Short notice Italian Lakes trip in mid September without hiring a car

[Pandersmum]

Can anyone help me plan a short notice trip to the Italian lakes in mid Sept this year?
Where to stay / which airport to fly too?
Wasn’t planning to hire a car.
Romantic, couples relaxing stay - 4 nights / spa hotel 4/5 star
Thanks!

If you just want a spa experience, go somewhere cheaper

if you are going to the Italian lakes…. You need a car because it’s so special to explore

Lake Garda - fly to Verona, stay Sirmione, plenty of 5 star hotels. Ferry trips on the lake are a great way to get around. Lunch in Bardolino, day trip or overnight to Riva.

Fly to Milan and get the train. Desenzano is on a direct rail line, and also bang on Lake Garda. It's beautiful, and you can travel to other towns by boat.

You don't need a car at Lake Garda. You can explore using the frequent ferries.

But SO much better with a car

I have done both

We flew to Verona, stayed in Garda and used the ferries to get around to the other towns. Was lovely.

Fly to Milan, there’s train along lake Como. Can’t recommend a 5 star hotel spa but can recommend a lovely let right overlooking the water you can lie in bed looking out the window, totally private. Restaurants 5 minutes walk away and small shop, 10 minutes to station in lierna

If you have a much bigger budget, fly to Milan and transfer to Lake Como - the Hotel Villa Tremezzo is fabulous, 3 pools (indoor, outdoor & floating in the lake, plus a spa), and they will send a car to collect you from the airport. You can go to, say, Bellagio by boat.

Fly to Verona, lots buses and ferries but needs a little research for frequent services. Pescheria has trains to Verona, Venice and beyond
I fancy one of the thermal spas

Was going to suggest this, Gardone Riviera is also quieter than east lakeside but less well connected by public transport. Alternatively Lake Maggiore, Lake Como ans Lake Lugano are all close to Milan.

Thank you! We could hire a car ….. this is just the advice I needed ….. happy to now consider this!

Thank you everyone for all the various suggestions. Much appreciated!
They will keep me busy today and much more focused in my search!

Train vs car - it sounds like both could be an option!

Please can you share your recommended accomodation? Thanks!

We did a week in Lake Garda just before the schools broke up and we didn't need a car. We flew into Verona, had a airport transfer booked to our hotel in Garda and then used bus and ferries to explore. It was lovely and really easy to do.

You really don't need to hire a car in the Lakes - as others have said the ferries are good on Lake Garda. We have also stayed at Lake Iseo and Lake Maggiore - saw lots of places without having a car. The Italian trains are very good too.

Garda is great. So are Como, Lugano & Maggiore.

Idk why you’d want a spa hotel in the lakes where there are whole spa resorts in Italy full of spa hotels - which are much more sophisticated and health oriented than U.K. ones.

I would choose either 4 days “cure” at a spa somewhere like Abano Terme, Montecatini, Saturnia etc or go to the lakes, in which case most decent hotels will have pools and massage facilities.

Cures in Italy involve being wrapped in mud, mineral pools with jets, drinking the waters etc.

Just as an alternative - Annecy (just over the border from Geneva) - absolutely stunning.

As the only driver in the family I refuse to drive on holiday unless I have to, especially if there are alternatives and especially not in Italy

Sirmione has a few spa hotels as there is a hot spring that bubbles up in the lake right next to the peninsula. We stayed at Hotel Sirmione Terme a few years ago. The food was superb and, as the hotel is on the west of the peninsula, you get to enjoy fabulous sunsets.

Just placemarking ...

About to say the same. Fly to Geneva then coach or train to Annecy. Beautiful place.

Why? Do you not enjoy driving?

Im a single parent so if we want to get out and about on holiday… I have to drive but as I don’t mind driving at all - no hardship 🤷‍♀️

I don’t drive (tried it, hated it, moved to London), but I had a fantastic week by Lake Como & got around on foot / ferry / local buses. I nearly always get chatting to someone at a bus stop which is a good chance to practise my Italian.

I did have to take a taxi in Puglia last summer when I wanted to go out to my grandmother’s somewhat remote village, but navigated my way back by bus.

You can fly to Milan and then there are great train connections to Lake Maggiore. There are gorgeous hotels in Stresa, and you can do day trips by boat to visit the Borromean islands on the lake. We spent 2 weeks there this summer, travelling entirely by train and with no car at all, and it was fabulous!

I don't hate driving, but I don't love it. Being able to sit on a ferry and watch the surrounding scenery slide by is much nicer and far more relaxing than driving on the right and negotiating busy roads and Italian drivers.