In August we will go to Italy and fly into Milan. Are day trips available to see some of Lake Como,
or Lake Maggiore? Which is preferred as I read posts with folks going to Varenna and Bellagio, both near Lake Como? Are both towns nice to see or if only had time for one, which to see? Know of any day tour from Milan to this Lake area?

Then we leave Milan and plan to take a train to Venice. Would this be best train site to use? http://www.trenitalia.it/en/index.htmlTrain site.

After Venice, we need to rent a car to travel with for remainder of trip. Can one be had in Venice or just outside in Mestre?

Thank you for any suggestions.
-Debbie

There are two train station in the city of Como at the south end of the lake. Both trains are about an hour ride from Milan. From here you can take a boat ride up the lake to Bellagio--anywhere from 30 minutes for fast boat to 2 hours for slow boat.

Better for a daytrip is to train north on the east coast of the lake to the Varenna-Esino stop, about 1.5 hours from Milan. This is the center part and perhaps the most scneic part of the lake. From the Varenna train station, walk down the hill to the boat docks. Bellagio is a 10-minute ride across the lake from here.

The trenitalia site is the offical site with the best prices.

You can rent a car at Piazzale Roma, right in Venice.

Hope this helps.

By the way . . .
Please stop yelling at us. Whenever you type in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS it is as if you are yelling. There are many people on this forum who love to answer Italy questions. There's no need for special emphasis.

Thank so much, Ellenem. Your information for Milan/Como/Venice was very helpful.

I am sorry but I mean no intention of yelling or offending anyone. For my vision it is easier to spot my posts. I have been using this forum for years, spread the word to many with same style title. I will use small letters. This forum is so helpful,I do not want to stir negative comments.

If you click on your screen name next to Welcome at the top of the Fodor's site, all your posts will load at the left--much easier to find them this way.

Thanks, never knew that. I made using Fodors easier; it is on my toolbar and when I click, it opens to Europe.

Re: Venice car rental- have been searching a bit for Piazza Roma, do you know what area of Venice it is in? Map does not highlight piazzas only S. Marco!

It's Piazzale Rome. It's a bus station surrounded by multi-storey car parks near Santa Lucia station, and served by vaporetti.

GeoffHamer- thanks for correction and information. -Debbie

I prefer Maggiore to Como, but that';s just me. I have always had a rental car,so don't know about getting to Maggiore, but I imagine there's a train to Stresa.

Once there you can take all manner of boat trips to various places around the lake and to the Borromeo islands.

StCirq-- would like to hear your reasons for enjoying Lake Maggiore better than Como.

For taking the train Milan to Venice, you can simply go to the train station. It's a very common route with many trains daily.