We (wife and I) are planning on spending 5, perhaps 6 days in the Italian Lakes in September 2026. Currently focused on Stressa and Varenna to split the time.
Looking for guidance on whether to 1) to split the time vs single stop, 2) other preferred towns to spend our time vs Stress and Varenna. Have read Rick's preference for Varenna.
We will be coming from Wengen, and departing via Milan flight to Split.
Thanks much for your suggestions and guidance.
RS
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San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
17138 posts
Stresa is on lake Maggiore, Varenna is on Lake Como. If you want to visit both you must have to separate stays as they are kind of far from each other to be visited as a day trip from either.
For Lake Como you may also consider Bellagio or Menaggio, which are equally pretty and just across the lake from Varenna (just minutes away). Varenna is very popular with more than just Rick Steves, so it has become overcrowded like the Cinque Terre, especially in summer.
Stresa is an excellent choice as from there you can reach the Borromean islands easily by ferry or boat. Also if you come by train, it is a major station connected to Milan.
Besides the islands, also Cannobio, Orta San Giulio (on nearby lake Orta), as well as Locarno (CH) are popular destinations in the area that you can easily visit from Stresa.
I would recommend at least 3 nights in each lake, maybe 4 in Stresa.