Need ideas for a week in Northern Italy from Venice to Lake Como.
 

I have booked flights for the last 2 weeks of August with my husband and 2 daughters (21 and 19). We arrive in Verona and from there we don't have anything booked! We want to visit Venice (1 day trip?) tour Verona (1 day?) and then Lake Como. We don't want to stay in hotels but would prefer B&Bs or villas. We enjoy walking, swimming and will need some nightlife for the girls!
Where is the best place to stay on Lake Como? I have found some places at the northern most part and would like to drive to St. Moritz. I know we will visit Bellagio and all the touristy places but I want to stay somewhere quaint and quiet yet have some entertainment! Any suggestions would be great. Would other areas be better to visit than what we are planning?

Europe takes vacation in August. You will have an awful lot of competition for accomodations, I would try and get your reservations ASAP (this is more true for Lake Como than Venice. I have heard that August might a slow month in Venice, but I may be wrong.)

On Lake Como, the most active place is probably Bellagio.

In the Veneto, there are some historic towns with major universities that might be good to visit. Bologna and Padua come to mind, but I can not say from personal experience. Also, since you mentioned St Moritz, you might consider a half week in Switzerland.

A day Trip from Verona to Venice is possible by train, but a couple of more days in Venice is advisable. There's lots to do and see and some "action" for the girls.

I assume you will be travelling by train. Except for Como itself, none of the nice places along Lake Como are accessible by train. You will have to take either busses or boats. Having said this, these places are the best to stay (1) because they are nice in themselves, and (2) they are well connected by boats and ferries: Bellagio, Varenna, Menaggio, Tremezzo. Bellagio is the busiest and probably has the most action.

Lake Como, like any one of the North Italian lakes, is not known for major beaches.

One other possibility might be Lugano. It's in Switzerland and on the main line from Milano to Switzerland. It has a lake, and there are busses going from Lugano to Mennagio, which is 30km away.

I can't be of muich help with B&B's, since I always have stayed in hotels, if for no other reason than that they usually have some beach or swimming arrangements at the lakes

I'd also suggest that you consider Lugano. We were there for two nights in mid-August and found it lovely. The setting is simply stunning with mountains coming right down to the lake. There's swimming at a beach at the end of the park, and paddle boats, as well as excursion boats to take you to the quaint villages, like Gandria, that line the shore. There's a lift to take you to the top of Monte San Salvatore with incredible views. As for night life, it's a resort town and there seemed to be lots of young people out together in the evening. One of the nights we were there there was a Caribbean music festival in the main piazza. And as we walked around at night there seemed to be lots of clubs/bars with music coming from them.

Just a couple of comments:

First: I agree with Big_Red: you'd better get crackin' if you want good accomodation in Italy in August!

Second: Venice, an iconic and one of the most beautiful cities in the world, is worth more than a day-trip! It's fun - what's more fun than a city whose bus line runs on canals?, in boats? And, do I need to say it? Gondola!
Plus hip cafes, clubs for the yung'uns; good (though expensive) food; the Peggy Guggenheim: a mini-course in modern art in a private villa with a cool mid-century modern interior (2 hours tops girls, you'll love it); a trip to an island fantasy world for the price of a city boat (don't know what that is these days, but cheap!) to Burano: a dreamy little fishing village with a neat row of cottages along a canal, painted every colour in a supersize Crayola box! If you stay on the Lido there's a casino (bring your fancy dresses girls!) and a beach. And there is NO more romantic place in the world - leave those young people to watch a movie and wander the calle, dine in spendour, & sip your evening away in a cafe off st Mark's where you can stll hear the band play...

There is a train line that runs up the east side of the lake. The station that you would most likeley be interested would be Varenna (technically Varenna/Esinio). This train also stops at: Lecco, Madello, Bellano and Colico. This is a different line than the train that goes to the town of Como.

Venice deserves more than a day trip. We have been twice before and have added Venice to our upcoming June/July trip.

I doubt your girls, unless they are very interested in modern art, will swoon for the Peggy Guggenheim. And Venezia -- filled with foreign tourists -- is dead, dead, dead at night for young people. And personally, Venice in August (in fancy dresses?) doesn't strike me as romantic, but a death sentence.

Were it me, I would research Lago di Garda. Be aware that its beautiful shores will be filled with German tourists as well as Italians, and some towns are more modern than quaint, but the cool gusty breezes, especially on the northern edges of Lago di Garda, could be a real blessing. But even Bardolino (much further south) might fit the bill. Or check out Salo. Google up some info and pictures.

Lago di Como is very much favored by middle-aged and beyond tourists. (25th anniversary heaven). If I were hoping for nightlife for the girls, I would opt for unpretentious Menaggio.

I wouldn't shortchange Verona as a lovely place to be with teens who like some nightlife. And of course, if you really want to spoil them, I can't believe every young Milanese abandons Milano in August -- but it hardly qualifies as quaint!

Some other fun spots you might consider are on the Adriatic coast, like the jam-packed, truly Fellini-esque Rimini or the more historic and family-minded Cesinatico (with a Michelin-starred restaurant). But these are classic destinations for wild goofing off, Italian-style. You might prefer the more orderly areas nearer Switzerland!

Have a great trip!

Also, I wanted to add: Check out Mantova.

Oops! I forgot you are going in August. Probably too humid.

I second Zeppole's suggestions for Lake Garda and Mantova.

For Garda I like Riva at the far north end, a wind-surfer's paradise and a good jumping off spot for exploring further into the Alto Adige and Dolomites. Here are photos from Lake Garda, if you're interested: http://gardentouring.fotopic.net/c1673556.html There are many small towns nearby for exploring by ferry.

You can take a bus to Trento and then train to Bolzano and/or Merano for a daytrip of walking in the mountains - or better yet, spend a few days. On a clear day it's lovely to ride the funivia up from the center of Bolzano to Soprabolzano, where you can walk in alpine meadows and lose yourself in the views: http://gardentouring.fotopic.net/p57236884.html Here are more images of Bolzano, Soprabolzano and Merano, if you're interested: http://gardentouring.fotopic.net/c1675164.html There's nightlife of sorts in Riva and in Bolzano, both resort areas that attract young and active Germans.

Sirmione is at the southern end of the lake, set in a flat plain. It's a lovely place too, although it does tend to get very crowded with tourists because of its proximity to, and ease of access from, larger population centers. But on a warm, sunny day you can search out a spot by the lake, take off your clothes, and relax in the sun: http://gardentouring.fotopic.net/p57172379.html

Mantua is surrounded on three side by lagoons covered by lotus flowers in mid-summer. And the art! Astonishing, amazing Renaissance art and some of the best erotic art in Europe, whole rooms covered from floor to ceiling and across ceiling and back down to floor again. Here are some images: http://gardentouring.fotopic.net/c1674148.html But it may be too humid in August, as noted above.

www.sirmione.com

would be a nice choice at Garda

the pearl of the lake with the most action.

www.bellagio.info

Best at Como

www.italyby.com good for BB/quaint lodging

Venice would be worth a few days but will be

crowded and blistering hot usually in August...

be sure your room has AC...

Thank you everyone for your input! We have decided to stay at least 2 days in Venice. We have found a great hotel right in Venice. We are thinking of renting a car rather than travel to Lake Como (or gada) by train. Still trying to figure out the rest of the trip. It is overwhelming!!
Thanks

Bologna and Padua as mentioned are University towns and appeared to have a lot going on at night for 19 & 21 year olds. The both have a lot to see and the food is fantastic in Bologna. If your daughters are into fashion -- window shopping in Bologna was great. Trento was hopping at night with people the ages of your daughter. Nice university town also. Verona also had many kids hanging out in the the piazza's in the evenings. Bellagio while lovely, was dead at night...no one even walking about really after maybe 10 pm. Mantova also seemed to have an active nightlife. Don't know about the weather as we were just there earlier this month.

We found N Italy so destination rich we made 2 trips in a row to the area.

The problem with the university towns (and Venice is one as well) is that in August, the students are usually elsewhere. And many stores are closed too in the last two weeks in Augusts.

While in Verona, you should definitely to to the opera at the Arena. I recommend Aida or Tosca. If the girls have never been to the opera, this is the place to become initiated!!! It is fabulous and not to be missed. Have fun.