The Charming Village That is Every part an Italian Lake City Ought to Be

When you lastly attain Bellagio, set as it’s on the tip of a sharp landmass in the midst of Lake Como, the very first thing that will strike you is how small it’s, particularly given its larger-than-life fame. That is the city — calling it a metropolis could be an overstatement — that’s wowed Roman emperors, Austrian archdukes, Romantic poets, Fascist dictators, and, extra just lately, an ample mixture of Hollywood glitterati, the outdated moneyed crowd and a brand new era of vacationers. It actually did encourage Steve Wynn to construct Bellagio in Las Vegas, and it truly is as lovely as everybody says it’s.

Bellagio squeezes all this magnificence into just some sq. miles, an space that’s smaller nonetheless in case you simply depend its borgo, the outdated city that consists of a splendid lakefront and a handful of car-free stone lanes related by staircases and alleys. Surrounding it on three sides is Lake Como, with the snow-capped Prealps, or Southern Alps, looming giant within the distance.

The Pearl of Lake Como is a valuable place certainly, particularly in case you take sufficient time to discover it correctly, says Jan Bucher, proprietor of Grand Lodge Villa Serbelloni. Whereas many guests simply pour off the ferry boat for a go to of some hours, Bucher says Bellagio deserves “three or 4 days to permit time for boat rides, hikes, and visiting the gorgeous villas on the lake.” Our Riva boat pilot Matteo, a lifelong resident of Bellagio, says the magic hour is early within the morning, earlier than ferry passengers begin to arrive, or after 6 p.m., when most of them have departed. And take it from this latest convert: Linger over one elegant sundown in Bellagio, and also you’ll be left wanting extra.

Finest Inns and Resorts

Grand Lodge Villa Serbelloni

Bellagio’s solely five-star lodge (at the least till the Ritz Carlton opens in 2026), Journey + Leisure reader favourite Grand Lodge Villa Serbelloni is the undisputed woman of the lake, with a gorgeously detailed grand salon, a top-notch meals and beverage program, indoor and outside swimming pools, and a setting that’s nothing in need of transcending. Balcony rooms with lake views are well worth the splurge.

Belvedere Bellagio

In a secluded backyard setting a brief stroll from Bellagio’s outdated city, Belvedere Bellagio feels a world away from the high-season hubbub down on the lake. Ethereal visitor rooms are fashionable however not soulless, and lots of open onto non-public patios. For a lake repair, the lodge steers visitors right down to Pescallo, the serene little village reverse the busier shore.

Lodge du Lac

Household-run Lodge du Lac has a surprisingly lengthy checklist of facilities, together with a well-equipped spa space and a sidewalk restaurant. However the actual gem is its roof terrace, the place breakfast is served and cocktails are sipped. When you can forego the lake view, rooms overlooking the village are a relative discount.

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Finest Issues to Do

Go to the gardens and villas.

A number of of Lake Como’s historic villas at the moment are non-public or state-run museums with surprisingly nice artwork collections, resplendent gardens, and, in fact, these views. Closest to Bellagio is I Giardini di Villa Melzi, which Bucher calls “essentially the most lovely botanical backyard in northern Italy.”

Hop on a ferry.

From Bellagio’s important ferry dock, cross the lake to Cadenabbia, from the place Villa Carlotta, the lake’s most well-known, is only a brief stroll, or head to quieter Menaggio or busy Varenna, with its lengthy lakefront promenade. Fares and schedules are at Navigazione Laghi.

Rent a personal boat.

Cruise the lake in type on a modern Riva boat with a personal driver and information, who will take you previous the historic villas, together with Villa del Balbianello, which you may acknowledge from “On line casino Royale” and “Star Wars: Episode II.” Taxi Boat Service is the official vendor for Grand Lodge Villa Serbelloni.

Discover Bellagio’s different villages.

Our water taxi driver, Matteo, lives in a frazione, one of many dozens of smaller villages that lie outdoors Bellagio correct, however are nonetheless a part of the bigger city. In these piccoli borghi, like Loppia, San Giovanni, and Pescallo, he says, you’ll discover the tranquility and neighborly vibe of native communities and a slice of each day life.

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Finest Buying

La Bottega del Legno di Mario Tacchi

Unleash your childhood sense of surprise on this 170-year-old artisan workshop, the place wood toys, hand-carved and -painted trays, kitchen instruments, ornaments, and ornamental objects vie for shelf area.  

Castelletti Bellagio

Whether or not it’s a flowy costume, a wise pantsuit, or a wool blazer for cool fall days, an elegant ensemble from this ladies’s clothier will enable you to deliver dwelling a few of that easy class Italian ladies appear to embody.

Bellagioseta

The handmade leather-based baggage, sneakers, belts, and equipment plus silk ties, scarves, and blouses at this attractive boutique all provide made-in-Italy high quality and one-of-a-kind gadgets to recall your journey to Bellagio.

Finest Eating places

Mistral

The fine-dining venue of Grand Lodge Villa Serbelloni has an overwhelmingly romantic setting, loads of pomp and presentation, elaborate platings, and costs to match. Signature dishes of lobster linguine with cognac and liquid nitrogen ice cream are ready tableside.

Trattoria Baita Belvedere

On a single-lane street excessive above Bellagio, this down-to-earth trattoria is consolation meals central. Whereas most dishes are land-based and heavy on meat, Bucher is a fan of their polenta unta, a neighborhood specialty of polenta served with fried smelt from the lake.

Ristorante Alle Darsene di Loppia

One other upscale selection for lakeside eating, this chef-led restaurant occupies a former boathouse, or darsena, within the village of Loppia, simply south of the Melzi backyard. Reserve early for an out of doors desk.

Gelateria del Borgo

When you think about gelato a meals group (at the least when you’re in Italy), head to this fashionable spot proper on By way of Giuseppe Garibaldi, Bellagio’s important drag. It additionally sells desserts, paninis, and different treats, however do not miss the gelato. Then, come again the following day as a result of the flavors may have modified.

Finest Time to Go to

As with so many locations in Italy, Bellagio’s excessive season months of July and August are more and more scorching and crowded. Our specialists each cited April and Could and September to November as the most effective occasions to go to for cooler temps and extra elbow room. When you’re intent on swimming (I attempted it in June and it was chilly), lake waters is perhaps cleaner within the spring, earlier than a full season of intense boat visitors. Many lodges, eating places, and nonessential outlets shut from November to March, and ferry service is lowered, so in case you go to on this interval, count on a quiet ambiance.

From late June to early August, the Bellagio Pageant presents a collection of free or low-cost classical music concert events at venues in Bellagio and elsewhere on the lake.

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Easy methods to Get There

Bellagio is reachable by automobile from the route of Como or Lecco, by way of roads that get more and more slim and curvy the nearer you get to city. When you desire to journey with no automobile, you can even take a ferry from Como, Lecco, or different factors on both facet of the lake which might be served by trains. Lake ferries are operated by Navigazione Laghi, which has schedules and charges on its web site. A automobile ferry connects Bellagio and Varenna, on the lake’s japanese shore.

Worldwide vacationers arriving by aircraft will possible land at Milan’s Malpensa Airport. Smaller Milan Linate and Milan Bergamo airports deal with principally home and intra-Europe flights.

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Easy methods to Get Round

After just lately driving to Bellagio on the slim coastal street, right here’s my take: Skip the automobile in case you can. Or, at the least park it and plan to see a lot of the sights on foot or by way of ferries, water taxis, or native taxis. Have in mind Bellagio heart is a ZTL, or restricted visitors zone, the place you’ll be able to solely drive in case you’re going to your lodge inside that zone. In any other case, depart the automobile in one of many paid tons on the sting of city and stroll in from there.

Lake ferries are essentially the most inexpensive transportation possibility, with daylong passes at the moment priced at €23.30 (about $25 USD) per particular person, and about half that for teenagers ages 4 to 11. A one-way ticket from Como to Bellagio is €10.40 (about $11 USD) per particular person. In peak season, ferries could promote out. Count on to pay €100 and up — means up, relying on size and distance — for a personal water taxi, switch, or boat tour.