This is my idea of a paradise. I would be happy to spend a couple of weeks here, moving from one town to another, getting up into the mountains to enjoy the view, then getting back down to feel the freshness of the lake. In the evenings classical music is playing on the streets and you get a feeling that the time stopped here around a 100 years ago. Sometimes, this feeling also goes for the quality of services at certain places. But it doesn’t bother you too much in Italy where you hear «Bellissimo!» from shop managers when buying a hat. Truly Bellissimo!
Visited on 17-Nov-2018
I took a train from Milan to Como and reached in 1 hr at Euro 4.80. The walk from the railway station to Lake Como is about 1.2 kms and is through a picturesque locale downhill from the station and through the town square. This walk can be enjoyed by by all but might be a challenge for the senior citizens ( you can take taxi from the station to the Lake).
Once in the Lake there is happiness in the air. One can feel it and see the happy people around. the beauty of the place might not be as spectacular as photos but the place itself has the aura and ambience to make you relax and just be you.
Music, food, shopping , funicular ride and ferry ride are some of the activities that you can do apart from just sitting, walking and feeling relaxed.
If you get a chance please visit this place. Very accessible from Milan.
Lago di Como is a wonderful destination. It's a large lake surrounded by picturesque villages and along the lakeside, beautiful Italian architecture from villas to pallazzos to architectural detail that's you'd find only in Italy. Taking a boat-ride from Como or Cernobbio to Bellagio on a sunny day takes between 2 hours from Como, or 1.5 hours from Cernobbio and you'll spend that time being utterly entertained looking at the scenery which includes the pre-Alps along with all the rest. It's stunning and the time will go by so quickly. Bellagio is a pleasant, aesthetically-gifted town with cafes, restaurants, bars and shopping. A few hours of walking the town and a lunch there is a great day. From Bellagio, a short boat-ride to Varenna will bring you to that jewel of an Italian village. A small entrance fee will bring you into what HAS to be one of them most beautiful places in the world. No kidding and no exaggeration...Villa Monestero. These things I just mentioned are a few of the highlights of Lago di Como. There are plenty of villages worth taking a walk through...no shortage of good restaurants...wines...aperitifs...All that good Italian stuff!
We did this as a day trip from Milan and .enjoyed it thoroughly. The cruise on the lake was excellent as it was close enough to the shore to get a good view of the villas on the route from Como to Bellagio. Because the lake is long and narrow the banks are always fairly close and the water is rarely rough. I would not bother returning to Bellagio which is a typical tourist trap full of cheap souvenir shops and very little to do. The lake itself is divinely beautiful and I would highly recommend a ferry trip to anyone visiting this part of Italy.
Quite simply, a must.
Travelling to Lake Como is easy enough from Milan.
Trains run frequently from Milan
If you intend to take a ferry trip on the lake using the state run ferry the easier way to find the right terminal is travel to Como Lago station.
From there when you come out of the station walk towards the Lake and turn left the state run ferry office is just a few mins walk away you won't miss it.
We took the slow ferry to Bellagio which take approx 2 hours 15 mins, it does zig zag across the lake to pick up passengers, but its worth it to take in some gorgeous scenery.
However there are various options and small towns on the lake to visit but remember the lake is huge so when planning a day trip decide where want to go
