I went to Italy for the first time this past June with my husband and our two kids (ages 17 and 20) and Lake Como was our first stop. We stayed in an Airbnb in Varenna, which is lovely and nowhere near as crazy crowded as Bellagio. We took the ferry to Menagio for a few hours, and then to Villa Balbianello and took a guided tour which was amazing. We spent several hours one day walking and window shopping in Bellagio which was very fun and not too crowded (this was early June). And one day we took the car ferry across the lake, drove about 30 minutes to Luzerne, and hung out there to say that we visited Switzerland. There were things that we didn't get a chance to do, like visit the Villa in Varenna itself, and I would've liked to have gone back to Bellagio for another meal. A friend of mine who visited Lake Como recently rented e-bikes with her family and toured around that way, and also did a fair amount of hiking, both of which I would've loved to have done but we ran out of time. So I can easily see spending a week there and having plenty to do.

Anonymous wrote:Hubby went to Lake Como 25 years ago and still raves about it. It's one of his all time favorite places of all time. I'd like to go based on his description, and I know he'd love to go back. But... I think he went before Hollywood discovered it and before it was super expensive and crowded. Is it different now and no longer as great?

If so, should we look to somewhere else for an experience comparable to what Como used to be? Where?

And finally - wherever you recommend - Como or somewhere else - recommendations on lodging? We are a family of 4 - 2 adults and two older teens, prefer a condo/villas to a hotel and prefer to be near the water. thanks!

Last September, we went to Stresso on Lake Maggiore. we also went to Lake Como. Lake Como was a zoo. Bellagio was nice but overcrowded. Waited in line for over an hour to get ferry. Will never do Lake Como again. Stresso was very nice town. Would go back there again.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/28838+Stresa,+Province+of+Verbano-Cusio-Ossola,+Italy/@45.881585,8.5155836,14z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m14!1m7!3m6!1s0x47843d32820b62f7:0x3e40c4eae898e1e0!2sLake+Como!8m2!3d46.0160486!4d9.2571676!16zL20vMDFsNHNt!3m5!1s0x4786758e05b94925:0x78f0166e234c7ef3!8m2!3d45.8882205!4d8.5257951!16zL20vMDM0bGQ2?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MTEwNC4xIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

Anonymous wrote:


OMG it is a DAY trip maybe 2 days. Especially with kids. I seriously don't know why and how you could spend a whole week there.

We did a day trip from Milan to Lake Como. While it was beautiful, we didn't love it. It was our own fault, but we could never escape the crowds and it was kind of a "check the box" kind of trip. In looking back, I think if we stayed somewhere around Lake Como, away from the central tourist area, it would be great.

I always hear people say how Venice is overrated and not worth visiting due to the crowds. If I did just a day trip to Venice, I probably would not enjoy it. If you stay there for a couple days, it's a completely different experience. I imagine this is true with Lake Como too.

Anonymous wrote:Lake Garda has all of the above and is less crowded than Como

Shhhh

Anonymous wrote:


OMG it is a DAY trip maybe 2 days. Especially with kids. I seriously don't know why and how you could spend a whole week there.

Rent a boat, hike in the mountains, explore the area, relax…plenty to do.

OMG it is a DAY trip maybe 2 days. Especially with kids. I seriously don't know why and how you could spend a whole week there.

Lake Garda has all of the above and is less crowded than Como

Anonymous wrote:Still gorgeous. Agree that kids may find it boring. There is a waterfall in Nesso where you can jump off a bridge into the lake. Definitely get a place with a pool as it can get really hot.

I recommend beaches instead. Sardinia is fantastic!

Yes it can be quite hot in the summer, definitely get a place with air conditioning unless staying way up in the mountains.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What did he like about it? That will help us to think of alternatives

Gorgeous natural beauty, out of the way, charming, great food

All true except for "out of the way". It's within 60-90 minutes of the biggest metro area in Italy.

Still gorgeous. Agree that kids may find it boring. There is a waterfall in Nesso where you can jump off a bridge into the lake. Definitely get a place with a pool as it can get really hot.

I recommend beaches instead. Sardinia is fantastic!

Anonymous wrote:Don't know what it was like 25 years ago. Definitely crowded in the summer, understandably. The main towns- Bellagio in particular- are kind of insane in peak summer, so if you go, avoid them especially mid day. I'd get a car and stay in one of the smaller towns to the north (generally less crowded). It's an incredibly beautiful place, no doubt. I think a lot of teens may get bored. It's more of a "sit on a veranda/boat and enjoy the views" place, a lot of kids probably not very into that. Car will help because you can drive into the surrounding mountains and do activities there

thanks, any towns in particular? I don't know this area at all!

Anonymous wrote:What did he like about it? That will help us to think of alternatives

Gorgeous natural beauty, out of the way, charming, great food

Don't know what it was like 25 years ago. Definitely crowded in the summer, understandably. The main towns- Bellagio in particular- are kind of insane in peak summer, so if you go, avoid them especially mid day. I'd get a car and stay in one of the smaller towns to the north (generally less crowded). It's an incredibly beautiful place, no doubt. I think a lot of teens may get bored. It's more of a "sit on a veranda/boat and enjoy the views" place, a lot of kids probably not very into that. Car will help because you can drive into the surrounding mountains and do activities there

What did he like about it? That will help us to think of alternatives

Hubby went to Lake Como 25 years ago and still raves about it. It's one of his all time favorite places of all time. I'd like to go based on his description, and I know he'd love to go back. But... I think he went before Hollywood discovered it and before it was super expensive and crowded. Is it different now and no longer as great?

If so, should we look to somewhere else for an experience comparable to what Como used to be? Where?

And finally - wherever you recommend - Como or somewhere else - recommendations on lodging? We are a family of 4 - 2 adults and two older teens, prefer a condo/villas to a hotel and prefer to be near the water. thanks!