Hi,

We have about 5 days free in late November. I would love to visit the Lake District as I have never been. Obviously, I cannot see everything. Is it worth it to travel to the Lake District during that time of year when it is off-season and a number of hotels are closed? We will not have a car, so I thought of Bellagio as it seems to be one of the easier destinations to reach primarily using the train. Is there much to do off-season? Should we plan on just visting for 2 days or so, and spending the other 3 days elsewhere? I've read numerous posts re the Lake District, but I cannot get a good feel as to whether or not this type of (short) trip makes sense in late November. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Please bear in mind we are train people - not drivers!

Thanks in advance,
Chels

Hi, I stayed in Bellagio in Mid October and found it very quiet then. The post office was closed for the season and the Hotel Florence's restaurant was closed also. The gardens were finished for the year. I don't think I would go back there that late in the season again so I can't recommend the lakes in November. Also, it will be cold and damp.

What would you be doing there in November? Hiking?

I would choose a location that has more activity, especially for 5 days. Where will you be just before your free 5 days? Or, are you going to Italy just for the Lakes and aren't coming from another place in Italy?

Hi, Adrienne,

Thanks for the reply. I will be in Italy on business, and was incorporating the Thanksgiving holiday weekend into my plans. The scenery for the Lake District is beautiful; but, based upon the season it sounds as if it is either not worth stopping in at that time of year, or worth stopping in for only a night or two. Perhaps arrive one morning and depart the next evening? What would there be to do or see in Bellagio at that time? Perhaps I will forget about it at that time of year. Please let me know your thoughts.

Thanks,
Chels

Where will you be for the business portion of the trip?

When does the season end in the Lake District? Thanks.

I will be in Milan for the business portion of my trip.

The season seems to end mid to late October. The majority of hotels are closed from mid-October until the Spring. Hence my question regarding activities in the District.

Bellagio will be nearly shut down by late November, but it is still worth visiting (perhaps as a day trip out of Como City) if it's not raining. There will certainly be a few hotels open, but it's probably not worth dedicating an overnighter.

Consider instead staying overnight in the City of Como (where hotels are open year-round), or perhaps even in Menaggio, across the lake from Bellagio, which is a larger town and a couple of hotels will be open. There is excellent public transportation to and from Bellagio and Menaggio by bus and ferry boat.

Five days are definitely too much for this time of year, as the weather is not likely to be very promising. One or two at the most makes sense.

Have you also thought about visiting the Ligurian Coast or the art cities between Milan and Venice?

That is too late for Lago Como.
I would think about Lugano, Bergamo, and Verona as easy train trips.

Bellagio and other surrounding towns are very small - villages really. There's little shopping and the sightseeing is the gardens and walks/hikes and the beauty of the landscape and being on the water. I found the area a bit depressing during the couple of rainy days (like the beach in the rain). No views and few people walking around.

There's Villa Carlotta but it will probably be closed for the season; it's not worth the trip to Bellagio just for that. With the trees bare of leaves and the sky perhaps overcast due to the time of year I would choose other locations.

Do a search here for Verona (as someone else suggested) and Bologna.

You could also consider Venice for a couple of days, 3 hours from Milan by train, probably free from most tourists, and beautiful beyond belief.

Or, Florence. There's tons of things to see there if you like Renaissance art and they're indoor activities so you can get out of the cold and damp.

Thanks for all the replies. I think I will be passing up the Lake District in November. I may try Verona or Bologna as I have not been. My husband and I have been to both Florence and Venice several times, and we wanted to try something new. Another "Venice-type" location would have have been ideal; by that I mean small and safe enough to stroll freely about day and night, wandering into cafes, etc., nearby museums and sites, and possibilities of day trips should we really need a day away. Any suggestions? Thanks!

Why not split your time between Verona and Bologna?

I spent 8 nights in Verona recently. You can do a search for "Vendors in Venice, Valpolicella in Verona" to find the trip report if you like.

I would second Bobthenavigator's suggestion about Lugano. I have been there in November and January and it's still got quite a bit going on. The city park is pretty even at that time of year, the lake is very attractive (I think Lake Lugano is nicer than Lake Como, but that's just personal taste), and many of the shops and restaurants will be open.

Thanks for the replies.

BTilke, would you recommend Lugano as a day trip from Milan or should we overnight? I will ultimately be flying out of Zurich so I can just train up to Zurich from Lugano rather than originating my flight in Milan. What activites would you suggest in November at Lugano?

Thanks!