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Lake Como


joecraigfanclub

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Looking to visit the Lake Como region at the end of June with the other half. She has always wanted to go there and has a reasonable travel voucher to spend on a decent hotel. Any tips on where to stay appreciated? Is one area better than another? Is there an airport that is better for this area over any other? Any advice on transfers from the airport appreciated as well as dining.

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You're looking at Milan/Bergamo. Not brilliant for a transfer as can take 1.5 hrs drive, similar on train I think. Hotels - Metropole Suisse is on the Como waterfront and has a real charm, but clean and modern enough. Villa D'Este if you are minted. This is just based on a yearly business trip my Mrs used to do for a trade fair, but it'd been about 8 years she went, so the whole dining scene has changed. I would stay in Como and get about the lake to visit the usual suspect villages like Bellagio etc. 

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Had a quick check - no easy transfer, but from Malpensa, you either go back into Milan Centrale, or go to Saronno to change, but either way, it's a 2 leg transfer or a 100 euro taxi. Lots of factors to consider - are you going to stay in Como as opposed to Lugano, Varenna etc ? Your choice of hotel in Como would probably influence your choice of transport, as the Saronno transfer will take you to Lago Nord station which is quite central and near the water, but the other station is further away from the water, and served by the Milan train.

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Beautiful place. Been twice with friends who live in Switzerland and we drove down for weekends.

We stayed in an Air B&B in a wee village south of Menaggio.

Where ever you stay you'll probably take a few trips on the boats hopping from one town to another.

At some point you'll want to visit Bellagio and wander around there . I'm trying to find the name of this restaurant we went to on both visits.

 

This one : https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g187834-d2289289-Reviews-La_Pergola_Hotel_Restaurant-Bellagio_Lake_Como_Lombardy.html

 

Edited by fringo
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  • 2 weeks later...

I stayed for one night at Barchetta Excelsior last summer. Very well-situated for visiting town and boats leave from very near hotel. Train station (for trains from MIlan and Lugano)is about 10-minute walk away. It`s a beautiful place and I`d love to go back again since I  was there during a heatwave which seemed to be very unusual as shops etc didn`t have good  air conditionin and even slow walking was uncomfortable. . Only had time for one-hour trip on lake but there are longer trips and funicular railway up to more places. I  went to Como  on way between north west Italy (Cinco Terre) and Switzerland and it seemed cheap compared with other places.

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I have been to Lago Como twice.  I had a car both times.  There is, however, a railway line from Milano to Switzerland up the east bank of the lake.

On my first trip to Lake Como (Nov 2004), I arrived by plane in to Bergamo airport.  I stayed on the east bank, in a village called Varenna.  Varenna has a railway station.  Parking was limited and controlled.  I parked the car on the road south of the village.  We didn't really use the car other than getting to and from Varenna.  There is not much to do in Varenna but there were some nice restaurants.  We took a hike up the hillside from there to another village one of the days....it was hard work and I was a lot fitter then.  Also had a day trip to Bellagio and day just pottering around in Varenna.  Stayed in a hotel that had a small balcony and had lake views.  It may have been Hotel Olivedo.

Most recently (June 17) stayed in Ossuccio on the west bank.  Nothing in Ossuccio really.  We stayed in a flat that we found on airbnb.  It had a garage for off-street parking, which was essential.  The roads through the west side, at times, can be very narrow to the point that two cars cannot pass.  Italian (presumably) moped drivers must have very cheap life insurance.  The driving was not relaxing by any means.   We largely walked in to Lenno for meals.  There was a very reasonable pizzeria (€7 for a pizza) and we ate there twice.  At times, there were no pavements, especially where the road was narrow, so you had to be a bit brave, especially at night time.  There was also an excellent gelateria in Leno.  Our apartment was excellent, but would probably have preferred to stay in Lenno.  Parking in towns was easier in the evenings but still tricky.  We drove to Switzerland to go to a chocolate factory.  At the Italian/Swiss border you need to pay €40 highway tax......it apparently lasts a year but you have to stick it to your car windscreen, so you won't get much use of that if hiring a car.  And don't buy chocolate as souvenirs in June.....it will melt before you even get it to the car!.  Lugano (in Switzerland) was a nice town/city. 

You can take the water buses from Lenno and Varenna to visit other parts of the lake.

Como is the largest town and rather industrialized and not the most scenic of places.

The palace where Casino Royale and one of the Star Wars films was filmed is between Ossuccio and Lenno.  George Clooney's villa is apparently about halfway between Ossuccio and Como.  There is a rather upmarket/expensive drinking establishment, called Harry's bar, near there.  Apparently George pops in for a cheeky cocktail.

Mennagio and Lenno would probably be the places that I would recommend you stay, if you have a car.  If public transport, I would recommend Varenna.

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