@Falcio
thanks for your suggestion. I may either take a train from Garda to Verona and come back, OR shift my apartment yo Verona. The reason for staying away from cities is that I like small villages and countryside.
i wasnt aware that it will be a week long holiday around 25th April, which is a Saturday.
we are anyway exiting Italy for Switzerland on 25th early morning. So wont hopefully clash with the locals.

The fact is that I have a long wish list of places to explore and know that all of them cant be seen. I am ok with seeing less number of places and chilling out in a vineyard. But this is my 6th visit to Italy and if I miss out on something, I pray God to take me there again.

bilboburgler
Sorry if I have offended someone.
I have read in several questions on this forum by people who come from outside Italy, if they find Italian drivers aggressive. I have driven in Italy and really feel that they are not aggressive and are the same as any other European country.

I am asking for advice to optimize the time that I have in this wonderful country. I have always been blessed to get good advice from fellow fodorites.

Parcheggio Centro outside Verona
https://maps.app.goo.gl/jUc2p32NSNP2hRSYA?g_st=aw
Has good reviews.
Decent size parking spaces, extremely good location, only a 10-15min walk to Arena. At a price point of 1€ per hour this is no doubt best garage in Verona. It has toilets and it is clean. Great overall.

There are bus stops outside the parking lot too. There are several parking lots in Verona, one near station is good. One can also park for free in a shopping centre outside Verona and take a taxi for 15 Euros to the centre. On Monday 14th April 26, I dont think I will have too.kuch of rush anywhere. Its in-between Easter amd Liberation day Holidays.

""We will spend the entire day on the eastern coast of lake Como.""
NO with your given itinerary in post # 16. You'll arrive in Varenna about noon and you'll drive back around 3 pm. So this are only a few hours and you really cannot do all what you want in these short time.
""My apartment is close to the main highway on the right side near Garda""
Sorry, but this doesn't help anyone here. The "right side near Garda" is far away from Sirmione. So if you don't want to tell us where exactly your appartement is, we cannot help you. And you really cannot expect finding a parking place near any bus-station.
And Falcio, # 18 is right: ""Looking for a parking spot in Verona will take more than driving to Verona:""
""I may either take a train from Garda to Verona""
There is no train from Garda Town to Verona, only a bus.
""OR shift my apartment yo Verona""
Why??? You can rent every appartement or stay in any hotel around Garda Town or Bardolino and make daytrips to Verona, to Sirmione or any aother town around the lake by ferry or public bus.

Another question: Why will you visit Switzerland? You know, there is everything about twice as expensive then in Italy. And you'll find mountains around Lake Como anyway.
And: Be aware the Mai 1. is an official holiday in Italy. So it makes a long weekend where everything is crowded.

I am reading reviews o. Parking places near Varenna and Verona. Am getting many negative reviews regarding car theft.
"Please be careful when you park your car here. Someone broke our car window and stole all the luggage from the trunk. Please be very careful on where and how you are parking in this region."
Similar reviews for Verona parking spots.

This parking lot is near. Cemetery on the outskirts of Verona and has good reviews and availability. I may have e to reach very early.

"Worried about parking your car in Verona? Look no further—Parking Centro has you covered. Clean, well-organized, and super convenient. €10/day is a great deal for the location. Made our day in the city way less stressful.:

Just checked my apartment address
Via delle Alpi 28 Via delle Alpi 28, 37067 Salionze, Italy
Its 14 km and 4.5 km from Aldi supermarket at Peschiera del Garda just on the main highway.
I have been to Lake Garda and Sirmione 5 years ago.

Can anyone suggest if Garda and Easten side of Lake como would be very similar?
Another option for spending day 4 is to spend some time in Mantua (33km) or Brescia (50km)
There is also a Vintage car museum Museo Nicolis close by (19km)

Thanks for that information. I will be staying at Lake Orta on 29,30th April and 1st May.
Shall spend 1st May exploring the lake and places around.

Thanks again for all your inputs, wisdom and efforts

And: Be aware the Mai 1. is an official holiday in Italy. So it makes a long weekend where everything is crowded.[/QUOTE]
This can be a blessing in disguise. I like to celebrate woth locals. It gives a different flavor to the holiday.
I come from India, so I am not afraid of crowds.
This is what Google says about 1st May in North Italy.
Where to Go:Cities: Milan, Turin (Torino), Bologna, Verona, Venice (Venezia) will have central events, music, and crowds.Countryside: The foothills of the Alps, Lake Garda, or the Italian Lakes (Como, Maggiore) offer beautiful scenery for picnics and relaxing walks. Things to Do:Attend a free outdoor concert or rally.Pack a traditional Italian picnic (bread, cheese, cured meats, wine) and head to a park.

OH NO!! I have looked up your appartement! That has nothing to do with Lake Garda. It is 7 km away from the lake. But OK; if you want it then do it.
""Can anyone suggest if Garda and Easten side of Lake como would be very similar""
No, this is not similare. Lake Como is more narrow, the mountains are higher, therefore the roads are narrower. And on the eastern side of Lake Como are a lot of very different towns/cities, so you cannot compare the whole eastern side with Lake Garda.
""Another option for spending day 4 is to spend some time in Mantua (33km) or Brescia (50km)""
Didn't you write somewhere that you don't like bigger cities?
And sorry, now you talk also about Lake Orta! So I can' make heads or tails anymore. Please right again, day by day, your fuöö itinerary.

Again, it's not just May 1.
Italians will take days off from April 25 to May 3. No lessons on the 25th? More college and high school students around.
On the 29th and 30th of April the Lake Orta will be as overcrowded as on May 1st. This means you'll "waste" more time than usual waiting outside restaurants, paying highway tolls, getting ferry tickets and so on.
And locals won't be particularly interested in "celebrating" with you, mostly because they don't know you and April 25 and May 1 have a strong political background. Nobody will be marching around the small, fake villages that live on tourism and that you like so much.

I shouldn't say anything about your decisions based on online reviews, I mean... you are 60 bro, not a millennial. Even if you had read 100 negative reviews it would be the opinion of 0,001% of the parking's' actual customers. If I had trusted the Internet, I would have never ventured out of Mumbai's airport. Oddly nobody harassed my daughter in India, notwithstanding the many reviews from westerners warning about local men.

Falcio
I understood your point on Verona Parking. Shall use public transport on that day to commute.

I have booked an apartment at Lake Orta for 29,30 April and 1st May. 2nd May we drop the car at Malpensa and flying out. That cannot be changed.

I thought Lake Orta and Maggiore are smaller peaceful places. I chose wrong days. I wasn't aware of the local customs and extended unofficial holidays. Which means, anywhere I go, I will have crowd and I will have to accept it and plan to make the most of whatever is possible.

Thanks for the update.

Miwunk
I understand your point. I have been to lake Garda earlier. Lake Como and Bellagio part in one trip.
Will explore the easten coast of Lake come of Day 3
Will relax around Garda on Day 4.

I have booked a villa a little away but not too far from Garda. Not traveling by public transport and having my own car gives me better rates and we usually explore places around in the car and come back at night.

not offended, just wondering, have a great holiday

Have realized that I am trying to do too many things in 5 days
have changed my itinerary
3 days- Lecco, Lake Como- lake facing apartment
day 1- Lecco and around
Day 2
Will travel to Varrena- take a boat pass to Menagio, Belagio, Varrena- leisurely day..
any suggestions on which one Villa to see?

Day 3 is free- depending on the mood- drive some mountain passes to St moritz
Or visit Bergamo

Day 4 stay near Sirmione
Visit lake Garda

Day 5- Verona

I just hope that the Iran war ends and we are able to travel on 11th April 26