Having just spent two weeks at our cottage in Saskatchewan, I still feel I’m in lake mode despite returning to the city. Thus, I thought I would write about Italy’s stunning Lake Como, which is conveniently located not far from Milan. Think gorgeous villas, shimmering azure waters, verdant mountains, and a more relaxed lifestyle than you would find in the city. What more could anyone ask for? While living in Bilbao, I took advantage of the direct flights to Milan to meet a friend and visit Lake Como. It had been on my Italian bucket list for years. The region did not disappoint, though my photographs certainly did. Here are my favourite places from my summer Lake Como getaway.
Brunate
Using the village of Como as a base to explore the lake, on our first evening we took the quaint purple funicular up the mountain to visit the village of Brunate, positioned high above and offering excellent views of the surrounding countryside. Brunate can easily be explored on foot. We obtained a tourist map and set off, searching for a fountain listed as one of the sites of interest. The fountain itself was a disappointment – more of a trickle of water dribbling out of a rock wall, but what we found next certainly made up for the effort invested. Just beyond the fountain is a small café and B&B called Il balcone sul lago (the balcony over the lake) that I highly recommend. Not only are the hosts lovely, the food and drinks inexpensive and excellent, but the terrace offers a delightful view over Lake Como, allowing you to enjoy your meal as the sun sets in the distance. I certainly enjoyed an Aperol spritz followed by a Campari soda to accompany a delicious fettuccini ai funghi, caprese salad, and profiteroles as the light faded. There’s certainly no reason to rush while visiting Lake Como.
Hop-on Hop-off boats
Though you can explore Lake Como by car, my preference is to opt for one of the many boats that connect the villages spread out along the shore. The slower boat (better for photographing the landscape) is called a motorship and stops at most of the villages. This provides you the opportunity to relax on the boat and get off at whichever villages you wish. Depending on how many stops you plan to make, you may want to purchase a day pass for the motorship.
Although the motorship does not offer a guided tour, you still have the opportunity to see familiar villas – like Villa Balbianello and Villa La Gaeta seen in the James Bond film Casino Royale. In fact, you can even stay at the neo-medieval Villa La Gaeta, as it is offered on Airbnb.
The motorship really offers the best vantage point from which to explore Lake Como and truly appreciate its charm and tranquility.
Bellagio
Bellagio is one of the best known towns on Lake Como and offers plenty of shopping and dining options for visitors. It has a lovely tree-lined walking path with fabulous pink and white blossoms in the summer. As we wandered around the village, we noticed quite a few artists had set up their easels in order to capture the iconic Lake Como location. We found ourselves at the historic Bar Rossi, conveniently located near the ferry stop, for a mid-morning snack. I enjoyed a great affogato and a surprisingly delicious blueberry muffin before hopping back on the motorship. To make your own affogato at home, see my post on iced coffees.
Varenna
Of all the Lake Como villages we visited, my favourite by far was Varenna. The colourful houses and quaint church make it postcard perfect as you breeze past it on the motorship. In Varenna you can visit the Villa Monastero, an example of architectural eclecticism, and its botanical garden. We spent some time wandering through the garden and enjoying the views from the villa.
Menaggio
Menaggio is another village in the central area of Lake Como. Though it is very pretty, if you are tight for time, I preferred Bellagio and Varenna to Menaggio. However, if you are not rushed, it is always nice to see more of Lake Como. We finally stopped for lunch at Caffé Centrale Menaggio where we enjoyed more caprese salad and fettuccini ai funghi (might as well repeat my favourite dishes). The lake views from the restaurant only added to the overall ambiance of the classic décor. After lunch, we explored the town, which offered shopping and gelato options along the peaceful pedestrian streets.
Como
Como is a great jumping off point for exploring Lake Como, whether by car or boat, as it is the most southerly town on the lake and it is a bit larger, offering more amenities. In Como, I recommend a meal at one of the oldest restaurants in the town, Ristorante Sociale, opened in 1813. At this point, you shouldn’t be surprised that we had tagliatelle ai funghi, which was excellent, but we did mix things up a little with a gnocchi in butter and sage. We finished the meal with a nice tiramisu.
Lake Como
Lake Como is a wonderful option for a summer getaway in Italy. It’s a refreshing reprieve from the bustle of Milan, as you ease yourself into a relaxed lakeside way of life. The only downside I can think of is that this is not really a lake in which you swim. If swimming is a must on your summer holiday, you may want to ensure that your hotel has a pool. Otherwise, enjoy Lake Como, its food, its views, and its always aesthetically appealing villages! Not feeling that Lake Como is your ideal Italian vacation destination? Read up on Cinque Terre here: there are plenty of swimming options on the coast.
So want to return and stay for months, years. You gave a beautiful overview.
A few months escape in a villa sounds great!