Lake Como was a beautiful, romantic trip I went on in May 2023 with my boyfriend. We took the train from Rome, and had a perfect time relaxing and exploring the beauty of northern Italy. The mountains, lake, gardens and weather was all perfect and in full bloom, so going at this time is what I would recommend. It wasn't scorching hot, wasn't freezing cold, and we only got a tiny bit of rainy weather on day for maybe an hour or so. Overall, Como was beautiful and so worth it.

Knowing it can be expensive, we stayed in the Northern region of Como called Domaso, since it was more budget-friendly. It was a quiet little village, and was actually really nice. The local hotel was pretty nice, with a spa, breakfast, pool, and a very friendly staff. Since we stayed in one of the northernmost cities, we had to keep our schedule strict with the ferry. The ferry is the easiest way to get around, and it is fairly cheap. Just pay attention to the times! We spent time in Varenna, Bellagio, Lenno and Como. The main things to do in Lake Como is explore gardens and villas- which is exactly what we did!

One of the most famouse spots in Lake Como, is actually in Lenno, and is called Villa del Balbianello. This is where movie franchises such as Star Wars and James Bond have filmed scenes! It was even more beautiful in person, and it was so cool to think that I was in that exact spot when I was there! Once in Lenno, you get to the villa by either boat or hike. We opted for the hike, and it was only a few kilometers so it wasn't bad at all, and totally worth it. We also visited Villa Monastero, Gardens de Villa Mezi and other small sites around the lake.

One of the most "insta-worthy" spots (even though I think Lake Como as a whole is the most photogenic place I've been to) is the famous street in Bellagio (I have it pictured). The orange buildings and the aperitivo sign are iconic, but when I was there I understood why. Each little city in Lake Como is uniquely beautiful which is one of the reasons I loved it so much. There were so many good food spots, so many local shops, and really just soaking in the sun and looking out on the water was incredible. It was such a romantic trip, and every bit of it was picture perfect.

Recommendations & Links

Listed below are some of my favorite spots to visit, eat at, and things to do. Feel free to add these places to your itinerary! Links are in titles.

• Ferry Time Table and Tickets Definitely plan your tours and trips around these, especially if where you need to go only has a few spots.
• Villa del Balbianello A beautiful villa where you can recreate one of your favorite movie scenes!