Lake Como Pre Cruise

[JerryInIL]

We would like to rent an Airbnb for a few nights in the Lakes area before our cruise embarking in Venice.  Would we need a car rental to shop and sightsee? Where is the train station that would get us to Venice? Thanks !!!

[Hlitner]

18 minutes ago, JerryInIL said:

We would like to rent an Airbnb for a few nights in the Lakes area before our cruise embarking in Venice.  Would we need a car rental to shop and sightsee? Where is the train station that would get us to Venice? Thanks !!!

What you describe as "The Lakes area" is actually a very large region (with 5 lakes) and much of the region is quite rural.  We believe that having a car is the best way to get around the region and see one or more of the Lake areas.   We have enjoyed driving around Lake Como and spending a couple of nights in Ballagio.  But Lake Maggiore is actually our favorite for hiking and sightseeing.   It is a tough call whether to use a single base (such as an Airbnb) and day trip with a car.  But the Lakes are relatively large (especially Maggiore) so there is another point of view that its better to drive between a couple (or even 3) of the Lakes and stay at hotels or inns along a route rather then doubling back.  We have tried it both ways and enjoyed both trips...so think this is really personal preference.   As to trains, Venice is on a mail train line with access from many cities.  You can certainly use the train between Como and Venice (it goes through Milan) but there are also lots of other stations that allow relatively easy connections to Venice.

 

But keep in mind that while trains are a great way to move between cities they are not as good when it comes to exploring the Lakes or some of the beautiful rural parts of Italy and the Lake District.

 

Hank

[slidergirl]

I would say "yes" to the car as there is so much to see and public transportation up there is not the best.  Are you flying into Milan?  I'd rent a car from there and then come back and take the Frecce trains straight to Venice.  A train from Como to Venice involves anywhere from 2-4 changes of trains and about 6-8 hours!  It's not a bad drive at all from the Como area to Milan.  I've driven from St. Moritz down into Lake Como and on to Milan - did it in one decently long day (including a stop in Lugano and Bellagio) - about 4 hours if we did nonstop.  

If you are cruising around the Lake Como area, look up George and Amal and the kids, say "hi" for me 😉