Elizabeth & Nathaniel
Things To Do
Isola Comacina
Isola Comacina is a small island on Lake Como with beautiful water front views. Enjoy your Italian lunch or dinner on the water.
Hotel Villa Cipressi
The botanical gardens are fantastic and extensive, not mention the beautiful hotel. The Botanic Gardens are a part of the Hotel Villa Cipressi, a wonderful building on the lake which was built in the 1400s. The gardens are open to the public, whereas the rest of the building belongs to the hotel and its restaurant. The Botanic Garden is a century-old beauty which touches the lake and features several plants and flowers which nature lovers will adore. It is located on different tiers which overlook the waters in sublime ways.
Enoteca La Principessa
This winery is located in Bellagio, where the lake divides into its two branches. The proprietor is very knowledgeable and friendly and will guide guests through his wide selection of great local wines. It is also possible to purchase wines and have them shipped home, even if you live in the US. Definitely worth a stop if you fancy sampling one of Lombardy’s most famous exports.
Museo Moto Guzzi
This museum is certainly appealing to those who have a passion for motorcycles and engines in general. It will take guests through various periods of history and illustrate the development of engines and motorcycles by displaying vehicles from different epochs. Admission is free-of-charge and its location makes it an easy stop-off while touring through the various villages on the lake. Not to be missed if you want to find out more about Italian motorcycles.
Boat Ride on Lake Como
Private Lake Como tours are a must do on your trip. You are able to take the ferries that go in-between the cities, or group tours or a the private one list in the website. Grab your friends and go boating in a polished wood boat! Great Instagram photo-op.
Cattedrale di Como
This beautiful cathedral is something every tourist in the area should visit. Whether you are spending your holidays on Lake Como or visiting Milan, this Duomo is one of the best cathedrals you can see in Lombardy. Admissions are free-of-charge and the outside of the building creates expectations which the inside will meet. The last of the Gothic cathedrals built in Lombardy, Il Duomo di Como took three and half centuries to finish, meaning that it is a unique mix of different architectural styles, with contributions from a number of architects and artists. The inside is filled with art, including 16th century tapestries, paintings, frescoes and sculptures. If a visit is not enough, tourists are more than welcome to sit at the tables of the restaurants and bars in the square in front of the Duomo, in order to enjoy the delightful view and etch it into memory.
Villa Carlotta
Prussian princess, Carlotta, received the villa as a wedding gift from her mother in 1847. Today, Villa Carlotta is open to wander amongst the botanic gardens and visit the princess’s former home. Famous for the rhododendrons and azaleas that bloom in spring, Villa Carlotta’s gardens include: giant sequoia and Cyprus trees, a Japanese garden, tropical plants and a beautifully tranquil fern valley. The villa itself is furnished with period furniture and serves as a gallery, hosting art exhibitions and musical events. Villa Carlotta is open every day from mid-March to late October. It is easily reached on foot from the ferry landing dock at Tremezzo.
Shop til You Drop!!!
There are tons of small boutique stores in every town (Menaggio, Varenna, Bellagio & Como) featuring Italian silk (dresses, ties & pocket squares which we brought last time) to kitchen items, souvenirs to arts & crafts. Every town has it own personality and stores- just bring Euros and credit cards (a lot of the vendors don't like American Express due to the fees). Remember VAT rebate if you purchase over 155 Euros per store, you can purchase multiple times and have them combine them to receive it back. We use our credit cards for purchases whenever possible for the best exchange rates-make sure that you have a credit card without any foreign transactions fees to save money, just call them prior to leaving.
Visit the City of Como
You can visit the mail city of Como at the bottom of the lake for a full day exploring its' streets and stores with history and architecture abundantly in view. Great little restaurants to experience, seeing ancient Roman Como and/or purchasing silk since Como is the heart of the silk industry in Italy are just a few of the many things to visit.
Visit Switzerland for a Day Trip.
What a great day trip, head to north of lake to take the train to St. Moritz or visit the Matterhorn. Start early by rail to Switzerland through the Simplon Tunnel to Brig and then to Zermatt to see the Matterhorn and possibly to try some glacier skiing. Or drive via Domodossola west of Pontegrande and Pecetto to see views of the Matterhorn and Monte Rosa from the Italian side. Take a lift up the mountain for viewing and hiking. This is a great activity for a hot, clear day. Bring a sweater and your passport to cross over the Swiss border!
Lunch in Lake Orta
Take a half-day trip to Lago Orta with lunch lakeside in Orta San Giulio. This lake has its own unique attractions, one that you will long remember.
Day Trip to Lake Maggorie & Boat Trip to the Borromean Islands
Lake Maggiore has it own charms. The gardens at Isola Bella are beyond comparison, we were awed by the Villa as well as the well manicured gardens. Then you take a short boat ride & eat at Isola Pescora, the neighboring island and spend a lesiurely time enjoying the boats go by.
FoxTown Outlet Shopping
Shop at the designer outlets between Lake Como and Lake Maggiore, just over the border into Switzerland (Foxtown). Return to Como, stopping along the way at some the shoe outlets and finally in and around Como for silk, for which Como is famous. Remember to save on VAT tax and bring several credit cards as well as your paasport to cross over the Swiss border.
Italian Cooking Classes in Lake Como
Improve your culinary skills with Italian chefs teaching a variety of culinary delights! Impress your friends back home with your new pasta techniques.
Visit Milan
What a fantastic place to visit with the impressive Duomo (Milan's cathedral) towering over the main square with rooftop tours as well as visiting Leonardo deVinici famous "Last Supper", make sure and purchase no wait in line to maximize your trip. Visit the fashion district which Milan is undoubtedly called Italy’s fashion capital which is located in the so-called central "Quadrilateral" area that the major national and global luxury brands have established their businesses over the years
Water Sports
There are mutiple water sports from kayaking, rowing to fishing to fill your time on the picturesque Lake Como. The varied landscape of Lake Como and the surrounding region offers itself to extreme sports. For those who want to try something different and test their skills, there are companies such as Lake Como Adventures that offer a range of sports and outdoor pursuits. Something fun to add to your list is sailing. Contrary to popular belief, sailing is for everyone! If you can drive a car and walk – you can sail. Excursions last from from 5 hours onward. Lake Como Adventures in particular offers the activity called canyoning – this involves abseiling, jumping and sliding through a series of canyons and cliffs to reach the ground or water below. This is a really fun way to explore Lake Como and you can find some truly stunning settings such as the canyons at Porlezza and Lenno. I am sure you will see Nate on the lake doing some water sport!
Take the Funicular
The Como to Brunate funicular, inaugurated in 1894, is still the fastest way to travel between the two towns, but with the breath-taking views across the Lake, you’ll probably wish the journey would never end. It is located in the town of Como.
Olive Oil Tasting
Sample shots of world famous olive oil before you buy at the Vanini Osvaldo oil press in Lenno. You will also find other products made from the oil, including soaps, shampoos and creams for sale in this small family-run factory that was established in 1850
Villa Serbelloni
When visiting Bellagio, you cannot miss out on the spectacular Villa Serbelloni. This villa is one of the many historical complexes situated on Lake Como that once served as a lavish retreat for the Sfondrati Family during the 16th century. It is easy to see why this villa was constructed in this location – at the top of the promontory that the town of Bellagio sits; this complex has amazing views of Lake Como and of the Alps in the far distance. Although the villa is not open to the public, the expansive gardens are and guided tours are available – these Italian gardens feature a number of different enclosures including a Rose garden and several beautiful wooded areas.
Rock Climbing
The mountainous region of Lake Como has many opportunities for rock climbing and has a myriad of fantastic routes for all levels of skill from beginners to experts. Companies such as Lake Como Adventures provide rock climbing trips from a simple afternoon exploring the likes of Grimsel and Furkapass. You can climb on a range of different surface such as granite and limestone and explore some truly stunning parts of Lake Como.
Nesso
Zip across the lake in a handcrafted mahogany Riva boat and admire remote villages and gorgeous lakefront villas that are often not visible from the road. Your captain doubles as a guide, pointing out sights of interest along the way. Ask your captain to stop off at Nesso, a fairy-tale town on the eastern side of the lake where a steep waterfall rushes through a gorge before tumbling into the lake.
Castello di Vezio
Castello di Vezio is a castle located nearby Varenna and Perledo, northern Italy. Characterized in the main tower by square merlons, similar to Cly Castle in Aosta Valley, it commands the Lake Como. It was once connected by walls to the village of Varenna below. Ruins of Castello di Vezio are above the village of Varenna overlooking Lake Como The castle was built in the late 11th-early 12th century and was restored several times in the following centuries. In the late 19th century and in 1956 remains of tombs from the Iron Age, as well as weapons and armors were found in the area. The Castle had dungeons built during the First World War, as part of the defensive line planned by General Luigi Cadorna, Chief of Staff of the Italian army, to halt any German invasion southward from Switzerland. It currently houses gardens and a group of birds of prey, raised by a local falconer. Great place to explore-take a taxi fro Varenna to save time!