8 days Paris & Lake Como
Mar 27th, 2016, 02:10 PM
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8 days Paris & Lake Como
My wife and I have planned an 8-day (not including travel days) trip to Paris and Lake Como for late May/early June. We haven’t been to Europe before, and probably won’t go again for a while (we have young kids). We will fly into Paris, and out of Milan
We’ve already reserved a nonrefundable hotel in Paris for (5) nights, and a refundable hotel at Lake Como for (4) nights. We just haven’t decided on how to get to Como yet. We could fly or take the train. Flying would be faster, but I’ve never been on a fast train before. Either way, we plan to rent a car and drive to our hotel in Tremezzo. With a car, we could do a day trip up into Switzerland, and see the Val Bregaglia.
However, some friends suggested that four nights in Como was too much, and it would be a shame to go to Italy without seeing a proper Italian city. So some other options are:
1) Go to Lake Como via Switzerland. The Bernina Express sounds great, but I’m not sure how we would get from Tirano to our hotel in Tremezzo. A better option might be take the TGV to Zurich, rent a car, and drive to Lake Como. Maybe we could stay somewhere overnight along the way.
2) Fly Paris to Florence, and spend the night there before driving to Lake Como. I’ve heard great things about Florence, but I haven’t done any research. I know some will say one night isn’t enough, but our knowledge of art, history, and architecture is pretty limited. I’m sure we won’t know what we’re missing, and will enjoy what we do get to see.
Any thoughts would be appreciated!
We’ve already reserved a nonrefundable hotel in Paris for (5) nights, and a refundable hotel at Lake Como for (4) nights. We just haven’t decided on how to get to Como yet. We could fly or take the train. Flying would be faster, but I’ve never been on a fast train before. Either way, we plan to rent a car and drive to our hotel in Tremezzo. With a car, we could do a day trip up into Switzerland, and see the Val Bregaglia.
However, some friends suggested that four nights in Como was too much, and it would be a shame to go to Italy without seeing a proper Italian city. So some other options are:
1) Go to Lake Como via Switzerland. The Bernina Express sounds great, but I’m not sure how we would get from Tirano to our hotel in Tremezzo. A better option might be take the TGV to Zurich, rent a car, and drive to Lake Como. Maybe we could stay somewhere overnight along the way.
2) Fly Paris to Florence, and spend the night there before driving to Lake Como. I’ve heard great things about Florence, but I haven’t done any research. I know some will say one night isn’t enough, but our knowledge of art, history, and architecture is pretty limited. I’m sure we won’t know what we’re missing, and will enjoy what we do get to see.
Any thoughts would be appreciated!
Mar 27th, 2016, 02:27 PM
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Much closer than Zurich are
Milano or Bergamo (Ryanair goes there, at least).
I'd fly Milan, because if Bergamo is ok, leaving Paris on Ryanair means going to Beauvais, which is not imo a good option.
Gare de Lyon Miano does it for about 50 € and 7 hours
Easyjet does it for 1 h 30 (+ one hour safety at least) for about 35 €
Ryanair can do it for 20 €.
From Milan, car or train.
Milano or Bergamo (Ryanair goes there, at least).
I'd fly Milan, because if Bergamo is ok, leaving Paris on Ryanair means going to Beauvais, which is not imo a good option.
Gare de Lyon Miano does it for about 50 € and 7 hours
Easyjet does it for 1 h 30 (+ one hour safety at least) for about 35 €
Ryanair can do it for 20 €.
From Milan, car or train.
Mar 27th, 2016, 02:35 PM
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the Bernina Express can be easily included in that Paris to Italy trip if you take that TGV to Zurich - then go via Chur to St Moritz - stay the night there and take the Bernina Exress the next day to Tirano - and the Bernina Express bus goes from Tirano via Lake Como to Lugano and trains go from Tirano to Varenna - boats go from there all over the lake.
You do not need a car to explore the lake - boats go everywhere and driving on busy two-lane roads along the lake can be slow going - you could end up in Florence or Venice and fly back from there - 4 days may be a bit much on Lake Como for some (including me who spent 3 days there).
for lots about trains and the Bernina Express - to me the most thrillingly scenic train in Europe - check out www.swisstravelsystem.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.seat61.com.
There are also regular trains over the Bernina Express (called the world's slowest express train!) that you can just hop on - no reservations needed but the official BE you should book well in advance - reservations are required and the BE is often IME chock full with tour groups - I actually enjoy the regular trains even more as they are rarely full and you can hop back and forth from side to side as the scenery dictates - in summer there are even open-air flatbed rail cars so you are like levitation thru the wonderful scenery.
You do not need a car to explore the lake - boats go everywhere and driving on busy two-lane roads along the lake can be slow going - you could end up in Florence or Venice and fly back from there - 4 days may be a bit much on Lake Como for some (including me who spent 3 days there).
for lots about trains and the Bernina Express - to me the most thrillingly scenic train in Europe - check out www.swisstravelsystem.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.seat61.com.
There are also regular trains over the Bernina Express (called the world's slowest express train!) that you can just hop on - no reservations needed but the official BE you should book well in advance - reservations are required and the BE is often IME chock full with tour groups - I actually enjoy the regular trains even more as they are rarely full and you can hop back and forth from side to side as the scenery dictates - in summer there are even open-air flatbed rail cars so you are like levitation thru the wonderful scenery.
Mar 27th, 2016, 02:38 PM
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So, you will be staying in Tremezzo. In the Grand Hotel Tremezzo or in Hotel Darsena? - Anyway, the Grand Hotel has beautiful rooms and a nice pool, while Darsena's restaurant is a good bet.
Now, the travel options.
The train ride from Paris to Como takes 7:56 with 2 changes in Torino and Milano. From Como, you take the boat to Tremezzo. It will be quite a day, but you may stay overnight in Milano, which is a fascinating city (make sure to walk over the cathedral's marble roof).
The alternative would be flying from Paris to Milano.
The fast train to Zürich is tempting, but the problem is, if you rent a car in Switzerland and drop it in Italy, you pay a hefty fee. In Tremezzo, you don't need a car, since you travel by boat on Lake Como. You can drive to Lugano and take a taxi from there to Tremezzo.
Now, the travel options.
The train ride from Paris to Como takes 7:56 with 2 changes in Torino and Milano. From Como, you take the boat to Tremezzo. It will be quite a day, but you may stay overnight in Milano, which is a fascinating city (make sure to walk over the cathedral's marble roof).
The alternative would be flying from Paris to Milano.
The fast train to Zürich is tempting, but the problem is, if you rent a car in Switzerland and drop it in Italy, you pay a hefty fee. In Tremezzo, you don't need a car, since you travel by boat on Lake Como. You can drive to Lugano and take a taxi from there to Tremezzo.
Mar 27th, 2016, 03:31 PM
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It's been some years, but we took the night sleeper car train from Paris to Venice, spent a few nights there, then took train to Milan, connected to Varenna and spent few nights in Bellagio on Como. Ideal place to end the vacation, with absolutely no sightseeing. We got all around the lake via the boats, and did go into Lugano, but at that point, preferred the quiet, serene setting of Lake Como. We find Venice far more interesting than Florence frankly. We returned to Paris from Milan by train, it was convenient, relaxing and a very scenic ride.
Mar 28th, 2016, 01:58 AM
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Train:
If you want to stay as long as possible in Paris:
take the 16.23 TGV to Zurich, change there to the 21.09 IC to Lugano ar 23.50, sleep at Lugano and reach Tremezzo the next day by bus Lugano dp 8.30 or 9.30 - Tremezzo ar 9.52 resp 10.47
if you prefer to waste a whole day:
Paris L dp 10.41 - Milano PG 17.50/18.09 - Como SG 19.07/20.34 - Tremezzo ar 21.23, except Sundays
or
Paris L dp 7.23 or 10.23 - Basel 10.26/11.04 or Zurich 14.26/15.09 - Lugano ar 14.50/15.33 or 17.50/18.03 - Como SG 16.12/16.24 or 18.46/20.30 - Tremezzo ar 17.17 or 21.23, except Sundays
Plane:
Paris Chatelet dp around 10.00 - CDG dp 13.25 with Air France (fares start around 40 EUR/pax) - Milano Linate ar 14.55 - taxi to Porta Garibaldi, dp by train 16.09, 16.39 or 17.09 - Como SG ar 17.07, 17.37 or 18.07, dp by bus 17.24, 18.09 or 18.44 - Tremezzo ar 18.20, 18.58 or 19.38
If you want to stay as long as possible in Paris:
take the 16.23 TGV to Zurich, change there to the 21.09 IC to Lugano ar 23.50, sleep at Lugano and reach Tremezzo the next day by bus Lugano dp 8.30 or 9.30 - Tremezzo ar 9.52 resp 10.47
if you prefer to waste a whole day:
Paris L dp 10.41 - Milano PG 17.50/18.09 - Como SG 19.07/20.34 - Tremezzo ar 21.23, except Sundays
or
Paris L dp 7.23 or 10.23 - Basel 10.26/11.04 or Zurich 14.26/15.09 - Lugano ar 14.50/15.33 or 17.50/18.03 - Como SG 16.12/16.24 or 18.46/20.30 - Tremezzo ar 17.17 or 21.23, except Sundays
Plane:
Paris Chatelet dp around 10.00 - CDG dp 13.25 with Air France (fares start around 40 EUR/pax) - Milano Linate ar 14.55 - taxi to Porta Garibaldi, dp by train 16.09, 16.39 or 17.09 - Como SG ar 17.07, 17.37 or 18.07, dp by bus 17.24, 18.09 or 18.44 - Tremezzo ar 18.20, 18.58 or 19.38
Mar 28th, 2016, 03:57 AM
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I don't know what your friends consider a "proper Italian city", but Transavia flies about 3 or 4 times per week non-stop from Paris Orly to Verona. For a brief stay, the very compact center of Verona has a lot to offer when it comes to iconic Italian experiences: a well-preserved Roman arena and theatre, beautiful Renaissance piazze and gardens, a great medieval castle plus killer red wine and a lot of Italian public sociability. You can see all this in a day and still rent your car and head off to Lago di Como -- or do it the other way around: fly to Milan, rent the car and head to the lakes, then drive to Verona and ditch the car, and take the train back to Milan for your flight out.
On the other hand, there is really nothing insufficient about your original plan. The cities of Italy will last the rest of your lifetime (we hope), and in May and June there are excellent reasons to be relaxing at the flower-filled lakes.
On the other hand, there is really nothing insufficient about your original plan. The cities of Italy will last the rest of your lifetime (we hope), and in May and June there are excellent reasons to be relaxing at the flower-filled lakes.
Mar 28th, 2016, 10:28 AM
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The train ride from Paris to Como takes 7:56 with 2 changes in Torino and Milano. From Como, you take the boat to Tremezzo.>
Do not have to go to Milano and backtrack to Como as trains from Tirano stop at Varenna-Esino, on lake Como and with boats to Como and lots of places on the lake - a short downhill walk from station to boat dock.
And the Bernina Express bus that is timed at Tirano to meet Bernina Express trains stops I believe at Mennagio on Lake Como (mine did anyway) again with boat connections to places around the lake.
Do not have to go to Milano and backtrack to Como as trains from Tirano stop at Varenna-Esino, on lake Como and with boats to Como and lots of places on the lake - a short downhill walk from station to boat dock.
And the Bernina Express bus that is timed at Tirano to meet Bernina Express trains stops I believe at Mennagio on Lake Como (mine did anyway) again with boat connections to places around the lake.
