12/15/09 02:32 PM. 3551 posts. You cannot go wrong with Lake Como area (I prefer Varenna) or Venice, for romantic spots. But cost may be a factor, you will spend alot more in Venice for lodging and eating, if you do not need air cond. your chance of finding a place for under $200USD per night is more doable. Top Must-Sees For Solos in Lake Como. 1. Port hopping along the lakeside – Grab your camera, get yourself a day pass for the ferry or explore a few lakeside villages a day. 2. Visit Villa del Balbianello – Imagine you are on the set of a movie by visiting this stunning villa with incredible views and charming gardens. From Milan to Lake Maggiore. The easiest way to visit Lake Maggiore is from Northern Italy. Trains depart Milan’s Centrale station and take roughly 1 hour to reach Maggiore. You can check the train schedule and buy tickets online here. In Italy, train fares increase with time, so book your tickets once you know your travel dates. Lake Como, or Lago di Como in Italian, is located in northern Italy’s Lombardy Region, approximately 40km north of Milan and less than 30km east of Lugano in Switzerland. The inverted Y-shaped lake is the third largest lake in Italy, after Lake Garda and Lake Maggiore, at around 146 km2 and it’s also one of Europe’s deepest lakes at 410m When driving from Milan to Como you have two options, taking toll routes (its just 2 euros per direction) or a free route. The driving time and distance for the tolled route is 50,6 km and about 56 minutes, the free one is 49,8 km and takes 1 hour and 15 minutes. Arrive at the destination 20 minutes faster and drive the majority on motorways The most efficient way to see Northern Italy is by starting in Venice and ending in Milan (or vice versa). In between these two cities, it’s easy to access the gems of Northern Italy: Lake Como, Verona, Lake Garda and the Dolomites. You could definitely tailor this Northern Italy itinerary to be only 7 days. If you’re starting from the centre of Milan, the cheapest and simplest way to get to Lake Como is by train. The Trenitalia Trenord trains are efficient, comfortable and very reasonably priced. There are several train stations around the lake, so check your final destination and use the info below to plan the best route. Explore the best of Northern Italy on this 5-day trip to Milan and Lake Como. Milan is a city full of Rennaissance art and historic architecture, as you'll experience as you visit its famous Gothic Duomo and other highlights. Learn how to make fresh pasta and Italian cocktails during a cooking class, and take a day trip to Lake Como and visit the beautiful villages of Bellagio, Varenna, and Como. Hi Ashish. What a great trip you’ve got coming up! Good question – I think if you’re limited with time, 1 day in Milan is enough. Lake Como and Venice do have more to offer. Whether you spend more time at the lake or in Venice is a tricky one. To be honest I think you can see enough of Lake Como with 1 night there have then 3 nights in 4-day, 3-night lakes tour from Milan. See five lakes – Como, Maggiore, Garda, Iseo and Orta. Visit lakeside towns and islands, such as Stresa and San Giulio. Enjoy lake cruises for another vantage point on the mountains surrounding each lake. Stay in centrally-located hotels, with breakfast included each morning. OqB77eL.