Lecco near Lake Como

You might also try taking the ferry to Dongo or Gravedona.

we did not visit Lecco. I found Varenna to be uncrowded and charming. we took the ferry over to Bellagio for the day and it was CROWDED.....couldn't see whether or not it was charming thru the CROWDS. the charm of the ferry is that you can make that decision day of......depending on what you find in Varenna.....

Thank you!

In May I returned a rental car in Lecco and trained from there to Varenna, where I stayed for 3 nights. Personally I would consider going to Bellagio/Mennagio/Villa Carlotta for things to do before I would go to Lecco.

Lecco is ON lake Como, not just near.

I've been there for a few days many years ago. It's a big town, somewhat more industrial, and I don't find it as charming as others there. Bellagio, Menaggio, and many other smaller villages in the mid lake would be a much better choice, imo. The mountains around Lecco, however, including the Mt. Resegone, are majestic. Lecco is famous for being the location where the 19th century novel "the betrothed" by Alessandro Manzoni, set in the 17th century, took place.

I can tell you that from the train going from Milan to Varenna you stop in Lecco and it did not look pretty from there.

I stopped at a big supermarket in Lecco and while I was impressed with the supermarket I was not impressed by the town.

I agree that Lecco is not the prettiest town on the lake, since I've stayed there (probably longer than I should have), however I usually refrain from judging the aesthetic appearance of a place based on the view from inside the train at the train station. Based in that standard the view of Florence from Santa Maria Novella station or of Rome from Termini is pretty depressing too.