Italian Lakes - Como or Garda?
Discussion
I've finally persuaded Mrs Fungle to take a holiday in Italy rather than the Canaries where we have spent the last few summers, whilst fantastic for cycling it's time to explore elsewhere.
We have decided on the Italian Lakes, either Como or Garda.
Is either better for cycling?
Relatively luxurious hotel and access to a lively town is a priority, Bardolino has caught our eye so far.
We have decided on the Italian Lakes, either Como or Garda.
Is either better for cycling?
Relatively luxurious hotel and access to a lively town is a priority, Bardolino has caught our eye so far.
I love Como. Been a few times. We tend to stay in Varenna, which is a beautiful small town about half way up on the eastern shore. It has the ferry service between Bellagio and Mennaggio.
The first time I visited I took the bike (Mrs OMITN was working and it was before-parenthood). I basically cycled all of the Tour of Lombardy (if you don’t know it, it’s one of the “monument” one day races and takes place at the end of the season - it’s nicknamed the “race of the falling leaves”).
If you ride up from Bellaggio you take the famous climb up to the Madonna del Ghisallo, which is a chapel dedicated to cyclists. They’ve also built a fantastic museum to cycling next to it. It’s filled with amazing stuff.
There are lots of other things to do besides cycling (though it is good). My sister and her partner drove down to the famous classic car show at Villa d’Este last year. Looked v glam..!
I’ve never been there later than early June so no idea what it’s like in the height of summer. But it can be busy. Like all of Italy, the roads are terrible and the driving’s fun..!
I’m completely biased - mainly because I’ve only day tripped to Garda, so not sure what it’s like to stay. Good I expect.
The first time I visited I took the bike (Mrs OMITN was working and it was before-parenthood). I basically cycled all of the Tour of Lombardy (if you don’t know it, it’s one of the “monument” one day races and takes place at the end of the season - it’s nicknamed the “race of the falling leaves”).
If you ride up from Bellaggio you take the famous climb up to the Madonna del Ghisallo, which is a chapel dedicated to cyclists. They’ve also built a fantastic museum to cycling next to it. It’s filled with amazing stuff.
There are lots of other things to do besides cycling (though it is good). My sister and her partner drove down to the famous classic car show at Villa d’Este last year. Looked v glam..!
I’ve never been there later than early June so no idea what it’s like in the height of summer. But it can be busy. Like all of Italy, the roads are terrible and the driving’s fun..!
I’m completely biased - mainly because I’ve only day tripped to Garda, so not sure what it’s like to stay. Good I expect.
TheFungle said:
I've finally persuaded Mrs Fungle to take a holiday in Italy rather than the Canaries where we have spent the last few summers, whilst fantastic for cycling it's time to explore elsewhere.
We have decided on the Italian Lakes, either Como or Garda.
Is either better for cycling?
Relatively luxurious hotel and access to a lively town is a priority, Bardolino has caught our eye so far.
I've been to all the major lakes, Garda a number of times. Garda is quite popular with cyclists and it is my favourite. I like Malcesine and Bardolino particularly. I cannot recommend a hotel in Bardolino, but in Malcesine the Hotel Du Lac is quite nice. Not posh, but solid. If you can deal with cheap, Hotels San Marco and Modena are right in the thick of the action in Malcesine, right by the picturesque harbour.We have decided on the Italian Lakes, either Como or Garda.
Is either better for cycling?
Relatively luxurious hotel and access to a lively town is a priority, Bardolino has caught our eye so far.
Bill said:
I know this thread has a roadie bent but if anyone has any good MTB suggestions for the top end of Garda I'd appreciate it. 
Yeap sure - Ive done two holidays on the mtb around gardasee. I can maybe dig out the strava data on it and the place we stayed at also. Feel free to PM me. the Holidays were in 2013 and '14 so i may need a day or two to get the info. Also: Como is more roadie territory and the traffic makes it a bit of an arse if im honest. I didnt really enjoy it if im honest. Also watch the potholes, we rode over from the Swiss side and I got really caught out with the state of the roads. We did that trip in 2015.
Went to Sirmione last year - loved the location - great cycling.
Of the options given so far
Bardolino (or just south in Lazise) would be my choice if we visited again - because neither are hemmed right in by the hills & there are some reasonable 'beach' areas.
The road near Malcesine is right by the edge of the water, so if you fancy sunbathing it will be a little less peaceful.
A lap of Garda is doable, but the traffic will get busy later in the day (you'll travel faster than the traffic for much of the top bit of the lake!)
From Bardolino - the hills to the right are stunning
When we drove round the full lake, Riva del Garda / Torbole at the North end was practically all MTB shops, uplift bus stops etc so there must be plenty of routes!
Of the options given so far
Bardolino (or just south in Lazise) would be my choice if we visited again - because neither are hemmed right in by the hills & there are some reasonable 'beach' areas.
The road near Malcesine is right by the edge of the water, so if you fancy sunbathing it will be a little less peaceful.
A lap of Garda is doable, but the traffic will get busy later in the day (you'll travel faster than the traffic for much of the top bit of the lake!)
From Bardolino - the hills to the right are stunning
When we drove round the full lake, Riva del Garda / Torbole at the North end was practically all MTB shops, uplift bus stops etc so there must be plenty of routes!
henrycrun said:
It's faster / safer on the road! There are so many pedestrians on the bit that is complete that progress simply can't be madeBill said:
I know this thread has a roadie bent but if anyone has any good MTB suggestions for the top end of Garda I'd appreciate it.
I'm a bit late maybe, but here's a huge list of itineraries:https://itinerari.mtb-mag.com/
Just click on the area of the map of your interest and you can check if there's anything you like.
It's in Italian, but there are generally also the graphics of altimetry to get an idea.
TheFungle said:
I've finally persuaded Mrs Fungle to take a holiday in Italy rather than the Canaries where we have spent the last few summers, whilst fantastic for cycling it's time to explore elsewhere.
We have decided on the Italian Lakes, either Como or Garda.
Is either better for cycling?
Relatively luxurious hotel and access to a lively town is a priority, Bardolino has caught our eye so far.
As expected, there's a heck of a lot of tunnels around Garda, which can be scary as fook when a huge lorry is behind you in one of them. Some of them are lit but many are pitch black on the inside. Even with lights, a cycle around Garda saw us turn back after 5 miles and head back because of loopy drivers who thought passing you in a tunnel 1 inch away was acceptable. We have decided on the Italian Lakes, either Como or Garda.
Is either better for cycling?
Relatively luxurious hotel and access to a lively town is a priority, Bardolino has caught our eye so far.
AlexIT said:
I'm a bit late maybe, but here's a huge list of itineraries:
https://itinerari.mtb-mag.com/
Just click on the area of the map of your interest and you can check if there's anything you like.
It's in Italian, but there are generally also the graphics of altimetry to get an idea.
Brilliant, thanks. I'll have a proper look when I get a chance.https://itinerari.mtb-mag.com/
Just click on the area of the map of your interest and you can check if there's anything you like.
It's in Italian, but there are generally also the graphics of altimetry to get an idea.
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