I visited Lake Como to celebrate my milestone birthday. I wanted to visit a completely new destination to celebrate. November is a dreary month in the northern hemisphere. With autumn past and no snow, there are not many activities. I wanted a quiet serene getaway, for it to be kid friendly and it had to have amazing views and great food so I picked of Lake Como along with Milan and Paris. When you think of Lake Como you imagine gorgeous villas, aperol spritz, George Clooney, and Dolce Vita! Lake Como delivered and then some. We were worried it was going to be cold but it was do beautiful and less crowded than the summer months. I loved it so much that I cannot wait to return and spend at least a week in the summer when all the flowers are in bloom.

Day 1 – Milan to Como

You can visit the area in one day with a day trip from Milan, but I recommend that you spend at least three days in Lake Como which is what we did. Lake Como is huge and this way you aren’t rushed and can really take in the vibe as every village has something different to offer. Lake Como takes a lot planning, all the villages are easily accessible by boat however not all ferry routes are the same to every village. Some are slow ferries, the fast ferries do not stop everywhere. Your best bet is to look for ferry times and decide where you would like to stay.

Lake Como is 55 kms from Milan. We chose to stay north of Como so we absolutely needed a car which gave us some flexibility. Again it was not crowded, this may not be a good option in the summer months. We took the train from Milan to Como and drove the same day to Gravedona. We had a two night stay booked. We explored the villages from Gravedona and made our way back to Como again. Lake Como is a shape of an upside down ‘Y’. We were on the left side of the lake.

The drive to Gravedona was absolutely spectacular. It was supposed to be a one hour drive but it turned into a 3 hour drive as kept stopping to admire the scenery. You pass Cernobbio, Moltrasio, Menaggio, Tremezzo and Lenno on the way. We almost missed one tunnel which takes you to Switzerland. The small historic centre of Gravedona is also pleasant to explore.

Gravedona

We stayed at Hotel Regina, cozy hotel with absolutely amazing restaurant. We ate here almost every night. The food was fresh and local, and substantial. and I was just completely in awe of the view we had from our balcony. Overlooking the lake with gorgeous snow capped peaks. It was amazing to pop open the bottle of champagne at the stroke midnight and taking in the views.

Day 2 – Bellagio and Varenna

The next morning after breakfast at the hotel we walked down to the ferry. We started the day early to explore Bellagio and Varenna. The ferry ride is breathtaking. Quaint villages, beautiful villas and mountain peaks. We also saw several kite surfers. The perfect place where play this sport on Lake Como is all around North Lake Como, thanks to winds blow all year.

The town is situated centrally on Lake Como where the lake divides into two ‘branches’ towards the south-east and south-west. Also called the Pearl of Lake Como, Bellagio is the perfect mix of pretty cobble stoned streets, wonderful shops that sell gorgeous scarves, restaurants, and spectacular views of Lake Como. For your instagram photo walk up Salita Serbelloni to the very end until you reach Via Giuseppe Garibaldi. From the viewpoint on Via Giuseppe Garibaldi you can look down this pretty street.

We had considered Il Perlo panorama hotel in Bellagio for it magnificent views. It is the ideal address for those who are looking for a comfortable and quiet place to spend their holiday, with a garden, a balcony, with an unforgettable lake-view. It is a very porpular hotel for bikers. We opted to gor here for lunch instead. We called and unfortunately they were closing soon. However the owner hopped onto the shuttle and came down to get us. We somehow managed to find him in the crowded village. We were greeted with the most stunning views while we had lunch.

We stopped in Varenna and walked on the lakeside promenade, towards spectacula views with lovely trattorias, gelaterias, and restaurants. We paused for the views and gelato.

Make sure to also stroll along the Lovers Walk, a short red-fenced pedestrian path offering romantic views of Lake Como and Varenna. With boats bobbing up and down, pretty flowers and gorgeous lake views Varenna is post card perfect