Lake Como/Bellagio

If I told you about an undiscovered restaurant, it would no longer be undiscovered. Same applies to fishing spots.

The best boat trips are on the public ferries.
The postcard iconic views are to be had from mid-lake from one of the ferries.

You need to tour the Villa de Balbianello.

When exactly are you going to Lake Como? Where have you been looking for lodging, i.e., which search engine or website? Is it really all full up, or just in your price range? Have you also looked at Menaggio?

There is one ferry that makes the circuit around the lake. You can look at the schedule, but I can't tell you which time has the fewest people. When we were there in September last year, each boat was completly filled with standing room only, but you just deal with it. I guess one option would be to hire a private boat, but I can't imagine how much that would cost.

I do understand about giving away secret fishing spots. But if you give me the name of a great undiscovered restaurant, I promise not to share it.

I'll be in Bellagio in early July, and Varenna didn't have anything left in my price range (<130 night).

best meal in Italy we had in Varenna
Much more refined and sophisticated cooking and reasonable prices in my opinion.
I think I had the best pasta dish ever at
1. "Al Prato", tagliatelle 2 types with saffron and sausage cream blew my taste buds out of the park! I am typically a red sauce or bolognese eater.
2. "Osteria Quatro Pass" is another amazing option in Varenna
3. "Hotel Olivedo" Varenna has a restaurant not listed on maps that see, it looks simple and its location you'd think eh. But the food and the ravioli with lake fish is WOW, All home made, fresh and so well don,. a quiet gem in Varenna.
4. we ate lunch in Bellagio at "Princess", very fresh and very delicious.
Bellagio is a fun city and nice to explore with many more shopping choices and distractions than Varenna. Both are great in each of their styles.
take the time and boat tour to Villa del Balbianello, the most beautifully gardened landscaped property we visited with an interesting history. the beauty of this place and terrace views are unreal
Enjoy

We stayed at the Hotel Olivedo in Varenna and were very happy with its service, cleanliness, and location. It is located directly in front on the ferry dock. The owner is not always the friendliest, but the overall experience was very nice. When we were there, a concert was taking place in the park nearby and it was a nice method to fall asleep.

A cruise around the lake is a most outstanding activity. The Gelatoria Larinana near the dock in Como serves huge servings of outstanding gelato. Also in Como is a funicular that takes you up to Brunate for a great view of the lake.

I'm a retired teacher and traveling in the off-season is terrific.

Buon viaggio,

We have stayed at Hotel Bellagio. Should be close to your price range.

Bellagio and Varenna are quite small, and don't have that many restaurants. And, these towns are heavily dominated by tourism. So, every restaurant there has been "discovered." That doesn't mean that they can't be good - but it isn't like a good restaurant in, say, Buffalo or Kansas City, that only locals know about and frequent.

I was there in 2010, but at least at that time, Osteria Quatro Pass was so good, we went there for both nights for dinner.