Lake Maggiore or Lake Como by car?

Lake Como, for a very important reason - that's where Bellagio is, one of very few places that impressed us so much, we have booked to go back a second time. Can't wait.

Some people say Bellagio is a little too touristy but we certainly didn't get that vibe. It is almost impossibly cute and romantic. Imagine Walt Disney invented Italy for a movie - well Bellagio looks like a film set built for his movie. I half expected to see Sinatra or Dean Martin lounging in a cafe with a spiral of smoke slowly rising from his cigarette......

OK, you set me off. Now I'm going to have to watch the musical slideshow I made of our Italy photos, and the Bellagio sequence always gives me a lump in my throat!

I've been to both several times. Bellagio is wonderful. I stayed at an Airbnb that was so perfect, in the center of town. You can take the ferries around the lake. Definitely, take ferries to some of the beautiful villas and gardens. I've also been to Maggiore. I loved the beautiful lakeside villages. They felt much less touristy. The shopping was wonderful, beautiful boutiques etc. The food was better too. The highlight of Maggiore and something you should consider on your visit is Isola Bella, with spectacular gardens, a palace and the most beautiful white peacocks strutting around the property. Both lakes are amazing. Really, you can't go wrong with either. It's a magical experience.

Nice problem to have. I particularly enjoy gorgeous Varenna, on Lake Como train from Milan also Easy. ferry rides can take u to Bellagio, Menaggio (then short bus ride to Lugano is easy for Lunch)
Then back to Varenna. Bk you reservations soon if for summer.

Phil,

I'd suggest Lago Maggiore and the city of Stresa, as it has both some good local sights as well as some nice day trips. One good day trip is to visit Locarno (CH) using the scenic Cento Valli Railway and then return in the evening by boat to Stresa.

Coming from Switzerland, you should consider the journey as well as the destination.

To get to Stresa, you take the train south from Spiez in the Berner Oberland, likely with a change of trains at Brig. This route passes through two long tunnels under the mountains, the Lötschberg Basistunnel and then the Simplon tunnel in Italy. ( if you are coming from Zermatt or Lac Leman area, you would only use the Simplon tunnel).

To get to Lake Como, there are several routes. Assuming your destination is a small town such as Varenna or Bellagio rather than the two of Como, you can go:

To Milan on the direct line from Zurich (or Luzern) via the Gotthard route. Another long tunnel (Gotthard Basistunnel) unless you route via Göschenin on the old Gotthard route,mwhichnis a few short tunnels but is much more scenic. At Milan you change to another train for the one-hour ride to Varenna. If Bellagio is your goal, you need to change to a ferry as the train does not go there.

Or to Varenna from the north, via the Bernina Pass route from Chur or St. Moritz to Tirano, changing there to an Italian train to Varenna. The Bernina route is the most scenic as it truly goes over the Alps, not under them in a tunnel.

Varenna (or Bellagio) by this (Bernina) route would be my choice. We like Albergo Milano, in a lakefront room. Have never visited Bellagio somI cannot compare them.

I visited both lakes this past July and if I were to go back and had to choose one - I think I would pick Lake Como. Lake Como just captured my heart. It is so beautiful and magical. If you favor small villages perhaps base yourself in Varenna.
Margaret