If you want to discover a dream destination, full of beauty, history and glamour, Lake Como in Italy is the perfect choice! This idyllic lake in northern Italy is the most “fashionable” of Italian lakes, attracting celebrities, artists and sophisticated demanding tourists for centuries.
Here’s what you can see and do at Lake Como, the place where you’ll feel like you’re in a movie.
Explore the picturesque lakeside towns
Lake Como is shaped like an inverted Y, with three arms stretching south. On each arm there is an important city: Como, Lecco and Bellagio. Como is the largest and liveliest city, where you can admire the medieval architecture, the Gothic cathedral and the silk museum. Como is where bright red Ferraris drive through narrow lakeside towns, offering a contrast between modern and traditional. Lecco is a smaller and quieter town, famous for its connection with the novel “I promessi sposi” by Alessandro Manzoni. Bellagio is considered the “pearl of the lake”, being an elegant and romantic town, full of shops, restaurants and gardens.
Visit the sumptuous villas and their gardens
Lake Como is where neoclassical villas take on a whole new level of opulence. On the shores of the lake there are numerous historical residences which belonged to noble families, artists or famous personalities. Some of the most beautiful villas are Villa Carlotta, with its botanical garden full of exotic flowers, Villa del Balbianello, with its panoramic terrace and art collection, Villa Melzi, with its English park and its Napoleonic museum and also Villa Serbelloni, which hosts an American cultural academy. Many of these villas can be visited or even rented out for special events.
Enjoy water sports and outdoor activities
Lake Como is not only a place for relaxation and contemplation, but also for fun and adventure. The lake offers ideal conditions for water sports such as sailing, windsurfing, kitesurfing or rowing. You can rent a boat or seaplane to explore the lake from a different perspective. If you prefer outdoor activities, you can go hiking, biking or climbing in the mountains surrounding the lake. You can admire the spectacular scenery from the height or visit the hidden waterfalls.
Take a look at our selection of villas at Lake Como available for holiday rental
See more villas at the Lake Como available for holiday rental
Feel like a secret agent at Casino Royale
If you are a fan of the Bond films, you cannot miss the opportunity to see the places where scenes from Casino Royale were filmed. Parts of the 2006 Bond film were filmed on Lake Como and many of the luxury lakeside hotels have 007 fare. You can visit Villa La Gaeta, where Bond kills Mr. White, or Villa Balbianello, where Bond recovers from the torture suffered at the hands of Le Chiffre. You can stay at the Grand Hotel Villa d’Este, where Bond leaves his Aston Martin, or the Grand Hotel Tremezzo, where Bond meets his MI6 contact.
Discover the local culture
Lake Como is not only a beautiful place, but also a place with a rich history and culture. You can discover local traditions and customs by visiting museums, churches, castles or festivals. You can learn more about the silk industry that made the area famous, or the art and literature related to the lake.
How to get to Lake Como?
Lake Como is located in northern Italy, about 50 kilometers from Milan. You can get here by train, car or plane. If you choose to fly, the nearest airport is Milan Malpensa, from where you can take a bus or taxi to Como, the main lakeside town. From there, you can explore the rest of the lake by ferry, boat or seaplane.
Take a look at our selection of villas at Lake Como available for holiday rental
What to eat at Lake Como?
Lake Como is also a paradise for gourmets. Here you can taste local specialties based on fish, meat, cheese and vegetables. Don’t miss risotto with saffron, polenta with cheese, pizzoccheri with cabbage and potatoes, missoltini with polenta (dried and fried fish) or lavarello alla griglia (grilled lake fish). You must also try cotoletta alla milanese (veal schnitzel), ossobuco (veal stew with marrow), bresaola (cured and seasoned meat).
And if you’re still here, discover taleggio (cream cheese), gorgonzola (mould cheese), mascarpone (sweet cheese), torta di mele (apple pie) or panna cotta (cream pudding). And of course, all this traditional gourmet should be enjoyed with a special wine, such as Nebbiolo, Barbera or Moscato.
If you want to live an unforgettable experience in Italy, you cannot miss Lake Como, the most “fashionable” of the Italian lakes. Here you’ll discover a dream place where mountains are mirrored in blue waters, where bright red Ferraris weave through narrow lakeside towns, where neoclassical villas take on a whole new level of opulence.
Lake Como is where you can feel like a movie star, or even like a secret agent if you like watching James Bond movies. For sure, you will collect beautiful memories with glamour and adventure. Don’t miss the opportunity to visit this Italian paradise, which will delight you with its unique charm!
Take a look at our selection of villas at Lake Como available for holiday rental
Things to do in Lake Como
See more villas at the Lake Como available for holiday rental
