My son heading to Italy for study abroad. Traveling before with Dad and older brother and want to visit Lake Como. Which town is best to stay in for good restaurants, boating, interesting sites? No car so relying on train from Milan. Thanks in advance!
Posted by
Gettysburg PA
8066 posts
Most people here recommend Varenna
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Posted by
1280 posts
I do not recommend Varenna for this group. I'd say Bellagio. Varenna is sleepier than Bellagio. I think Bellagio is a bit more of a scene, so its fun for that age. You can rent a boat easily for the day and get across the lake and south to see the big houses along the shore, and make stops to swim. You can ferry from Bellagio to Varenna and/or Menagio, and/or Como (or take the bus to or from Como on one of the most impressive bus rides I've been on - the skill of the driver!). I have kids that age and they all preferred Bellagio, and we are definitely not high maintenance or swanky (that's the reputation Bellagio has, but it is really a lovely Italian lake village that has become 'trendy', and when you are there in the morning or evening/night when tourists are not, you get a better appreciation). Anyway, my $0.02
Posted by
Munich
834 posts
I'd vote against the same old Varenna and Bellagio. I don't think it's quite the right place for that occasion, unless they desperately need to hit the Instagram hotspots. I'd rather choose a larger town from which you can explore the entire lake by boat/train. I've never stayed directly in Como for a longer period, but you'll surely find information about which larger village/town would be suitable for you.
We didn't have much time on our last visit, but to escape the hustle and bustle of Bellagio and Varenna, we took the train to quiet Bellano and visited the 'Orrido di Bellano' gorge. Small, but quite nice.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Thank you all for your suggestions!
Posted by
3113 posts
I would look at Mennagio. It is a bit larger, even has a hostel, a camp ground where we went swimming with our young adult children that also had a convenience store and bathrooms. The historical part is interesting and it is not as congested as Varenna and Bellagio.
You can rent a boat from there as well.
Posted by
395 posts
Second Como. Bellagio would be my next choice.