Lake Como or Garda

 
 
 
 
 
GMAC
Eat's Sleep's craic
Avatar
Gender:
Age: 67
Posts: 1301
Registered: 10 / 2012
My Motorhome:
Base Vehicle:
Subject:

Lake Como or Garda

 · 
Posted: 07.04.2025  ·  #1
Hi all, Looking for some advice regarding a possible trip to the Lakes this year. We've never ventured into Italy so this will be first time. What suggestions would you have regarding best route to take from France. We plan on being in alsace region for while, Colmar/ Mulhouse, and from there head to either Como or Garda. Which lake would you recommend, possible sites and routes. As much information as possible would be much appreciated. Many thanks in advance.


TommyS
Eat's Sleep's craic
Avatar
Gender:
Location: Co Armagh
Age: 21
Posts: 2209
Registered: 10 / 2017
My Motorhome: EuraMobil
Base Vehicle: Fiat
Subject:

Re: Lake Como or Garda

 · 
Posted: 07.04.2025  ·  #2
Been to Garda a few times, there are loads of campsites around the lake but when I was there the traffic was terrible. I had the scooter which helped as you could filter. Some nice villages around the lake Sirmione and Lizaise. If you are taking kids Gardaland is worth a visit. There are day trips to Verona


RAYZOR
Craic'er
Avatar
Gender: n/a
Age: 104
Posts: 65
Registered: 12 / 2021
My Motorhome:
Base Vehicle:
Subject:

Re: Lake Como or Garda

 · 
Posted: 07.04.2025  ·  #3
We went to peschiera del garda last year and stayed on an aire beside the town for three days as visiting gardaland then two campsites near Venice which were the best campsites we've ever been on with massive waterparks on site so we are going back again this year...the train station is in peschiera also so you could be in Venice in an hour or verona in half hour and Florence in 2 hrs if memory serves me correct...we didnt use the train this time but I have been in peschiera several times before staying on campsites before i had the camper..The town is lovely and you can get the lake ferry to other towns along the lake...I was in peschiera del garda from cherbourg in 25hrs,it took around 15 or 16 hrs driving ,I took a few rest stops on the way and slept beside a garage with other motorhomers...we went over the simplon pass as recommended on here and stayed the night on an aire on the alps on the way back...it was absolutely fab...you'll need aircon or good fans if going in the summer months as it can be hot,especially at night and be prepared for the mossies...they can be vicious...I used mostly Google maps to get me there and I had sygic going also in case of low bridges etc but had no issues thankfully...I'd totally recommend lake garda....I can't comment on Lake Como as I never stayed beside it yet.


mtravel
Love's the Craic
Avatar
Gender:
Location: Legnano, Italy
Age: 71
Posts: 219
Registered: 02 / 2020
My Motorhome: Carthago Malibu 600DB
Base Vehicle: FIat Ducato 2.3 140CV
Subject:

Re: Lake Como or Garda

 · 
Posted: 08.04.2025  ·  #4
I try to answer.
From Alsace, at least three the routes to get to the Lake Garda area.

1. Via Basel, Lucerne, Gotthard tunnel (17km not recommended for those who suffer from claustrophobia), Bellinzona, Chiasso (Italian border). Then Milan, Bergamo, Brescia and finally Desenzano or Peschiera.
Requires Swiss vignette for vehicles under 3.5 tons (about €40) or purchase (at the border) of a certain number of days for those over.
530Km. Advantage, as soon as you pass Italian customs you are five kilometers from Lake Como.
Good stopover at GPS 45.83510, 9.06067 but it is not very large (10 seats) and could be full.
The town of Cernobbio is 1.5km away. From there possible boat trips even to the northernmost part of the lake.
2. Via Basel, Bad Ragaz, Chur, Bellinzona, Chiasso. 615Km. Same comments as above.
3. Longer (700km) via Basel, Zurich, Innsbruck (A) and Brenner Pass.
Requires Austrian vignette for vehicles under 3.5 tons and Go-Box (kind of electronic toll tag) for those over.
Plus the payment of the Europabrücke before the Italian border.
Advantage, the possibility of some visits to the beautiful Dolomites region.

Two lakes. Both beautiful but different in size and orography.
Lake Como is surrounded by mountains that plunge down. So there are few possibilities for stopovers.
Good road up to Argegno. Continuing north rather narrow, to be traveled with caution.
There are campsites but only in the northernmost part of the lake.
I would avoid the road from Como to Bellagio as well as the eastern branch of the lake (from Lecco north, almost completely in a tunnel).

Lake Garda is different, at least on its eastern coast (towards Veneto).
If you want to venture on the western one, no problem up to Salò. I would avoid continuing further (narrow, tunnels).

Between the two lakes you find a third, Iseo.
Nice, just be careful, if you want to get to Lovere go along the eastern coast.
The western road is good up to a few kilometers from this location.
Then it becomes very narrow and problematic even for a PVC.

Stopovers: Park4night ( https://park4night.com/en ) is pretty accurate.
You can apply filters for the type you want (camping sites, free or paid areas, at farms, etc.).
The only caveat is that it is also oriented to small vans.
Check the reviews carefully and maybe take a look at the place using Google Earth and also Street View.

Austrian Tolls: https://www.asfinag.at/en/ , homepage and subpages you will find all the information. Basically with a vehicle under 3.5 tons you only need the vignette (sticker, purchasable at the border or in some service before arriving there or electronic stickerless).
The vignette can be purchased with a validity of 10 days, two months or year.
The Go-Box is only needed for vehicles over 3.5 tons.
In Austria there is also a "pollution sticker" but it is only required for commercial vehicles (category N1, N2, etc.).
Since motorhomes are category M1, they are exempt.

Swiss Tolls (how they work): https://vignetteswitzerland.com/switzerland-motorhome-toll/

Max

p.s. Lazise not Lizaise


GMAC
Eat's Sleep's craic
Avatar
Gender:
Age: 67
Posts: 1301
Registered: 10 / 2012
My Motorhome:
Base Vehicle:
Subject:

Re: Lake Como or Garda

 · 
Posted: 08.04.2025  ·  #5
Quote by RAYZOR

I was in peschiera del garda from cherbourg in 25hrs,it took around 15 or 16 hrs driving

Many thanks for reply RAYZOR. Can you outline the exact route you took please.


GMAC
Eat's Sleep's craic
Avatar
Gender:
Age: 67
Posts: 1301
Registered: 10 / 2012
My Motorhome:
Base Vehicle:
Subject:

Re: Lake Como or Garda

 · 
Posted: 08.04.2025  ·  #6
Quote by TommyS

Been to Garda a few times, there are loads of campsites around the lake but when I was there the traffic was terrible. I had the scooter which helped as you could filter. Some nice villages around the lake Sirmione and Lizaise. If you are taking kids Gardaland is worth a visit. There are day trips to Verona


Thanks Tommy. Can you recommend any specific sights you stayed on.


GMAC
Eat's Sleep's craic
Avatar
Gender:
Age: 67
Posts: 1301
Registered: 10 / 2012
My Motorhome:
Base Vehicle:
Subject:

Re: Lake Como or Garda

 · 
Posted: 08.04.2025  ·  #7
Quote by mtravel

I try to answer.
From Alsace, at least three the routes to get to the Lake Garda area.


Max thank you for the help. It's looking more likely to be Garda we travel too.


relay racer
Eat's Sleep's craic
Avatar
Gender:
Location: co.armagh
Age: 54
Posts: 977
Registered: 09 / 2020
My Motorhome: van conversion
Base Vehicle:
Subject:

Re: Lake Como or Garda

 · 
Posted: 08.04.2025  ·  #8
We also were heading to the lakes last summer but we’re told that it’s always really busy and to make sure that camp sites are booked and I wasn’t for booking any but it looks stunning,we chose lago levico terme instead

Liked by: RAYZOR

RAYZOR
Craic'er
Avatar
Gender: n/a
Age: 104
Posts: 65
Registered: 12 / 2021
My Motorhome:
Base Vehicle:
Subject:

Re: Lake Como or Garda

 · 
Posted: 09.04.2025  ·  #9
Quote by GMAC

Quote by RAYZOR

I was in peschiera del garda from cherbourg in 25hrs,it took around 15 or 16 hrs driving

Many thanks for reply RAYZOR. Can you outline the exact route you took please.


To be honest GMAC I can't remember,I was just following the sat nav😃😃 i literally put simplon pass as a stop on the way to peschiera del garda which I had on a Google maps android auto screen in the van and then the same on the sygic app on my phone....I only had 3 wks so it was all about getting there as quick as possible so I stayed mostly on toll roads...I remember one of the roads near paris was like 300km long so it was just cruise control all the way...the simplon pass was an amazing drive with fabulous scenery...ye need good brakes though for on the way back down and use the gears to slow ye down as much as possible...there is signs on the side of the road on the decent warning of your brakes/wheels going on fire😱😱...the aire on top of the pass cost about €5 for the night..its parking beside a hotel off the main road and you can walk up the hill/mountain🙂 behind the park up to a huge eagle monument to the Swiss army that protected the pass during world war two....Great for few photo's...there is toilets beside the park up,fresh water and grey/black dump...I heard recently there's a cable car ride that can be done with savage views of lake garda,it's about an hour or so drive from peschiera, I might check that out this time round.


mtravel
Love's the Craic
Avatar
Gender:
Location: Legnano, Italy
Age: 71
Posts: 219
Registered: 02 / 2020
My Motorhome: Carthago Malibu 600DB
Base Vehicle: FIat Ducato 2.3 140CV
Subject:

Re: Lake Como or Garda

 · 
Posted: 09.04.2025  ·  #10
relay racer
Eat's Sleep's craic
Avatar
Gender:
Location: co.armagh
Age: 54
Posts: 977
Registered: 09 / 2020
My Motorhome: van conversion
Base Vehicle:
Subject:

Re: Lake Como or Garda

 · 
Posted: 09.04.2025  ·  #11
Quote by RAYZOR

Quote by GMAC

Quote by RAYZOR

I was in peschiera del garda from cherbourg in 25hrs,it took around 15 or 16 hrs driving

Many thanks for reply RAYZOR. Can you outline the exact route you took please.


To be honest GMAC I can't remember,I was just following the sat nav😃😃 i literally put simplon pass as a stop on the way to peschiera del garda which I had on a Google maps android auto screen in the van and then the same on the sygic app on my phone....I only had 3 wks so it was all about getting there as quick as possible so I stayed mostly on toll roads...I remember one of the roads near paris was like 300km long so it was just cruise control all the way...the simplon pass was an amazing drive with fabulous scenery...ye need good brakes though for on the way back down and use the gears to slow ye down as much as possible...there is signs on the side of the road on the decent warning of your brakes/wheels going on fire😱😱...the aire on top of the pass cost about €5 for the night..its parking beside a hotel off the main road and you can walk up the hill/mountain🙂 behind the park up to a huge eagle monument to the Swiss army that protected the pass during world war two....Great for few photo's...there is toilets beside the park up,fresh water and grey/black dump...I heard recently there's a cable car ride that can be done with savage views of lake garda,it's about an hour or so drive from peschiera, I might check that out this time round.

Did yous do the Simplon pass in a Motorhome or a camper van type,was there many motor homes of all sizes going over the pass


kabundi
Eat's Sleep's craic
Avatar
Gender:
Location: Craigavon
Age: 77
Posts: 590
Registered: 06 / 2012
My Motorhome: Burstner Harmony 680G
Base Vehicle: Fiat Ducato X290 2.3L 130bhp
Subject:

Re: Lake Como or Garda

 · 
Posted: 09.04.2025  ·  #12
topic.php?t=18180

This thread may be of some interest. If you need specific overnight stop details please ask

Liked by: RAYZOR

kabundi
Eat's Sleep's craic
Avatar
Gender:
Location: Craigavon
Age: 77
Posts: 590
Registered: 06 / 2012
My Motorhome: Burstner Harmony 680G
Base Vehicle: Fiat Ducato X290 2.3L 130bhp
Subject:

Re: Lake Como or Garda

 · 
Posted: 09.04.2025  ·  #13
topic.php?t=14744

Another useful thread.

If you search ‘Garda’ on Motorhomecraic there are several other threads available

Are you a member of ACSI. if so there are some good sites in Pescheria which will be under €30 out of season

Liked by: RAYZOR

RAYZOR
Craic'er
Avatar
Gender: n/a
Age: 104
Posts: 65
Registered: 12 / 2021
My Motorhome:
Base Vehicle:
Subject:

Re: Lake Como or Garda

 · 
Posted: 09.04.2025  ·  #14
Quote by relay racer

Quote by RAYZOR

Quote by GMAC

Quote by RAYZOR

I was in peschiera del garda from cherbourg in 25hrs,it took around 15 or 16 hrs driving

Many thanks for reply RAYZOR. Can you outline the exact route you took please.


To be honest GMAC I can't remember,I was just following the sat nav😃😃 i literally put simplon pass as a stop on the way to peschiera del garda which I had on a Google maps android auto screen in the van and then the same on the sygic app on my phone....I only had 3 wks so it was all about getting there as quick as possible so I stayed mostly on toll roads...I remember one of the roads near paris was like 300km long so it was just cruise control all the way...the simplon pass was an amazing drive with fabulous scenery...ye need good brakes though for on the way back down and use the gears to slow ye down as much as possible...there is signs on the side of the road on the decent warning of your brakes/wheels going on fire😱😱...the aire on top of the pass cost about €5 for the night..its parking beside a hotel off the main road and you can walk up the hill/mountain🙂 behind the park up to a huge eagle monument to the Swiss army that protected the pass during world war two....Great for few photo's...there is toilets beside the park up,fresh water and grey/black dump...I heard recently there's a cable car ride that can be done with savage views of lake garda,it's about an hour or so drive from peschiera, I might check that out this time round.

Did yous do the Simplon pass in a Motorhome or a camper van type,was there many motor homes of all sizes going over the pass


Yeah done the simplon pass in a motorhome, it was a busy enough road...seen other motorhomers and forty foot trucks going over it also...the road zig zags up the incline...

Liked by: relay racer

RAYZOR
Craic'er
Avatar
Gender: n/a
Age: 104
Posts: 65
Registered: 12 / 2021
My Motorhome:
Base Vehicle:
Subject:

Re: Lake Como or Garda

 · 
Posted: 10.04.2025  ·  #15
Quote by mtravel

Quote by RAYZOR

...I heard recently there's a cable car ride that can be done with savage views of lake garda,it's about an hour or so drive from peschiera, I might check that out this time round.


It could be this one: https://www.funiviedelbaldo.it/en/

You can take a look at https://www.garda-see.com/en
or
https://www.visitgarda.com/en/garda_lake/
or
https://lagodigardaveneto.com/?lang=en

Max


I think it's the first link max,thanks for that info....it looks amazing...Italy is a beautiful country, one of my favourites...


mtravel
Love's the Craic
Avatar
Gender:
Location: Legnano, Italy
Age: 71
Posts: 219
Registered: 02 / 2020
My Motorhome: Carthago Malibu 600DB
Base Vehicle: FIat Ducato 2.3 140CV
Subject:

Re: Lake Como or Garda

 · 
Posted: 10.04.2025  ·  #16
Quote by RAYZOR

...Italy is a beautiful country, one of my favourites...


Italy is beautiful, it's no coincidence that I live here.
Although I have to admit that (it seems that I have ancient Irish or at least Cornish ancestry) I consider Ireland almost at the same level.

In Italy you find mountains that border on 15,000 feet, sandy and rocky beaches, Caribbean sea, forests, history, art, everything and more.
In Sardinia we even have a small desert.

Returning to the cable cars, obviously far from Lake Garda, a must-see is the tour that takes you from Courmayeur to Chamonix (France) passing through Punta Helbronner (11,360 ft), crossing the Mer de Glace, up towards the Aiguille du Midi (12,600 ft) and down.
A shuttle takes you back to the starting point.
The tour can also be done in reverse.

Max

Liked by: RAYZOR

eirebus
Eat's Sleep's craic
Avatar
Gender:
Location: kildare
Posts: 7645
Registered: 10 / 2011
My Motorhome: Dethleffs Advantage
Base Vehicle: Fiat 2.3
Subject:

Re: Lake Como or Garda

 · 
Posted: 10.04.2025  ·  #17
Quote
Returning to the cable cars, obviously far from Lake Garda, a must-see is the tour that takes you from Courmayeur to Chamonix (France) passing through Punta Helbronner (11,360 ft), crossing the Mer de Glace, up towards the Aiguille du Midi (12,600 ft) and down.
A shuttle takes you back to the starting point.
The tour can also be done in reverse.


Would you get altitude sickness on a trip like this, I'd say it's brilliant though

Liked by: sprinter

mtravel
Love's the Craic
Avatar
Gender:
Location: Legnano, Italy
Age: 71
Posts: 219
Registered: 02 / 2020
My Motorhome: Carthago Malibu 600DB
Base Vehicle: FIat Ducato 2.3 140CV
Subject:

Re: Lake Como or Garda

 · 
Posted: 11.04.2025  ·  #18
Quote by eirebus

Would you get altitude sickness on a trip like this, I'd say it's brilliant though


Conventionally we speak of Courmayeur but, on the Italian side, the cable car leaves from its hamlet of Entreves.
You will notice that many names are French, the Aosta Valley (like Alto Adige, in German though) is an autonomous and bilingual region.

For information (there is also a webcam) you can take a look at:
https://www.montebianco.com/en
https://www.montebianco.com/en/cableways
https://www.montebianco.com/en/cableways/itinerary

I see that now the climb is broken into two sections, the first leads to the Pavillon/The Mountain (2,173 meters) where there is a shelter/refuge with a bar and restaurant.
A good idea to stop for an hour for a coffee and to start acclimatizing.
If you take this precaution there should be no problems.

When we were up there (me, my wife and our then teenage daughter) we had none.
Some of our group (it was a fun moment during a company meeting) had a bit of a headache, someone else had a bit of nausea.
Obviously it is an experience to avoid if you have heart or breathing problems.

It should also be remembered that the Etna volcano (Sicily) is as high as Punta Helbronner but hundreds of tourists visit it every year.

Max

Liked by: eirebus, sprinter

Selected quotes for multi-quoting:   0