Suggestion for places to stay in Lake Como 3 nights

Gav - Stay in the town of Menaggio in the Lake Como district. It will be less touristy then Bellagio and Varenna. You can start your lake town visits from there to these other towns. Don't forget to tour Villa Balbienello. It's the villa where one of the scenes from the James bond film Casino Royale was filmed. The villa is in the town of Lenno on lake como.

https://www.fondoambiente.it/luoghi/villa-del-balbianello?utm_source=organic&utm_medium=gmb&utm_campaign=balbianello

Menaggio hotel - http://www.hotelgarnicorona.com/

http://www.borgoleterrazze.com/

Lenno Hotel - https://www.citalia.com/holidays/italy/lombardy/lake-como/lenno/hotels/hotel-lenno

Thanks very much for your response RJean, very much appreciated. I will have a good look at those links too!
Kindly.....

I'll champion for the eastern shore line and tell you Varenna. Along the western shore will require a car or auto transport to any city on the west side. There is train service all along the eastern shore. Varenna is a main ferry hub as well. Directly across the lake from Menaggio. Varenna is an easy train ride from Milan and trains depart hourly. I do not think that accomodations in Varenna are expensive. If you want that, stay in Bellagio or Tremezzina.

Como is at the far southwestern leg of the lake. Ferry service going to the more noteworthy villas is available but you will spend a good portion of your day on the water.

We stayed in Varenna in April 2018. Beautiful weather and town. Check out Albergo Milano. They have a main building, but we stayed in their annex called Casa Rossa. Beautiful balcony rooms overlooking the lake.

Rick

I would also recommend Alberto Milano in Varenna, and like Rick, we prefer a room in the annex Casa Rosa. We like the "attic studio" which is large and bright, with a kitchen corner, modern bathroom, and large balcony looking our on the lake. Definitely romantic! The price in April is €210 a night for a lakefront balcony room in Casa Rosa, or €220 a night for the attic studio. With either one you will have lots of steps but the hostess has always helped us with our luggage.

I would not describe Varenna as an overpriced tourist town. It is quite small, but has multiple options for bars and restaurants, and nice mountain views. You can reach there from Bern by train via Chur, over the Bernina Pass ( but not necessarily on the named Bernina Express train. ThT is a much nicer train ride than the faster route to Como San Giovanni, which goes under the Alps in the long and deep Gotthard Basistunnel.

Varenna has a lot of hotel options. Some more expensive than others. Shop around. Hotel Olivedo sits next to the ferry terminal. Upper floors are most desireable there. Hotel Royal Victoria has a nice lakeside view south as well as a swimming pool and right in the center of town. Beautiful facility as well. Hotel du Lac is also a great choice and just around the corner. You are not spoiled for choice!

Many thanks everyone.
What is best Milanese airport to get to either eastern side or western side of Lake Como by train?
I'll be flying from Madrid to Milan after Spanish itinerary.
Kindly

Gav - You can either fly into Malpensa airport or Linate airport from Madrid. Both Italian airports are close to Lake Como distance wise. This link will guide you.

https://lakecomotravel.com/how-to-get-to-lake-como/

I'm a fan of Linate as it is quicker and cheaper to get to Milano Centrale from there. I often find cheaper airfares via Linate as well.

One advantage to staying in Varenna is that it's very easy to get to by train from Milan. The ferries from Varenna can easily take you for a daytrip to Menaggio as well as Bellagio. FWIW, in early April it might be gray and rainy and you won't be able to appreciate the lake and the mountains as much.

Another vote for Varenna. Was rainy & grey when I was there in May 2019 but still one of the most beautiful, quaint places I've ever been. So incredibly beautiful. I stayed at Hotel Du Lac & if I ever get to visit again hope to make the same hotel choice.

The choices are only 4. In alphabetical order:
Bellagio
Cadenabbia
Menaggio
Varenna

These are the only towns served by the Midlake ferry shuttle. All others are served only by the Colico-Como service.

Bellagio and Varenna are more touristy. Most Rick Steves’ followers, and therefore Americans in general, prefer Varenna, which is the recommended place by Rick Steves, also due to the rail line going through the Eastern shore (Rick loves trains).

I’ve stayed a few times in Bellagio and Menaggio (Been to Varenna from the other locations, but not stayed overnight).
I enjoyed Menaggio, primarily for the nightly classical concerts on the main Piazza Garibaldi in summer and also for the ease of travel to Switzerland (Lugano). It is not true that you need a car to visit towns on the west shore. There is regular bus service going up and down the lake, as well the ferry service from Colico to Como and back, in addition to the Midlake ferry to Bellagio and Varenna.

If you decide on Menaggio, this is the hotel where I stayed in Menaggio on my last trip:
https://www.hotelgarnicorona.com/
(Lake view in front)

This is Piazza Garibaldi. Most restaurants and cafes are in and around this Piazza.

Thanks very much for your kind replies everyone!

If you are a light sleeper:
Eastern side of lake has trains
Western side of lake has the main road right behind buildings
Bellagio is on a peninsula in the center without either of those distractions.