Holidays in Bellagio

Bellagio sits on the Lario peninsula, balancing churches, eateries, shops and winding cobbled streets between the water’s edge and the hills behind. Boats arrive at Piazza Mazzini, spilling summertime day-trippers into the waterfront square and streets. When it gets busy, dive into the old town of Borgo, following the backstreets to San Giacomo’s petite piazza. The ornate Italian parks and gardens are also a breath of fresh air. We love walking around Villa Melzi which lays out avenues of trees and rhododendron displays in its waterfront gardens, while Villa Serbelloni’s park- owned by the Rockefeller Foundation- paints a swathe of the peninsula with forested paths. 

It’s very tempting to follow the crowds to the waterfront restaurants in Bellagio. However, the best Italian food and drink is found in the backstreets, where tiny cantinas and courtyard enotecas serve traditional dishes and excellent house wines. It’s rare to see tóc on the menu these days, but if you do then grab the chance to try this Bellagio special of cheesy polenta- usually shared between families on feast days. Salami stuffed chicken and fish from the lake (salted missoltino is the Lake Como favourite) more commonly pop up on menus.

With the long and winding roads of Lake Como, it’s best to ditch the car and stick to ferries- both an easy and enjoyable way to travel in the summer, thanks to Bellagio’s seat in the middle of Lake Como. Visit Varenna, on the eastern shore, to admire the fishing village’s sunset-hued houses and waterside restaurants, gelato shops and market stalls. A walk up to Castello di Vezio offers views across the lake. Alternatively, take the ferry to Como Town, Tremezzo or Menaggio, or putter all the way north to the age-old village of Domaso. If you do head to Menaggio for the day, why not tag on a stop in Lenno, where you can see the Villa Balbianello, made famous by James Bond's Casino Royale.

Ferries

The ferry network is one of the most efficient ways to explore the lake. With direct links between Menaggio and Bellagio and access to many other resorts, we'd recommend making the most of it on your summer holiday. Buy a 6 day ferry pass for easy access to resorts in the central Lake Como area. For more information head to the Cards & Passes tab. The official ferry website has information about timetables and dropping off points.

Buses

The buses in our resorts can be a useful and cost effective way of travelling short distances along the lakeside. For getting to next door towns and attractions such as Villa Balbianello in Lenno. The C10 bus will take you directly from Menaggio to Lenno in under 20 minutes. However, if you're hoping for a punctual service, the ferry is the better option as the buses run on their own timetable and may not come when you expect them to!

Buy a 6 day ferry pass for easy access to resorts in the central Lake Como area. These include: Lenno, Cadenabbia, Tremezzo, Bellagio, Menaggio, Varenna, Bellano. The card costs approx. €45 per person and can be purchased from the ticket office at the ferry port when you arrive in resort.

For more information about ferry timetables and dropping off points, visit the official website for ferries on the lake.

Please note, prices are accurate at the time of publishing but may be subject to change.