Just had to give a quick report... in Bellagio for our second night and it is paradise on earth! Amazing little town, with enough action and enough quiet/serenity.

Headed to Bilacus for dinner right now, had an amazing time/meal at Tratoria S. Giacomo last night - restaurant full since it was the only place open on Monday, so they gave us pillows, drinks and blankets to hang out on the steps and wait - one of those experiences you can only have in small town Italy!

Loving the Hotel Metropole and its views... sorry to be so quick, but hating this keyboard!! Headed to Florence in the AM - wishing we had just one more day here... signing off until we return Oct 30... KAMG

I am with you, travelphile. We just stayed in Varenna 10 days ago and took a traghetto to Bellagio and Menaggio. Heaven... Could be a little warmer though, don't you think?

-e

I love it!! pllows,drinks and blankets and hang out on the steps of the restaurant in Bellagio. What more could anyone ask for? Well maybe dinner eventually. Have fun travelphile.

I'm going to Lake Como for the first time, next April, it will be a dream come true.
Only two days there, and staying near Como. Bellagio is how far by ferry?
Any specific recommendations for spending a day there?

Elaine, why are you choosing to stay in Como? My suggestion would be to stay in Bellagio and spend a day in Como.

Timing between the two depends on which kind of boat you take; hydrofoil or slow ferry.

Planning to stay near Como because part of the dream is to stay at Villa d'Este.
I'll be ending a 10 day trip on a high note, at least when it comes to hotels.

Elaine,

This site has the ferry schedule:
http://www.navigazionelaghi.it/

Como has a great-looking Duomo and piazza and some of the best shopping around, while Bellagio and Varenna are more serene, beautiful, quiet, simply divine. You can visit the several villas with gardens in both Bellagio and Varenna and other neighboring towns. Just stroll the gardens and take it in....

There is a great book and jewelry store in Varenna, Il Pozzo, right on the tiny "beach", run by Giorgio, a native, who happens to be the president of the local tourism association and has a lot of great info on inexpensive lodgings, B&B's restaurants, etc. He thinks all hotels in the area are incredibly overpriced. Also makes some rather unique jewelry with precious and semi-precious stones, st. silver, marcasite...

Best time to visit IMO is when it is warm enough to eat/sit outside.

Enjoy,

-e

Elaine, You are going to love Villa De Este. It was superb. Rooms are huge, staff excellent, grounds gorgeous and the view from the outside terrace are phenomenal.

This is one of my favorite hotels in Italy. You will feel like you like a queen when you stay there.

Gail

Thanks for not making me feel silly.
All the hotels leading up to that one will be at much lower levels, to make for that splurge!! I felt comfortable booking lesser hotels in the other stops, because they are repeat visits.
Lake Como will be a first time for me.

Thanks for checking in, travelphile.

Glad to hear that you are enjoying your trip & that the Metropole worked out well for you.

Jim

Hi elaine, why would you feel silly for staying at the Villa d'Este? My goodness I would go there and stay for weeks if I could. I had a friend whose mother went and stayed at the Villa d'Este every autumn. This woman could have stayed anywhere she wanted to btw. I think your choice is fantastic!!

Elaine, I posted my reply before I saw your Villa d'Este comment. Great choice. I didn't stay but I loved what I saw. Enjoy.


-e

I didn't mean to hijack the thread, but travelphile is still travelphiling, so I'll go on.
Can Varenna and Bellagio both be seen in one day, or is that rushing about too much?
I will arrive in Como mid day (by train from Venice) on one day, so will have only about half of that day, plus the whole next day and evening.
The day after that I fly out of Malpensa. So I figure the first half day will be in Como.
Do you know if the Como station has a left luggage facility?

Elaine,

I think you can see both Bellagio and Varenna in one day. The ferries run every half-hour or so even off-season and are usually on time. You can be in Varenna within 15 min. Do check the schedule closer to April and it's different on holidays.

-e

Elaine, will you pop over to see Villa Carlotta too? I think it's well worth a visit.

I've never heard of it, do tell

Elaine: A day and a half for Como, Bellagio, Varenna, ferries, villas, gardens, churches, dining, shopping, enjoying the views, and not missing the last ferry? Forget the room at Villa d'Este! You won't have time to sleep.

Seriously, don't try to see it all or you won't see much. Skip Como (it's so easy to add it to another trip in No. Italy) and spend most of your time in Bellagio. If you're not into shopping, then also see Varenna OR either Villa Balbianello or Villa Carlotta (not both and preferably V. B.). If your visit is between early October and mid-April, skip both villas (gardens will be dull) and substitute with Villa D'Este.

Elaine

If you can manage it, make the steep hike to the castle at the top of the hill in Varenna, the view is marvellous and there's a falconer who puts on demonstrations with his birds.

We managed a quick look at Varenna and Bellagio in 24 hours but bear in mind we spent the night in Varenna, not Como. (Meant to spend 2 nights, but train strike forced change of plan). Also, while we enjoyed our hotel (the Milano) I must say that if I were staying at Villa d'Este, I'd probably want to spend some time there.

Be prepared for a wide range of weather; in 24 hours, we went from balmy sun to cool, sweater-and-windbreaker drizzle (and this was early May.)

Travelphile, glad you're enjoying Italy.

Since I'll be arriving by train in the town of Como, it seems I might as well see it for a couple of hours since I'm right there. I've been to Italy three times before and never to the Lakes,so I want to see the highlights and not assume I'll be back anytime soon.I'm assuming that if I have to choose betw Bellagio and Varenna, that B should win, but maybe I can do both.
This will be about April 10-12 or so, so I'm not counting on gardens that much.
More advice on ferry logistics is welcome.

www.navigazionelaghi.it for ferry schedules.