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Table of Contents:
How to get to Menaggio from Milan
How to get to Menaggio from Como City
When to travel to Menaggio
Menaggio is a charming resort town located on the shores of Lake Como in Northern Italy. Menaggio is often visited as part of an excursion program around the “golden triangle” of Como. In addition to Menaggio, the triangle also includes Bellagio and Varenna. Menaggio attracts tourists with its historical and architectural attractions, as well as its picturesque surroundings. It usually takes half a day to explore the old part of the town. However, if you want to feel the real resort atmosphere of the town, then you should definitely stay here for at least a few days. Vacationers will find all kinds of entertainment here, from hiking and rock climbing to golf courses and tennis courts.
After some research, I decided to put together information I have previously found out and create a complete guide on how to organize a holiday in Menaggio. I figured out how to get to the town, where to stay & what to see there. I really hope this detailed information will help you plan your trip to Menaggio.
As I found out tourists can visit Menaggio at any time of the year as water navigation is available all year round including winter time. The period of May to September is considered to be a “high” tourist season. The weather is warm and pleasant with a lot of sunny days this time of the year. Swimming is available from June when the lake usually gets warm enough. Besides swimming, Menaggio is an interesting place to visit for its architecture, boat trips, gastronomy, etc. All these features can be explored at any season, not exactly during summer time.
How to get to Menaggio
Where do you fly into to get to Menaggio? There are several ways to get to Menaggio, depending on where you are starting from. Most often, travelers visit Menaggio from Milan or the town of Como, which is located at the southern tip of the lake. Both options are quite convenient for starting a trip. The current flight timetable to Milan can be checked via specialized online services such as Aviasales and other similar ones. I often use this service as it helps me to compare different flight options and choose the optimal one so I can totally recommend it for planning your trips.
How to get to Menaggio from Milan
After some map examining, I can confirm that the distance between Milan and Menaggio is about 83 km. Public transport or a rented car can be used to reach the travel destination on Lake Como.
By public transport: There are several ways to get to Menaggio. If you travel from Milan, then the train + ferry option will be possible. Regional trains run daily from Milan to Varenna; the travel time is about 1 hour. Trains depart from Milan Central Station every hour or two. You can check the current train timetable and purchase tickets in advance at the Raileurope booking service. I use Raileurope regularly to check out the current train timetable throughout the whole of Europe. In my opinion, it is a very convenient service, because travellers can compare different routes, duration of the train journey, prices, number of changes and other useful parameters.
Next, in Varenna you need to make a change to the ferry, which takes you directly to Menaggio in just 15 minutes. Ferry is generally the most popular form of transportation between the “golden triangle”. By ferry you can visit all three resort towns in one daylight. The ferry schedule for specific dates can be viewed on the website of the carrier Gestione Navigazione Laghi Italia.
By rented car: You can get from Milan to Menaggio by car along the #A9/E35 and SS340 motorways. The distance is 83 km; the travel time is 1,5 hours (see on the map). This road route also passes through other beautiful towns in the region called Cernobbio and Lenno. You can rent a car in Milan in almost every area, including the airport, railway station and rental offices in the city. The car rental option is quite popular among tourists. To rent a car, it is enough to have a passport, an international driving license and a bank card to pay for services. You can book a car in advance via various online services such as Discover Cars, Economybookings and others. Based on my experience, both online services have a very convenient search. I would recommend using both to compare available car rental options.
How to get to Menaggio from Como City
The distance between Como City and Menaggio is about 35 km. You can get to your travel destination by public transport or by car.
By public transport: Firstly, you need to take a regular bus from the town of Como, on the southern shore of the lake, to Menaggio. You need to focus on route No. C10 (Como-Menaggio-Colico). The travel time is a little over an hour. The bus timetable can be checked on the website of the ASF Autolinee carrier. The town of Como, in turn, is served by regional trains from Milan; the travel time is about 40 minutes, and the frequency of trains is every hour throughout the day. You can check the current train timetable and purchase tickets in advance at the Raileurope booking service. It is one of my favourite online services which I can definitely recommend for using when planning railway trips around Europe.
By rented car: If you prefer traveling on your own, getting to Menaggio from Como City by car will be a great option. You can explore the lake shore with its brilliant small but cozy towns. Como City and Menaggio are connected by a motorway # SS340. The travel time by car is about 50 minutes (see on the map). A car for travelling around Lake Como can be rented in Milan or Bergamo, the closest cities nearby.
Where to stay in Menaggio
I examined a lot of reviews and I can confirm that Menaggio is both popular as an excursion destination and as a lakeside holiday destination. Depending on the purpose of the trip, in Menaggio you can stay in typical town hotels or to choose holiday homes and hotels that are suitable for a longer stay. There is also a certain demand in Menaggio for renting apartments. Vacation homes, guest houses, and B&B`s are also common accommodation options in the resort. You can also stay in towns neighboring Menaggio. These could be Griante, Plesio, Tremezzo, Bellagio.
According to my research, the following hotels are popular in Menaggio:
Grand Hotel Menaggio 4* is located near Lake Como and has its own heated swimming pool. The hotel has a restaurant and a bar. You can stay in rooms of various categories. Breakfast or half board is included in the price. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel and is free of charge. Free public parking is available on site. The reception is open 24 hours a day;
Hotel Garni Corona 3* is located opposite the lake. Guests have access to a spacious terrace for relaxation. Guests can stay in rooms of various categories. Most rooms have lake views. Some of the rooms have balconies. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel and is free of charge. Street parking is also available. Luggage storage services are provided at the front desk;
Hotel Du Luc Menaggio 3* has panoramic views of the lake and a terrace for relaxation. Guests can stay in double rooms with partial or full lake views. Some rooms have a balcony. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel and is free of charge. Private parking is provided nearby for an additional fee. Luggage storage services are available at the front desk;
Hotel Bellavista 3* is located in the town center and has an on-site restaurant with panoramic views. A seasonal swimming pool is open in summer. Guests can stay in single or double rooms. Some rooms have lake views. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel and is free of charge. Private parking is available on site for an additional fee and upon reservation. There is a bar at the hotel.
What to see in Menaggio
Menaggio consists of 4 districts – the old part of the town and the suburbs of Loveno, Nobiallo and Croce, which have currently merged into one agglomeration. Menaggio is famous for its villas, old churches and picturesque promenade, from which boats depart hourly to all directions of Lake Como.
Among the historical monuments, the most noteworthy, in my opinion, are the Church of St. Stephen, whose construction dates back to the 17th century, and the Church of St. Lorenzo and Agnese, built in the 18th century. Both buildings are designed in the Baroque style. If the Church of St. Stephen is located in the town center, then the Church of St. Lorenzo e Agnese is located in the Loveno area.
Contrary to popular opinions, the surroundings of Menaggio are no less picturesque than the town center. For example, in Loveno you can see a series of beautiful villas built in the 18th and 19th centuries. These, in particular, include villas Mylius, Ricci, Belfagio, Bolza and others. In the summer, tourists’ attention is attracted not only with the villas, but also with the English-styled gardens that surround them.
Villa Mylius is open for visitors. Fascinating interiors designed in the 19th century include original furniture, sculptures, paintings and other décor. Various apartments, cabinets, library, terrace and other rooms are open for exploring by tourists. The villa is surrounded by colorful garden which is also worth visiting, especially during the blooming period. After some research, I discovered the following practical information:
- Villa Mylius is open for visitors from April to October with a guided tour in English or German;
- Guided tours are held every Thursday at 2.30 pm;
- The entrance fee is 12 euros.
Menaggio can be considered not only as an excursion destination; for a complete summer holiday, you can find 18 golf courses and a sports center for children and adults with its own beach and swimming pool. A rock climbing center is also available here. It is difficult to overestimate the possibilities for hiking. There are more than fifty hiking routes in the area around Menaggio. In winter, Menaggio invites winter sports enthusiasts. For example, in the mountains you can go skiing or snowshoeing.
Menaggio is a well-known resort town on Lake Como. In my point of view, tourists love to spend their holidays here because of the relaxed atmosphere and highly-developed resort infrastructure. Picturesque natural landscapes accompanied with stunning architecture makes Menaggio a great place to visit on Lake Como.
Visiting Menaggio, take a short ferry trip to other triangle towns – Bellagio or Varenna or both ones. A ferry trip takes only 15 minutes in any direction and it is super convenient to discover all three towns at once. So, In Bellagio it is worth visiting its historical center with churches of different times. It is also recommended to discover local villas called Serbelloni and Melzi, which are both open to visitors from March to November.
Varenna is no less interesting place to visit. First of all, it is definitely worth visiting the Church of San Giorgio, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The other marvelous attractions are villas Cipressi and Monastero. Both are open for visitors from April to November. The third sight which I would recommend exploring in Varenna is Castello di Vezio. It is a unique early medieval fortress partly preserved by its walls and tower. You can climb up the tower to see Varenna and the whole lake triangle.
Take a note! When going on a trip to Italy, do not forget to take out travel insurance, which is useful for receiving a tourist visa and for solving emerging medical problems when travelling in another country. You can purchase insurance via online services, for example, via EKTA and others. You can choose from different modes, including quiet, active or extreme rest.
Photo above the article: Jocelyn Erskine-Kellie
Julia is an experienced traveller, BA in International Relations and Languages and true lover of planning trips in advance. Learn more about the author…