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Varenna and Lugano in May - Trip Advice

Posted by (Philadelphia, PA) on

we are traveling from Colmar, France via train through Basel via a Lugano/Varenna stop and heading to Bologna.

I was wondering if any input for Lugano hotels and looking at Albergo Milano in Varenna.

is 3 nights each enough to relax with the travel time in between train, bus and boat to Varenna?

I also considered Bellagio or Menaggio but what I have seen and read as well as train to Milan in Varenna is Varenna the a fine choice.

I always seem to bite off more than I can chew! I don't want to tire myself out with too much travel with luggage...

logistics with the Alps and Swiss rail is make it interesting but ok .

I have learned I like to settle in each stop 4 or more nights to really enjoy.

I am just not sure if splitting Lugano and Varenna is ok and worthy of the split in 3 nights each.

I am considering adding nights to Paris and Padua and just staying in Lugano 3 or 4 nights.

So I hope to here some good input and experience from fellow travelers.

thank you

Posted by
3551 posts

Varenna and Lugano are excellent for a relaxing 3 nites ea. U can see Menaggio the day u travel from Lugano to Varenna as it is on the bus route. Enjoy these are 2 beautiful towns to stroll and enjoy tasty meals. I have been to both. U can see elegant Bellagio via ferry from Varenna one day.

Posted by
65 posts

I was in Varenna the last week of April. Beautiful weather all 3 days (70's) and sunny. Used the ferry to get around to the other towns. Also highly recommend a tour of Villa di Balbinello.
We stayed at the Casa Rosa which is an annex to Albergo Milano. Great Lake views.

Rick

Posted by
303 posts

We were in Varenna in May of this year and stayed at Hotel du Lac and highly recommend that hotel. This time of year on Lake Como is so lovely. Varenna is so peaceful and has a ferry dock. I second the visit to Villa Balbianello! We booked the Varenna taxi boat for a tour of the mid lake region as well as a private tour of the Villa. Check out their info online.

You can ferry over to Bellagio in about 15 minutes from Varenna, but we weren't all that impressed with Bellagio. It felt more commercial. We also ferried to Mennagio for lunch and a stroll on their promenade.

The view of the Alps in the distance is amazing, as well as the sunsets over the mountains. You wont want to leave!!

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