Lake Como may be quite chilly---we had snow flurries in early April one year. Highs are typically in the 50s and lows in the mid 30s--a boat trip may not be a good idea.

Where are you coming from and where are you going after. If you are flying from the US to Italy for just this 5 days then I'd say it's too tight. You'd have to factor in things like jet lag, arriving late, etc. If you are coming from someplace else in Europe it's a bit less of a problem.

You would take the train from Venice to Varrenna (note spelling) - don't go through Milan. It's only slightly more than four hours if you go Venice to Varenna.

But that only gives you one and a half days in Venice and two in Lake como.

Also, check weather for Lake Como in March, not sure it's sail boat weather.

I think that time of year is really too early for the lakes - which are in the foothills of the mountains - and much colder than the southern parts of Italy. Cities are fine since you can do indoor things if the weather turns nasty. Not sure how many places in the lake will be open for the season yet then (many hotels and restaurants close for the winter).

Thank you so much for your replies! We fly from Copenhagen so jetlag wont be a problem.

I am also afraid of the weather, thats why I wanted us to spend 2 days in Venice.. We spent last easter in cinque terre and although it rained a few days, it was not cold and we had a really nice time. I saw that most restaurants and hotels will be open in lake como for easter and the season starts in mid april..

so you think lake Como is not a good idea?

thank you!

There are ski resorts only an hour's drive southeast of Varenna, so you cannot compare the late-March weather in this area to the Cinque Terre. You won't find boats to rent at that time.

If you're determined to go to Lake Como, stay in the town of Como and take ferries or buses to other parts of the lake if the weather permits. Como Town will not have as many off-season closures.

But since you haven't been to Venice, I suggest you spend all of your time there. You can easily take day trips by train to other interesting towns, but you won't run out of sights to see in Venice.

How about 3 nights in Venice and 2 in Verona, which itself is wonderful. But if you happen to get nice weather you can do a day trip to Lake Garda easily from Verona. Actually you could do both of them as day trips from Venice but I'd split the time.