Off to Lake Como in 17 days, must dos? Also, going to St Moritz for a day trip >>

*Kat*

and would like to hear of any nice restaurants to check out or anything that you would recommend

peachyprice

Oooh lucky you, we went last year and we're going again next year.

Must do's where to start!

Towns to visit Bellagio, obviously, there are some lovely little streets with beautiful shops, it does bet busy, but well worth a visit.

One of my faves is Varenna, there's a wall that goes all the way around it at lake level with some lovely restaurants over looking the lake, then there are steps in various places that go up to the rest of the town.

Menaggio, I didn't like at all, it was dirty and busy. Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo it worth a visit, leave plenty of time because the gardens are huge and very beautiful.

Lenno is a lovely little town with an amazing ice cream parlour and a couple of small restaurants right on the lake, Plino is particularly good, there's another restaurant in Lenno, called Il Cris it's well off the beaten track but amazing food and service, one of the best meals we had.

Also in Lenno is Villa Balbianello, one of the James Bond films was filmed there, and also Star Wars, it's a beatiful villa with an absolutely fascinating story surrounding it, well worth a visit, some days of the week you cab get a boat from Lido di Lenno, other days you have to walk, it's quite a walk, but it's through wooded roadways, very pleasant.

You can get a day ticket for the ferry that lets you hop on and off in Belaggio, Menaggio, Tremezzo, Cadenabia, Varenna and Lenno

Como it's self is with a day out, there are some lovely shops and restaurants there, but make sure you go early because they close at 1pm and don't open until 4pm.

Also in Como is the funicular railway to Brunate, it's a lovely little town right up on top of the mountain with fantastic views over Como and the lake, there are some nature trails up there too, if you're feeling active.

That's all I can think of right now, if I think of anything else I'll update.

Enjoy Como, you'll love it.

ronmiel

We were in that area in June it is beautiful. A day trip to Milan is possible with its fantastic cathedral. We went to St. Moritz for the day taking the train from Tirano to St.Moritz which is an unforgettable experience, we took the slower train rather than the Bernina express, absolutely magnificent.

totallybored

Take a train to Lugano in Switzerland for the day. It's a lovely town with plenty of restaurants and bars. Make sure you have your passport With you as I'm sure they check them at the border. I've only taken the intercity train there but I believe there is a cheaper way by getting a local bus to the border then a local train.

Also go to Milan for the day, you can either take the intercity from the main station which is fast but you need to pay for a supplement or take the slower local train from the station on the lake and this is much cheaper. That train arrives in the Milan station near the castle, the train from the main station goes to Milan Centrale.

I can't remember most of the places I ate at but we had very good pizza at the Taverna Messicana Pizzeria (have a look on tripadvisor). It was always busy and the pizzas were excellent.

peachyprice

Oh, and if you happen to have National Trust membership you can get reduction into entrance prices at the Italian equivalent FAI properties.

And the link below gives bus timetables for the entire area, Orario Completo Lago is the whole thing, or you can get timetables for individual buses, they're pretty good and do runt to the timetable.

http://www.asfautolinee.it/en-us/lineeeorari/orariolineeinpdf/extraurbanalago.aspx

*Kat*

Thanks so much!! We are staying in Cadenabbia...I hope it's nice there. And easy to get through places. There's so much I want to see and do!! AHH

peachyprice

Cadenabbia is lovely, you'll probably be able to walk along the lake front to Villa Carlotta. There's a ferry stop there to get across the lake and on that link I put above the bus that goes to Cadenabbia is the C10, it goes all the way down to Como, a bit scary in places, but a nice trip, and if you go up to Mennagio you can pick up a bus to Lugano. Bus tickets are sold in strange places, our nearest seller was a cake shop!

The C10 also takes you to Como San Giovani station where you can pick up the main line trains south to Milan and north to Switzerland. There's also a station at the end of the bus line, Como Nord Lago, these are urban trains that also go into Milan, just more slowly.

You'll have a lovely view across the lake of Bellagio too, although you won't be able to go of an evening because the ferries stop running at 7pm. The links below are for the ferry timetables and prices.

http://www.navigazionelaghi.it/eng/c_orari.asp
http://www.navigazionelaghi.it/eng/c_tariffe.asp

richardw

Do you know if there are any coach transfers from Linate and Malpensa airports?

peachyprice

No, there isn't. It's either €100 each way for a taxi transfer or it's a bit of a nightmare by public transport, but doable.

We did, 2 trains and a bus. You get the train from MXP to Saronno which is about 10 mins, change platform for another train to Como Nord Lago, about 45 mins, then a bus (C10 or C30, depending which branch of the lake you need) from outside CNL station or a ferry.

Or you can get the train into Milan, back out to Como San Giovani and pick up the bus from there, but the CNL route has better connections.

You can also get a train from Milan to Varenna if you're that side of the lake.

For 5 of us the bus/train combo came to about €35 each way.

There used to be a coach from Milan Centrale but that stopped a few years ago.

richardw

We're doing a short trip, arrive Saturday early at Linate about 10.30am and depart Monday from Malpensa at about 10pm the August Bank holiday weekend, not sure where to pick as a base and if hiring a car would be easier, any thoughts would be appreciated.

peachyprice

I would say yes, hiring a car would be easier, especially as it's a short break. While the trains and buses are very efficient and run on time the timetable is very 'Italian'. For example at Saronno the connection for Nord Lago was timetabled to leave one minute before our train was due to arrive, so we had to wait 45 mins for the next train, which is fine if you've got the time, but a bit frustrating if you haven't.

As for a base, I would avoid Bellagio if you're driving, traffic there is a nightmare and it's out on it's own. One of the towns along the west side of the lake would be better, there's more to see that side and the S340 road runs pretty much all the way along at lake level. Argegno, Cadebabbia, Lenno, Tremezzo all have small lake side hotels and are pretty central with good foot and car ferry links. Domaso up in the north is very pretty too, although not so good if you want to see lots. Como itself is nice enough, I think I would be happy to stay there for a weekend.