Lake Como Trip.

[Bigboyrolo]

The whole area is fantastic. If go through the hills from the top of Lake Maggiore to the western shore you can take your car by ferry from Mennagio to Bellagio, could be hard to park there though, perhaps lunch in the Metropole on their balcony overlooking the lake and ferry terminal. From there, take another very short car ferry from Bellagio to Varenna, drive up to the motorway then south to Como. This saves a lot of driving. In Como, find your way to the cable car for fantastic views from high above the lake. If you go south down the western shore, you will pass through the small village of Giulino di Mezzegra, where a very small plaque on the outside of a villa marks where Mussolini was murdered by partisans in April 1945.

[MancTom]

Great route link Paul.
How many miles were you covering per day on your leisurely (non speeding) Alps drive?
As we are going to take in Como too, would you advise doing this route on the way to, or back from taking in Monaco.

[Paul]

Great route link Paul.
How many miles were you covering per day on your leisurely (non speeding) Alps drive?
As we are going to take in Como too, would you advise doing this route on the way to, or back from taking in Monaco.

We did it in 5 driving days so around 150 per day with plenty of scope for stopping off and photo opportunities.

Again, we went from Thonon to Menton (“downhill” ) having started in the lakes but either way will be fine.

The only thing to watch out for in the summer is push-bikes; we went during the first week of sept when it was much, much quieter on the roads.

[Semerka]

The whole area is fantastic. If go through the hills from the top of Lake Maggiore to the western shore you can take your car by ferry from Menaggio to Bellagio, could be hard to park there though, perhaps lunch in the Metropole on their balcony overlooking the lake and ferry terminal. From there, take another very short car ferry from Bellagio to Varenna, drive up to the motorway then south to Como. This saves a lot of driving. In Como, find your way to the cable car for fantastic views from high above the lake. If you go south down the western shore, you will pass through the small village of Giulino di Mezzegra, where a very small plaque on the outside of a villa marks where Mussolini was murdered by partisans in April 1945.
P1000163.jpg

Fantastic photo!

I also second your suggestion to approach from Lugano and take a car ferry from Menagio to Bellagio or Varenna. Ads a different dimension to the journey. And coming down the winding road to Menaggio is a feast for the eyes!

Varenna is also a pretty little village, very well connected by ferries.