Train or car from Zurich to Lake Como?
 

We will be flying into Zurich for our vacation in Italy. Our first night stay is by Lake Como. Should we take the train or get a rental car from Zurich? Will we need a rental car to see the sites around Lake Como?

It is a wonderful train ride from Zurich to Como, with great scenery practically all the way. By car the driver will miss a lot of this as most of it is freeway, with concentration required. <BR>Around Lake Como, most of the sights are on the lake itself, and lake steamers are the nicest way to get around. The roads in the area are very narrow, and traffic is backed up practically all the time. <BR>From Zurich Airport to Como there are trains at 0813 0839 1039 1220 1439 and 1639, all requiring one change at Zurich Bahnhoff, 10 minutes from the airport. The journey time to Como is approx. 4 hours. The 1220 requires additional changes, so should be avoided if possible. Reservations are not required.

Once you get to the Lake Como area, a car isn't necessary. The ferry service between the towns is excellent and you can easily get around to the towns. How long and where are you staying at Lake Como and where do you go from there?

Train!! An added inconvenience of driving is lining up for the Gotthard Tunnel backup. And a car would be a waste in Lake Como. If you want train schedules go to http://www.sbb.ch/pv/index_e.htm

Thanks for all the advice. We will be staying at the Hotel Belvedere for 2 nights and then we will be going to the Villa Vignamaggio in the Chianti area. <BR>Our thoughts were to take a train from Lake Como to Florence and then rent a car to see the Tuscany area.

I assume the Zurich train goes to the city of Como. From there, you take the ferry to Bellagio. Make sure you take the ferry than makes only 2 stops before Bellagio and takes 45 minutes; the alternative makes many, many stops and I believe it takes about 2 hours. You'll love the Belvedere, where you'll probably have room with a magnificent view of Lake Como. Bellagio's a charming town. Make you take the ferries to visit Verenna and Trimezzo, two other charming towns.