Lake Como seen by Yann Arthus-Bertrand (YouTube link)
Lake Como⭐⭐⭐ is one of the most beautiful and popular tourist destinations in Italy. It is known for its stunning scenery, charming villages, and luxurious villas.
Lake Como: A Jewel of Northern Italy
Lake Como is one of the most beautiful and popular tourist destinations in Italy. The lake is located in northern Italy, about an hour's drive from Milan. It is surrounded by picturesque mountains and forests, and its waters are crystal clear.
The best months to visit Lake Como are mid-April-May and mid-September to mid-October.[13] That's when everything is open, the weather is mild, and it's not too busy.
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| View an interactive version of Google MyMaps here |
6 Charming Lakeside Villages
Lake Como is a great place to visit for a relaxing vacation or a romantic getaway. Among the many noted lakeside resorts are:
- Como
- Commo is famous for its beautiful lake, its elegant villas, and its steep cobbled streets. It is also known for its silk production, which has been going on for centuries.
- Lecco
- Lecco is one of the most beautiful lakes in Italy. The city has a long history dating back to the Roman era.
- Bellagio
- The most visited town in Lake Como, Italy is Bellagio. It is known as the "Pearl of Lake Como" for its beautiful location on the promontory that divides the two southern branches of the lake.
- Tremezzo
- Tremezzo is home to the Villa Carlotta botanical gardens, which are one of the most popular tourist attractions in the area. The gardens are home to a variety of plants and flowers from all over the world. Tremezzo is also a popular destination for weddings and honeymoons. The town's beautiful scenery and its elegant villas make it a perfect setting for a special occasion.
- Menaggio
- Menaggio is famous for its beautiful location on Lake Como, its charming old town center, and its proximity to the Swiss Alps. It is a popular destination for hiking, biking, and water sports.
- Varenna
- Varenna is home to the Villa Monastero botanical gardens, which were created in the 18th century and are home to a variety of plants and flowers from all over the world. Varenna is also famous for its beautiful location on Lake Como, its charming old town center. It is also a popular destination for hiking and boat rides.
3:36 9. Villa Carlotta
4:37 8. Tremezzo
6:00 7. Lenno
8:32 6. Menaggio
11:10 5. Villa Monastero
12:36 4. Villa Melzi
14:26 3. Varenna
16:28 2. Villa del Balbianello
20:12 1. Bellagio
5 Spectacular Gardens
Lush foliage and brilliant flowers frame views across the lake to peaks that stay snow-capped well into summer. The shore rises steeply, so gardens cascade above the water, and descend in terraces decorated by statues and fountains.
Here are the 5 spectacular gardens:
- Villa Carlotta (
) - The villa is located at the top of a terraced garden, from which there are views of Bellagio and also the mountains surrounding the lake. It consists of three floors (two of which are open to the public). The works of art on display are mainly located on the lower floor, while the upper one, which has an elegant gallery, provides views over the lake.
- Villa Balbianello ()
- A number of feature films have used the villa for location shooting, including A Month by the Lake (1995), His Demise (2016), Casino Royale (2006).
- In the center of Lenno, you can find the Chiesa Santo Stefano, a beautiful church with an impressive underground crypt. Be sure to check it out when you're in town!
- Villa Serbelloni
- The Parco di Villa Serbelloni is a stunning 50-acre natural park that covers almost the entire promontory of Bellagio. From the park, you can enjoy breathtaking views of Bellagio and discover the fascinating history of this almost magical place.
- Guided Tour of Park Villa Serbelloni (EUR10,00)
- Villa Melzi d’Eril
- The gardens of Villa Melzi d’Eril were designed in 1808 in an open and uncluttered style, with only occasional statues to decorate the landscape. Hidden among the trees are a Japanese garden and a water garden. A Moorish-style pavilion overlooks the lake, surrounded by cypresses, Michoacan pine trees (Pinus devoniana), and dwarf palms (Chamaerops humilis).
- Villa Monastero ()
- Villa Monastero is famous for its beautiful botanical garden, which is home to over 800 different species of plants from all over the world.
- The garden is divided into different sections, each with its own unique theme. There is a rose garden, a Japanese garden, an alpine garden, and a Mediterranean garden. There is also a section of the garden dedicated to medicinal plants.
- The villa itself is also worth seeing. It is a beautiful example of Italian architecture, with a mix of Gothic and Renaissance elements. The villa was built in the 12th century, and it has been owned by a number of different families over the years.
- Today, Villa Monastero is a public park and museum. It is open to the public from April to October.
are recommended to be booked in advance. |
| Source: Bellagio Lake Como |
Getting There
The easiest way to get to Lake Como is by train from Milan. The ride is only 40 minutes from Milano Centrale station to Como San Giovanni station, right in the center of the town of Como.
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| Ferry service timetable downloaded from Navigazione Laghi for weekdays (06/05/2023 - 11/05/2023) |
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| Type of Ferry rides offered by Navigazione Laghi |
Ferry Services
This is especially the case in places like Bellagio or Varenna, but also Como town. So if you don't want to waste lots of precious time queuing, try to get your ferry tickets in advance.
There are several ferry service companies in Lake Como:
- Navigazione Laghi
- This is the largest ferry company in Lake Como, and it offers a wide range of services, including regular ferries, hydrofoils, and private charters.
- Ferry Timetable download links (valid until Nov 2023):
- Weekdays
- Weekend
- In the event of a strike, the scheduled strike, in any case, will respect the agreed time slots which for Navigazione Lago di Como are from 6.00 to 9.00 and from 17.55 to 20.55, guaranteeing essential services in these slots.
- Passenger vs Vehicle
- Ferries that allow the transport of vehicles only operate between the towns of Bellagio, Varenna, Menaggio, and Cadenabbia.
- In the Navigazione Laghi search form, these piers are characterized by the word "Traghetto" (e.g., Bellagio "Traghetto").
- Others
References
- Best Towns of Lake Como (Google My Maps)
- Lake Como best towns to visit (good)
- Lake Cuomo tours
- EBike self guided tour from Menaggio (TripAdvisor.com)
- Lake Como Tourism
- This website offers updated contents and news to share, also by comments and reviews. Visitors can find all the useful information for a perfect holiday on Lake Como: sites of interest and itineraries, events and information about hospitality, transports, restaurants and shops.
- 5 spectacular gardens on Italy's Lake Como
- Navigation on Maggiore, Garda and Como lakes (Ferry service)
- ASF Autolinee (Bus Service; network pdf download; timetable download)
- C 12 Menaggio - Porlezza - Lugano (Bus Service; pdf download)
- Italy public holidays 2023
- Italy Travel—Italy’s Train System
- Trenitalia app (Google Play / Apple Store)
- Traveling to Lake Como for the first time (tips & info for your visit)
- visitcomo.eu
- Menaggio Water Taxi
- Menaggio 14 days weather
- Lake Villas for weddings in Italy
- Villa Erba, Lake Como
- Villa Sola Cabiati, Lake Como
- Villa Il Balbiano, Lake Como
- Villa Pizzo, Lake Como
- Villa del Balbianello, Lake Como
- Villa d'Este, Lake Como
- Mandarin Oriental, Lake Como
- Villa Giuseppina, Lake Como
- Villa Pliniana, Lake Como
- Grand Hotel Tremezzo, Lake Como
- Villa Regina Teodolinda, Lake Como
- Villa Crespi, Lake Orta
- Isola del Garda, Lake Garda
- Villa del Sogno, Lake Garda
- Grand Hotel des Iles Borromees, Lake Maggiore
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