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Intinerary help for 5 days in northern Italy
Hello, My husband and I are flying in and out of Milan in August. We have 5 nights (arriving 8am day 1). We love lake Como and plan to return to Bellagio where we have stayed in the past. I’m wondering if anyone has ever gone from SML to lake Como. I was thinking of potentially doing the first 2 nights there and then heading to the lake. I know this isn’t the most convenient of airports but we are locked into the flights. We’re used to moving around but I’m not sure how difficult this will be. Alternatively we’ll base in Bellagio for the 5 days. I need some ideas on what we can do from there! Or perhaps a day in Milan and then 4 at the lake? Just looking for some thoughts / suggestions! Thank you in advance. |
You will have plenty to do in the northern areas with only five days, but we usually can accomplish a lot in a few days.
Here are a few recent trip reports, the first two included the northern lakes and the third one Rapallo (or SML) area, which is certainly easy to get to and from Milan. https://www.fodors.com/community/eur.../#post16747952 https://www.fodors.com/community/eur...tober-1649644/ https://www.fodors.com/community/eur...t-oct-1659667/ |
Could somebody tell me what SML means?
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Santa Margarita Ligure
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It's really easy to go by public transport from SML to BLG. In some cases you will have to change trains at GPP, but in any case at MCL. From there, you can either go by FNM to CLG and then by Navlaghi to BLG or by TI or FNM to CSG and then by ASF to BLG, resp by FNM to VR-E and by Navlaghi to BLG.
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We have done this by rental car picked up at MXP. Two beautiful places, SML and Bellagio. We have been to Bellagio four times, once for two weeks and SML twice.
From Bellagio you can take ferries to each end of the lake and visit many small towns. You can visit the city of Como which has a nice medieval quarter.Take a bus from Mennagio to Lake Lugano, Switzerland. Visit the gardens in Bellagio( Melzi), and Varenna ( Monasterio). Walk from Bellagio south from Melzi Gardens to a nice restaurant, Ristorante All Darsene di Loppia in the hamlet of Loppia. Take the ferry to Lenno, then walk on a path in the woods out to Villa Balbaniello..or take a water taxi there from Lenno. Go to the top of the town, Hotel Belvedere, and then walk down the steps to the other branch of the lake. |
Going to both SML and Bellagio doesn't make sense to me in a 5-day trip, but it's your trip and not mine.
Train from Malpensa to SML: 3.5-4 hours (1-2 connections) Train from SML to Varenna: 4-4.5 hours (2 connections) Ferry to Bellagio Ferry back to Varenna and train to Malpensa: 2+ hours (1 connection) Drive from Malpensa to SML: 3 hours [A bit long after an overnight flight...] Drive from SML to Bellagio: 3.5 hours, maybe more Bellagio to Malpensa: 2 hours |
Originally Posted by neckervd
(Post 16925317)
It's really easy to go by public transport from SML to BLG. In some cases you will have to change trains at GPP, but in any case at MCL. From there, you can either go by FNM to CLG and then by Navlaghi to BLG or by TI or FNM to CSG and then by ASF to BLG, resp by FNM to VR-E and by Navlaghi to BLG.
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Yes, it was.
The correct and fully serious answer would have been: a journey from MXP to SML takes about 18 hrs, change planes at MIA and NSA |
Thank you for suggestions! I think ultimately if we decide to do Santa Margherita we will book a driver to save time on trains, at least for the way there. It also sounds like there is plenty we haven’t done at the lake and could easily fill the 5 days. |
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