Lake Como or Garda? Traveling with toddler
 

We will have 5 extra days in Italy and are trying to decide between Lake Como or Lake Garda. We have a 2 year old and plan to rent an apartment. We want to relax.
Lake Como looks beautiful with many low key day trips from Varenna. The train to St.Moritz looks amazing. Lake Garda is also pretty and perhaps more family friendly. Any suggestions?

The lakes are very different - Garda is wide open and possible more child friendly with a water park on the east coast. Lake Como is in a much narrower and steeper valley. It is smaller and there are really good ferry connections across and up and down it. Varrena is lovely but there isn't much there and it is built on a very steep hillside. It is easily reached from Bellagio which acts as a hub for the ferries in the centre of the lake and it is only a 15 minute journey. Varrena does have a rail connection which you can use to get the train to connect with the Bernina Express which is an amazing trip to St. Moritz.

Hi djorai,

i can't speak for Como, but I can say that Lake Garda is very child-friendly. The town of Garda itself for example has a very flat area around the lake [for toddling around and buggy-pushing] and the centre is traffic free. there are also loads of boats going all round the lake for leisurely sight-seeing. it might not be as exciting as Como, but it all depends what you are looking for.

sirmione.com Hotel Eden for me booking.com venere.com
Gardais warmer more family firendly beachier.

www.bellagio.info Como a bit more spectacular more expensive
very nice though colder in shoulder seasons.Residence D'Ulivo
child friendly aptss there hotelscombined.com 120 euro
for me last.

Como closer easier coming from Lugano 12 euro shuttle to Menaggio you are there.All in Como Bellagio for me in season.

Residence L Ulivo Bellagio - HotelsCombined™ helps you find cheaper deals on Residence L Ulivo and 24 other Bellagio hotels, Italy

http://www.hotelscombined.com/Hotel/...o_Bellagio.htm

My fav L'Ulivo sorry for typo above.

In Varenna for me last 120 euro apt on a Thurs 150 euro on a Friday Hotel Villa Cipressi Varenna 3 star
www.venere.com/italy/varenna
was nice good lake views.Train station a long UPHILL hike from town prefer Bellagio a bit prettier for me.