Best Day Stop - Lake Como, Lake Garda, Verona - Somewhere Else?
 

We are driving from Venice to MXP airport on a Tuesday. We wanted to do a stop to spend our day before flying out of the MXP airport on Wednesday. We already booked a hotel by the airport and have an early flight. We do not want to stay over night but want to do an afternoon stop with lunch somewhere.

Where, why and what would you recommended for a few hour stop with lunch or early dinner?

I think Verona would be your only logical half-day stop as the others take much more time to reach the popular places but Verona has it all in a compact area and to me is one of the finest cities in Italy - definitely another ABC city - Another Bloody Church at every corner but a delightful ancient one and of course Juliet's balcony, which though Ersatz is still romantic to see - imagining a young Romeo wooing his gal from the old courtyard below!

So few a few-hour stop I think Verona is perfect!

I've been to Verona many times (mainly for the opera performances) and although I think someone is exaggerating, as usual, with the church on every corner comment, there are some things to see and do in the city including at least one decent museum.

However, depending on your interests you might actually find more to see and do in Milan. But given your thread title I suspect you want something a little quieter, is that correct?

It is easier to stop in Verona by car than in Milan, a huge city and plus Verona breaks up the drive a bit - Milan is at the end. I'll take Verona in a church beat over Milan any day.

I really would like something more either lakeside or romantic. We will have not been to much costal or mountain/lake areas during the trip and this is our last day.

By this time we will have been to Parma, Florence,Rome, Siena, Bologna and Venice. We would probably like to stay away from seeing more churches or museums at this point. I thought it would be nice to do an afternoon relaxing at a restaurant by the lake and maybe doing a little walk. I would like something that could be a romantic, simple yet nice afternoon for our last day. I would be open to doing Milan - but again we will be worn out from churches and museums I am sure.

I mentioned Verona because everyone says it is so lovely- I am just not sure if that is the type of afternoon we are really looking for. Is it really far off the path to go to the bottom of either Lake Garda or Lake Como? It seems to only be about a 20-35 minute drive, depending- and we have a car

Lake Garda is smack along your route - Como would be a detour and IMO Lake Garda is the nicest of the three lakes I've been to - the others are neat too. But in a half-day at Garda you can take a boat ride around the lower part of the lake and see Sirmione, one of the most famous archealogical spots in Italy.

Two lakeside towns at the south end of the lake have boat service - from one there are buses on a peninsula to Sirmione or you can even walk the few miles there- Pescheria del Garda is a nice town in itself with some old fortifications right in town - walk or bus or boat to Sirmione from here.

Perfect stop smack on the Venice to Milan road route.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/La...dcf07c1c969bb8

https://www.google.com/search?q=sirm...=1600&bih=1075

Sirmione is two things - an old fishing village where locals now angle for tourists dollars - it can be really mobbed during the day in season with day trippers (just like Bellagio on Lake Como) but the adjoining archaeolgical site is peaceful and quiet.

Sirmione is your best option !

Lake Garda is lovely, and it is on your route from Venice to Milan. Lake Como is really out of the way, and while Verona has its charms, it is yet another city. I would opt for Lake Garda.