Bellagio, Lake Como in Italy, what to do, what to see?

Last update : 03/09/2023

Visiting Bellagio is a must if you’re planning to discover Lake Como. Considered by many travelers to be one of the most beautiful villages on Lake Como (and even in Italy!) you’re likely to quickly fall under its spell. On our trip, we decided to stay in Bellagio because its central position on the lake makes it easy to discover the surrounding villages by boat or ferry. For example, you’ll be around twenty minutes from Varenna, Menaggio or even Lenno and the famous Villa del Balbianello. Today, in this blog post, we’re sharing our tips and good addresses to help you figure out what to do in Bellagio. One thing’s for sure, you’re going to love visiting Bellagio!

Summary

Where to stay in Bellagio, Italy on Lake Como

Residence la Limonera

If, like us, you’d like to sleep directly in Bellagio on your next vacation in Italy, we recommend staying at Residence la Limonera. This address is very well placed in Bellagio, so you can easily reach the heart of the village in just a few minutes. An affordable address for Bellagio, which we recommend booking as far in advance as possible. As the number of hotels in Bellagio is limited, it’s hard to find good deals if you don’t make a minimum of advance arrangements.

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What to do in Bellagio, Italy on Lake Como? Our must-sees

Bellagio’s old town

We suggest you start your visit to Bellagio with the town center and its colorful little streets. This is where you can feel the soul of Bellagio! The village center is quite small, so take your time. We recommend that you start your visit to the center on Lake Como’s most iconic street, the Salita Serbelloni. As this street is so well known, it’s quickly overrun by tourists. If you have the opportunity to stay in Bellagio, don’t hesitate to start your day on this street. We went there at 8 a.m. and had the street all to ourselves!

During your visit to the center, don’t miss Piazza Della Chiesa and its St. Jacob’s Basilica, too. It’s also possible to visit the gardens of Villa Serbelloni from the square. There is only one 2-hour guided tour per day. If you’re interested we’ll let you find out more and get your tickets on the official website.

Lungolago Bellagio

Once you’ve completed your visit to the center of Bellagio, we recommend heading west. On the agenda is the Lungolago Bellagio, a long, pleasant walk offering beautiful views of Lake Como and the village of Bellagio. The walk will take you as far as Villa Melzi D’Eril, which we’ll talk about shortly. Don’t hesitate to come back for this walk at sunset, if the weather is on your side you shouldn’t regret it.

Jardins de la Villa Melzi D’Eril de Bellagio

The Gardens of Villa Melzi are a hidden treasure on the shores of Lake Como in Italy. Created in the early 19th century by Francesco Melzi d’Eril, vice-president of the Italian Republic and close friend of Napoleon Bonaparte, the gardens extend over nearly 8 hectares. They are a perfect example of Romantic landscape art, highlighting the harmonious relationship between man and nature. The gardens of Villa Melzi d’Eril are among the most beautiful on the lake, making them a must-see if you plan to visit Bellagio. Please note that it is not possible to picnic on site, and the villa is not open to the public. Admission to the gardens is €8 per person, and free for children under 12. The gardens are open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. from March to the end of October.

Where to eat in Bellagio, Italy on Lake Como? Our good addresses

Restaurant La Terrazza : nice view of the lake, but rather expensive, we recommend you go there for a drink or a pizza on the upper level. The takeaway coffees are very good!
Terrazza Barchetta: great pizzas in a small village alley. No view of the lake, but the restaurant’s atmosphere and menu are very nice!
Gelateria del Borgo: one of Bellagio’s finest ice cream parlors. If you want to enjoy an ice cream, go to this address.
Bellavita – Italian Style Street Food : Nice address if you want to eat takeaway. You’ll find pizzas, paninis, arancinis… A good idea to admire the sunset over the lake while enjoying a delicious meal!”

How to get to Bellagio in Italy on Lake Como

By car from Milan

Allow 1h30 by car to reach Bellagio from Milan. If you’d like to rent a car while you’re in Lake Como, we recommend you take a look at the RentalCars website. This will enable you to find the best prices and conditions for your rental. Just one word of advice if you’re coming to Italy by car: watch out for ZTL zones and orange parking spaces, which are zones authorized for residents only. The best places to park are those with white markings, but these are very rare. Nous vous ajoutons here’s the address of the car park where we found a free space for the duration of our stay. If you can’t find a free space, park in the blue marked pay spaces;

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By train from Milan

Bellagio is easily reached by train from Milan’s central station. Allow 1 hour on average on weekdays to make the journey to Varenna. You can then reach Bellagio by ferry in around ten minutes. The round trip will cost you €24 (€14 train and €10 ferry).

See the trains

By ferry from Como or Varenna

If on your Lake Como vacation you’re staying directly in one of the lake villages, you can easily reach Bellagio by ferry. Tickets and timetables are available from the ticket offices at the various landing stages, and we recommend that you go there in advance to make sure of the ferry crossing times and organize yourself accordingly.