r/LakeComo

My wife and I are doing a spontaneous mini-honeymoon around Northern Italy next week, and we’re trying to decide where to stay for our 2 nights on Lake Como.

We’ll be arriving from Milan by train on Oct 11, spending Oct 12 exploring the central lake area, and leaving toward Verona on Oct 13. We won’t have a car.

We currently have two options:

Option 1: Stay in Varenna

• Very close to Varenna-Esino station
• Very close to the ferry terminal
• Easy access to Bellagio and Menaggio
• Modern and comfortable apartment
• Very convenient if we want to go back to the room during the day
• But it costs roughly €400 more for the 2 nights
• The apartment has a lake view, but not the kind of direct balcony view we were hoping for, no balcony.

Option 2: Stay in Bellano

• Roughly half the price
• Much nicer apartment for the money
• Private balcony directly overlooking Lake Como
• Bedroom window also faces the lake
• Excellent reviews
• But the apartment is around 15–20 minutes walking from Bellano train station
• Bellano → Varenna seems to be only around 5 minutes by train, but the trains appear to run roughly once per hour

Our thinking with Bellano is that on the morning of our full Lake Como day we would simply walk to Bellano station, take the short train to Varenna, and then spend the entire day doing exactly what we would have done anyway: Varenna → Menaggio → Bellagio → Varenna by ferry.

The main thing we would lose is the convenience of having our accommodation 5 minutes away while exploring Varenna. If we want to go back to the room to rest, change clothes, grab something, etc., Bellano obviously makes that less convenient.

On the other hand, for only one full sightseeing day, we’re wondering whether that convenience is really worth approximately €400 extra, especially when the Bellano apartment itself feels more special for a honeymoon.

For people who know the area well: would you pay the premium to stay in Varenna, or stay in Bellano and accept one short train ride in the morning/evening?

Also curious how annoying the once-per-hour train schedule feels in practice, and whether taxis between Varenna and Bellano are realistically available in the evening if we don’t want to wait for a train.

Hello! If anyone happens to visit Mennagio and has enjoys walking around, please help! This summer while I was there my boyfriend and I saw a peice of graffiti that said "Babi Ti Amo" near the tunnel next to the outdoor climbing area (Falesia Menaggio). We got engaged while there and have been quoting it to each other constantly. However, in the excitement we never actually got a photo of the graffiti and would absolutely love one. If anyone has a photo or could get one, I'd be most appreciative!

We have a tight travel schedule and will be coming into the Como San Giaovanni train station later this month on a Sunday afternoon. We will need a way to get to Bellagio for a 2 night stay. I am aware of possibly taking the Ferry or Bus, but am wondering if a private car is affordable and worth the cost. Additionally, we must be back at the train station on the 3rd day for an early morning train ride. I am concerned about making the train departure.

Private car? Are they easy to schedule, are they dependable, how much do they charge, do you tip the driver? Help.