The ultimate Italian Dolce Vita at Lake Como

Lake Como is about exquisite beauty, poetry and romanticism. It is a place you will fall in love with and a place to falling in love again.

Located just below the Southern border of Switzerland, Lake Como is among the most beautiful lakes in the Northern Italy, together with Lake Garda, Lake Maggiore or Lake Iseo.
The mysterious mountains surrounding the lake, the floating boats and the luxurious old villas makes it an ultimate escape to The Italian Dolce Vita.

Over the years, I had the chance to visit Lake Como several times, and I keep coming back since I still find it outstandingly charming.

Getting to Lake Como

Getting to Lake Como is pretty simple. Located close to Milan (Italy) and Lugano (Switzerland), beside the car, Lake Como is the only lake in the Northern Italy easily accessible by public transportation.

For instance, you can get to Varenna directly by train from Milano Centrale. The train ride usually takes approximately 1 hour, then you will reach the center of Varenna in about 15 minutes walk. This accessibility makes Varenna also a good option for a day trip from Milan or Lugano.

Where to stay

Lake Como is the epitome of La Dolce Vita. Home of the most exquisite hotels, luxury and sophistication, there you will find some of the most outstanding hotels and villas in Italy.

Though, I found as well boutique hotels and traditional guesthouses offering not only an affordable alternative, but a very pleasant stay to fully enjoy Lake Como. In Menaggio or Bellagio, which are larger towns, you will find pretty many accommodation options.

The picturesque Varenna has always fascinated me, so I decided, if I ever went back to Lake Como, I would love to stay there. And I did.

We stayed at this small guest house in Varenna, offering the best view over the mountains and lake. The location was perfect too: just a short walk distance to any attraction in Varenna.

Discover the best hotels in Lake Como with a simple search:

Being incredible small, Varenna is that place where you can casually go to the beach taking some dips into the water, then put a nice dress and going to a fancy drink along-side the lake, or even go and visit Villa Monastero or Villa Cipressi.

Beside the picturesque surroundings, there are few more reasons I have chosen Varenna as base town:

• Varenna can be reach by train from Milano Centrale, being an amazing destination for solo travelers or for those who travel without a car.
• The town is well connected to other towns by ferry.
• Being a very small town, the ferry station, the train station, the beach, the restaurants and the top attractions are located at a short walk distance one from another.
• The mornings in Varenna can be pretty pleasant, since many tourists visit it as a day trip and usually they arrive a bit later.

The most popular towns alongside Lake Como:

The most popular towns, Varenna, Bellagio and Menaggio, are also located relatively close to each other, being well-connected by ferry and offering some of the best options for food, drinks and accommodation.

What I have always loved at Lake Como is that the most beautiful towns are pretty accessible by ferry and the public transportation is very well organized, so you will not depend all by your car. Especially since there parking is not easy to find and can be a bit pricey in some places.
I am listing below, in order of my preferences, the most popular towns alongside Lake Como:

• Varenna
• Bellagio
• Nesso
• Lecco
• Menaggio
• Como

Lake Como, best attractions and the most beautiful villas

The grandeur of Lake Como is given by the classic Italian-style villas, inviting you to go back in time and experience the exquisite part of Italian Dolce Vita.

A visit to Lake Como would not be complete without experiencing its exquisite side, by visiting one of the villas which are opened to the public.
Below I am listing the most beautiful villas and best attractions around Lake Como:

• Villa Monastero and Villa Cipressi, both located in Varenna at a short walking distance one from the other.
• Castello di Vezio, also located Varenna. Climbing up the hill by following the trail from the opposite Villa Monastero, you will reach Castello di Vezio and a sublime panoramic view over the lake and Varenna.
• Nesso Gorge (Orrido di Nesso) is a calm and picturesque place, a natural wonder located in Nesso town.
• Villa Serbeloni and Villa Melzi, both located in Bellagio
• Villa del Balbianello and Villa Carlotta, both located in Tremezzina, near Menaggio.

Best ways to enjoy the ultimate Italian Dolce Vita at Lake Como

• Renting a private boat is among the best things to do in Lake Como. You can visit the old villas and the best attractions by boat, this giving a unique perspective about Lake Como.
• Get lost in the infinitely romantic garden of Villa Monastero and wait until the sunset.
• Enjoy the beach.
• Eat the local and hand-made ice-cream. I found my favorite gelato store, Gelateria Riva in Varenna.
• Book a table at Bar Mono, Varenna to enjoy a meal with the most picturesque view.
• Watching the sunset, while enjoying an Aperol in two.