Lake Como

Pros: Just so much to do and see. The food... ooh, the food.
Cons: Not cheap.

Italy’s Lago Di Como (Lake Como) really seems to be that rare place in the world with something for everyone. Whatever your energy levels, you will find yourself some activity to engage in, be it simply wandering alongside beautiful villas and garde ...

Pros: Staying on Lake Como is like living in a picture postcard.
Cons: You've got to be kidding.

We got into our rented Volvo just outside of Venice and set out for the next destination, Lake Como. But what was the best way to get there? Nothing to worry about--we had purchased a portable GPS device, the TomTom Go, for just this purpose. Having ...

Pros: Unique towns and sights
Cons: Weather, narrow streets, somewhat pricey

Think of a upside down "Y" and you'll get the shape of Lake of Como. Or "Lago di Como", as italians call it.

At the end of the lower left leg there is Como, the most important city of the whole area, home of silk industries and little more....

Pros: A lovely part of Italy, cool air and sunny weather in summer.
Cons: Few beaches, it can get very busy in August.

Bellagio is a small town in north Italy on the edge of Lake Como. Lake Como itself is an unusual shape with two legs on either side of Bellagio, one to south-west and the other to the south-east. This gives the impression that Bellagio is in the centre ...

Pros: Spectacular scenery, Italian food, great ferries, not overrun by tourists
Cons: Attractions close smack in the middle of the day, credit cards rarely accepted

Visiting Lake Como in the first week of June 2005 it was refreshing to find such a beautiful place not overrun with tourists. We stayed in a villa rental, Casa Pree, located in Rezzonico, a small town about 2 miles north of Menaggio on the western side ...

Pros: Beyond beautiful
Cons: Food, drink and hotels a little expensive but worth it

In June of 2004 my husband and I visited the city of Como and the surrounding area. Outstanding during our visit was our ferry ride around Lake Como. The cost was 17 euro per person which enables you to disembark at any stop and hop back on at your ...

Pros: Beauty and Tranquility
Cons: Narrow driving roads

We traveled throughout Italy (Bellagio, Venice, Cinque Terre, Chianti, Florence, Sienne, Rome) on our Honeymoon during the month of April, and Bellagio, Lake Como, was by far our favorite destination. The scenery alone is worth a day trip if your...

Pros: Scenic, a variety of small towns, the beauty of the lake, the food
Cons: Weather isn't always conducive to enjoying the lake

After investigating the options - and there are many - we settled on a hotel right on Lake Como in Menaggio, which is smaller and less populated than the busier Bellagio across the lake. However, we found ourselves jumping on the ferry and heading to...

Pros: So so beautiful, serene and contemplative.
Cons: Resort made both of us feel depressed!

Oh dear! The sole person NOT to like Lake Como! We visited as part of a road-trip of the lakes (planned for 10 days but truncated to 3 - a sign of how discouraged we were!). We stayed in a 3* hotel at Trevesso, near Villa Carlotta - and were disappointed in the weather (sunny but distinctly chilly for August - no bare legs possible), the food and the wine.

The hotel was respectable and offered tolerable value for money at £160 euros/night for B&B, and the views are, of course, unequalled throughout Europe (not even the most jaded traveller could critisise). Bellagio was also charming & I bought a beautiful silk throw for a very reasonable price. Views ony sustained out full interest for a limited period of time, and Bellagio could only do a half-day - max! After which, the lack of other activities, no beachers and poor food/wine drove us back over the border to France.

Pros: Clean, beautiful, civilised. Gardens! Villas! Walks!
Cons: Sunday Day Trippers make some towns very busy - but only Sundays.

I have been visiting Lake Como for three years now, and each year I seem to spend more time.

I particularly like Bellagio - in the centre of the lake, with easy access to my other favourite town - Varenna.

I have visited in January, April, August and October - each season having its own charms.

Late April is a wonder - with explosions of colour from the azalias and rhododendrons and other spring flowers. Breathtaking!

Easy access to other towns via the Ferry boat services makes each day a potential adventure.