Hello!
My family and friends will be staying in Lake Como for a few days in the beginning of October. We then have a few nights left before having to take a flight back from Milan. I would prefer to stay in northern Italy and not be on a train for over 3 hours as to use our time wisely. We all love wine and are foodies. Any quaint towns or countryside places you would suggest?
Thanks traveling friends!!
Posted by
Freedonia
17091 posts
Where are you staying on Lake Como?
Will you have a car or will you travel by train/bus?
My first thought would be Stressa on Lake Maggiore and Orta San Guilio on Lake Orta.
Then there is Lugano in Switzerland.
Posted by
OP
Orange, Ca, USA
9 posts
Thank you for your ideas! We will be staying in Sala Comacina on lake como. At that point we have already come from Switzerland so we want to enjoy staying in Italy!
Posted by
Freedonia
17091 posts
What mode of transport?
Posted by
Cascais, Portugal
1896 posts
Bologna or Parma are lovely smaller towns that are delightful. Bologna has FICO - which is a foodies dream. Both places have wonderful food and wine.
And, train service from either to and from Milan is easy and not very expensive.
Posted by
OP
Orange, Ca, USA
9 posts
We plan to take the train. We are also open to renting a car if need be.
Posted by
OP
Orange, Ca, USA
9 posts
I have researched Bologna, which looks amazing, but it's about a 4 hour train from Lake Como. If it is totally worth it then I'm in! Turin/Piedmonte is one area I have looked at and I'm super interested in, but still open to other ideas.
Posted by
🏝️ Hobe Sound, FL⛱️
3360 posts
You’re sort of starting behind the 8 ball since you’ll have to travel to Como city to catch a train and that will take you about an hour. Bologna, Parma, Torino, Verona are all about equidistant time-wise. If you opt for a car rental, you’d be about 2.25 hours from Torino. I would stay in one of the towns in the Piedmont wine region (Asti, Alba, Barolo). First weekend in October is the White Truffle Festival in Alba.
Posted by
Freedonia
17091 posts
To get to many places in the area by train you will need to go to Milan and switch.
Torino is very interesting. Not overrun by tourists yet it has a interesting history.
With a car you could get to Barolo and lots of wine tastings in the area.
If you could rent a car near you, you could hit Stress, Orta and Torino. Since the airport--I'm assuming you are going to Malpensa--is west of Milan you could drop the car off there.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11955 posts
Torino is lovely and often overlooked. You can day trip to Alba from there for the truffle fest (I think it is on then) and don't miss the National Museum of the Automobile. Truly fascinating. The Egyptian Museum is one of the world's best, then there are palaces galore.
Posted by
seattle
2202 posts
Another vote for Torino. It is not a long train ride from Milan, and has many wonderful sites. Plus it is home to the first Eataly which is fun to visit. The Fiat museum is also great.
Posted by
11947 posts
The Piemonte is beautiful and much less crowded than Tuscany. Rent a car and base in or near Alba and visit the wine towns that are nearby. We also loved Bologna and rexommend Hotel Novecento
Posted by
Shawnee, OK, USA
396 posts
Bologna is a great city. Sites, food, nightlife, towers to climb, gorgeous brick archways all over the city....one of my favorite cities.