Lake Como, Maggiore, or Orta before Malpensa flight?
 

What would be the best choice - Lake Como, Lake Maggiore, or Lake Orta for 2 nights before going to an airport hotel for the night before the next morning flight? We would like the experience of seeing the lake district and will have a car. Any ideas for nice,but not luxury hotels. Any suggestions for things not to miss while there? Thanks in advance for any input.

Knowing what time of year you are going would help produce more precise answers. Likewise, knowing when your flight leaves because there really is no need to transfer to an airport hotel in most circumstances if you have a car and if you are staying in Lago d'Orta or Lago di Como.

All the lakes (and there are more than the 3 you mention) have very different character, so 2 nights in one of them is not going to give you "the experience of seeing the lake district". You will have the experience of one lake, and what is most important to you? Stunning scenery? Tranquil charm? Things to do? Do you mind lots of other tourists or do you thrill to feeling you are off the beaten track with the Italians? Luxury shopping for your last nights? Elegance? Or kick back? Gardens? Hikes?

Picking Orta or Maggiore gives the flexibility to see both since they are so close---about :45 apart.
And, they are both much closer to MXP if you decide to stay that last night. The combo would win for me.

Thank you both for the info. Traveling in latter part of Oct. with morning flight out of MXP. Would you have any suggestions of where to stop in Tuscany for one or two nights,enroute via car from Civitavecchia to the area of the 3 lakes mentioned?

The eastern side of Lake Maggiore, i.e., Ranco, is very near MXP. We enjoyed staying there but chose it for it's location near MXP. There were several hotels and a ferry to cross the lake.

If you want to stop in Tuscany I would stay on the coast road and cut over via Grosetto and the back roads to Montalcino---the best wine town in Italy.

Great Suggestions!

Orta, as it's small and compact and easy to get to Maggiore and the islands.

Just to begin with an aside (or caution), Montalcino is not "the best wine town in Italy" -- that is really such a totally ignorant statement of Italy, let alone wine, that it needs to be said flatly at the risk of people objecting. Its tourist brochure blather and just a terribly misleading view of Italy.

In the latter part of October it is a good idea to transfer to an airport hotel the night before your flight because you cannot count on the weather cooperating with travel plans. I would have a back up Plan B to staying at the lakes because they can be very cold and rainy at that time of year. Most of the lakesides will be fairly shut down except on nice weekends, but they can still be nice places to go. (Bundle up if you plan to take boat roads to islands.)

I would most enjoy Lago di Como because to my eye it is the most beautiful of the lakes, but Lago d'Orta has charm and surprises and is less touristy in its towns.

PS: A nice Plan B if it is terribly rainy at the lakes and you are coming through Tuscany to Malpensa is to get rid of the car in Florence and either stay in Florence or train further to Bologna for your final nights before moving on to Malpensa by train. If you prefer smaller places, consider Parma or Modena, but get rid of the car and use the trains.

All input, suggestions, and opinions are appreciated.
Any ideas for specific accommodations on Lake Como or the other lakes?

Of course, but which lake and what budget?

If you stay in Ranco, the closest to MXP, look at Il Sole di Ranco. There are other less expensive options in town too.

Thanks for the reminder about the potential cold and windy weather. Not sure which lake yet. It seems they all have their unique charm. Wish we had more time to explore all of them at a possibly more favorable time, weather wise.

. There are so many wine regions in Italy that I cannot single out one, let alone one best town within a region.

We had a flight departing from MXP around noon and had no trouble driving from Lake Como to the airport, but perhaps your flight leaves earlier?

ekscrunchy, would you please tell me where you stayed on Lake Como, what you think are the best things to do for 2 days there and any restaurant suggestions you might have. Was parking your car an issue?

I'm with Bob. Montalcino for sure.. Best wine visiting town/area in Italy. Sorry Sandra but just have to disagree after 20 years of visiting wine country in Italy, North, Central And South.. Our personal favorite.
bcsa--If only short time to see Tuscany as referenced in your post, Take the short coast trip to Grosseto and then on to Montalcino.

We like Lake Maggiore best of the 3 lakes you suggested. But most of our experience is on the Western shore (Hotel Cannobio in Cannobio) which is further away from the airport. I would pick Orta to stay and visit the islands on Maggiore.

Enjoy.

Bcsa, we stayed in Menaggio and had free parking at our hotel. I liked having a car, both to make it easy to drive to the airport at the end of our stay, and also to take drives into the mountains from the western shore of the lake. There are good restaurants on that side that are easily accessible only with a car. We also drove to the outlet mall over the border, not a trip that would appeal to most tourists, I think.

We did not use the car for all sightseeing, but as parking was free, it did not matter at all...

I write a trip report and will bring it to the top for you..easier than adding the link on iPad...

Grazie Mille to all - this is extremely helpful info!

Everybody's lake is "the best" as you can see above. Just be aware of accommodations which might be closed during your visit timeframe.