Bellagio, Lake Como

The pearl in Lake Como's crystal waters, the most elegant of towns with breathtaking shoreline, alpine views and picturesque cobbled streets filled with boutique designer shopping

Bellagio is undoubtedly the jewel in Lake Como's crown. Situated on a peninsula to the south of the lake, it is surrounded by the waters of Lake Como, offering endless breathtaking vistas of this beautiful lake. The waterside is dotted with historical elegant villas and world-class waterside restaurants. Step further into this charming town and explore the endless lanes and cobbled walkways filled with shops, boutiques, and cafes. The breathtaking location, stunning vistas, and historic charm make romantic Bellagio a must on any trip to the Italian Lakes.

What to do

While away an hour, an afternoon or the whole day exploring Bellagio's cobbled walkways, stopping off at a charming cafés or Gelatos to cool down. Start at 'The Borgo', the old town, situated at the end of the peninsula. It's narrow lanes are lined with colourful shops, excellent restaurants and sidewalk cafes. Head further into town discover the main town square, Piazza San Giacamo or Piazza della Chiesa. The square is dominated by the town church, the Romanesque Basilica di San Giacomo, which is worth a visit for it's statues and frescoes.

Villa Serbelloni is a large, grand building situated on the wooded hills behind the town. Although the villa is not open to the public, the grounds and gardens are well worth a visit, looking out over the lake and enjoying panoramas you can't see from town. Villa Melzisa is a pretty lakeside villa offering beautiful gardens, which slope down to the shore. The villa was built for a nobleman of the Napoleonic era, and various mementoes relating the times can be seen in it's fascinating little museum. Discover the surrounding lakeside destinations of Bellano, Menaggio, Lecco and Como using Bellagio's hop on hop of ferry service. Or hire one of the many private water taxis to simply cruise and take in the dramatic views.

What to eat

Whether fine dining in one of the famous, world-class waterside restaurants, or discovering a family run trattoria down a cobbled lane, the dining possibilities in Bellagio are endless. The Michelin starred Mistral is elegant and sophisticated and overlooks one of the most beautiful views in the world. Heading further into town you will find a good selection of restaurants offering reasonably priced pizza and pasta dishes. For a relaxing drink or sundowner head to the main piazza or one of the waterfront bars and
cafes, great for people watching. The portico that runs the length of the shops in the piazza is also a good place to meet for an espresso, with or without a shot of grappa! Like the other towns around Lake Como, Bellagio is generously dotted with drinking water fountains, so you can always find a cooling drink and fill up your flask on the go.

How to get there

The most convenient airports are Milan Malpensa and Milan Linate. From Malpensa you can buy a through ticket to Como Nord Lago station. The trains run every half-hour and the journey takes around an hour.