Katherine & Nicholas
Things to Do
Explore the lake by private boat
You can explore the lake on your own by renting a boat from Hotel Villa Aurora. Traveler tip: If you rent a boat, visit the picturesque town of Nesso and see if you can spot the waterfall. Past Nesso, head a bit further down the lake towards Como and see if you can spot George Clooney’s villa in Laglio! If you want a place to anchor the boat and go for a swim, then we suggest stopping on the inner side of Isola Comacina. Boat reservations required.
Explore Lake Como's finest villas
Lake Como is home to some of the most beautiful Italian villas, each with its own charm. Click below for some of Lake Como's famous villas to see.
Hike the mountains of Lake Como
Lake Como has more to offer than the lake itself. For those of you who are adventurous, hike to San Martino, a small church nestled in the cliffside of Cadenabbia, or to the castle in Varenna, or just take your pick from the many trails to choose from. Be careful and please don't get lost or injured before the wedding ;). Click below for some of Lake Como's hiking trails and walks.
Fancy a Beach Club
There are also beach clubs you can visit such as Lido di Bellagio, which is a beach day club that turns into a night club on Friday and Saturday nights during the summer. http://www.lidodibellagio.com Beach Bar is casual and more local if you are staying near Torno. https://goo.gl/maps/9B6y7N8U8oyDuNQY7 Riverside SnackBar is very casual and located near Bellagio's public beach. https://goo.gl/maps/ej7M3Zjy5fY1WL2n8
Lezzeno
Lezzeno is Kathy's 2nd home. It is a small town located near the center of the lake, about a 15-min drive from Bellagio. Hotel Villa Aurora has one of the best lakeside restaurants, however, there are a few other restaurants in town as well. Just a 15-min walk away are Ittiturismo da Abate and Crotto del Misto. There is also Osteria il Governo 1801 nearby or Ristorante Filo located in the Filario hotel. If you have a car, we would highly recommend Ristorante Rifugio Martina up in the mountains of Lezzeno--they are known for their polenta! Most of our time in Lezzeno is spent on the water sunbathing and wakeboarding at Aurora, but there are a few hiking trails nearby as well.
Bellagio
Bellagio is the pearl of the lake. There are plenty of restaurants, bars, and shops to explore--just get lost in the streets. You can dine at the Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni, one of Lake Como’s famous 5-star hotels, or keep it casual at one of our favorite pizza places Ristoro Forme e Gusto Pizzeria-Ristorante or the terrace above at Ristorante Terazza Barchetta. If you're looking for a casual, hidden wine bar run by a friend and his family, visit Angolo di Vino Enoteca & Wine Bar. How to get there: Take the C30 Bellagio bus from Hotel Aurora. The ride is about 15-mins. If you have a car, there is street parking in Bellagio. Traveler tip: you will often have to go through Bellagio to get to the other towns across the lake. Plan to take the ferry to towns located in the center of the lake, such as Tremezzo, Varenna, Cadenabbia, and Menaggio. You'll typically have some time to explore Bellagio while you wait for the ferry or bus.
Lenno
Lenno is home to one of the most famous and beautiful villas on Lake Como, Villa Balbianello. You may recall the villa from Star Wars or even Oceans 12. After seeing the famous villa, take a stroll through the small town and have some gelato while you wait for the ferry to take you to your next destination. How to get there: From Lezzeno, take the ferry to Lenno and then you can take a water taxi from Lenno to Villa Balbianello. Traveler tip: The best olive oil on the lake is produced in Lenno at Vanini Olive Oil Factory. Most restaurants will have this olive oil but they don’t sell it anywhere else in the world. We always bring bottles back! The olive oil can be purchased directly at the factory in Lenno or at the market in Bellagio.
Tremezzo
Tremezzo is located on the western side of Lake Como and most known for the beautiful Villa Carlotta and the famous 5-star luxurious Grand Tremezzo Hotel. While there, have lunch, aperitifs, or spend the afternoon at the spa. How to get there: From Lezzeno, you can take the C30 Bellagio bus to Bellagio and then catch the ferry to Tremezzo. You may also be able to take the ferry from Lezzeno to Tremezzo as well.
Varenna
Varenna is one of our favorite towns on Lake Como as it is very picturesque. If you're up for some exercise, hike up to Castello di Vezio! There are two ways to get there: one starts on the left of town and has paved steps. The other is via a back road which is more of a trail hike that starts on the right side of town. There are many restaurants in Varenna but our recommendation would be Hotel Villa Cipressi as it has a beautiful garden setting for lunch. Reservations recommended. How to get there: Take the ferry from Bellagio.
Como
Como is the main town on Lake Como--it is where you will arrive by train or drive through by car from Milan. You can stay a night here before heading to Lezzeno or tack it onto the end of your stay. Or, just make a day out of it if you are staying in Lezzeno. Shopping is best in Como as there are more shops compared to in Bellagio. It is also a very charming town if you allow yourself to get lost in the streets. Note, Como is a 40-min bus ride from Lezzeno on the C30 Como bus.
Lecco
Located on the southern tip of Lake Como is Lecco. Nestled in front of the dramatic mountain side, Lecco is less touristy but you’ll find many great restaurants and Medieval and Baroque architecture to explore! How to get there: If you have a car, it is best to drive as it is quite far. If not, you can take the bus from Bellagio.