Alyssa & William
Things To Do
Visit Other Spots in Italy!
If you plan on staying in Italy, there are multiple wonderful vacation spots around Lake Como you could visit to extend your trip! As you will most likely be flying into Milan, consider spending a few days exploring this historic and fashionable city! Swing by the Piazza del Duomo, visit da Vinci's Last Supper, and sip some espresso at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery! From Milan, Venice is only a few hours. You could consider doing a day trip to Parma to sample Italy's most famous cheese. The villages of Cinque Terra are also a great option - one of my favorite spots I have ever visited! The Piedmont region of Italy is also close to Lake Como. Piedmont is known for it's world famous wine like Barolo (which also happens to be Will's favorite wine!), Barbaresco, Barbera, and Moscato d'Asti. A few days in this area would be spent wine tasting, enjoying Piedmontese food, relaxing at an agristurismo, or exploring incredible medieval villages.
Hike the Castello di Vezio in Varenna
Will and I hiked up to this castle from the lakefront! Apparently, there are two hiking paths that lead to the castle: a steep, faster path and a gradual, slower path (the Sentiero Del Viandante trail). If I'm being perfectly honest, I'm not sure which one we ended up on because frankly it felt like the steeper AND slower path. We used Google Maps and followed where it told us to go! But the link below from TripAdvisor will certainly help you more! I'd recommend wearing sneakers or sturdier shoes - not sandals or heels. You will definitely need them! Bring water! Once you get there, the castle has incredible views overlooking the lake. It's a beautiful spot, and the history of the castle is very cool. You can pick up an information sheet at the entrance to read all about it! I know they also do falconry shows at times, so try to check that out if you can! https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g14097840-d577165-r689394136-Castello_di_Vezio-Vezio_Perledo_Lake_Como_Lombardy.html
Take a Boat Tour on Lake Como
In our opinion, the best way to see Lake Como is by boat! The lake is much larger than it appears and taking a trip on a boat allows you to see a little bit of everything. When Will and I visited the first time, we did a tour of the southern portion of the lake including some popular villas and the waterfall at Nesso, but you can't go wrong no matter what you choose! The link we included (if you click "View" below) was for the tour company we used last time that leaves directly from Bellagio. However, if you want to take a trip from the city of Como, there should be options available as well!
Visit Villa del Balbianello
Villa del Balbianello is a grand, beautiful villa on Lake Como that we recommend our guests stop by! This elegant, romantic 18th century mansion and its magnificent garden have hosted writers, scholars and travelers, and was also featured in James Bond Casino Royale and the Star Wars franchise. A bit of advice: Will and I tried to take a ferry to a nearby town and walk the remainder of the trip to the villa. We got lost, walked for an hour, and overall, there are just better ways to proceed! Take a boat tour that stops at the villa specifically - you will thank us later for this!!!
Explore Bellagio
Bellagio is often referred to as the Pearl of Lake Como and is probably the most famous town in Lake Como! The town sits right in the middle of the lake where the two forks of the lake meet. Bellagio has beautiful villas, restaurants, shopping, and is a great spot to explore for a few hours. You can walk along the lake path, visit the Punta Spartivento (lookout spot on the lake), and visit the Basilica of San Giacomo. It's nice to get lost on the streets and enjoy the moment!
Take a Cooking Class
When Will and I were in Italy last year, we took a cooking class while we were in the Piedmont region, and it was one of our favorite experiences of the entire trip. Although we didn't take our class on Lake Como, we're sure that it would be just as spectacular. We recommend checking AirBnB for booking! There are often very personal experiences with small groups. What could be better than learning to make pasta in Italy!!!
Try Risotto e Perch
Whenever Will and I travel, we like to research the food that the local area is known for. And when I tell you that risotto e perch was a showstopper... I'll just leave it at that. Little did we know it would become a meal we still talk about all the time!!! The night Will and I arrived in Bellagio, it was pouring rain and we had been traveling most of that day. We found a small restaurant called Trattoria La Busciona, and by the time we got there, we were the only two in the place. Risotto e perch is exactly what it sounds like - risotto topped with the lake fish known as perch. The risotto is seasoned with - well I don't know, but it's amazing. And the perch is fried to perfection.
Visit the Waterfall in Nesso
Nesso is a small village along the banks of Lake Como. There is a beautiful waterfall that runs down the mountains and through the center of the village. You can see the waterfall either by boat if you take a tour of the lake or if you choose to visit the town itself. You can hike down to the lakefront and walk across the bridge for a first rate view.
Eat Gelato
Do we even need to say more here?! My favorite duo is pistachio and raspberry and Will's favorite is lemon and dark chocolate. But try every combo - you're in Italy, why not!
Visit Villa Carlotta
Although there are multiple beautiful villas on the lake (you can't go wrong with visiting any of them!), Villa Carlotta is known for its lovely gardens and grounds. It's worth stopping by if you have time to do a tour.
Take a Day Trip to Switzerland
The northern section of Italy borders a part of Switzerland. In fact, the Swiss town of Lugano is only a 40 minute drive from the city of Como! Lugano borders another beautiful lake, and due to its location, has a good amount of Italian influence. Will and I took a day trip here on our last trip and had the best carbonara of our lives. It's a fun day trip, and border control just let us drive through!
Rent your Own Boat for a Day
There are spots on the lake to rent boats by the hour. You can either take it out yourself or rent with a driver. We rented in Bellagio, but there should be other options depending on where you choose to stay. No boater licenses are required! If you've driven some sort of pontoon boat before, you are more than qualified. Grab some parmesan, prosciutto, and a bottle of red to wine to enjoy happy hour on the lake! The company we used is linked below!
Visit a Lido on the Lake
There are a few beach clubs along the lake with pools, restaurants, and bars. There is typically an entrance fee, and you can then rent sunbeds and lounge chairs in addition. We have linked the Lido di Cernobbio but there is also a facility in Bellagio you could visit! We weren't able to do this last time we were in Lake Como as we went in late September, but spending a nice relaxing day for this trip is on the agenda!
Take the Brunate Funicular
Another excursion is the funicular to the village of Brunate. The journey up the mountain lasts about 7 minutes on a track that has the maximum gradient allowed - 55%. The village of Brunate is situated approximately 700 metres above sea level and was a holiday destination for noble families from the Como and Milan areas. This is very close to Como as well!