Lugano to Venice - anything interesting
 

We will be driving through Switzerland and northern Italy in a couple of weeks. Does anyone know much about the stretch from Lugano to Venice? How long will it take and is there anything worthwhile to see on the way (we're foregoing Milan this trip)?

Aren't you going right by Lake Como? Anyway, that route will probably take you about 4 hours. The autostrada between Milan and Venice is fast, but the scenery is flat and boring.

We're making almost the same drive in a couple of months. We'll be coming from Menaggio on Lake Como (just west of Lugano). Our plan is to take an extra day in between and go through the Dolomites. If you don't have the time there is Lake Garda, Verona, Vicenza, and Padova all along A4 on the way to Venice.

Sorry. Menaggio is just east of Lugano.

You should make a full day of that trip because there are some lovely sights to see along the way. Here's what I would do:
-Lugano south to Como, east to Lecco, then northward along the shore of Lake Como to Colico, then eastward to Sondrio. Have lunch around Sondrio or farther eastward at the lovely little village of Aprica.
-Continue eastward to Edolo, then south toward Brescia, driving along the shore of Lake Iseo.
-At Brescia, depending on how much time you have, decide whether to drive around Lake Garda or head east and stop off along the way at Verona, Vicenza, or Padova. If time is short, just head for Venice on the A4.

If the route is too long, consider traveling along the A4 but diverting off the autostrada at various spots, such as those I mentioned above, plus places like old Bergamo, Sirmione on Lake Garda to name a few.

Did Lugano/Lake Como/Milan last year. You are right to skip Milan...it is shutdown in August...a virtual ghost town! We stayed the night in Lake Como...wished we would have had 4 more days! Water taxi tour around the lake and to Belagio was a great experience! Missed lunch at the little island restaurant near Belagio and wished we hadn't...heard it was terrific. If you can take the time...leave Lugano early and spend it at Como!!!

You could spend week on that route and have a great trip. Lago Como, Bergamo, Lago Garda, the Dolomites[Val Gardena], Vicenza, Bassano del Grappa, Asolo,et al. Take your pick !