In July, I took a girls weekend trip to Lake Como. It’s been a longtime dream of mine to visit Lake Como (probably ever since George Clooney bought an Italian villa there). In fact, I had hyped it so much in my head that when it finally came time to visit…I was a bit nervous that it wouldn’t live up to my expectations. I’m so glad to report that it was every bit as gorgeous as I imagined it to be. For tips on how to plan a relaxing girls weekend trip to Lake Como (though I’ll admit, it’s not that hard), check out my post below!
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How to get to Lake Como
The best way to get to Lake Como is by flying into Milan and taking a train to Varenna. Trains run fairly regularly on the hour from the Milano Centrale station, and it takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes to get there. From Varenna, you can take a ferry to whichever lakeside village you decide to stay in. This travel route is perfect because it gives you an excuse to have a leisurely lunch of pizza and wine in Milan (my girlfriends and I ate at Ristorante Galleria in the stunning Galleria Vittoria Emanuele) before following-up with a nap on the train. You are in Italy after all.
TIP: If you’re looking for a convenient place to stay, I highly recommend Hotel Du Lac in Bellagio. It’s located right across from the ferry station (which makes other villages highly accessible), and is close to several amazing restaurants. Best of all, they serve a breakfast buffet with several balcony tables where you can take in the beauty and serenity of the lake every morning.
What to do on a girls weekend trip to Lake Como
Take the ferry to hop from village to village
Each of the villages around Lake Como has something unique to offer. Those with limited time to spend in Lake Como typically opt for hopping around what’s called the ‘Golden Triangle’, which consists of the villages of Bellagio, Menaggio, and Varenna which are all within a 10-15 minute ferry ride of one another. If you can, I’d recommend going beyond the ‘Golden Triangle’ to find some hidden spots and get a feel for how the locals live. The ferry itself is also an enjoyable and leisurely way to savor the surrounding views.
There were so many moments on the ferry where I felt like I had to pinch myself because I couldn’t believe how beautiful the area was!
We were lucky enough to get invited into the captain’s deck by a ferry crew member, and got to take a few pictures at the helm! In all honesty, this only happened because the crew member was trying to hit on my friend Amanda. I guess the rumors are true….Italian men can be quite aggressively flirtatious!
TIP: Save money on transportation costs and buy an ‘all-day’ ferry ticket if you plan to take a few ferry rides to various villages.
Visit Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo
This waterfront villa was the former residence of a marquis, but has since been transformed into a museum. The villa itself is only worth checking-out if you’re an art history buff as it features several artworks and small exhibitions inside. The real highlight of our visit were the surrounding Italian gardens. It felt so nice to traipse through the gardens blooming with rhododendrons and azaleas (and hundreds of other types of beautiful flowers I can’t pronounce).
TIP: Bring good walking shoes. The stroll around the gardens is not extremely strenuous, but the path can get quite rocky and slippery.
Enjoy the tradition of Aperitivo
Aperitivo is a common tradition in Italy, best described as a time for chatting with friends over a glass of alcohol (which apparently helps stimulate the appetite)! The concept is simple: you buy an alcoholic drink and are then given license to eat as much ‘bar food’ (typically served buffet style, or as a platter of appetizing snacks) as you like. Aperol Spritz (a mix of prosecco, Aperol, and sparkling water) is typically the ‘star’ of the Aperitivo scene, and it tastes SO good. It’s the perfect activity for a relaxing girls weekend (or any weekend for that matter).
Roam leisurely through the lakeside villages
It’s amazing what you can find when you just let your feet take you wherever they may. There are so many little boutiques and cafes dotted along the winding alleyways of Italian villages! Explore Via Calvi in Menaggio and visit the small shops and street-side stalls of the local craftsmen.
Walk the ‘Lover’s Walk’ in Varenna
Varenna has one of the best preserved medieval centers around Lake Como – it has the most charming cobblestone streets and porticos. Make sure to walk along the edge of the lake from the ferry station to the city center…the path has gorgeous lakeside views (it must since it’s called Passeggiata degli Innamorti…aka the ‘Lover’s Walk’).
Visit the Villa Balbianello gardens in the village of Lenno
Once the house of the famous world explorer Guido Monzio, and known to be the most ‘magical house’ in all of Italy, Villa Balbianello is a must-visit while you’re at Lake Como. The grounds around the house are beautiful and offer oustanding panoramic views of the lake. You may also recognize some of the scenery from Hollywood blockbuster movies like Star Wars Episode II and Casino Royale.
TIP: It can be a quite a trek to walk up the slopes leading to Villa Balbianello. Make sure to bring lots of water and some good walking shoes!
Walking along the waterside promenade towards the Villa Balaniello path gets you views like this…
Walking up towards Villa Balbaniello gets you views like this…
Once you get to Villa Balbaniello, you see romantic garden views like this…
Where to Eat in Lake Como
Enjoy terrace views at the Grand Hotel Tremezzo
Pictures just don’t do this hotel justice. It is quite literally, one of the most beautiful and romantic hotels I’ve ever seen. It can be quite pricey to stay at the hotel (they don’t even publish their prices on their website). We opted for a cheaper alternative and stayed at a hotel in Bellagio, but enjoyed a nice lunch and drinks on it’s balcony terrace overlooking the lake.
The inside of the hotel looks like this…
And apparently breakfast is served on this second private terrace…
Dine at Il Punta Spartiventa in Bellagio
Visit Il Punta Spartiventa for a 270-degree view of the lake. The restaurant is a short 5-minute stroll away from the Bellagio village center which is nice because it gives you an opportunity to escape the busy crowds. It also offers great views of the surrounding villages and the snow-capped Swiss Alps. What to order: a simple Bottarga pasta (cured fish roe, garlic, chili, and olive oil).
Eat pasta at Bar Nilus or Restaurant Bilacus
You’re in Italy, and food matters. Great restaurants to check out include Restaurant Bilacus along Via Serbelloni in Bellagio (has the most gorgeous dining terrace covered in lush greenery), or Bar Nilus in Varenna (seriously, one of the best pasta bolognese I’ve ever had)! And if you need MORE persuasion, apparently there is some scientific evidence that shows that men and women who enjoyed pasta as part of a regular Mediterranean diet had a lower BMI and smaller waist circumference.
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Enjoy gelato at La Fabbrica del Gelato
This one is a no brainer (especially if you’re visiting on a hot summer day)! Great options include Gelateria del Borgo in Bellagio or La Fabbrica Del Gelato in Lenno.
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Want more details on my girls weekend trip to Lake Como or need help planning a visit to Italy? Shoot me a comment/question below!
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