Which town to stay at in Lake Como?
Apr 17th, 2014 | 07:14 AM
#21
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,893
Likes: 0
Hope your suitcases have strong wheels. Be prepared to struggle with suitcases no matter where you go in Italy. Lake Como has its own issues. Varenna can be steep, and depending on where you stay, you may need to deal with steep steps.
It starts to get cold in late August around the lake. It can get quite cold in September.
Varenna is a very convenient base. Of all the cities along the lake, I think Varenna offers the most charm and authenticity. There's only one car road that goes through the city, and its path is fairly straight. So, to access homes, hotels, and restaurants on the side of the mountain, you walk steep stairs and designated pathways. This can be a challenge with luggage.
Bellagio is a bit more spread out, with a few winding streets for cars that lead up the mountain to Via Garibaldi. Most of the hotels are on the lower strip near the ferry docks. Bellagio offers many more retail shopping options, lower level and upper. I love to shop, but I don't visit Lake Como for that reason. I can't remember the last time I purchased a gift from Lake Como. Varenna is not great for shopping choices, so I'm delighted that the shoppers go elsewhere.
Since Bellagio is in the center of the lake, it can offer 360º views. But, in order to experience them, you need to climb to the top, and there really isn't a perfect place to situate yourself for a clear view, except on the roof of the Belvedere Hotel, which is my favorite on Bellagio. If you can't do the Belvedere, you have to move around a bit to take in the entire magical vista.
Bellagio is the most famous city in the mid-lake region, therefore, most tourists visit it daily. The ferry area is often wall-to-wall people, especially on weekends. I never see it that crowded at the Varenna ferry docks.
It starts to get cold in late August around the lake. It can get quite cold in September.
Varenna is a very convenient base. Of all the cities along the lake, I think Varenna offers the most charm and authenticity. There's only one car road that goes through the city, and its path is fairly straight. So, to access homes, hotels, and restaurants on the side of the mountain, you walk steep stairs and designated pathways. This can be a challenge with luggage.
Bellagio is a bit more spread out, with a few winding streets for cars that lead up the mountain to Via Garibaldi. Most of the hotels are on the lower strip near the ferry docks. Bellagio offers many more retail shopping options, lower level and upper. I love to shop, but I don't visit Lake Como for that reason. I can't remember the last time I purchased a gift from Lake Como. Varenna is not great for shopping choices, so I'm delighted that the shoppers go elsewhere.
Since Bellagio is in the center of the lake, it can offer 360º views. But, in order to experience them, you need to climb to the top, and there really isn't a perfect place to situate yourself for a clear view, except on the roof of the Belvedere Hotel, which is my favorite on Bellagio. If you can't do the Belvedere, you have to move around a bit to take in the entire magical vista.
Bellagio is the most famous city in the mid-lake region, therefore, most tourists visit it daily. The ferry area is often wall-to-wall people, especially on weekends. I never see it that crowded at the Varenna ferry docks.
Mar 12th, 2015 | 10:18 AM
#24
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,333
Likes: 0
Since this has been resurrected...what about Cadenabbia di Griante? I see a lovely place to stay there, and it looks like ferry service to both Bellagio and Varenna is available. Looks like there are frequent ferrys to both Bellagio (10 minutes) and Varenna (34 minutes).
Comments? We’d be going in 2016, probably late May-early June.
Thanks.
Comments? We’d be going in 2016, probably late May-early June.
Thanks.
Jul 30th, 2019 | 02:20 PM
#28
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
is staying in Como really such a bad decision?
ON the advice of friends, we plan to sty in Lake Como. Now you've got me worried. I'd love to hear from others who have stayed there and loved it!
<i><font color=#555555>"Como city wouldn't be my first choice to stay."</font></i>
Good grief. No sensible person with taste and vision would go to Lake Como to <i>stay</i> in Como. OK, so Como is a small Italian town with lakefront property and a hill or two to view, but let's get real. Como offers very little visual charm when compared to other parts of the lake. Como provides access to transportation, or perhaps some fine silk, or a segway to Villa d'Este, but to actually base yourself there for a visit to Lake Como? What a waste.
<i><font color=#555555>"would definitely recommend Bellagio for your age group"</font></i>
Never heard that one before. I had to go back to the OP to see if the tourists were old farts. There are plenty of seniors with canes trying to climb those stairs in Bellagio.
<i><font color=#555555>"Neither town has much night life but Varenna really doesn't have any."</font></i>
Not sure how anyone defines "night life." No city on Lake Como is Ibiza. IMO, Varenna has the most "buzz" in the evening along the lake, partly because the sun sets on the cafe chairs lining the shore. And most of those merry folks making all that merriment noise tend to be young lovers drinking more than they should.
Bellagio is far from hip. It's more like an old-money version of Disneyland in Europe for the mature. And the Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni deserves to be a much better hotel. I enjoy my visits to Bellagio, but staying there offers too many limitations. The views from Bellagio are half as exciting as those found in Varenna because Bellagio faces west and sits in the middle of the lake. IMO, there simply is no argument to justify geographical inconvenience.
Menaggio is one big bore, and Tremezzo is fun if you have a car and get to swim in the floating pool at Grand Hotel Tremezzo. But crossing the street in your swimsuit is so tacky. Both cities offer an interesting visit, but staying there? Not for me.
Good grief. No sensible person with taste and vision would go to Lake Como to <i>stay</i> in Como. OK, so Como is a small Italian town with lakefront property and a hill or two to view, but let's get real. Como offers very little visual charm when compared to other parts of the lake. Como provides access to transportation, or perhaps some fine silk, or a segway to Villa d'Este, but to actually base yourself there for a visit to Lake Como? What a waste.
<i><font color=#555555>"would definitely recommend Bellagio for your age group"</font></i>
Never heard that one before. I had to go back to the OP to see if the tourists were old farts. There are plenty of seniors with canes trying to climb those stairs in Bellagio.
<i><font color=#555555>"Neither town has much night life but Varenna really doesn't have any."</font></i>
Not sure how anyone defines "night life." No city on Lake Como is Ibiza. IMO, Varenna has the most "buzz" in the evening along the lake, partly because the sun sets on the cafe chairs lining the shore. And most of those merry folks making all that merriment noise tend to be young lovers drinking more than they should.
Bellagio is far from hip. It's more like an old-money version of Disneyland in Europe for the mature. And the Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni deserves to be a much better hotel. I enjoy my visits to Bellagio, but staying there offers too many limitations. The views from Bellagio are half as exciting as those found in Varenna because Bellagio faces west and sits in the middle of the lake. IMO, there simply is no argument to justify geographical inconvenience.
Menaggio is one big bore, and Tremezzo is fun if you have a car and get to swim in the floating pool at Grand Hotel Tremezzo. But crossing the street in your swimsuit is so tacky. Both cities offer an interesting visit, but staying there? Not for me.
Jul 30th, 2019 | 03:53 PM
#29
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 18,251
Likes: 22
We have visited Lake Como four times and always stayed in Bellagio away from the dock area. We have traveled the entire lake by ferry, having lunch in different towns, visiting villas and gardens. It is a beautiful place, lots to see and do.
Jul 30th, 2019 | 05:05 PM
#30
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 26,498
Likes: 4
I have only spent one night in the town of Como for an easy and short trip to Malpensa the next morning. I wouldn't choose to stay there again other than for airport access and certainly not if my goal was to explore the villas, gardens and towns in the mid-lake area which would require too much time traveling around and being limited/tied to timetables.
I like both Bellagio and Varenna for different reasons. We also stayed briefly at Bellano which I liked A LOT, but we had a car on that visit which made for an experience that was less lake-centric. Friends of ours like to stay in Argegno with a car for the same reason.
I like both Bellagio and Varenna for different reasons. We also stayed briefly at Bellano which I liked A LOT, but we had a car on that visit which made for an experience that was less lake-centric. Friends of ours like to stay in Argegno with a car for the same reason.
Jul 31st, 2019 | 06:03 AM
#32
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 290
Likes: 0
can't go wrong with Bellagio or Varenna. We stayed in Bellagio for 5 nights, so may do Varenna next time. These are the most central, IMHO, towns for what you might want to do, and you will probably explore both, I would recommend that. Varenna has the advantage of the train connection, but I might recommend Bellagio for a first trip. Really would not stay in Como. Look at the map, it is at the foot of the lake. Not central, a hike to get to Bellagio and Varenna. Don't know who recommended it, but I would say they did it and feel compelled to recommend they made the best choice. yes, it is convenient for in and out of Milan, but you are staying long enough that that isn't a concern.
Last edited by mmmooommm; Jul 31st, 2019 at 06:05 AM.
Jul 31st, 2019 | 08:25 AM
#33
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 7,160
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Jul 31st, 2019 | 09:52 AM
#34
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 4,828
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You can use the Trentitalia website for tickets https://www.trenitalia.com/. You can also read about train travel at https://www.seat61.com/Italy-trains.htm
Aug 7th, 2019 | 05:40 AM
#39
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 92
Likes: 0
We used LakeComoTransfers
Nice car, pleasant driver, and on-time.
We were picked up at Linate airport and dropped off at our hotel in Varenna.
Nice car, pleasant driver, and on-time.
We were picked up at Linate airport and dropped off at our hotel in Varenna.
Last edited by werth; Aug 7th, 2019 at 05:45 AM. Reason: add information
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