Intinerary help for 5 days in northern Italy
May 22nd, 2019 | 07:09 AM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 16
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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.
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.
May 22nd, 2019 | 08:25 AM
#2
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,763
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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.
Trip Report: Part 1 Northern Italian Lakes & Cities (12 days October)
Trip Report: Part 2 of 2): Northern Italian Lakes & Cities (12 days October)
Rapallo/Cinque Terre/20 Places/8 Nights Sept/Oct
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.
Trip Report: Part 1 Northern Italian Lakes & Cities (12 days October)
Trip Report: Part 2 of 2): Northern Italian Lakes & Cities (12 days October)
Rapallo/Cinque Terre/20 Places/8 Nights Sept/Oct
May 25th, 2019 | 12:31 PM
#5
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 9,503
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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.
Last edited by neckervd; May 25th, 2019 at 12:36 PM.
May 25th, 2019 | 01:26 PM
#6
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 18,251
Likes: 22
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.
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.
May 25th, 2019 | 04:00 PM
#7
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 26,496
Likes: 4
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
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
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May 26th, 2019 | 12:49 AM
#8
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 8,336
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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.
May 26th, 2019 | 02:45 AM
#10
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Joined: May 2014
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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.
