Lake Como

[Kinkell]

There for an easy week, any ideas of things worth doing or seeing. We are 3 couples in the prime of our lives (fifties).

[Turn7]

Go to Como itself, as well as Bellagio.

We stayed in Tremezzo which was pretty quiet, but suited us.

We also had a coach trip to St Moritz ( I think it was).

Beautifull scenery, fully intend to return again.

[The Leaper]

Where are you based? This will partly determine the things to do. Bellagio is the best place to be based because it's central and you can get ferries to any place easily.

Ideas:

• Any slow boat trip through the Lake is great, particularly if you get the paddle boat with the bar etc.

• Take a seaplane flight from Como up the Lake and back.

• Have lunch at Plino in Lenno.

• Any of the gardens are really worth visiting if that's your bag.

• Bellagio Sunday morning is where the Italians with their Ferrari's etc tend to hang out..but getting lunch when this happens can be a pain, it's so busy.

• You could be interested in a day on the Bernina Express: Google it to find out what it's about.

Overall, just a great place to be. Take any ferry to a nearby town on the Lake, have a lazy lunch and amble back to your base.

R.

[MarkK]

Went there last September and had a fantastic time.

Make sure to hire a speedboat for a few hours and explore the lake

Villa Balbianello (used in Casino Royale) was a personal highlight - a really beautiful place.

There is a little farmhouse pizza place tucked away on a hill overlooking Tremezzo, simply the best pizza I've ever had - will look up the name of it.

Bellagio is great for shopping.

The ferries are great and are a relaxing way to explore all the different towns on the lake. Try and get a day pass though as individual trips can start to get expensive.

Lastly, have a great time - everybody we met over there was so friendly and accommodating - would not hesitate to go back.

[The Leaper]

You can get a week's pass for the ferries too. I think that when we went for a week and stayed in Bellagio in 2013 it cost about €45, well worth it.

R.

[Kinkell]

Thanks for the replies. We are renting a villa in Como, always fancied the speedboat adorned with scantily clad lovelies. Ferrari engined Riva ahoy!

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Como the town is a bit disappointing. Varenna is just gorgeous. Visit to Villa Carlotta is a must! Stunning part of the world.



Make sure you ride the ferries!

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

More from Varenna

[The Leaper]

Yes, a plus with being based in Bellagio is that there's plenty of ferries available for the short trips to Varena, Baleno, Villa Colletta, Lenno, Menaggio etc, and you can also get the fast ferry to Como.

R.

[Turn7]

Dont forget a trip to the island as well...

[Rouleur]

Get the train into Milan for the day

Hire a car and drive to Lugano in Switzerland. It's a great little city at the end of a beautiful lake and only an hour away from Como

[Halmyre]

Agree with most of what's been said. Como the town isn't that great but has some nice restaurants and the funicular to Brunate is worth a ride.

At least one of the ferries is an old steamboat, and the workings are open to view, all polished brass thrashing away, if that sort of thing's your bag.

[Tyre Tread]

Theres a resturant right at the end of the lake shore in Verrana - evening meal there sat overlooking the lake is one I shan't forget in a hurry. Cocktail follwed by simple, tasty Italian food. If I can remember the name I'll pop back and post it up.

We did this having missed the ferry by about a minute when we returned from a day trip by train to Milan.

Train to Milan and underground into the city to wander around the shopping arcades and the Catherdral is recommended.

There are some lovely drives up into the hills around Como. Invest in a map so you can plan routes more easily.

A drive around the south of the lake is also good but we didn't stop in Como itself as it was so busy.