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Italy | Tips for a weekend on Lake Como

The beautiful Lake Como is according to many one of the most beautiful lakes in the world Italy and I totally agree with this. Let's start with a few facts. Lake Como is a mountain lake located in Lombardy (Location here), in the north of Italy near the Swiss border. It is, with a length of 45 kilometers, the third largest lake in the world Italian Alps and also the deepest lake with about 420 meters. The beautiful Lake Como is surrounded by colorful villages, mountains, forests and flowers which gives an intimate feeling and provides impressive views from all sides.

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About Lake Como

View over the lake | Tips for a weekend on Lake Como
View over the lake | Tips for a weekend on Lake Como

The best travel time

Good to know is that the area around Lake Como can be very busy. So if you have the opportunity to travel outside the high season, this is definitely recommended. The months of May, June and September are a lot quieter and it is not too hot to discover the villages. Looking for a real sun holiday on Lake Como? Then visit this destination in July and August. 

How do you get there

Lake Como is easy to reach by car. From Amsterdam it is about 1000 kilometers to the city How to Live Aligned with, located at the bottom of Lake Como. The lake has the shape of an inverted Y. The place of the accommodation is therefore quite decisive for the outward journey. For example, if you have found an accommodation in Bellagio, then you have two options: drive around the lake on narrow mountain roads or take the ferry from, for example cadenabbia and travel the last bit by car on the ferry. The ferry is therefore the best and easiest way to travel around the lake. It is advisable to leave the car at the accommodation as parking in the center is a big challenge.

Would you rather not go to Italy by car at all? Then fly to Milan and travel the last hour with the tren.

Travel time

In September I decided to take the car route with my sister to our accommodation in beautiful Bellagio. Since a second destination was planned after Lake Como, we spent a total of two full days around Lake Como. Which is enough to enjoy the Italian culture, see the most important and most beautiful highlights and, above all, taste a lot of Italian cuisine! But, the area is certainly big enough to spend a week or midweek here. 

A weekend trip to this large lake immediately means that you have to make some choices. You can't discover the whole lake in two or three days. Good planning is therefore definitely recommended for a weekend trip to Lake Como and I am happy to help you with that.

A handy insider: the most beautiful villages with the most important sights around the lake are located in a triangle and are easy to reach by ferry, namely Bellagio, Varenna en Menaggio. So if you can get an accommodation in one of these three villages, then you're in the right place!

Keep in mind that almost all villages are located on a mountain. A half hour walk from the ferry back to the accommodation suddenly feels a lot longer and heavier when you walk up the mountain. However, this compensates well with the pizzas, pastas and wines that are likely to be on the menu. 

A picturesque street in Varenna | Tips for a weekend on Lake Como
A picturesque street in Varenna | Tips for a weekend on Lake Como

Bellagio

We chose a cozy Airbnb in the beautiful Bellagio (Location here). The first day was therefore all about discovering this place. Of the three places, Bellagio is probably the largest with the most shops and restaurants. This also makes Bellagio the busiest village, but in September it was manageable with the crowds. Below you can read how we spent the day in Bellagio and you will find a number of extra tips.

Coastline Bellagio | Tips for a weekend on Lake Como
Coastline Bellagio | Tips for a weekend on Lake Como

1. Have breakfast at one of the traditional pasticcerias

Start the day in an appropriate Italian way with breakfast at one of the pasticcerias (bakeries). In Bellagio, try to find restaurants and bakeries in the side streets and not in the main street, because this way you can taste the real Italian cuisine and you will be a lot cheaper than at the tourist hotspots. 

We took a seat at pasticceria Sancassani (Location here), near our accommodation, and ordered two cappuccinos and all kinds of sandwiches and sweet snacks that looked delicious.

Breakfast at pasticceria Sancassani | Tips for a weekend on Lake Como
Breakfast at pasticceria Sancassani | Tips for a weekend on Lake Como
The view from Sancassani | Tips for a weekend on Lake Como
The view from Sancassani | Tips for a weekend on Lake Como

2. Visit the famous villas

One of the main attractions around Lake Como are the villas with accompanying gardens. A must-see in Bellagio is therefore Villa Melzi (Location here). The villa and botanical garden are located right on Lake Como, about a ten minute walk from the Bellagio ferry.

The neo-classical villa was built between 1808 and 1810 by order of Francesco Melzi d'Eril and served as a summer residence. Unfortunately, the villa cannot be visited inside, but the botanical garden, the chapel and the museum are certainly worth a visit.

Villa Melzi | Tips for a weekend on Lake Como
Villa Melzi | Tips for a weekend on Lake Como

The garden stretches from Lake Como high above the villa. The various walking paths take you past many trees and plants, Egyptian sculptures, Roman statues and a Japanese fish pond with water lilies. The gardens can be visited from mid-March to the end of October and a ticket costs 6,50 euros per person.

Japanese fish pond | Tips for a weekend on Lake Como
Japanese fish pond | Tips for a weekend on Lake Como

Not enough of the villas yet? Visit in Bellagio then too Villa Serbelloni's Park en Villa Mylius Vigoni.

3. Stroll through the picturesque and colorful streets

Discovering the picturesque streets was one of my favorite things to do in Bellagio. The village is not big, so you certainly don't have to worry about getting lost during your search for nice hidden streets and beautiful views. The streets are almost all on a mountain, so don't forget to turn around now and then to enjoy the view over the lake. In addition to colorful buildings, you will find nice shops, boutiques, restaurants and terraces here. 

Colorful shopping street in Bellagio | Tips for a weekend on Lake Como
Colorful shopping street in Bellagio | Tips for a weekend on Lake Como
Street outside the center of Bellagio | Tips for a weekend on Lake Como
Street outside the center of Bellagio | Tips for a weekend on Lake Como

4. Buy and taste Italian delicacies

About those nice shops and boutiques: in addition to jewellery, clothing and souvenirs, you can also go to the streets of Bellagio for an introduction to the local Italian specialties. So is Da Ciao (Location here) a supermarket where you can buy and taste Italian delicacies, such as olive oil, wine, cheese and meat.

Wine lovers can indulge themselves at Enoteca La Principessa (Location here) On Andrea Wine Bellagio Shop (Location here). Nice boutiques where you can buy homemade products, such as the glassware shop Vetri DiBellagio (Location here) and gift shop La Bottega del Legno di Mario Tacchi (Location here).

Beautiful little street in Bellagio | Tips for a weekend on Lake Como
Beautiful little street in Bellagio | Tips for a weekend on Lake Como

5. Lots of food and drink

As it should be Italy, made our day Bellagio largely in the sign of food and drink. The village is full of cozy restaurants, cafes, bakeries and bars. Most restaurants have a terrace where, in addition to good food and drinks, you can enjoy a beautiful view and a cozy atmosphere.

Ristoro Forma & Gusto | Tips for a weekend on Lake Como
Ristoro Forma & Gusto | Tips for a weekend on Lake Como

A restaurant that was already on our list Ristoro Forma & Gusto (Location here). It is often completely full here, but we were lucky that there was just a table available on the terrace for a late lunch. The food was delicious and matched the look of the restaurant perfectly, so definitely recommended!

Looking for other restaurants? Then take a look at Bistrot Antichi Sapori (Location here) On B-Lake Restaurant Bellagio (Location here).

Lunch at Ristoro Forma & Gusto | Tips for a weekend on Lake Como
Lunch at Ristoro Forma & Gusto | Tips for a weekend on Lake Como

6. Walk along the water and relax on the beach

Thanks to the beautiful location of Bellagio on Lake Como, you can enjoy walking here. The walking path that runs along the lake feels like a boulevard with plenty of benches, colorful flowers, trees and amazing views over the lake, Bellagio and the surrounding mountains.

Bellagio Boulevard | Tips for a weekend on Lake Como
Bellagio Boulevard | Tips for a weekend on Lake Como

A nice walk of about half an hour takes you from the center of Bellagio, along the water and Villa Melzi, to Spiaggia Pubblica di Bellagio (Location here). Spiaggia Pubblica di Bellagio is the beach of Bellagio, where you can relax on a towel on the grass and cool off in the clear waters of Lake Como.

On the beach you will also find Riverside Snack Bar (Location here), where you can get a snack or drink in the summer months. In September it was pleasantly busy here and the water was just warm enough for a refreshing dip. A tip: take water shoes or flip flops with you, because it is a pebble beach. 

7. Order a drink at a wine or cocktail bar

A wonderful place to recover from all the impressions of Bellagio is at one of the wine or cocktail bars. We chose B Style Bar (Location here) in one of the side streets of Bellagio. Bstyle bar is a cozy place with incredibly friendly staff and a large menu full of all kinds of good wines and surprising cocktails. You can also have a bite to eat here.

Other nice bars in Bellagio are Aperitivo et al (Location here) On Angolo DiVino Enoteca Wine Bar (Location here).

View the extensive drink menu at BStyle Bar | Tips for a weekend on Lake Como
View the extensive drink menu at BStyle Bar | Tips for a weekend on Lake Como

Varenna

The beautiful Varenna is probably the most picturesque village of the three. Colorful buildings, beautiful streets and views… In Varenna it really feels like you are walking into another world and you keep looking around and taking pictures.

Varenna is smaller and has fewer shops than, for example, Bellagio, but is definitely worth a visit. Unfortunately, many tourists think that way and it is very busy in the summer months. A tip: Varenna is a lot quieter in the morning, so try to go early in the day.

The coastline of Varenna | Tips for a weekend on Lake Como
The coastline of Varenna | Tips for a weekend on Lake Como

1. Take the ferry

The ferry is the way to travel across Lake Como. From Bellagio, for example, you can book a one-way ticket to Varenna for 5 euros. Return or day tickets are often cheaper, so check the prices at the ferry station or at one of the websites. In addition to the ferry taking you from A to B, it is great fun to view the lake from the water and you will be treated to beautiful views along the way.

View of Varenna from the ferry | Tips for a weekend on Lake Como
View of Varenna from the ferry | Tips for a weekend on Lake Como

2. Wander through the picturesque streets

Like Bellagio, Varenna is a wonderful place to wander. Varenna is a bit smaller, so we aimed to discover all the streets and alleys and came across so many beautiful places. Some of my favorite spots in Varenna are all around Piazza S. Giorgo (Location here). 

Street in Varenna | Tips for a weekend on Lake Como
Street in Varenna | Tips for a weekend on Lake Como

3. Take a look at the nice shops and boutiques

Varenna has fewer shops than Bellagio, but this does not make the shops any less enjoyable. For example, you will find a number of shops here where you can score beautiful leather bags for a relatively small price, such as at The well (Location here) On Pelletteria Denti (Location here). You can also enjoy shopping here at nice boutiques with original clothing and you will find handmade souvenirs Il Tornio (Location here).

4. Get an ice cream and enjoy the view

When you walk towards the village from the ferry, you will pass two nice gelaterias: La Passerella (Location here) On Riva (Location here), perfect for a little break! We got a bowl of different flavors of ice cream from Riva and took a seat on the colorful cushions on the stairs next to the ice cream parlour. From the stairs you have a beautiful view over the lake and the mountains. What else do you want?

Gelateria Riva | Tips for a weekend on Lake Como
Gelateria Riva | Tips for a weekend on Lake Como

5. Visit the villas of Varenna

Also in Varenna you will find some beautiful villas and gardens. One of the best known Villa Monastery (Location here) at about 10 minutes walking distance from the ferry station of Varenna.

The history of Villa Monastero goes back to the early thirteenth century, when it was used as a convent of the Cistercian nuns. In 1567 the monastery was closed and the villa passed into private hands.

View over the lake from Villa Monastero | Tips for a weekend on Lake Como
View over the lake from Villa Monastero | Tips for a weekend on Lake Como

Today the villa is used as an international conference center and museum. The botanical garden of the villa is located on the lake. The walking paths in the garden take you past exotic flowers and plants, fountains, statues and a small temple.

We visited the garden in the morning, when it was still wonderfully quiet. The garden and the museum can be visited from April to December for about 5 euros per person. 

In addition, visit the gardens of Cypress Villa (Location here) On Vezio Castle (location here).

6. Enjoy Italian cuisine again

One day into Varenna is of course not complete without some delicious Italian dishes. We managed to get a table at Bar Il Molo (Location here) for a cup of coffee and a snack. Bar Il Molo is a place where you sit for a great view and the experience, but where you should not expect too much from the service and the dishes.

There are still a few photo-worthy restaurants on the water, such as Cafe Varenna (Location here) On Nilus Bar (Location here). Prefer delicious food to lake views? Then go to the great Al Prato Restaurant (Location here).

View from the terrace of Bar II Molo | Tips Lake Como
View from the terrace of Bar II Molo | Tips Lake Como

Options for day 3

On day three we traveled on to Switzerland. If you still have a half or full day at Lake Como, here are a few suggestions:

1. Visit Menaggio

Unfortunately we didn't have time to visit the third village; Menaggio. Menaggio is the most touristic place of Lake Como with again a beautiful historic center and many hotels and restaurants. If you have a third day around Lake Como and feel like visiting another village, Menaggio is definitely recommended.

2. Book a boat tour on the lake

Several boat trips are offered on Lake Como. The cheapest and most practical option is the ferry. In that case, buy a day ticket for the ferry and visit different places around the lake, such as Villa Oleandra by George Clooney The garlic. Other options include a sightseeing tour with a group, a private boat trip, a dinner cruise or rent a boat and go on an adventure on the lake yourself. Knowing more? Look here for all tours and cruises on Como Lake.

3. Visit Como

Want to visit a big city? Then is How to Live Aligned with the place to be. With 85.000 inhabitants, Como is the largest city on the lake and has many shops, restaurants and hotels. 

Boats in the lake | Tips Lake Como
Boats in the lake | Tips Lake Como

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Dana Oerlemans

ALWAYS IN FOR ADVENTURES
Hi! I am Dana, 26 years old, a great travel enthusiast and I have been able to discover many beautiful places, but I also certainly have a long bucket list of countries that I want to visit. I love the mountains, snow and active travel, but I am also always up for a nice city trip, roadtrip or sun holiday. Enough to share with you!

- Lives in Zeeland in the summer and in Austria in the winter
- Favorite countries: Indonesia, Switzerland, Austria and Italy
- On the bucket list: Iceland, Norway, New Zealand, among others

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