My wife and I would like to explore the Lake Como area and want to know what town would make a good home base. Probably stay for 7 nights. We like small towns where we can get to know the locals and not be inundated with tourist. We do not speak Italian. Also recommendations as to what we should (must) see while there. Thanks.
Posted by
11156 posts
You need to stay near ferry service. The prettiest part of the lake is mid lake- Bellagio, Varenna, Mennagio, Cadenabbia, Lenno are towns we visit by ferry from Bellagio. With research on them ferry routes perhaps you can target a small town without many tourists.
Posted by
Twin Cities of MN
5581 posts
We just recently stayed in Varenna. We liked the slightly less touristy, less affluent feel over Bellagio, though we didn't really find great options for dinners in Varenna. While we were glad we didn't stay in Bellagio, we enjoyed two of the restaurants and an enoteca there. Maybe Lenno might be a good option? It was still on the midlake ferry but It was less busy and the only nonlocal people we ran into were those that were those visiting Villa Balbianello. However, we were only in Lake Como a couple of days. It was mid October (so a bit off season) and it was raining so maybe some tourists were in hiding.
Posted by
Atlanta, Ga, USA
2023 posts
We stayed there because of the convenience of the ferry. The hotel recommended by RS that is located near the ferry dock was awful. Owner is very rude and rooms outdated with horrid beds. If we ever return we will splurge on Hotel du Lac.
Posted by
Cincinnati, Ohio
303 posts
My husband and I did splurge on Hotel du Las and loved it. I made the reservations almost a year out so we could have a balcony room that overlooks the lake. I wish I could convey to you how magical we thought Varenna was. We were there in mid May, and the flowers were gorgeous. I also do not enjoy hordes of other tourists, but we never felt over run in Varenna. We got up early one morning and just walked around this lovely village. We joined a tour with the Varenna Boat Taxi and got to see the midlake region from a speed boat. The tour we reserved also had a private tour of Villa Balbiano. That is a must see. We ferried across to Bellagio to walk out to the Punta viewpoint and walked back to town to have lunch at the wine cave Rick recommends in his book. We also ferried to Mennagio for lunch and to just walk the shore walk. In Varenna we also walked through the gardens of Villa Monastero. All of the shoreline walks in the 3 villages are lovely.
We spent 4 days in Varenna, and they are some of the best memories I have. The views of the Alps in the distance is amazing. The lights on the water at sunset are romantic. (Be sure to plant yourselves in a table at any one of the shoreline cafes to share a glass of wine as the sun sets over the mountains on the other side of the lake.)
We never took the ferry down to the village of Como, but we saw that part of the lake from a bus taking us to the train station in Como. I think you would enjoy that trip on the water.
I hope you consider staying in Varenna. It has a piece of my heart.