We will be staying in Milan for 4 nights in July and are thinking of doing a day trip to Lugano. Can anyone offer any suggestions as to where we should go while we are there? Also, how do we get to the chocolate factory?
Posted by
Chicago, Illinois, USA
73 posts
Kent, we are also planning a day trip to Lake Como. Since we will be in Milan for 5 days, we thought taking day trip Lake Como, Venice & Lugano might be fun. No to Lugano??
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
Oh good. Yes, Lugano is also a great day trip from Milan! Just wanted to make sure you were going to Lake Como. For Lake Como: what many do is take the train from Milan Centrale station to Varenna, walk around Varenna, then the ferry to Bellagio, that will get you out in the middle of the lake where you get the postcard 360 degree views. Lake Como is 90% mid-Lake (Varenna and Bellagio) and 10% Town of Como, IMO.
Posted by
OP
Oak Park, IL, United States
56 posts
Kent, thank you. I have noticed you often reply to people and always have good suggestions. Sounds like you've been to Italy many times.
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
Sofia: Thank you for the kind words, but there are many here who know more than I do, they just have other things to do, I think, besides hanging out here. I like it here, it's a nice little corner of the internet. I've made almost every mistake you can make in European travel, once, so learned the hard way and am trying to save others the frustration and lost hours. And the guy who has been to Italy the most is Rick (other than Charles of Katy TX, who I think is the senior Italy traveler of us all)--I've learned so much from Rick's books and shows. Most guidebook writers try to cover everything and don't make strong recommendations--but Rick has always said he wants his books to have guts and he makes strong recommendations. Thus his advice and books are especially helpful to less experienced travelers to an area, he gives good advice on the highlights and keeps them moving fast, which most first timers understandably want. Since I'm a young geezer now and have my own ideas about what I like to do, I don't move as fast as his itineraries. I've noticed that people seem to do his blitz itineraries the first time they go to an area, then if they go back they stay longer in each place and go slower. That's where I'm at.
Posted by
Chicago, Illinois, USA
73 posts
Kent, you're right. I've been to Venice before and one day is truly not enough; but my friend hasn't and since we will be so close, I don't want her to leave Italy without seeing it.