Como, Bellagio, or Varenna
 

HI,
Will be coming from Rome on train and will not have a car. Would like to stay on the lake and from guide books have decided on one of the above 3 cities. Any thoughts on how to get to Vellagio or Varenna. Any hotel sugestions-We like small but not frilly victorian-on the upscale side.
Thanks

Rome to Milano Centrale. At Milano Centrale switch to train to Varenna. From Varenna it is a quick ferry ride across to Bellagio.

We really liked the Hotel Belvedere in Bellagio. It is uphill from town ( but only a short walk away) and has gorgeous lake views from many of the rooms.

However, if you are going in the summer months, you might want to consider Varenna instead. Bellagio was wall-wall tourists in late July last year, and we didn't enjoy it as much for that reason.

Look into Hotel du Lac in Varenna. We requested a room with a private terrace on the lake. It was lovely. There are lots of posts on these options. Just use the search box.

Varenna - Albergo Milano!!!!!

varenna is wonderful check out the Olivedo, great food wonderful hotel...

http://www.olivedo.it/

I have to disagree with the above post. There was not much wonderful about the Olivedo. The beds were similar to camp cots or dorm beds(they have tired& worn linens), there is noise from the ferries until midnight, and the owner is weird to say the least. Olivedo is, in fact, quite walkable from the train station but taxis are available to get you to any hotel. Hotel du Lac would definitely be my choice for a return visit to Varenna.

Varenna - Villa Cipressi. Book very early.

To Varenna by rail is pretty straight forward.

Take a train from Milano Centrale; they run about every two hours and the trip to Varenna takes about an hour and a half. Those trains often have Tirano (NOT Turin[Turino]) as their final destination.

The trains have mostly Second Class coaches and there is usually no need to make any kind of reservation for them.

Sit on the LEFT SIDE (facing forward) of the train for the best lake views which begin at Lecco.

At Varenna (the actual name of the destination is Varenna-Esino) the station is at the top of a hill and is a ten-minute walk (all downhill) to the ferry dock (if you decide to stay in Bellagio) or you could take a taxi.

Ferry over to Bellagio takes about 10-15 minutes (some stop in Menaggio first; some are for foot traffic only; others are for cars and foot traffic...ask at the ticket booth).