Hello,

Haven't been to Lake Constance but I loved Lake Guarda - probably even more than Lake Como. The northern half of the lake is by far the best - lots of very high mountains going right down to the lake. The towns of Malcesine, Limone and Garda del Riva are all in the northern end. Really cute castle in Malcesine. Also there's a gondola you can take right from the center of the town up to a quite high mountain (Mt. Baldo) with some easy hikes.


Here's my photos - https://andiamo.zenfolio.com/p1016537666

Great photos! Thank you

It's Garda, not Guarda, and that's what I would do. Pity you're going to Milan for only a day.

i like Constance. But it is pretty big and you need to chose the bit you visit sensibly dependant on car route etc. The west end has a lot of attraction (aquarium, flower on a big island etc), the north has the Zepplin musuem and a village on stilts, while the east is a bit more bath chairs and afternoon tea. Roller blades can be hired as can bikes.

Last fall, we went to Como, Iseo and Garda and stayed in Milan, Bergamo and Turin. We did two trip reports covering the 12 days we spent in the area. We have been to more than 100 Italian cities and towns, and, for us, Milan ranks near the bottom for us, but we were delighted and surprised by Bergamo. We agree with Isabel that, although we loved Como, that there was something about Garda that will make us return. One of the reasons we want to return is that we have read about a new bike path that “floats” over the water.

If interested, here are the trip reports:

Trip Report: Part 1 Northern Italian Lakes & Cities (12 days October)

Trip Report: Part 2 of 2): Northern Italian Lakes & Cities (12 days October)

There are different itineraries between Lake Como, Innsbruck, Munich and Malpensa airport.
The most obvious route is:
Menaggio/Bellagio/Varenna (all linked by car ferry) - Colico - Chiavenna - St. Moritz - Scuol-Tarasp - Landeck - Innsbruck - Garmisch or Kufstein - Munich - Lindau/Lake Constance - Bregenz/Lake Constance - Altach - Kriessern - Heidiland - Chur - Via Mala Gorge - San Bernardino Tunnel - Bellinzona (castles) - Lugano - Lomazzo - Olgiate - Malpensa.
Places to visit along or close to this itinerary:
Soglio, Sils Maria, St. Moritz, Pontresina, Diavolezza glacier cableway, Guarda, Scuol Themal spa, Innsbruck, Seefeld, Mittenwald, Garmisch/Zugspitze, Oberammergau, Rattenberg am Inn, Achensee, Chiemsee royal castles, Munich, Neuschwanstein Castle, Lindau and Lake Constance (Friedrichshafen, Unteruhldingen, Mainau Island, Reichenau Island, Constance, St. Gallen), Staubern gondola (viewpoint in Canton of Appenzell), Menhirs of Flims, Bellinzona castles, Locarno, Ascona, Tamaro Park, Copy of Last Supper at Capriasca, Lugano, Swissminiatur, Monte Generose cog wheel railway.......

If you want to travel via Lake Garda instead, the gems may be Bergamo, Val Camonica prehistoric rock carvings, Gardesana Occidentale, Sirmione, Gardalend, Verona, Trento, Riva del Garda, Madonna di Campiglio, Bolzano/Bozen, Brixen, Sterzing, Innsbruck.....

Have you considered Lake Maggiore and Stresa - I enjoyed it as much as any lake and it would fit nicely in as a last stop to nearby Malpensa Airport. The three Borromean Islands are just offshore from Stresa and each has a different delight on it:

Stresa and Lake Maggiore - Borromean Islands

Q- did you look at flying out of Milan and into say Munich?

I have stayed on both lakes and would chose Lake Garda, partly because I much prefer Italy but also due to it's beauty, mountains and lake together.

Everyone has their favorites, but I do not like Como or Garda particularly. I am an unrepentant Maggiore and Orta fan.

Orta would be a nice drive from Stresa - another plus for Maggiore.

For different scenery, Lake Constance, as Lago di Garda abuts the Alps like Lake Como.

hi I like Lake Garda, if there is a choice. Also, when in Innsbruck, consider going up to Igls (Eagle), a village just above Innsbruck, by little tram up a small mtn (15 minutes). Lovely little village, ski area in Winter, and a tobaggan slide for one of the past Olympics. Sue

At Igls you also have really neat walking trails thru forests - can walk on such paths down to Innsbruck. The tram from town also passes a famous historical castle - Schloss Ambrose which I found fascinating -

https://www.schlossambras-innsbruck....f-st-nicholas/

https://www.google.com/search?q=schl...w=1280&bih=625

Thanks everyone!