Hi all, In the next couple of weeks my soon to be wife and I will be traveling to Lake Como for a week in tremezzo then 3 in Cinqueterre. Ideally, I am looking to go on 3 or 4 day trips to towns along the lake. Do you have any suggestions to where we should go. Bellagio, Varenna, Menaggio, any others we should not miss?
While in Cinqueterre, We will start in Monterosso then hike south to Vernazza. Any suggestions to where to eat. We are open to a lot but definitely are looking forward to our trip to relax, unwind and enjoy one another. Many thanks for the suggestions.
Posted by
Hendersonville, NC
247 posts
I agree with Steve on both, while in Varenna take the boat to Bellagio and Menaggio. The whole area is beautiful you really cant go wrong
Posted by
Baltimore, Maryland, USA
353 posts
In Como, We enjoyed making a day trip of riding the ferry up to the top of the lake, having lunch, and then coming back down. Really lovely scenery and very relaxing.
Posted by
San Carlos, CA, USA
393 posts
We had a great dinner in Varenna at a place called "Quattro Pass", very near the Albergo Milano. I had a wonderful fettucine with fresh porcini, and then a filetto with green peppercorn sauce. I forgot to tell them I wanted it medium-well(ben cotto)and when it arrived it was, of course, rare (al sangue.)I cut into it and it was purple. I tentatively took the first bite... and immediately knew I was going to eat the whole thing! So delicious and flavorful! The best piece of beef I have ever had. I ate almost all of it!
Posted by
Laguna Niguel
31 posts
We were in Bellagio last year for 5 days and had a wonderful time. I would recommend a cooking class from Chef Moreno in Varenna--information on the website here: http://www.ilcaminettoonline.com/english.html
We also ate at Trattoria San Giacomo in Bellagio--fabulous food and reasonable. Arrive before it opens; the tables outside get filled up by 7:30pm, so you need to get there by 7pm to guarantee yourself a table. If you do have to wait you can go to the bar across the street & they will come & get you when a table is ready.
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
My only suggestion on hiking the Cinque Terre trails is to start in Riomaggiore and go north. Most people hike in the northern direction. I say this because we did the hike from Vernazza to Corniglia and we constantly found oursevles stopping and making way for the hikers coming north. There was 2 of us versus frequent groups of 2-6 coming the other way.
Posted by
OP
NY, USA
2 posts
Thank you all for the information... I will give feedback at the end of the month.
Posted by
Philadelphia, PA, USA
3 posts
I just returned from Italy and the visit included both Lake Como and Cinque Terre, except we did it in reverse of your plan. In Cinque Terre we stayed in Monterossa Ala Mare which really does have the only "real" beach. We took the boat from Monterossa to Riomaggiore - highly recommend it - took the trail from Riomaggiore to Manarola - wonderful, paved, scenic, loved the Via Del Amore then the trail from there to Corniglia - BEWARE! Unless you are in really good shape and used to hiking, and it's not 100 degrees, it's not a good idea. The train is a much better idea, then a bus up to Corniglia. Hotel was LaSpiagga - beachfront, minimal a/c, great host Andrea. Don't miss Cinque Terre. On Lake Como, stayed in Bellagio, La Borga apartments - very nice. Enjoyed the boat ride, getting off in the little towns and exploring, stopped for a gelato or pizza and wine. Both places extraordinary. Just be prepared to walk uphill, ALOT! Hope to hear about your trip when you get back.