We are traveling to Italy and Switzerland this summer with our 4 year old and 7 year old and would love some advice on where to go and stay in the Lake Como area.

We'll be coming from Pisa on train so from what I've researched we can take the train as far as the town of Como but from there we'll need to hop on a ferry. I'd love to stay in Bellagio (we're planning on 3 nights) but logistics with train times and ferry times are complicated. I'm trying to minimize the number of changes and long waits since we'll have luggage and two kids.

Does anyone have any recommendations on the best town to stay in and any hotel recommendations? I've heard Como is fine, but definitely not the nicest town so I was hoping to have our home base be further up lake then spend our time ferry hopping to visit the other towns.

We'll be there the last few days of June. Thanks!

I think it's better to train to Milan, change there for the 1 hour train ride to Varenna. From the Varenna train station it's a simple 10 minute walk down the hill on a small road to the boat dock. Then take the 15 minute boat ride to Bellagio.

It's so easy. The train from Milan to Varenna leaves every 2 hours or so and the boat travels from Varenna to Bellagio quite often throughout the day- so you don't need to worry about the time schedule so much.

I think you and your family will enjoy Lake Como and staying in Bellagio.

Most tourists stay in the mid-lake area. The three most popular towns are Bellagio, Varenna and Menaggio.

As mentioned above, there is a rail line up the eastern shore of the lake. Hotels in this area range from 100 Euro to 400 Euro per room per night. The best train station is Varenna. The station is named Varenna-Esino but the naming rarely causes any problems.

If you do land in Como then there are high speed and regular service boats. High speed boats are about a hour to Bellagio. Regular service boats are about two hours to Bellagio.

Thanks for the recommendation on the Milan train to Varenna - I hadn't even explored that option! Sounds like it might be a better path and will get us to Bellagio easier.

Appreciate it!!!