Milan and Lake Como
Dec 15th, 2015, 02:40 PM
#1
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Milan and Lake Como
I arrive in Milan, then have three days prior to going to Venice for a cruise.
I've been to Milan before so I think day of arrival will be the only time I spend there.
I don't know if it would be better to stay in Milan and commute to Lake Como, or to get a room somewhere along Lake Como for two days. I know that after 3 nights I will go to Venice for the night before the cruise and the train from Como returns to Milan rather than going through to Venice.
Cost is important - I have a limited budget.
questions:
Milan for 3 nights or 1 night Milan, two nights Como
Do I need to pre-book train tickets Milan /Como/Vemice or are the prices the same if I book when I get there?
If you love gardens which town and villa should I visit (by the way, this trip will be in May) .
I've been to Milan before so I think day of arrival will be the only time I spend there.
I don't know if it would be better to stay in Milan and commute to Lake Como, or to get a room somewhere along Lake Como for two days. I know that after 3 nights I will go to Venice for the night before the cruise and the train from Como returns to Milan rather than going through to Venice.
Cost is important - I have a limited budget.
questions:
Milan for 3 nights or 1 night Milan, two nights Como
Do I need to pre-book train tickets Milan /Como/Vemice or are the prices the same if I book when I get there?
If you love gardens which town and villa should I visit (by the way, this trip will be in May) .
Dec 15th, 2015, 02:55 PM
#2
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I would do the 1 night Milan and 2 nights Lake Como, basing in either Varenna or Bellagio. You can train directly to Varenna from Milan. It is a short downhill walk and a 10 minute boat ride from there to Bellagio.
To get to Venice, you will need to train from Varenna to Milan and then on to Venice. Pre-booked tickets should have cheaper fares.
It is easy to take the public boats to different stops and towns around the lake from either Bellagio or Varenna.
May is a fantastic time to visit. Have fun!
To get to Venice, you will need to train from Varenna to Milan and then on to Venice. Pre-booked tickets should have cheaper fares.
It is easy to take the public boats to different stops and towns around the lake from either Bellagio or Varenna.
May is a fantastic time to visit. Have fun!
Dec 15th, 2015, 04:28 PM
#4
Basically, all of those trains from Milan to Varenna are regional services and I think you are not going to get much, if any, discount by trying to book that portion in advance.
The trip from Milan to Venice, yes.
The trip from Milan to Venice, yes.
Dec 16th, 2015, 03:42 AM
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True that advance purchase of a Milan-Varenna ticket is essentially pointless. I think the regular fare is less than 15 euros.
I won't get into a debate about which lake is better, but the nice thing about going to Varenna is that it puts you in a good spot to get to other towns on the LC via ferry. Plus, Varenna is nice little town for a base.
I won't get into a debate about which lake is better, but the nice thing about going to Varenna is that it puts you in a good spot to get to other towns on the LC via ferry. Plus, Varenna is nice little town for a base.
Dec 16th, 2015, 06:04 AM
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I wouldn't go to a different lake if you want to see Lago di Como. There are gardens on the other lakes, but you should research those and see if they interest you more or less than the gardens on Lago di Como.
What is your budget for those days and what are you expecting for your budget when it comes to accommodations at the lake? In Milan?
Would you prefer to stay in Milan and do a day trip to a lake only if you are sure it is a sunny day on the lake? Or are you ok with taking a chance on 2 nights at the lake even if it rains both days?
What is your budget for those days and what are you expecting for your budget when it comes to accommodations at the lake? In Milan?
Would you prefer to stay in Milan and do a day trip to a lake only if you are sure it is a sunny day on the lake? Or are you ok with taking a chance on 2 nights at the lake even if it rains both days?
Dec 16th, 2015, 06:24 AM
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A Milano C - Varenna ticket costs 7 EUR. The train ride lasts 1 hr.
If you go to Venice, you will pass along Lake Garda anyway.
There are regular boat and ferry services on all 4 big Lombardian Lakes (Lake Maggiore, Lake Lugano, Lake Como, Lake Garda), at least between April and early October.
Scenic medieval towns, botanical gardens and cableways (gondolas) to view points on all lakes, plus a cog wheel railway going up to 1600m on Lake Lugano.
Lake Maggiore has 4 Islands (1 of them with a castle) which can be reached by frequent boats
If you go to Venice, you will pass along Lake Garda anyway.
There are regular boat and ferry services on all 4 big Lombardian Lakes (Lake Maggiore, Lake Lugano, Lake Como, Lake Garda), at least between April and early October.
Scenic medieval towns, botanical gardens and cableways (gondolas) to view points on all lakes, plus a cog wheel railway going up to 1600m on Lake Lugano.
Lake Maggiore has 4 Islands (1 of them with a castle) which can be reached by frequent boats
Dec 21st, 2015, 05:37 PM
#10
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thanks to everyone for your input.
We are 2 women who met working as nurses, and have travelled together for about 15 years. Now that we are both retired we have more time but less money. Fortunately we both like to walk a lot, and most of our meals are from local markets rather than restaurants.
our budget is around $100 each per day for the 20 day trip including the cruise. We are fine with limited space and less elegant lodging - clean and safe is more important that luxury. Budgeting for public transportation, rather than cabs. As a kid I wanted to hitchhike through Europe, but never did...so now I'm doing the gray-haired version.
We've been to most of Europe, South and North America, Egypt and the Holy Land, Turkey (so far all we've seen of Asia)
So if we spend two days/nights in Varenna what are the best gardens that we can visit? can anyone recommend a guide book? I have several Italy books, but they have limited info on this area.
We are 2 women who met working as nurses, and have travelled together for about 15 years. Now that we are both retired we have more time but less money. Fortunately we both like to walk a lot, and most of our meals are from local markets rather than restaurants.
our budget is around $100 each per day for the 20 day trip including the cruise. We are fine with limited space and less elegant lodging - clean and safe is more important that luxury. Budgeting for public transportation, rather than cabs. As a kid I wanted to hitchhike through Europe, but never did...so now I'm doing the gray-haired version.
We've been to most of Europe, South and North America, Egypt and the Holy Land, Turkey (so far all we've seen of Asia)
So if we spend two days/nights in Varenna what are the best gardens that we can visit? can anyone recommend a guide book? I have several Italy books, but they have limited info on this area.
Dec 21st, 2015, 10:55 PM
#11
A couple of sites come to mind:
Villa Carlotta and Villa Balbianello which would entail ferry rides from Varenna. You could look them up on Goggle for further details and pictures.
You might want to take a look at the various lake ferry schedules which can be found here:
http://www.navigazionelaghi.it/
You could easily spend a day at Lake Maggiore by taking the train from Milan to a point like Stresa from which you can get the ferry to other points and the above-mentioned islands. The various "grand" hotels which front on the lake have wonderful grounds, and in some cases statuary.
Villa Carlotta and Villa Balbianello which would entail ferry rides from Varenna. You could look them up on Goggle for further details and pictures.
You might want to take a look at the various lake ferry schedules which can be found here:
http://www.navigazionelaghi.it/
You could easily spend a day at Lake Maggiore by taking the train from Milan to a point like Stresa from which you can get the ferry to other points and the above-mentioned islands. The various "grand" hotels which front on the lake have wonderful grounds, and in some cases statuary.
Dec 22nd, 2015, 01:53 AM
#12
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Go to a store or library and browse a Rick Steves guidebook. He should have lots of info on Varenna. He pretty much put it on the tourist map when it hadn't been there before. However, Varenna is a very small town, without particular sights other than (I beleive) a scenic hike people like to do, so you might find less than a page on the town itself in any guidebook.
Steves (or "Rick" as he as popularly known!) might have a budget suggestion for lodgings. If not, try booking.com or airbnb.
Steves (or "Rick" as he as popularly known!) might have a budget suggestion for lodgings. If not, try booking.com or airbnb.
