byronelaine

I am planning a trip for a large group of friends and we want to start in the Lake Region for two nights, landing in Milan, and later going to Tuscany. I have traveled many times to Italy but never been to this region and have read so much on the internet that it's a blur. The company I am using to tailor this trip suggests we stay in Stresa because they have good accommodations they can line up. We'll be traveling by coach so the smaller towns can't be considered for lodging. I thought to arrive and go to Stresa and since it will be in the morning, we have time to take a boat ride around Lake Maggiore, then check into hotel and explore the town. The following day I have asked for an excursion by coach over to Como then a boat ride to Bellagio for lunch and then one of the Villas in the afternoon. Return to Stresa. I know it's just a taste but I want to know about the time it takes to go from Stresa to Como. Internet says 1 hour, 8 minutes but I want a real person who has been to both lakes to give me a true understanding of what we will experience. Part of me thinks we should stay both days in Stresa and do the villas on the islands or I should I push to go to Como and stay two nights. I just read that Stresa is a lovely area and Como more industrial.....but the northern part of the Lake Como is the beauty. And so many friends have heard that Bellagio is the belle. A must see . Anyone been to both who can give me their reaction? Would much appreciate. TKS

Jean

If you're getting your driving times from maps.google.com, add a little more time to the estimates. I usually add at least 10 minutes per hour.

What time of year and what days of the week?

The town of Como would not be at the top of my list of sights on Lake Como. But if you decide on the excursion from Stresa to Lake Como starting at Como, you should check the ferry timetables for your date and then organize your arrival for the type of ferry you want to take, fast or slow. The boat ride Como-Bellagio can take anywhere from 45 minutes to +/- 2 hours depending on the ferry you choose. Or you could have the coach drop you in Cadenabbia or Menaggio and explore by ferry from there.

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

Or you could stay in Cadenabbia or Menaggio instead of Stresa, although Stresa is closer to Malpensa if that matters.

The choice of Lake Maggiore or Lake Como is your call. Two nights/one full day isn't enough time to see/do all there is on either lake.

sandralist

Are you flying out of Malpensa? Because if so, you might split your time on the lakes and sandwich Toscana into the middle. Were it me, I would land in Malpensa and get a car transfer to Lago di Como (yes, Bellagio is the most "bella"), and then proceed on to Tuscany, and spend your last moments in Stresa, which has easy access (as you know) to Malpensa. But other people might prefer the other way around.

If you are flying out of another airport, and still want to see both lakes, there are 2 schools of thought about visiting the lakes. One school says you need days there, another says going for lunch and a tour of one of the gardens is certainly enough for each lake. Once the sun goes down -- it's dark! You don't see much in the way of views (it's not like Positano).

Stresa is cheaper and arguably has a livelier night scene, and it is probably easier to move on from there to Toscana in terms of logistics. But as noted, Bellagio/Lago di Como is the legendary beauty spot, and you might want to wake up to that view in the mornings. If so, head to Lago di Como from Malpensa, despite the cost or public trans extra effort, and visit Stresa/Le Isole Borromee as a day trip from Lago di Como.

Dukey1

Believe me, depending on where you STAY in Stresa it definitely is not necessarily cheaper than staying in a comparable hotel on Lake Como.

bobthenavigator

Stresa and Maggiore deserve 2 days at least. The trip to Bellagio is just not needed. Include the gardens at Villa Taranto and if you must have a coach trip then make it Lago Orta, only :45 from Stresa.

neckervd

I second Bob. You could easily spend a whole week aroung Lake Maggiore and Lake Orta without having visited all gems in this area.
You should at least go to:
the Islands of Isola Bella (castle and botanical gardens), Isola Madre (botanical gardens), Isola dei Pescatori (scenic fishermen's village);
Monte Mottarone (view to Matterhorn, Mont Blanc, Gran Paradiso and at least 6 lakes);
San Giulio Island in Lake Orta (medieval city);
Madonna del Sasso d'Opaglio (sanctuary above Lake Orta);
Sanctuario of Varallo (with one of the most famous Via Crucis of Italy);
Locarno, Ascona and the Brissago Islands in the Swiss part of Lake Maggiore;
the alpine valleys of Anzasca (up to the glaciers), Onsernone and Verzasca;
and, and, and......


" We'll be traveling by coach so the smaller towns can't be considered for lodging"
Why?
The (cheaper) hotels at Colazza and Nebbiuno (with panoramic views over the Lake) for example live more or less from coach tourism.

byronelaine

Thanks for all your good input. We are going in September and it is the beginning of a trip ("Food and Wine Tour")heading to Tuscany, Amalfi Coast, and Rome. I am leaning toward staying at Stresa both days since it will be the beginning of our trip and one day affected by jet lag. I fear too much time spent on the bus going hours over to see Bellagio and have read about many of the activities at Stresa. Sorry to hear the lift to see the Alps closed this year. Will consider a side visit to Orta. That may be the first destination from Malpensa since we arrive so early. I read another column that said that Como was preferred by Americans and Maggiore by the Europeans. Interesting. Appreciate your comments.

Dayle

The very first Italian lake I visited was Lago di Maggiore and we loved it. We spent two nights at Hotel Verbano on Isola die Pescatori and thought the views were gorgeous. We spent the first day boating around to the other two islands and enjoyed Isolated Bella a bit more than Isola Madre. Really liked the tour of the villa on Isola Bella. Another day we took the boat up to Villa Taranto and also enjoyed that . Even though the famous azalea bloom was missed by a week due to unusually warm weather, the rest of the gardens were beautiful.

Whichever you choose spend both days at the same lake. Too much to see and rushing is not what it's about. You should know that since you have been to Italy before.

Buon viaggio!

neckervd

Don't worry about the closed Mottarone gondola. There is a road up to the top (at 1400 metres above sea level) and there ar roads to other viewpoints too, like Piancavallo 1250m or Alpe di Neggia 1400m. You may also drive to the cableways to Monte Lema 1600m, Cardada-Cimetta 1670m, Piana Vigezzo 1800m or Sacromonte 1000m.