We are just back from a one week stay in Lake Como. My recommendation is to stay in Varenna. Varenna is accessible by train from Milan. The fare is €7.10 one way and takes an hour and five minutes from Milan Centrale. The train station is only 5 minutes from the ferry port. Ferry service to Bellagio and Menaggio is frequent and cheap (less than €10 one way). A car is not necessary as finding a place to park can be problematic. Other ferry services are available to other places of interest around the lake but Varenna, Bellagio and Menaggio are the main places of interest. As regards visiting villas, Villa Monastero is a 10 minute walk from the ferry in Varenna, and Villa Carlotta is a 10 minute bus ride from Menaggio.
@@khadzak7496 We stayed for a week in September 2023 in an apartment called Casa Mary. I have tried twice to post details for you, but it seems that TH-cam doesn't like my comment, perhaps because I referenced the website where I booked it. Without telling you the website name, the clue is in the word "booking".
Great and informative video. Thank you! Would you recommend an itinerary for a group of 3 Star Wars nerds 😂visiting for a day in early June? We plan to arrive early morning (train) and spend the day. Should Balbianello be done first? Or is it easy enough to get to at any part of the day. Alternatively, we were thinking to do (slow ferry) Varenna->Bellagio->Lenno. Any advice is appreciated.
Great questions. I would do Balbianello right away. It gets packed. We were there for both Star Wars and James Bond movies. We got there around 11:30 am and it was busy. We also went on May 4th, so a LOT of Star Wars fans were waiting to get their perfect selfie on the balcony area of the villa. Do it early, otherwise it gets too packed. Also, if you are doing the slow ferry, it will take a couple of hours to get up to the Bellagio area, so you may not have much time to enjoy or explore each part. They do have a ferry that runs a triangle route from Bellagio to Menaggio to Varenna all day, so once you get to Bellagio, you can get a ticket to do the Ferry to Varenna, etc. If you only have a day, I would try to buy the hi speed ferry tickets in Como, of course depending on when the train arrives. If you do the slow ferry 4 or more hours of your 1 day will be on the slow ferry going up and coming back down. Could be longer depending on how many people they have to let off and get on. I will say, it's a beautiful ride and great to see Lake Como from the water, but if you only have one day, you may want to try to get the hi speed ferry tickets if it works with your timeline. Lenno is a great place to have a Spritz or some lunch after Balbianello.
They don't have much on social media. We had to do some research when we were in Como, but several locals said to try them. It was a great ride and you can customize the trip depending on what you want to see and how long you want to be on the boat - facebook.com/acboat.menaggio.lakecomo/
Great, informative video. Questions: what have you observed re: Como's and Bellagio's ferry terminals? Does a passenger have to arrive ~30 minutes or longer at the terminal prior to the departure time? Thanks.
More like 10-15 minutes prior to be able to get a ticket and wait. We found the ferry schedule is on time, with only a couple of minutes delay here and there. It was probably the most efficient ferry system we found in Europe. With this said, we were not there in high season, so I’m told you should get in line to get tickets in Como, early, like 30 minutes before. When in Bellagio, even in high season, 10-15 minutes before is all that is needed.
If you are staying for several days buying a 6 day travel pass for the ferries is a good idea. I did it for my trip to Como a few weeks ago and it worked well for me. Only queued once to buy a ticket. The 6 day pass works for the regular slow ferries. If you want a fast ferry (a hydrofoil ferry) you have to buy a separate ticket. I was staying in Bellagio and visited places in the mid lake area so it worked well for me.
Thank you for your advices. I would like you to recommend where to stay in Lago di Como, as if I traveled by car so I could take the ferry tours to the most visited places. Thank you so much
thank you very much for the information. we want to do menaggio-Bellagio-Varenna with our mini dachshund. Do you know of any limitation to board the ferris with a small dog?! thx!
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We are just back from a one week stay in Lake Como.
My recommendation is to stay in Varenna. Varenna is accessible by train from Milan. The fare is €7.10 one way and takes an hour and five minutes from Milan Centrale. The train station is only 5 minutes from the ferry port. Ferry service to Bellagio and Menaggio is frequent and cheap (less than €10 one way). A car is not necessary as finding a place to park can be problematic. Other ferry services are available to other places of interest around the lake but Varenna, Bellagio and Menaggio are the main places of interest.
As regards visiting villas, Villa Monastero is a 10 minute walk from the ferry in Varenna, and Villa Carlotta is a 10 minute bus ride from Menaggio.
Excellent information!
Any chance you could share tips on reasonable priced hotels in Varenna ? Please
@@khadzak7496 We stayed for a week in September 2023 in an apartment called Casa Mary. I have tried twice to post details for you, but it seems that TH-cam doesn't like my comment, perhaps because I referenced the website where I booked it. Without telling you the website name, the clue is in the word "booking".
Great video, very informative!
Thank you sir for your outstanding performance
So useful! Thank you very much.
Glad it was helpful!
This was very helpful, thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you sir for the great information!
You are very welcome.
Great and informative video. Thank you! Would you recommend an itinerary for a group of 3 Star Wars nerds 😂visiting for a day in early June? We plan to arrive early morning (train) and spend the day. Should Balbianello be done first? Or is it easy enough to get to at any part of the day. Alternatively, we were thinking to do (slow ferry) Varenna->Bellagio->Lenno. Any advice is appreciated.
Great questions. I would do Balbianello right away. It gets packed. We were there for both Star Wars and James Bond movies. We got there around 11:30 am and it was busy. We also went on May 4th, so a LOT of Star Wars fans were waiting to get their perfect selfie on the balcony area of the villa. Do it early, otherwise it gets too packed. Also, if you are doing the slow ferry, it will take a couple of hours to get up to the Bellagio area, so you may not have much time to enjoy or explore each part. They do have a ferry that runs a triangle route from Bellagio to Menaggio to Varenna all day, so once you get to Bellagio, you can get a ticket to do the Ferry to Varenna, etc. If you only have a day, I would try to buy the hi speed ferry tickets in Como, of course depending on when the train arrives. If you do the slow ferry 4 or more hours of your 1 day will be on the slow ferry going up and coming back down. Could be longer depending on how many people they have to let off and get on. I will say, it's a beautiful ride and great to see Lake Como from the water, but if you only have one day, you may want to try to get the hi speed ferry tickets if it works with your timeline. Lenno is a great place to have a Spritz or some lunch after Balbianello.
Super helpful. THANK YOU
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you was searching for the exact content :)
Glad it was helpful.
Great video! I am going in July. I would love the link for the 2 hr wooden boat tour out of Menaggio. Thank you!
They don't have much on social media. We had to do some research when we were in Como, but several locals said to try them. It was a great ride and you can customize the trip depending on what you want to see and how long you want to be on the boat - facebook.com/acboat.menaggio.lakecomo/
Great, informative video. Questions: what have you observed re: Como's and Bellagio's ferry terminals? Does a passenger have to arrive ~30 minutes or longer at the terminal prior to the departure time? Thanks.
More like 10-15 minutes prior to be able to get a ticket and wait. We found the ferry schedule is on time, with only a couple of minutes delay here and there. It was probably the most efficient ferry system we found in Europe. With this said, we were not there in high season, so I’m told you should get in line to get tickets in Como, early, like 30 minutes before. When in Bellagio, even in high season, 10-15 minutes before is all that is needed.
If you are staying for several days buying a 6 day travel pass for the ferries is a good idea. I did it for my trip to Como a few weeks ago and it worked well for me. Only queued once to buy a ticket. The 6 day pass works for the regular slow ferries. If you want a fast ferry (a hydrofoil ferry) you have to buy a separate ticket. I was staying in Bellagio and visited places in the mid lake area so it worked well for me.
@@jimbaneham5999 Great information and thanks so much for sharing this.
Thank you for your advices. I would like you to recommend where to stay in Lago di Como, as if I traveled by car so I could take the ferry tours to the most visited places. Thank you so much
We have stayed at the Palace Hotel, and also the Hotel Marco"S. Both were great locations, near the water, and also close to the ferry port.
thank you very much for the information. we want to do menaggio-Bellagio-Varenna with our mini dachshund. Do you know of any limitation to board the ferris with a small dog?! thx!
No limitations whatsoever on pets.