Como Travel Forum

Hi All

My wife and 2.5 year old boy are hpoing to travel to the lakes in italy in September
Which is the best lake for Children and shopping for my wife! (Me really) and what is the weather like in September?

Thank you
Kind Regards
Marcus

Marcus
From my experience, you can't go wrong with Como or Garda. I've visited both in the last year with our kids (3 and 1.5 yrs). The waters of both are suitable for swimming, though Garda is supposed to be cleaner. For children, at the south west area of lake Garda is Gardaland- Italys largest amusement park. This VT members site has lots of info http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/5471c/24c3d/ though most of the rides are for older children, they've got a toddler section as well.

As for shopping, there is Milan close to Lake Como. But as I think about it, Garda (italys largest lake), may be your better bet.
Reasons:
A bit more diverse as you travel around the lake, the northern stretches head inot the dramatic mountains, the western shore has a medeteranian feel with lemon groves.
For the child you have Gardaland as an option.
And great shopping can be had at a number of the towns around the lake, and the wonderful City of Verona is a 1/2 hour away for history and some fine shopping (It is a much more maneagable option than Milan as a family).

The heat of the summer shoud be subsiding in both locations come September. A great time to visit.

good luck, let us know what you decide.
Jon

i have only been to lake Garda but I would recommend it for all of you, we stayed at Limone which was alovely village/small town but you might be better down the Garda end which seemed to have more going end (although that wasn't what we wanted)it is not as beautiful down there though, but the access to other places - Verona and Venice for example is much easier.
I think the weather should be quite nice in September, we stayed at the end of August and had quite a few fantastic thunderstorms as the weather started to cool.

bellagio on lake como is fabulous