's a good idea to take your Passports. If you need suggestions on things to do in Locarno, post another note here. The boat docks are close to the Casino and you'll see them right away.

As I recall, tickets for all modes of transport on that trip were provided by the helpful hotel owner. They were delivered to the front desk within half an hour. I'd have to do some research to get the exact costs, but getting the tickets should be easy.

If you stick with your plan to go to Bellagio, it is easy to cross the lake to Menaggio, and take the bus from there for the hour drive to Lugano, CH if you haven't been. A lovely place to visit for the day.

Do what Roberto said. I love Lake Maggiorie. I have stayed in Stresa, Baveno and Cannobio (my favorite town). Let me know if you need hotel or restaurant help.

Thanks so much Ken! Most definitely using your valuable info.
Karren, yes, please send me any hotel/restaurant suggestions that you have in Stresa.

Thanks all!!