I posted about a recent trip to Switzerland, where we continued onto Italy afterwards. This post covers what we did in Lake Como with some things we loved — and, some things we could have left behind!
Lake Como, in Northern Italy, is an upscale resort area known for its dramatic scenery, set against the foothills of the Alps. The lake is shaped like an upside-down “Y”, with three branches that meet at the resort town of Bellagio. At the bottom of the southwest branch lies the city of Como.
Lake Como is one of those dreamy places that exceeds expectations. It is dramatically set with elegant villas, gardens, mountains and speedboats on a 29-mile-long body of glittering water. It’s hard not to fall in love with.
We drove into Lake Como, which was just about 2.5 hours from our prior destination in Lucerne. We had a hard time deciding where to base out of in Como. There are so many gorgeous lakeside towns to choose from.
We ended up selecting the town of Como which is the the main hub with lots of shops, restaurants and nightlife. For what we were there for, we liked having good access to a number of things.
Lake Como: Where We Stayed
Como is expensive — that’s the first thing I’ll say! We had a hard time finding a hotel at the price points we typically stay within. We ended up at the Palazzo Albricci Peregrini, which is a 15th century palace located in the historic center of the city of Como, within the ancient medieval walls and the imposing and suggestive Roman towers. A couple who had spent their lives traveling bought and renovated the property to share it with others.
Palacci Albrizzi was not on my all-time top list of hotels and resorts, but worked perfectly find for what we needed. The staff was very attentive and welcoming. If you like bed-and-breakfast-type places, then this may be a good choice to consider.
Lake Como: What We Loved
Visiting Villa d’Este
Villa d’Este is a 16th-century villa in Cernobbio, famous for its terraced hillside Italian Renaissance garden and especially for the abundance of flowers everywhere you look inside and out. It’s stunning!
We booked drinks here on the patio overlooking the water and it was one of the top highlights of our time in Lake Como! We were able to wander around the property beforehand and drink in all the gorgeousness.
Villa d’Este is a must-see! Stop by this hotel for any meal you can book there. Please note, you have to make a reservation to stop by even for a drink.
Lunch at Hotel Passalaqua
Another favorite thing we did in Lake Como was visit Hotel Passalaqua. We read that it had recently been voted the best hotel in the world and that had us intrigued, so we booked lunch there. The hotel was absolutely magnificient. It is uber-luxurious and perfectly kept, but with a unique vintage, bohemian vibe.
We ate lunch under canopies like these. We had the place almost to ourselves! It was absolute perfection.
I can’t recommend visiting Hotel Passalacqua enough! Go during the daytime so you don’t miss a drop of its beauty!
Dinner Gato Nero
Gato Nero is another spot we really enjoyed. We had dinner here and we requested outdoor seating. We were seated on this small patio with just three tables, and it couldn’t have been more picturesque!
Diving Into Our Time in Bellagio
With just a couple of days in Lake Como, we knew we had to see Bellagio. Bellagio is the most famous of the towns along the shores of Lake Como. It is considered a must-see and has more visitors than any of the other towns.
Bellagio was about :45 from where we stayed in city-center Como. You can take the ferry or you can drive.
In this section I’ll break down what we did and recommend.
An important note: As big of a draw as Bellagio is, it does also draw crime. Our car was broken into while parked in a very public spot, and several things of value were taken. If you go, please be extra-careful!
The Stairs of Salita Serbelloni
Salita Serbellioni is one of the most photographed streets in the world. It’s a wide series of steps lined with shops, galleries and restaurants. The views are fabulous and the shops have some beautiful things, but overall we found the whole thing much more touristy than we expected. I would still recommend this stop, but it can be a quick trip up or down the stairs.
Lunch at Bilacus
We really enjoyed lunch at Bilacus, which is a bright spot located right on Salita Serbellioni. If you are spending time in Bellagio I recommend it as a nice place to escape the busy streets and sit on a quiet, green-covered patio. The food hit the spot! The service is efficient, but you likely will not want to be there all afternoon, anyway.
Living That Boat Life
I’d definitely recommend a boat ride in Bellagio. We got a driver to take us on the water and show us the beautiful villas in the area. It was a bucket-list experience!
Blessed by an enviable location, Bellagio sits at the very spot on the map where the lower lake splits into two branches, Lake Como continuing to the southwest and Lake Lecco to the southeast. The dividing spot at the tip of the peninsula is named the Punta Spartivento. The views from this spot are hard to beat, and that’s what makes a boat ride here so special!
I would prioritize a boat ride over almost anything else, simply because you can cover so much ground and see so many beautiful villas in a short amount of time. Go with a private boat tour if you can, I was able to find a couple of options on Viator that were reasonably-priced. You really only “need” about hour to see the greatest hits, but more time would certainly be well-spent.
The Gardens at Villa Melzi
There are a number of estates to visit in this area, almost too many to count! Another blog I’d read prior did a good job of breaking it down. We chose to visit the gardens of Villa Melzi, which can be easily reached on foot from Bellagio town center. It’s a picturesque botanical garden with statues, lakeside paths, and a private villa on the grounds. The views of the mountains are spectacular.
Villa Melzi’s gardens are a fairly quick visit with long-lasting views, so I’d recommend working this in if you are spending time in Bellagio city center.
Lake Como was something I’d always wanted to see, and I feel fortunate we were able to experience what we did here. Next up: more from our last two stops in Italy!
Cheers!
xx—BB
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