Varenna, Lake Como or Verona

Is that four nights? If you want to be near the lake, Varenna is very popular. You can get to lots of smaller towns on the lake by ferry or bus. Verona is a bigger city but there's enough to keep you busy for a couple of days, and it's closer to Padova. It's also close to Vicenza or Ferrara if you want some change of scene from Verona.

Pesonal preference. Being to both the Lake Como area and Verona/Padua.... I would go with the Lake Como area.

Peter,

Both areas are beautiful and well worth a visit, and which one to choose will depend to some extent on what you're hoping to see and do in that area. Verona will definitely be a better choice for a day trip to Padova, as the travel time is only about 45 minutes in each direction, as opposed to about 3.5 hours in each direction from Varenna.

I assume that what you're actually choosing between is (1) staying in Varenna and NOT daytripping to Padua or (2) staying in Verona with a daytrip to Padua. Frankly, the only thing Varenna and Verona have in common is that their names sound a bit alike. Let us know what your interest are and you'll get more helpful responses.

It sounds like you have a guidebook or other resources already, but if not, then see Rick's general descriptions of Verona and Lake Como online.

Here's the way I look at your choices: Lake Como/Varenna - stroll along the lake, relax, lakefront dining, relax, a boat ride, stroll at a ferry or stop or two, relax some more, ….. Verona - walk to the piazza, walk to the R&J sights, walk to Piazza Erbe, walk across the river, walk to the Roman arena, walk to …. In other words, I see them as two very different sites. Whichever you choose, have a great trip.

I'd choose Verona as a base for the 3 nights. Then from there you can visit Verona, Padua, Vicenza, or, if you prefer to spend a day at a lake, then Lake Garda is just minutes away and justa as beautiful as lake Como.

Hi, one solution that might give you some of both would be to go to Verona and take a day trip out to nearby Lake Garda. We really enjoyed our 4 days in Verona vs. the 2 days Lake Como, but it's up to what interests you.

Thank you all! My plan is Milan first half day, second day trip to Lake Como, third & fourth days in Verona, possible day trip to Padua, option Lake Garda but not likely due to time constraint, fifth day back to Milan.