We are traveling to Lake Como in April for 2 nights. Should we stay in Como, Bellagio, or Varenna? How difficult is it to drive in the area? My husband and I are traveling with our 20 and 23 yr old children.

The easiest place to drive in to is Menaggio -- but there are valid arguments for staying in Bellagio or in Varenna as equally good (possibly better?)

Two best hotels in Menaggio have the incredibly similar names of

Grand Hotel Menaggio (nearest the ferry - - literally 50 yards away - - and possibly the better of the two?)

and

Grand Hotel Victoria Menaggio (I have stayed here, and they do offer private boat service for sightseeing and visiting -- - drool! - - Villa Balbianiello)

As for difficult, I would rate it a 5, on a scale of 1 to 10. But I have never seen an 8, 9 or 10.

Driving to Orvinio (not to be confused with Orvieto) in the Rieti, might be a 7.

Best wishes,

Rex

With a car I would stay in Menaggio.

Bringing your message back up "to the top" since it is your first message here, ever...

We were there a year or so ago and stayed in Varenna at a place called Ermo Gaudio. It is so great. The hostess is extrememly helpful and the views are stunning because you are up above the town. You can get transportation to the "entrance" from town. We always walked it but it's uphill. I put entrance in quotes because when you get to it there is an elevator that takes you to a second elevator that takes you to the building. They put us on the top floor with a balcony and we were awed. They have a small resaurant with limited, but excellent, menu served on a terrace overlooking the lake and Alps. I highly recommend it!

Topping this post. We have the same question but we will not have a car.

Thanks!

By train, stay in Varenna.

I suggest you pick a town with ferry service, the next best mode of transportation to an auto. Bellagio is in the northern part of the lake which IMO is prettier than the south. It is also a very interesting town. Villa Carlotta is just across the lake. Don't miss it.

If you are arriving in the area by train in Como, you could take the hydrofoil to Bellagio and then ferry around the lake during your stay.

IMO, driving is the most convenient way to see the area

Thank you! We had some bad driving experiences in Sicily and Sorrento/Amalfi coast, so I can't convince my husband to do the car thing.

I think if you want to see the nicest part of the lake you'd choose the area around Varenna/Bellagio/Menaggio. This is my subjective opinion, of course.

If you don't want a car you can take the train to Varenna from Milan (1 hr and 20 minutes) and either stay in Varenna or take the frequent ferries across the lake (15 minutes) to either Menaggio, Bellagio, or both.

I stayed in the Grand Hotel Victoria in Mennagio last May and it has a great lakefront location. However, my one caveat about the hotel is that for the price paid the room was about the most sparsely decorated room I've ever been in (bathroom was OK and fully tiled) and the buffet breakfast was the usual cold cuts, cheese, pastries, juice, etc., affair.

People rave about the Belevedere in Bellagio and I've been inside the duLac in Varenna which seemed very nice but there are other hotels in these three towns such as the Bellavista in Menaggio.

I do not think you need a car to see these three towns if you don't mind a bit of walking. Enjoy your trip.

We stayed 2nights in Varenna, just loved it. Bellagio had a bit more going on so may be better with the kids/adults. YOu can ferry over for lunch in Varenna easily. You won't drive once you get there.