Northern Italy Lakes
Jun 23rd, 2013, 05:50 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Northern Italy Lakes
I have 2 1/2 days that I want to spend in the Northern Italian lakes.. Lake Como, Maggoire, Garda. Starting from Milan, what is the best route to go and best places to hit? I'm assuming I can only get to 2 of the lakes in this short time.
Jun 23rd, 2013, 06:19 AM
#2
I'd have said that you can barely see one of them in that time. the main attraction [to me] of the lakes is the chance to take boat trips to different parts of the lake and explore the little towns around and about.
we spend 2 weeks on Lake Maggiore and never ran out of things to do and a week on Garda which wasn't long enough.
what is it that attracts you to them that you think you can see in less than one day?
we spend 2 weeks on Lake Maggiore and never ran out of things to do and a week on Garda which wasn't long enough.
what is it that attracts you to them that you think you can see in less than one day?
Jun 23rd, 2013, 06:38 AM
#3
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 9,754
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
aetorino,
We spent 2 1/2 days on Lago Maggiore a few years ago. In that time we stayed on Isola dei Pescatori at Hotel Verbano, wandered and had lunch in Stresa (did not spend long), visited all 3 islands (Madre, Bella, Pescatori), and took the boat up to Villa Taranto to see the gardens.
We really wished we had another day or 2 to explore further! Especially time to go up to Locarno and see the Swiss end of the lake.
Hope this helps. Buon viaggio!
We spent 2 1/2 days on Lago Maggiore a few years ago. In that time we stayed on Isola dei Pescatori at Hotel Verbano, wandered and had lunch in Stresa (did not spend long), visited all 3 islands (Madre, Bella, Pescatori), and took the boat up to Villa Taranto to see the gardens.
We really wished we had another day or 2 to explore further! Especially time to go up to Locarno and see the Swiss end of the lake.
Hope this helps. Buon viaggio!
Jun 23rd, 2013, 06:42 AM
#4
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,525
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I agree--pick one lake---and I would consider your travel logistics in that choice. I have seen them all at least 4 times each. If starting in Milan, and using public transport,I find Maggiore to be a great option.
Jun 23rd, 2013, 07:39 AM
#6
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 8,354
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Annhig is perfectly right.
For an express visit of all 3 lakes (just in order to get a first impression), you may check what follows:
Day 1
Milano Cadorna dp by train 7.40 - Como Lago ar 8.43, dp by Lake Como boat at 9.10 - villa Carlotta ar 11.11. Visit the gardens. Proceed then by boat or bus to Menaggio and have lunch. Leave Menaggio by bus at 14.35 up to Porlezza ar 15.03. Enjoy Porlezza on Lake Lugano. Porlezza dp by boat 16.35 - Lugano ar 17.35. Go by cablecar to Monte San Salvatore (panoramic view over Lakes and mountains). Go back to town and have dinner
Day 2
Lugano dp by boat 9.30 - Ponte Tresa ar 11.15. Dp by bus 11.40 - Luino ar 12.10, dp 12.50 by Lake Maggiore boat to Cannobio ar 13.10, dp by bus 14.00 - Pallanza ar 14.35, dp by boat 14.50 - Isola Bella ar 15.20. Visit the gardens and the palace of Isola Bella. Isola Bella dp by boat 18.20 - Arona ar 19.35, dp by train 20.50 - Milano PG ar 21.58
For an express visit of all 3 lakes (just in order to get a first impression), you may check what follows:
Day 1
Milano Cadorna dp by train 7.40 - Como Lago ar 8.43, dp by Lake Como boat at 9.10 - villa Carlotta ar 11.11. Visit the gardens. Proceed then by boat or bus to Menaggio and have lunch. Leave Menaggio by bus at 14.35 up to Porlezza ar 15.03. Enjoy Porlezza on Lake Lugano. Porlezza dp by boat 16.35 - Lugano ar 17.35. Go by cablecar to Monte San Salvatore (panoramic view over Lakes and mountains). Go back to town and have dinner
Day 2
Lugano dp by boat 9.30 - Ponte Tresa ar 11.15. Dp by bus 11.40 - Luino ar 12.10, dp 12.50 by Lake Maggiore boat to Cannobio ar 13.10, dp by bus 14.00 - Pallanza ar 14.35, dp by boat 14.50 - Isola Bella ar 15.20. Visit the gardens and the palace of Isola Bella. Isola Bella dp by boat 18.20 - Arona ar 19.35, dp by train 20.50 - Milano PG ar 21.58
Jun 23rd, 2013, 10:10 AM
#7
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 57,890
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
IMHO - racing around between the lakes is the antithesis of the reason to go there.
We spend 4 nights at Maggiore at the beginning of one trip to have some winding down time before we got to serious travel. It's perfect for relaxing, mild slow-paced sightseeing interspersed with sitting in a garden, taking the little local ferries from island to island etc We loved it. Found that our hotel had croquet on their back lawn (hadn't played for years - and it was a perfect way to relax.)
Can't imagine just racing from one lake to the others.
We spend 4 nights at Maggiore at the beginning of one trip to have some winding down time before we got to serious travel. It's perfect for relaxing, mild slow-paced sightseeing interspersed with sitting in a garden, taking the little local ferries from island to island etc We loved it. Found that our hotel had croquet on their back lawn (hadn't played for years - and it was a perfect way to relax.)
Can't imagine just racing from one lake to the others.
Jun 24th, 2013, 08:02 AM
#8
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 8,354
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
A boat ride is always a slow and relaxing affair. Has absolutely nothing to do with "racing" (unless you take one of these horrible hovercrafts or catamarans, so popular with non European people).
