Travel by car from Montreux, Switzerland to Lugano, Lake Como, and Milan

Posted by LO (New Mexico, US) on 08/20/17 02:36 AM

Hi,
It is so wonderful to have access to this forum and the experience it contains. Thanks in advance for your responses.

My wife and I are making our second trip to Europe. Last year was a canal cruise in France followed by two weeks in a chalet north of Montreux. Switzerland. This year, we will enjoy a canal cruise in northern France, time at the chalet again and head south. We "think" we will travel by auto. We have been told we might enjoy it more than train, regarding being able to see more, although one of us won't, the driver! We want to visit Lugano, Lake Como, and go north of Milan, and have 10 days for this part of the adventure. We want to spend most of our time in the Lake Como region.

My questions are:
1. Your thoughts on car or train to the Lugano/Lake Como area?

2. Once there, is a car or a train the best way to travel around?
3. Once in the Lugano/Lake Como area, suggestions on locations that offer the personality of Lake Como and will allow us to travel to Lugano with some ease. And Milan also.

Lowell

Posted by Sam

Green Bay

08/20/17 03:04 AM

21142 posts

I'd suggest traveling by train to Stresa on Lake Maggiore. It is a direct EC train from Montreux. There is an Avis agency in town where you can rent a car. Then you can make a circular tour over to Lake Como (Menaggio?) then to Lugano, then Locarno, and back to Stresa to turn in the car. I suggest turning it in where you got it because small agencies don't like one way rentals, but maybe you can turn it in at Malpensa. I am assuming you will fly back from there.

In Stresa you can get a bus to Malpensa, or if you want to finish in Milan for a day or two, it is an easy train ride from Stresa, then a train to Malpensa.

Posted by JS

Bay Area

08/20/17 03:09 AM

3551 posts

U have received good advice from previous poster. Howeveer if u decide to train it it n br easily done. U have the time and the places u will visit are interesting places with alot of beauty. Whichever rte u decide it will be great. Enjoy . I have done a sim rte to u on 2 diff trips by train.

Posted by LO OP

New Mexico, US

09/02/17 05:32 PM

4 posts

Just wanted to thank you for your responses to my query.
Lowell

Posted by Gooster

Nice, France & San Francisco

09/02/17 07:52 PM

712 posts

This is a late response, but I'd thought I'd a few points. As you know, one-way drop off fees between countries in Europe can be quite pricey. Also check your contract conditions to see if they allow driving into Italy. A car picked up in Switzerland generally will allow it. (Note the Lausanne station may have more rental companies -- and a direct TGV connection from Paris). You did not mention where your return flight is departing. The drive to Lugano, which I've done many times, can be very beautiful up through the Valais and into Ticino. You can even take a mountain pass route (in summer) vs. the tunnels. Just a note -- the traffic gets more and more aggressive the closer you get to Milan.

You can do the route to Stresa as suggested, or take a train all the way to Como (involving a transfer in Milano Centrale -- and it adds 2+ hours to the trip.).

Once you are at Lake Como, it is easy to get around by Ferry (in fact, driving can be lengthy) to the major towns on the Lake. However, the quickest route from the Lake (at Menaggio) to Lugano is via car or via train from Como (the major city and transit hub). Many people, however, want to stay in places like Varenna or Bellagio.