joaniejd

Anyone know if you can actually swim in these lakes? Is there a sandy beach in Lake Como?

joaniejd

And also-if we go to Lake Como but then want to go to Tuscany for a week do we have to fly there or can we take a trian?

willit

Depending on Where on Lake Como you are staying, it would certainly possible to take a train or bus to Milan, then train to Florence.

dawnnoelm

We took the train from Switzerland to Milan and some people on the train told us we were passing Lake Como. I could not say 100%. We then changed trains in Milan to Florence. It was a lovely ride.

rex

I think you will find that is too cold, even in the hottest part of the summer - - thought maybe not if you can find a very shallow shoreline area, if the temperature were to rise into the 30s C (above 86 F) - - a rare weather event at Lake Como.

The very famous (and very expensive - - rooms starting above 500 euro a night?) Villa d'Este hotel has a "pool in the lake", and I am pretty sure that it requires continuous heating - - in season. (and yes, as strange as that sounds, they really do have a pool in the lake - - it floats out there, connected by a plankway to the shore).

See pictures here...

http://www.fivestaralliance.com/luxu...lla_d'este

Best wishes,

Rex

hausfrau

Last August, we saw kids playing in the water near the ferry dock in Varenna. There was a short stretch of sandy beach.

Therese

I've been swimming in Lake Como, and found the water cold but acceptable.

Sorry, no specific recommandations to make re beaches, as this was a small private beach at Corenno Plinio.

Dukey

There is a beach area in Menaggio.

bobthenavigator

Here you are again dreaming about water locations in Europe. If you want beaches then go to Barbados. This is your 24th post jumping from Spain to Tuscany to Lake Como and more. Plan this trip to see the best of Italy or whereever and save the swimming for home, or leave the kids at home.

Big_Red

The Italian word for Beach is lido.
I have seen beachs at Varenna (one block north of the ferry stop). At Menaggio (Several blocks north of the ferry stop, thru the arch over the road, just past the putt putt course) and Lenno (South of the ferry dock, on the way to Balbianello). As mentioned above the water will be cold. I also have read of some concern about the cleanliness of the water, but I don't remember where I saw that.

It's still beautiful.

Your young children need to be good swimmers, parts of that lake are over 1,200 feet deep (no exaggeration).

I beleive that the Grand Hotel Tremezzo also has pool in the lake.

dawnnoelm

Bob..isn't Greece in Europe? ;-) I would dream on sitting on the beach there!

rex

Hmmm... I had not noticed that, bob... but it sure seems to have made you sound grumpy!

My family and I have enjoyed swimming at the beach in Portugal, in Spain, in the south of France - - and I expect that some toes will hit the water in Sicily this summer.

And what would travel to Greece be without its thousands of miles of seashore?

MOreover, the kind of travel that I like best - - as joanie asks about - - is "slowtrav", villa rental style. It seems to be a major dividing point for villas in many Mediterranean locations - - those with a pool, and those without. I've tried both kinds (as well as those with, but out of season).

Vive la difference.

socaltraveler

joanie is thinking of doing a lot this summer, with or without her 2, or maybe 3 kids. makes one wonder . .

dawnnoelm

I guess I am "doing" a lot of vacation in 08 as well. 09 will be a "dry" year. We decided to use our tickets on Airfrance rather then lose them but that means not so much in 09....maybe she "is" doing it all. Who really knows?

Dukey

BOTTOM LINE: YES, you can swim in Lake Como. How many trips you may or may not take and anything else people here are "wondering about" is totally irrelevant as far as I am concerned.

Enjoy your stay at the lake and yes, Rex, viva la difference indeed!

dawnnoelm

Dukey - exactly.

tomassocroccante

One man's "too cold" is another's "just fine." And kids frequently will play in the water until their lips turn blue, no matter how cold.

That said, note that the southernmost point of Como is around 46 degrees latitude, or similar to northern Maine. It' s also at a high altitude - so adds up to a place people go to keep cool. No coastal warming trends ... I've been in the Atlantic off Maine and in Maine ponds in June and July - it can be a chilly proposition.

RM67

The Italian lakes are a fraction the size of the Atlantic and thus warm up considerably quicker. I've swum in Lake Garda and thought it was lovely and warm.

Even latitude isn't necessarily all that important. The sea off Cape Cod (roughly level with Rome) is absolutely freezing all year round. But I've swum in the fjords (Oslo and Sognejord) 1500 miles north, and it was fine.

PRLCH

Have you considered renting somewhere with a pool? We stayed on Lake Como in the summer of 2006, and the weather was definately warm. After a morning sightseeing we would siesta while our children enjoyed the pool within the apartment complex. Search for my name and there will be a trip report listing the place we stayed in.

bobthenavigator

You all miss the point !
This poster has been doing this for months now. She has at least 25 posts out there with questions about numerous destinations. Just bring up her posts---the kids are all different ages etc. This poster surely needs help but I think her medications may be more important.