It was time for a road trip once again. Back in Europe, and with spring clearly in the air, even if the mornings still had a bit of a chill, I made the most of those first days with some hiking and cycling. It was a great start to my return to Europe before heading towards some warmer spots. The Italian and French Riviera were calling. And so, the journey began, with my first stop: the pretty towns of Lake Como.
From Menaggio to Bellagio, there are a lot of pretty towns on Lake Como that one can visit. But where to start? And which ones are the top towns to see? Read my list below… One thing is certain. Lake Como is a beautiful part of Italy.
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Lake Como
I have been to the town of Como before, even though it was briefly on my drive to Spain (read – Through Milan, Monaco and Cannes). So I hadn’t visited many other towns on Lake Como until now. I knew it was a beautiful spot. I had forgotten just how big the lake actually is. So if you’re thinking you can simply hop from town to town and see it all in a day, think again.
There are definitely plenty of pretty towns of Lake Como to explore, but the narrow roads, traffic, and winding distances can make even a 30 km trip take hours. This is especially true during high season.
Read here about other pretty little towns and must visit spot of Italy – Cinque Terre!
Hiking in Cinque Terre – Part 1 & Cinque Terre Italy – The adventure continues!
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The pretty towns of Lake Como
Menaggio
After driving through rainy Switzerland and Lucerne, via the 17 km long Gotthard Tunnel, I made my way across the Swiss-Italian part to Lugano and then Lake Como in Italy. One of the first pretty towns I came across at Lake Como was Menaggio. It was my pit stop for the day, after a long day in the car. Sitting in the sun and enjoying my first Italian taste of a relaxing afternoon, I knew my time at Lake Como would be special this time around.
Settling into a beautiful hotel in Cernobbio, with an amazing view overlooking the lake, I couldn’t wait to explore more of the pretty towns of Lake Como. After a good night’s rest and the perfect Italian breakfast, I set out to visit the most famous spot at Lake Como, the Villa del Balbianello.
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Villa del Balbianello
The Villa del Balbianello is an amazing spot that most might know from the James Bond movie, Casino Royale. It’s hard to believe I hadn’t been here before… or had I? Either way, there I was, walking through the perfectly manicured gardens of one of the most beautiful places on Lake Como. It turned out to be the perfect location for my morning walk before heading to Bellagio.
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Bellagio
Another very famous spot in Lake Como is Bellagio. I was eager to explore each place in my own time. Catching a ferry from Griante, just north of Tremezzo, was super easy. Bellagio is a small town, but it certainly has a lot of Italian charm. Walking up the narrow cobblestone stairs and browsing the many local shops (mostly catering to tourists, of course), I stumbled upon the most charming lunch spot to enjoy a delicious Italian meal and the spring sun.
Bellagio was perfect, and I would highly recommend visiting this cute little place. A must among all the pretty towns of Lake Como.
That said, it’s the end of March here. I honestly couldn’t imagine being here in high season, with all the other tourists. I like it quiet.
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Tremezzo
After a wonderful afternoon in Bellagio, it was time to enjoy a refreshing drink at the beautiful Grand Hotel Tremezzo. What an incredible place to relax, admire the views across Lake Como and meet some amazing people along the way.
Whether you visit Tremezzo, Menaggio, Argegno or Bellagio, there are plenty of picturesque towns around Lake Como to discover. Each one has its own atmosphere and charm, and none of them will disappoint. I will definitely return to this area sometime soon!
For now, however, it was time to leave Lake Como behind and continue south towards the sea. But first, I had to make a stop in Milan, of course!
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