Lake Como | Travel

Lake Como, in Italy’s Lombardy region, is famed as much for its beautiful buildings and jaw dropping vistas as it is for the Hollywood glitterati. You can find everything Italy is lauded for - cheeses, abundant wine and hospitable service - in Como, and with so many different towns bordering its shores, it can be difficult to know where to begin. Here’s how to spend five days in the many towns and villages Como has to offer… 

Bellagio

Bellagio is easily the most well-known town on Lake Como, and as its main business district, is a bustling hubbub of activity. Pristine botanical gardens mingle next to a popular lido, churches steeped in history and museums full of relics. From here, you can catch an easy ferry over to Menaggio or onwards to Varenna, a beautiful way to see the many harbourfront hotels in pastel shades of pink and peach, and homes steeped way up into the Italian Alps. 

Ferries from Bellagio are frequent and good value - you can take a car or travel as a foot passenger - but ensure you’re 30 minutes early for the ferry you want to catch to dodge the queues and secure your spot. It’s not possible to pre-book ferries. 

Varenna

Varenna is full of charm, and has a more laid-back, sleepy feel than some of the other towns on the lake. You get the same cobblestone alleyways dotted with trattorias and trinket shops, but with less traffic and more waterfront dining options, it has a more ‘locals’ feel to it. 

Rest your head at Hotel Du Lac whilst in Varenna, and you’re supremely placed for all the town has to offer. Set in an 1823 villa on the shores of Lake Como, it boasts comfortable, understated rooms and attentive service. A leafy terrace plays host to wine tastings and afternoon aperitifs, and there’s also parking for guests - something not to be sniffed at in Como.   

Drink the local drop at In Vinis Veritas, where the knowledgeable sommeliers will help guide you through Viogniers and Pinot Noirs alongside a tasty plate of fresh bruschetta. Use this as your amuse bouche before dinner at characterful and cosy Il Cavatappi, where the pumpkin gnocchi is the standout dish. 

Menaggio

A visit to Menaggio completes the trifecta of Como’s most popular towns, and the ones easily accessed via ferry. You’ll find town squares and plenty of patisseries - as well as lots of opportunities to make like Amal and George and hire a boat to see Como from a different perspective. 

We hired a car for the duration of our visit to Como through Hertz, but Vespas are also available (and readily seen throughout Menaggio). 

Once you’ve got wheels, take a trip down to Villa Carlotta for expansive gardens and panoramic lookout spots, or Villa Balbianello if history is more your thing - Count Guido Monzino, the last person to live in Villa Balbianello, was the first Italian to lead an expedition to Mount Everest.

Nesso

Nesso is one of the lesser known spots on Como, and it’s for that reason that you’ll want to seek it out. The pace here is quiet and peaceful - even outside of daily siesta hours - and with limited ferry traffic, is the perfect spot for a swim. 

A stay at Cà del Bif is a taste of true Italian living - throw open your shutters and listen to the sound of the lapping water just a few feet below; the soft chime of the church bells will wake you at first light, where you can traverse the harbour wall and dive into the crisp waters of Como, all before breakfast. 

Whether you choose the buzz of Bellagio or the serenity of Nesso, Como is a place where nothing is too much trouble. Choose your pace, switch off your notifications and kick back with a local red - you’re in Italy’s playground now.