Lake Como is one of Italy’s deep-rooted families, George of the Clooneys (we couldn’t start our Lake Como Travel Guide without making this joke), claiming to never get bored of each other and head It is one of the favorite destinations of couples who want to spend time together and have romance, and “the city has made me tired, I’m going to the lakeside to relax”.. As 2 BFFs who have recently had the habit of going to romantic destinations and even posing for lovers by going to romantic places, we started our Italy tour with Milan, after stopping by another romantic destination, Verona. Then we ended with Lake Como. Lake Como really has a beauty that makes you want to get up and leave immediately, as it appears in the photos.. But whether it is a unique place in the world is debatable.. Of course, as co-chairmen of the association of those who set foot in Iceland and started to compare every natural beauty with it, we could not help but criticize this place.. Don’t think we didn’t like it, it wasn’t like that at all and we’re back to praising right away. Como attracts sympathy points, not only with its natural scenery, but also with its city that tastes like a small city and its small but functional towns by the lake.. Warning: Your sympathy for Como can vary greatly depending on what time of the year you go.
Note from the start: If you are going to follow a similar route, together with the lake Como travel guide Milan Travel Guide and You may also want to check out our Milano Food and Drink Notes.
When to Go to Como?
As you can see from the spoiler we gave above on this subject, your trip to Como may develop very differently depending on the period you go.. At one time, it tastes like an abandoned city after the zombie invasion, and at another time, you have to go with the intention of resting and grapple with a crowd that may cause you to need a post-holiday recovery break.. We recommend that you shape the period in which you will go according to your expectations from Como.. Let’s go into some detail about this for you, then don’t be offended by saying why OitheBlog didn’t lend a helping hand to us..
*Winter is the calmest period in Como.. We are talking about such a calmness that when you see people in the towns around the lake, including the most well-known places such as Belaggio and Varenna, you want to go and hug, and even if you are not hungry when you see an open place, you want to eat with the fear of not being able to find it.. There’s a little more life in the center of Como than in the lakeside towns. At least you can be a little selective about restaurants, venues and stores.. But don’t be spoiled right away, of course, there is a high probability that there will be only 3 people other than you at the place you will go.. Although this situation starts to get boring after a while, in fact, winter is one of the ideal times to see the natural beauty of Como in a calm environment.. If you are going for a rest, not a trip, it is for you.. Moreover, since it is a period when tourists do not prefer it, the prices are a little more affordable.. If you are lucky, you may come across a sunny, temperate weather during this period;. Let us remind you that even in the most optimistic situation, nights can be incredibly cold.. We bring clothes suitable for rain and cold weather.
*Summer is the most crowded and active period in Como.. Contrary to what we have mentioned above, welcome to a Como, where you will get bored of seeing people, you will not be able to find a place without reservation, you will wait in line for transportation, you will be exposed to traffic and you will have to pay much higher prices for accommodation.. You may make a much more logical choice in terms of activity and sociability, but be sure to consider the conditions we have just mentioned.. People generally prefer to go to Como in July and August when the water temperature is higher.. This busy season also includes September.. If you want a more comfortable environment, it is useful not to coincide your trip with holidays and weekends.. By the way, although the weather is around 30 degrees during the day, it can cool down in the evening.. It can be a suitable place to use your clothes that are uncertain in what weather, torn in between, “I bought this, but when will I wear it”.. Finally, this place is also famous for summer rains, so don’t forget to bring a rain jacket and umbrella just in case.
*Spring/Autumn The best times to go to Como. If you say “I want a Como among the conditions you have described above”, you can choose the months of October, April, and May.. In these periods, it is useful to skip weekends and holidays.. We do not forget to bring clothes suitable for all weather conditions.. Rain is very common in Como.
**You know, OitheBlog thinks of you as much as your mother.. Although we do not come to you with suggestions such as “x things you should definitely take with you on the trip” or “2323 techniques to pack your suitcase in the best way”, we wanted to make a small reminder at this point.. You will be doing a lot of walking on Lake Como and climbing from time to time.. So don’t forget to bring comfortable shoes suitable for all weather conditions.
Day Pass from Milan to Como
Lake Como It is very convenient for a day trip due to its proximity to Milan and ease of transportation.. To get from Milan center to Como you have several options;
*Trenord Train
Trenord is one of the main companies of Italy and High-speed trains run to Como from 2 different stations in Milan. Train to >Como S Giovanni station. This train takes about 30 minutes and costs €4.80. You can buy tickets online, at the box office in Centrale or from ticket machines.. It may be easier to get directly from the station as there are frequent departures.. Centrale is a rather large and chaotic station.. Therefore, it is useful to go a while in advance and follow which platform the train will depart from.
The second option is Como Nord, another station departing from Milan’s Cadorna station and located in the center of Como. Train to Lago. This train takes about 1 hour and costs the same as the other train.
*TrenItalia Train
Trenitalia’s There is a train service from Centrale station to Esino station in the town of Varenna on Lake Como. This train also takes about 1 hour and costs 6.70€.
*Car Rental
Welcome to another travel guide where we will be very insistent on your car rental.. While America is still our favourite, Italy has secured its place among our favorite destinations for road trips.. Road conditions are very good, gas prices are affordable and there are beautiful landscapes to see along the way.. In a nutshell all the signs are telling you to rent a car. It may be easy to reach Como from Milan by train, but exploring by car around Lake Como is very enjoyable, it is a much more logical option to see the sights in places that are difficult to reach on foot and to visit towns where ferries do not frequent or not at all.. You can also be more flexible this way by not having to rely on ferries.
We rented a car from Avis/Budget located at Milano Centrale station.. I wish we could write nice reviews about it but we NEVER recommend it to you. Although we had booked an automatic vehicle through cheaptickets.com, a website we used frequently and trust, when we went they said that they did not have automatic vehicles and there was nothing they could do about the issue.. After giving the discussion for about 1 hour, they kindly agreed to bring a vehicle from another office, but this stole 2-3 hours apart from our trip.. Moreover, after our return, we learned that this incident happened to another friend of ours, so we don’t think you should ruin your trip by trying to rent a car from here. Instead, you can choose to rent a car from Europcar or Sixt located around Centrale.
Keep in Mind: in the car in winter chain is mandatory, if the rent a car company makes a suitable offer, we say accept it, then don’t deal with the Italian police. you have to go through the toll booth. The prices of the toll booths vary according to how far you travel.. Keep coins with you. (Although sometimes you might need more than a coin as it’s expensive as a pet, that’s different)
Getting Around Lake Como
Como The most practical and fastest way to reach the towns around the lake is by ferry or car.. If you are going to visit the main towns such as Menaggio, Varenna and Bellagio, it is very likely that you will find the ferry company named Navigazione. you will use strong>. They have several daily flights to towns around the lake, including the center of Como.. You can pass on foot or by car.. We left the car in Menaggio and went on foot to Varenna and Bellagio, respectively, but if you are going to end your tour in Bellagio and return to the center of Como or back to Milan, it may also make sense to switch with your car.. There are parking areas where you can leave your car around the piers where the ferries depart, and it was free in Menaggio.. (We don’t know the fee situation in the others because we left it to Menaggio) Since the tariffs vary between summer and winter, it is useful to take a look at the current hours and make a plan on their sites.
*Menaggio, Varenna and Passing Between Bellagio
It takes 15 minutes to pass from one to the other at points such as Menaggio, Varenna and Bellagio and the fees vary according to the stop.. If you want, you can buy a daily ticket and go between the stops as you wish.. Strangely, when we asked, they said there is no daily ticket option, it may be related to the period or we were deceived.. For more detailed information about fares, click here.
Warning: There may be a queue or no room for the ferry during summer periods, buy a ticket for your return at the point where you got off, there is no space or while waiting in line. Do not experience a situation like missing a ferry. Then people can’t help but start to be racist and burden Asian tourists, we would like to prevent this shame beforehand… or if you want to park your car around the center, there is a 24-hour open car park on Via Indipendenza close to Como Cathedral or a covered car park on Viale Lecco. We left it in the open parking lot because it was the first thing we came across, and the fee for 15 hours was about 20 Euros.. If you leave it for 24 hours, it costs 30 Euros.
Accommodation in Como
How you visit Como is up to you.. If you want, you can make an accelerated excursion by coming for a day, or you can explore Lake Como and its surroundings in more detail by spreading the sights over time.. we often 2. As people who are in favor of the option, we decided to stay in Como for a while.. Even though we went in the middle of the winter season and the environment was dead, we started to complain from our first night, “I wish we had stayed longer”. Because although there are not many activities to do here, one cannot get enough of wandering the empty streets and sipping something calmly in front of the view.. So in summary, if you have time, spend some time here and enjoy it.
Without further ado, let’s talk about where we stayed in Como.. Here, too, we did not give up our love of renting an apartment and stayed at Il Vicolo located in the center of Como.. The apartments are very spacious, very clean, very central and the host is very caring.. Maybe even a little too interested, he would have stayed for tea if we offered.. Anyway. As you can see, we are very pleased with it and we definitely recommend it to those who want to rent an apartment around the center.. If you’re after scenery and romance, there are also very nice hotels to stay in the towns around Lake Como.. However, the fact that these towns are dead in winter and very crowded and expensive in summer does not deter people a little.
Places to Visit Around Lake Como
What to visit in Lake Como places are divided. The first is the towns and places to see by Lake Como, and the second is the places to visit in the city center of Como.. As we mentioned above, the most popular of the lakeside towns are Varenna, Menaggio and Belaggio.. To elaborate the subject a little bit.
*Bellagio
Bellagio can be said to be the most touristic and most expensive place on Lake Como. It is mostly a parent’s day as it is one of the main stops of ferry transportation and attracts many tourists with its luxury villas and gardens, hotels, restaurants and venues.. It is useful to emphasize this issue again; no matter how touristy it is, this place is dead enough to feel like a zombie infestation during the winter months.. If you think of Lake Como in the shape of a V (this analogy is very complicated, there are those who say Y, there are those who say V, there are those who say reverse Y, there are those who say G or something), we are afraid that there will be those who say Menaggio and Varenna at the upper ends, and Bellagio at the lower end.. In this case, we are moving forward as if we are very close to saying how long it will take to go from Ali Varenna to Bellagio, right? So why did we turn this into an elementary school math problem? Because Bellagio’s location is at a point in the middle of the lake, it offers the opportunity to catch the most beautiful views.. In other words, if you go even in a dead season, you can wander the streets, and if you are willing to climb a little, you can catch wonderful views of the lake.
-As we mentioned above, you can reach here by ferry from towns such as Como, Menaggio and Varenna.. If you want to reach by car, it is about 30km from the center of Como.
-Since we went in winter, we did not have any expectations for eating here, but we did not have any expectations for food at Ristorante. They praised Bilacus and Mistral for the view. Let us know if you get a chance to try it.
*Varenna
This is one of the cutest lakeside towns. Compared to Bellagio, it has managed to remain calmer and more authentic.. There is not much we can say to you in this region, especially if you return without seeing this, they will beat you.. Wander its streets without worrying about ticking your list of places to visit, take lots of pictures of colorful old buildings, go to the water’s edge and catch a panoramic view, enjoy. The most important suggestion we can give you about this place is to take the risk of climbing a little bit first, instead of walking directly to the lakeside after getting off at the pier, as many tourists do.. You have to walk through the side streets towards Giorgio. Because the lakeside is beautiful, the side streets are also very cute and suitable for capturing beautiful photos.
-You can also reach Varenna by ferry from Menaggio or from points such as Bellagio.. As we mentioned in the transportation section above, it may be an option to come directly to Varenna from Milan by train.
everyone points to Il Molo and the venue Nilus Bar next to it when asked. We didn’t get a chance to try them because our venues were closed (surprised right), but they looked like cute places with a beautiful view by the lake.. We went to the only open cafe La Passerella since we programmed ourselves not to be hungry in this neighborhood and our only problem was coffee.. If you want to satisfy your sweet needs with homemade ice cream, or if you are in search of coffee, we can recommend you here, sir.
*Menaggio
This place is less touristic compared to Varenna and Bellagio. and hence a quieter area. We can take sports lovers who are into hiking, trekking, golf and water sports directly here.. No, we are not in a lot of trouble, but if you say we want to climb a little and want to take a walk in the fresh air and see the scenery, there are very suitable paths on the mountain for this.. If you want to learn more about sports activities in the surrounding area, you can visit the tourist information office at Piazza Garibaldi.
*Villa del Balbianello >
Star Wars Spoiler Alert!!!!!! We don’t know if there are crazy people among you who have never watched the Star Wars series, but if there is anyone who hasn’t watched it and intends to watch it, please leave this part immediately. ! We also want to talk to those who haven’t watched it, drop by us sometime and be ready to be scolded.
“What’s the deal, Star Wars, we came for romance?” you may say. Think of the scene where Anakin and Padme got married.. We’re talking about that incredible lake view place in Naboo (you can take a look at our Naboo travel guide if you want…). Here is Villa del Balbianello, exactly where that scene was filmed. It would not be an exaggeration to say that as those who overreact to anything that may be related to Star Wars, we rushed here as soon as we arrived in Como.. We even exaggerated and took our Darth Vader mask with us.. This villa is also a popular venue for weddings in real life, which other famous movies like Casino Royale like to use as a set.. You don’t have to be a Natalie Portman or get married to see it, they also accept visitors from outside.
Entry: Entrance to the gardens is 8 Euros, if you wish, you can join a private tour of the villa for an extra fee. .
Transportation: If you are going by car, the villa is located on the road to Menaggio, near Lenno. Unfortunately, you cannot reach the villa directly by car.. You will either go as far as you can by car by following the Villa del Balbianello signs on the main road and walk for about 1km (let’s also mention that it is a fine climbing path), or you will get on the boats departing from Lenno.. We guess that you will prefer the second option.
*Como City Center
You can visit Como’s center, the city part, after visiting the vicinity of Lake Como. not to walk. Because this place has a different beauty.. Let’s not be intimidated by the city, Como is actually quite a small place.. You don’t have to spare your days to see the main places.. In fact, it is even possible for you to visit all the places we will recommend below in a few hours.. However, if you have time, this is a place where it is very enjoyable to spend time and it is worth getting to know better.
Since we are driving to Como, we park our car and start exploring the streets.. Assuming that you will reach the city by ferry, as soon as you set foot in the city, you will find yourself in the middle of Piazza Cavour, one of the most known squares of Como.. This is one of the most crowded points of the city, as it is one of the main points of transportation and there are restaurants and cafes around it.. If you keep walking on Via Domenico Fontana street, you will come across another famous square of Como, Piazza Volta. In the middle of this square is a monument to the physicistAlessandro Volta from Como, who invented the battery.
If you head into the city from Piazza Cavour , it turns outthat we are unlikely to miss,Como Cathedral located in Piazza Duomo . We are not surprised to see a magnificent cathedral even in a small city in Italy.. There are a few restaurants in the square, we are hungry, our expectations for food in Como are not very high, but we continue on our way, because we have other goals. When we look into the street next to the square, we realize that there are shop signs and activity, and Via Cinque Giornate, Via Bernardino Luini and Vittorio Emanuele, where shopping is concentrated. We explore streets like . There are brands you know in this region, as well as design shops with a high potential to come out with original things.. Continuing from Via Bernardino Luini, we encounter S. There is a small square with Fedele Basilica’ and a few restaurants.. Now, we continue to explore the streets with the comfort of completing the places we need to see in Como and we are happy to get to know this lovely city of Italy.
*Brunate
We have suggested a lot of places where you can catch beautiful views above. However, if you are still a madman who wants to chase the scenery, we will offer you another option; Brunate. This is a town near Como and one of the main reasons it attracts tourists is that it is a funicular that goes up the hill.. After saying funicular, hill, view, it’s over, tourists flock to it.. (we didn’t do this rhyme intentionally). From the hill you can catch a beautiful view of both the city of Como and the lake. If you’re willing to climb and walk a bit while you’re out, you can also take a look at the lighthouse known as Faro Voltiano.
Transportation: Como from the center of Piazza Alcide de Gasperi, 4. The funicular takes about 7 minutes.
Fees: Around 5 Euros round trip
What to Eat in Como, What to Drink?
Is it because we’ve had incredible meals in Milan and Verona for a week or so and we’re close to getting enough of pastries, or is it because there are many restaurants/bars with a population of nearly 80,000 people? It is not known whether we are surprised that the places are so empty in a city that does not exist, our expectations were not so much in terms of eating and drinking here.. Still, the notes were taken, the destination was clear, and we made our way to the Osteria l’angelo del Silenzio restaurant. After trying its risotto, pumpkin ravioli, and lobster ravioli, we left the place satisfied.. If you have a choice to eat in Como, we can recommend this place.. Of course, if you make an attempt to search for the best restaurant in Como, the results may include The Market Place, you can also try this place.. Afterwards, we were eager to sip cocktails at the Fresco Coktail Shop located near the restaurant, but it was a minor problem that we came on Tuesday, the only day the place was closed.. You can give this place a chance in Como, where there aren’t many bar options anyway.
We continued on our way with determination and determination about cocktails and Vintage Jazz We paused at the bar. Even though we were shocked at how they could make one of the most classic cocktails in the world, a Margarita so badly, and we were stunned by the antipathy of the bar staff in such a sympathetic place, if you want drinks that don’t require a complicated recipe, you can stop by here.
Entering Lake Como?
The weather is hot (if you went in summer), you are overwhelmed and in front of you is a huge lake with a source of cooling. But there is a very high probability that there is also a question that is bothering you; Entering Lake Como? It is not possible for us to give a clear answer to this question, as we do not want to come to you with conversations like “We had the water tested, the percentage is mercury, the percentage is so much, I don’t know what toxic substance is found, there is a doctor on our site”, the favorite conversation of Silivri summer houses.. However, if you ask the locals, the water is clean and there is no problem in entering.. What we’re talking about is “dirty, they say, but I think it’s clean…….” They came up with ingenious sentences like. If you have made up your mind and decided to enter the water, there are some “lido“s, namely “beach clubs”, where you can swim around Lake Como.. You can find a list of them here.
Is Como Expensive?
We told you that Como is a tourist destination and rich people like to hang out around here.. This situation causes the prices to be a bit more expensive, as in many seasonal holiday destinations.. As we mentioned above, if you want to make this trip more affordable, you will skip the summer season.. In this way, at least accommodation, car rental etc.. It is possible to get more favorable offers on things. Food and beverage prices are roughly the same as Milan.. If you want to get an idea, you can take a look at the budget issue we have detailed in our Milan travel guide.
Lakes Around Milan
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If you say that these are not enough for us, we want more lakes, more peace, you can move to other regions and lakes around Milan (or even to another country).. Some of those; Located near Lake Como, Lecco, about 60km from Como and partly owned by Italy and partly by Switzerland, is Lake Maggiore and one of Switzerland’s best known which is Lugano. Since we did not want to go anywhere else without fully exploring Como, we did not have the chance to visit these places.. Well, we’ll be back for you one day too!
