Lake Como Suggestions (Bellagio, Menaggio and Varena)

We stayed in Varena. We had about 1 1/2 days. We did the RS walking tour around both Varena and Bellagio. We used the ferry between the cities. We toured Villa del Balbianello. It was fabulous.

Thank you for the reply and suggestion! For the Villa del Balbianello did you take the Ferry to Lenno and then walk to the Villa? Is the Water Taxi the same thing as the Ferry (https://www.navigazionelaghi.it/home)? If not, could you please let me know the website for the Water Taxi?

If you have a RS guide, there is a picture of the ferry we took. It is described under the self-guided ferry tour. We had horrible weather. Basically rained all day, except when it poured ;) Otherwise, we may have taken a boat/water taxi right to Villa Balbianello. Would have been nice to approach it from the lake. We took the ferry to Lenno and walked to the Villa. After the villa, we walked around Lenno a bit and took the ferry to Bellagio and walked around there and ate dinner before taking the ferry back to Varena.

In terms of the ferry. We showed up at the dock in Varena and bought a ticket that she said would go to Lenno. If the weather had been nice, I would have researched it more. I do know that we purchased an all day ticket and we could have gone to Menaggio on the ferry as well. Even if it had not been raining, we would not have had time for Menaggio which I've heard is enjoyable. We enjoyed Bellagio much more than we thought we would, even in the rain.

Come to think of it, we did have the equivalent of two days. We arrived Varena at about 4pm and walked around the town some. The next day we went to the Villa 1st thing. We lingered there and took pictures, then we walked around Lenno and Bellagio. The next day we had a couple hours before we got on the train and walked around Varena some more

We have stayed in Bellagio many times and have used the ferries to travel all around the lake, from one end to the other.. Of all the gardens, VillaBalbaniello is our favorite with it’s fabulous views. We take a ferry across the lake SW to Lenno. Then we either walk out on the peninsula to Villa Balbianello, not far, or take a water taxi from Lenno out there. We went in the Villa one time but it is the property and it’s views that make it special.
The ferry will stop at the places you mention either coming or going from/to Bellagio

We are history buffs and felt the villa and the artifacts were very interesting. In some ways it felt like a museum. The owner was related to a Milan department store family. He traveled all over the world and brought home priceless art and souvenirs. The entire upper floor of the villa was dedicated to the various expeditions he was a member of. He led the first expedition to Everest. Movies have been shot there including a Star Wars and James Bond Scenes. The grounds are gorgeous as well and we spent a lot of time there (in the rain) taking photos.

Totally agree that Villa Balbianello is worth going to see! Yes to ferry to Lenno and walking. We also visited the Villa Carlotta with our all day ferry pass, which has beautiful gardens. Bellagio is worth at least a walk around but I personally prefer the smaller, less posh villages.

Villa del Balbiannello was closed the one day we had for touring, so we went to Villa Carlotta using the ferry. I think we spent 3 hours there, maybe more. It was my idea, but my husband loved both the Villa and gardens as well, even though the gardens encompass a hill which was hard for him. What ever you decide, note the ferry schedule so you can maximize your time. We didn’t do that and ended up wasting time waiting for the ferry.

I also worried that Bellagio would be too posh for us. We ended up liking it even in the rain. We did some wine tasting at a enoteca (Apertivo Et Al). We came in dripping wet, looking ragged and like we'd been in the rain all day (we were) and they were more than welcoming. We also enjoyed the restaurant we selected (next door to Apertivo Et Al, maybe Bilacus??) We walked down every street and into the churches and even to Punta Sparivento which I highly recommend. Even you do not care to go to the enoteca, make sure to go to the top of that street (Salita Serbelloni) the view down to the lake is stunning!

If you do visit Varenna, Villa Monastero is a short walk. Very nice gardens bordering the lake. I do not consider Bellagio "posh", unless that is a synonym for overpriced and crowded. If you want posh, stay at Grand Hotel Tremezzo. Better yet, in a section of the lake that receives less notice, Villa Lario, which is on the eastern shore of the western leg. If you are in Bellagio, visit I Giardini di Villa Melzi, which is south of the town center.