2 Most Romantic Towns On Lake Como
Lake Como is located at the foot of the Alps. The perimeter is scattered with charming towns and towering mountains. This is how we recommend your time here.
Where to stay?
We highly recommend you stay at Relais Villa Vittoria. It is a 5-star boutique hotel in Laglio, on the edge of Lake Como. It must be a good spot as George Clooney’s Holiday Residence is nearby. We got a great last-minute deal through their website. As we booked through their website we got a complimentary bottle of Prosecco which we enjoyed next to the lakeside pool.
At times we felt as though we were the only people staying there and we had a very relaxing time. The hotel has a pier and you can arrange for a boat to pick you up.
We had a lovely dinner on the balcony of the hotel restaurant with a spectacular view. We also had complimentary breakfast on this balcony.
How to get around?
There’s not much to do in Laglio but other larger towns are not too far away by car or boat. It is much cheaper to stay at a hotel away from the popular tourist towns. Villa Vittoria is only a 20-minute drive from Menaggio. We parked the car here and explored the most popular towns Menaggio, Verano and Bellagio. 1 day is enough time for these towns as they are small and everything is within walking distance.
The ferry is the best way to travel between these towns as they are so close together. The ferries are very frequent, departing at least once an hour. It costs €4.60 per person per trip or €15 for a day ticket. We got stunning views of each town as we arrived and left on the ferry.
Varenna
We got the 5-minute ferry across the lake to Varenna. From the ferry, we turned right and walked along the lovely walkway. Most of the path had a photogenic red handrail. On the other side were beautiful flowers and trees overhanging the path.
The path led us through arcaded walkways to the little lake harbour with colourful houses. Here there is a little stone beach sloping into the water. This is the busiest place at Varenna.
We continued on, walking through the peaceful narrow alleyways. We found a path called ‘Walk Of Lovers’ and followed it down to the water's edge where we had a view of Villa Monastero and mountains across the lake. At the end of the path stood a large wooden door. It was an amazing spot for photographs.
We walked up the cobbled alleyway to Piazza San Giorgio (town centre). Our favourite town on Lake Como was Varenna because of the picturesque views and charming town.
Bellagio
We got the 8-minute ferry across to Bellagio. From the ferry, we turned right and walked through the park on the waterfront. We found a photogenic staircase leading down to the water with a good viewpoint of Bellagio Town.
The path led us to I Giardino Di Villa Melzi. We paid €6.50 each to enter. Just after the entrance, there is a beautiful Moorish pavilion with 4 sculptures inside. The variety of vibrant plant life is incredible.
We walked back along the water's edge to Bellagio’s most iconic street in the town centre, Salita Serbelonni. This steep alleyway is interesting because of the cobblestoned steps, plants, architecture and colourful shops/restaurants.
We hope this blog helped you with your planning. If you have any questions, don't be afraid to ask!