Italian lakes- which one?

[Orchidflower1]

We are looking to go to the Italian lakes in the summer holidays- 2 adults and 2 children. However we can’t decide which area is best are even which lake! We are looking to stay in a quietish place. I know all areas will be busy but we’re looking for not hugely manic! We would like a transfer time of under an hour or certainly no more than an hour. It doesn’t matter which airport we fly into. So good people of mumsnet where do you suggest?

If anyone has specific hotel recommendations too that would be great. Thanks.

Lake Garda is fantastic! Absolutely stunning!

Lake Garda seems to be most popular in MN but we prefer Lake Como. Even more beautiful and a bit quieter. But more than an hour from Milan if you are anywhere further up the lake than Como town itself, so possibly not for you if transfer time is very important.

Thank you SandysMam where about sum lake Garda did you go?

I’m not sum!!!

Sirmione on lake Garda was lovely, really easy to hop on the ferry to town hop too.

I loved Como too, but it’s probably less family friendly as lots of steep windy streets in the popular surrounding resorts.

Both are lush though!

Thank you Justanother the only reason I’d put an hour is the last few times we’ve flown my ds has been sick/ felt sick on the transfer after so I was wondering about getting a taxi/ hotel shuttle then there’s no hanging around waiting for other people. I assumed that over about an hour a taxi would be too expensive. I will look into Lake Como though. Thank you for your input.

Another vote for Garda. We stayed in Bardolino, which was a very pretty and quiet little town on the lakeside. Fairly short transfer from Verona airport. Easy journey times for trips to Venice, Milan, and the opera at Verona. We were on a package, so the trips were all prearranged including transport, which took the hassle out.
The kids loved the shop on the lake front with 50 flavours of fab Italian ice cream!

Gara is the easiest to get to (I think). We stayed at Riva del Gard in the north by the mountains, and another time at Sirmione in the south where it's flat. Both beautiful

Thank you for posting everyone. I suppose it’s weighing up the pros and cons. From what I can gather ..,,
Garda is easier to get to and more family friendly but may be busy.
Como is very pretty and quieter but harder to get to and not as easy to get around with walking.

Jumping on as we are thinking of the Italian lakes this summer too

My question is, which is good for younger kids, what is there to do activity wise? Ours will be 6 and 10, and we've previously had quite beachy holidays so am keen to find somewhere where there will be stuff to interest them, as well as the obligatory pretty villages and castles for us oldies!

I love Como, but not sure it would be the best place for kids

As in, I think Lake Guarda would have more children friendly activities

Maggiore is less than an hour from Milan, Stresa is pleasant with a little town square, ferries and cable car. However in August all the main resorts on Garda and Maggiore are heaving, Como less so but also imho less family orientated. Last year we stayed on the Gardone Riviera on lake Garda which was much quieter than the south or east coastline if a slightly longer transfer - Desenzano or Salo might suit you.

Thank you LIZS, it’s the heaving aspect that’s putting me off the lakes slightly. I will look at the resorts you’ve mentioned.

Also to you lake officianados two potentially stupid questions...,,

1. Can you swim/ paddle in the lakes; I’d heard they aren’t very clean.
2. for the same reason as above can you eat the shellfish/ fish caught locally? Thanks for all the comments.

The lakes are fed from the mountain streams, perfectly clean to swim in.

We are thinking of lake Garda this year, 2 ds, one 5 one 10. Any recommendations for activities and places to stay to those who have been before?

We swam in Garda but not Como- it didn’t seem to be the ‘done’ think in the resorts we were in in Como.

It was fairly deep in Garda though, Not sure how good for kids. Sure some resorts have more of a shore though. Ate fish in both, didn’t consider where it was caught to be honest, but all fine!

Thanks for all the advice everyone.

It is easy to use ferries to get around lake Garda, although it is a good day trip to go from one end to the other, and buses. There are sailing schools in Riva/Torbole and Salo, the latter probably gentler for beginners as it is a sheltered. High ropes course in Barbarano. Cable car up into Monte Baldo and castle at Malcesine. Waterfalls in Riva. Gardaland theme park and waterparks near Peschiera. Sirmione has Roman ruins and a castle. Most areas have "beaches". Day trips to the Dolomites, Venice and Verona.

Thanks LIZS a veritable tour guide!

We went to Lake Garda for our honeymoon. We stayed in Limone. It was absolutely lovely.

Okay, making the case for Como!

Lots of things are the same as Garda - loads of ferries to get around (in summer) you don't need a car if you are staying somewhere walking distance from a ferry stop, you can swim in the lake and almost every village has a swimming spot/beach (mostly pebbles though, not sand), loads of cafes and restaurants, brilliant ice cream everywhere. I didn't have buggy age kids but I didn't experience any difficulty getting around - possibly some of the very touristy villages like Bellagio would be difficult with a buggy but I didn't go there so don't know. Most villages had level promenades near the water and there were plenty of families with buggy-age kids everywhere we went.

Things to do:
Our best one: Hotel Villa Aurora in Lezzeno has a beach club for which you pay 10E entry (or free if you're staying at the hotel) and get access all day to a water trampoline, kayaks, paddleboards, other floating kind of toys + sun loungers with bar, restaurant etc. We spent two whole days there - it's on the ferry route although there aren't a huge number of ferries so you have to plan a bit.

Crazy golf in Menaggio + lovely promenade

Villa Carlotta - fantastic gardens for kids to run around in and interesting not too big house

Villa Balbainello - more beautiful gardens, where they filmed some of Star Wars and a recent James Bond

Cable cars in Argengo and Como town

If you have a car, a short journey over to Switzerland and Lake Lugano (more cable cars if wanted).

Very modern multi-media museum of the end of the second world war (English options)

Wine tasting up in the north

Up in Colico, loads of watersports (sailing, windsurfing etc) because there's a constant breeze.

Hire a motor boat.

There was more, but that's the ones I remember off the top of my head. There aren't any theme parks or waterparks - that might be the biggest difference from Garda.

We went to Garda in the summer. Stayed at Salo. Wish we had stayed up towards the north end, much nicer. Would love to go back. Kids loved it!