My wife and I were thinking about visiting the Italian lakes north of Milan (Como, Maggiore, Garda, etc.). Can anyone advise as to the best way to travel around - by car or by rail? Our tentative plan is to visit several of the best ones (and, by the way, which are the best ones?), staying around one week in lakeside hotels (any which you can suggest?). Any information will be welcome. We have travelled in Italy before.

Leaving for Europe in 3 days- have been surfing the net for 8 weeks-was going to Rome but due to lack of time and the distance involved- decided to visit the Italian Lake District after seeing a picture of gorgeous Lake Garda in a travel guide I got from
EUROPE BY IMAGE (1-800-968-9161) We are not taking their tour but we are following their route -
Here is a sample of what they say--"We're off to the magnificent Dolomite Mtns of No. Italy. We take the scenic route of the Brenner Pass, which feature Europabrucke (Europe Bridge) rising 627 feet above the valley- we break in Bolzano with comfortable shopping arcades and outdoor markets and then we descend to the stunningly beautiful Lake Garda, with its crystal clear, tourquoise surface and its mountainous shores which rise straight up from the lake. The scenic road that surrounds the lake is characterized by over a hundred tunnels. Due to its subtropical climate, this region is rich in vegetation, including olive groves, laurel trees, peaches and grapes. Lake Garda has long been one of Europe's favorite playgrounds and resorts..." The hotel they stay in is in a nearby city of Brescia, called the Euroresidence. The other popular lake, 3rd largest in Italy, is Lake Como. Also try Rick Steve's webside www.ricksteve's.com- you can E-mail him direct with questions.. Hope this helps ya!

I would definitely advise anyone traveling in Italy to get a rail pass and forgo the car. We were so stress-free during our month-long trip last year, and had no difficulties getting anywhere. You just show up at the train station, check the times, get on a train and go. For the Lake county, once you get off the train in Varenna you can get anywhere by ferry--faster and more scenic than a car. We even made it to some really small villages (Spello comes to mind) and the worst that happens is you have to transfer trains to get back on the main track. Get a rail pass before you go, as a travel agent can get you a discount. Also, travel 1st class. It only costs a little bit more, and you are guaranteed a seat as most people travel 2nd class and those cars can get quite crowded. Monica

Hi, Sending this to this month's section so that the other person asking about the Italian Lake Country will see it (hopefully) as people don't read the archives!!!

Ron, I am a retired IBMer that has traveled the
Lake country several times. Your question is too
broad to answer well here. However, I disagree
that a car is not the best way to see the area.
There are 4 main areas to see and all are superb,
but you definately need a car to do it justice.
This is the best part of all of Europe and you will
love it. Please contact me directly if you want
more details, including hotel suggestions.

Talk about bringing up an old topic ... I was just searching for ideas about traveling in NE Italy and ran across this post. <BR> <BR>I'm contemplating driving from Milan through Lombardy, Dolomites, and Veneto, and have only been on the autostrada between Venice and Como. While I'm a level-headed driver and love the freedom of a car, however, my passenger is not so much of a fan of no-guard-rail mountain driving. How difficult is the driving as far as mountain passes, hairpin turns, etc.? I just need to know if we'll have to buff nail marks out of the dashboard, or if I should stick to trains. <BR> <BR>Any advice would be appreciated. <BR> <BR>Thanks! <BR> <BR>

Drive, Heather, drive. <BR>

Although I did notice that the guard rails disappeared the minute we left Switzerland, I thoroughly enjoyed driving south from Switzerland to the Italian lakes. Much more startling than the occasional macho Italian race car driver type was having to look out for waiters crossing the road taking trays of food and drink to their clients lakeside. The hairpin turns didn't bother me, either, because frankly everyone, no matter what their driving tendencies are, has to slow down for those.

We have done both car and rail and for the area you are talking about car is the way to go!

We drove from Venice north to Cortina and then west thru the mountain passes (whose names escape me now) driving thru Ortisei, Gardena, Selva etc. (Check out a map). Then driving south to Lake Garda. It was really a wonderful drive. While there were a number of switchback turns on some of the passes they were nothing a good driver could not handle comfortably. It was certainly worth the drive. Even my husband - who knew he was going to do the driving and was nervously anticipating it - said it was wonderful and wants to go back again. Do some searches on this forum. There is a gentleman named Paulo who is a wealth of knowledge and actually provided some instructions for a scenic drive (they're all scenic!). You won't be sorry renting the car and travelling that way.

Definitely by car. Lake of Como is north of Milano: wonderful sites are Cernobbio, (Hotel Asnigo http://www.eurohotels.com/italy/city/hotels/006573.htm) Bellagio, Varenna (Hotel du Lac http://www.albergodulac.com/) Bellagio, Moltrasio ( Grand Hotel Imperiale: its restaurant is simply great E-mail: [email protected]). <BR>Lago Maggiore is north-west of Milan, very near to Malpensa airport: I've never stayed in any hotel there, the most beautiful sites are Stresa, Laveno and Baveno and Angera. In lake maggiore there are beautiful little islands (called isole borromee) Isola Bella, Isola del Pescatore. An hidden pearl in lake Maggiore area is the Isola di S.Giulio: it's situated in a smaller lake called Orta http://www.lagodorta.com/san_giulio.htm there is a beautiful abbey there (they have a restaurant and, I think, also an hotel). Lake of Garda more distant from Milan (at the very least 3 hours driving, often there's also a lot of traffic worsening the trip...), direction north east: Limone is very beautiful, near Riva del Garda there is a wonderful old little harbor called Punta S.Vigilio. One of the most romantic spots in the world. <BR>It's difficult (and tiring) to visit the three lakes in one week: I'd advise you to visit Lake of Como and Maggiore OR Garda (the distance between these two is considerable). If your flight )if you fly) is in Malpensa and you really want to visit the three sites I'd suggest that as soon as you arrive you drive all the way to Garda, to spend three days there, then to lake of Como and finally to Lake Maggiore (the nearest to Malpensa). Have fun! <BR>

Thank you all so much for the feedback. Somehow, I knew that Rex would support driving. ;&gt; To read the unanimous support of driving makes me feel much better. Perhaps stopping often for wine for my passenger will help matters. <BR> <BR>I'll be searching more for past posts, but this trip isn't until next year. I really appreciate the time everyone took to share their experiences! <BR> <BR>p.s. Rex, I know that you were researching NE Italy, would you mind if I emailed you for an itinerary critique as the time gets closer?

Oh, I forgot to ask ... which of the three lakes do you prefer? (I've been to Bellagio, but have not explored much else of Lake Como).

Drive! We did the same area last year and I can't imagine doing it any other way. So many delightful suprises around the bend, over the rise, into the village, etc. You cannot take advantage of these by train. We would have certainly missed Aquileia, Grado, Asolo, Glurns/Giorenza, the list goes on, without the flexability a car provides. I know there are those that can make a perfectly logical (and impassioned) plea for the train vs the car and that's fine. I really believe in "to each his own". And, if you are City hopping, Milan, Venice, Florence, Rome, trains make good sense. But, early in our traveling we were persuaded that the train is the way to go (one year, first trip to Italy). Milan to Venice and Venice to Florence were fine. But we abandoned the trains and rented a car after trying to do Umbria by bus and train. Got tired of transfering luggage, connections and their schedule, not mine. It overwhelms me to think we would have missed Gubbio, Todi, the Etruscan tomb we stumbled upon in the wine country near Orvieto and, of course, Bastardo (yes, there is a village called Bastardo near Orvieto) if we had not made the change. We have since driven all over the world and it is our preferred method of travel. I should admit, I am not the most secure high altitude driver and my wife clutches every knob, handle, strap, etc. in the car as we do our hairpin turn over a blind rise with only space outside the window. But, we will do the car every time.

Heather: <BR> <BR>My personal favorite is Maggiore. We stayed for a week at the Hotel Italie et Suisse, across from the boat landing in Stresa, which was perfect, as we could park our car in the large parking lot there (parking might otherwise have been a problem) and could take boats and hydrofoils to the islands and to other towns on the lake. Stresa was a nice-size town, not too busy, with a nice selection of shops and restaurants. I have only seen parts of Como and Garda, but what I saw wasn't as pretty as Maggiore. Orta is also a little gem - and there's another tiny (by comparison) lake near Maggiore that we discovered quite by accident that was lovely - unfortuntately, the name escapes me.

Went with a tour group to Lake Garda. Traveled to all the little tourist towns around the lake. Lake Garda is so, so beautiful. Went to Sirmiione--not to be missed, Vincenza and Verona. We were on a bus and the scenery is breathtaking. So know nothing about the ease of trains, etc. <BR> There is a ferry that goes all around the Lake that takes a couple of hours so you can get to or see all the towns on the lake. So peaceful and beautiful..

Heather, <BR> <BR>Just noticed that I never responded to your request for itinerary critique - - and of course, I will be happy to do it. Keep in mind that I have never actually been to Garda nor to Maggiore (unless you count on the shore, from Lugano - - is it still Maggiore there? <BR> <BR>Anyhow, note also that I am back to using an older e-mail address - - listed at the top of this post. <BR>

largo maggiore is wonderful the town of stressa is a very nice and central place to stay. a car is very helpful. if interested leave message and will reccommend an albergo

Hello everyone. I know this thread began years ago, but I'd love to continue hearing of your Italian lake experiences. StCirq, have you remembered the name of the little lake you mentioned? Can you elaborate on Lake Orta? My lake experience has been along the Swiss shores of Maggiore and Lugano, and I fell in love with both. On two separate trips I stayed in the little two-star Hotel Panorama in Gerra-Gambarogno on Maggiore. What a delightful experience! Can anyone tell me if there are boat passes (by the day or week) for Lake Como or Lake Orta? -- and if it is possible to visit all the Como lake towns conveniently by boat? I suppose you can surmise that I much prefer train and boat travel to the hassle of driving. Thanks.

Heather, we visited Lago de Maggiore in May 2000 and stayed on Isola dei Pescatori at Hotel Verbano. We loved it! It's the only hotel on the tiny island, the restaurant is excellent & our room had a terrace right on the lake with views north. Dead quiet at night since the public boats stop running at 7pm. Stresa was wonderful. We visited Isola Madre, Isola Bella (wonderful) and Villa Taranto.