For years my wife has been after me to take her to the Lake District, particularly Lake Como, to spend a week, relax, and yet see as much as we can. I don't have a clue where to start. I'm guessing the best strategy would be to fly into Milan and from there take the train into the mountains. I remember traveling this route many years ago. Where would we exit for Lake Como or Lake Maggiore? Would we need to rent a car at this point. I hate driving in Italy, at least in large urban areas but I'd guess driving is more civil in this area. Could someone recommend a one week itinerary with flights into or out of Milan or Zurich/Geneva? Do you know of any accommodations that would be full service and yet rustic? It's probably time to set this up with AA or Dl using our mileage. Thanks for your assistance.

Hi Maltasr. As an Aussie I am just relating how we have got around this area using public transport. We have a good friend who lives in the great village of Pigra. We have flown into Milan & then caught rail to either Como Lago or Como San Giovanni. Depending on the timing we have either caught the C10 bus or the ferry to Argegno. We have moved around using ferry or bus & enjoyed ourselves around Lake Como. Not a big % of visitors get to Pigra but we love mixing with the locals & getting to the bars & especially the pizza at the pub.
Last time there we caught a shuttle bus from Chiasso to Linate prior to our flight out.

We were there last week for just a couple nights in Tremezzo (just across from Bellagio on the west side of Lake Como). That portion of our itinerary included the following:

1. Arrival into Milano Centrale train station by train from Venice.
2. Metro subway from Milano Centrale to Milano Cadorna train station.
3. 1 hour train ride (departs hourly) to Como Lago station close to the ferry port.
4. Fast ferry to Tremezzo. (Approximately 1 hour.)
5. Ferries next day to Bellagio, Lenno (Villa del Balbianello), and back to Tremezzo.
6. Returned next day to Milan by ferry and train.
7. Stored luggage at Milano Centrale. (Luggage storage office was closed at Milano Cadorna.)
8. Saw The Last Supper and the Duomo with local transportation by Metro.
9. Airport shuttle bus from Milano Centrale to LIN airport. (4 Euros)

There are several train stations in Como. The station within close walking distance of the ferry port is served by trains from the Milano Cadorna station. A short taxi ride from the Como station served by trains from Milano Centrale would probably have been perfectly suitable. We did not spend any time in Como beyond our connection time between train and ferry.

Villa del Balbianello was definitely worth a visit. We didn't find Villa Carlotta as interesting, but the gardens are beautiful. In Bellagio, we enjoyed lunch in the courtyard at Antico Pozzo. (Up the hill. No lake view.) On their website, see their "How To Get Here" info for a decent overview of some other transportation options such as a train to Varenna.

I have Lake Como ferry schedules/pricing/opinions available if and when you need them. The ferry schedules all looks more complicated than they really are. I have copies of this past summer's schedule. The winter schedule just began last week.

Here's another site with good public transportation info.

I can't imagine wanting a car there all week, but I guess that it depends on how you arrive, exactly where you stay, and what types of side trips you may wish to take away from the Lake.

Thanks to RussellJ and sc flier for some great pointers. I'm particularly happy to learn that the lake district is only a one hour's train ride from Milan AND that the area is easy to navigate without a rental car. I'm wondering, if after our lake district visit, it's easy to get to Zurich or Geneva by train. I was thinking of doing an open jaw and flying into Milan and out of either Zurich or Geneva or whether we'd be better off returning to Milan. Any thoughts?

I know that you can get up to St Moritz without too much difficulty. We saw a number of mentions of such excursions in guidebooks or ads. I don't recall if that was train or bus or a combination of both. I know for certain that you can go from St Moritz to Zurich on trains.

I see direct trains on raileurope.com from Como to Zurich in 3 hours 6 minutes. There are also trains from Lugano, Switzerland (on the north shore of Lake Lugano). You can also check the Swiss Rail website for route info (including the ability to view intermediate stops): www.sbb.ch/en/

Como to Geneva in 6+ hours.

(Enter here to win a free RT train trip from Switzerland to Milan.)

Check out this link about Lakes Como & Lugano on the Swiss Rail site. And a full list of their Free Time Ideas.

Given your DL status you might try the DL nonstop JFK-NCE. From MLN the drive to Lake Como is pleasant and easy so long as you avoid rush hour. From NCE it is a pleasant four hour drive, about the same from ZRH. Trains are also an option of course.

My personal Italian favorite places to stay are monasteries; http://www.monasterystays.com/. They are cheaper than hotels and far more colorful and atmospheric. There are quite a few around the lakes.

Lake Como and Maggiore become quite busy on weekends, but around the smaller lakes there are always interesting places to wander. To wander you do need a car. My spouse and I have often chosen the most remote place in that area with our GPS (don't fail to have one) and discovered some delightful places, chapels high in hills above tiny villages, hikes through forests with small brooks and the occasional shepherds cottage.

The guidebooks will give you the major sites, but not the delightful atmosphere of the area. If you want more personal perspective PM me and we can talk about it. Mrs. jb and I have gone to this area once or twice a year for decades and never tired of it.