La guida di Sofia
What to see
Villa Carlotta is definitely a place to see when visiting the area! Located in Tremezzo, in a panoramic position with lovely views on the lake and the mountains, it's one of the most popular villas of Lake Como surrounded by a massive botanical garden which is a work of art. The variety of species and colors, the mix of colors and cuts are just a wonder for the eyes. Flowers smells reach delicately your nose. You think you're on Como lake and suddenly you feel you're in the jungle. It's a must see especially during the blossom period which is definitely the best time to soak up the scents these beautiful gardens can offer!
There's a picnic area inside, a café and also a museum inside the villa. It also hosts many artistic events, exhibitions and summer night concerts.
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Villa Carlotta
2 Via ReginaVilla Carlotta is definitely a place to see when visiting the area! Located in Tremezzo, in a panoramic position with lovely views on the lake and the mountains, it's one of the most popular villas of Lake Como surrounded by a massive botanical garden which is a work of art. The variety of species and colors, the mix of colors and cuts are just a wonder for the eyes. Flowers smells reach delicately your nose. You think you're on Como lake and suddenly you feel you're in the jungle. It's a must see especially during the blossom period which is definitely the best time to soak up the scents these beautiful gardens can offer!
There's a picnic area inside, a café and also a museum inside the villa. It also hosts many artistic events, exhibitions and summer night concerts.
VILLA DEL BALBIANELLO - one of the most popular villas of Lake Como and is a MUST SEE in every season. There are two ways to arrive at the villa. The first is by land, takes you around 20 mins to walk up a hill. The second is by motorboat from the village of Lenno. The villa is closed on Mondays and Wednesdays. You can buy a ticket to visit the villa and its gardens or just the gardens, which are the most stunning aspects of the property with winding walkways lined with flower-filled urns, greenery, manicured trees, and beautiful statues, all with dramatic lake views, together with the loggia, perched on a rise above the house with glorious views up and down the lake.
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Lenno
VILLA DEL BALBIANELLO - one of the most popular villas of Lake Como and is a MUST SEE in every season. There are two ways to arrive at the villa. The first is by land, takes you around 20 mins to walk up a hill. The second is by motorboat from the village of Lenno. The villa is closed on Mondays and Wednesdays. You can buy a ticket to visit the villa and its gardens or just the gardens, which are the most stunning aspects of the property with winding walkways lined with flower-filled urns, greenery, manicured trees, and beautiful statues, all with dramatic lake views, together with the loggia, perched on a rise above the house with glorious views up and down the lake.
What to do
it's a path 10km long passing through the villages of Griante, Tremezzo, Mezzegra, Lenno, Ossuccio, Sala Comacina and Colonno-to discover secondry paths, hidden corners and wonderful views of each little village that wouldn't be noticed otherwise. Signs are scattered but cautiously located in strategic places so can follow the path. Most guides devide the walk in 5 parts so you can decide to do it all or just part of it!
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Camino Verde del Lago de Como
Via Luigi Civettait's a path 10km long passing through the villages of Griante, Tremezzo, Mezzegra, Lenno, Ossuccio, Sala Comacina and Colonno-to discover secondry paths, hidden corners and wonderful views of each little village that wouldn't be noticed otherwise. Signs are scattered but cautiously located in strategic places so can follow the path. Most guides devide the walk in 5 parts so you can decide to do it all or just part of it!
A Boat trip to Bellagio is A MUST! - take a glance at some of the most luxurious villas and hotels on Como Lake during your boat trip then visit the picturesque village, which has kept spots of its old Liberty mood, and displays intriguing shops for a souvenir of the lake. There you can enjoy a lunch with typical lake produce, as well as a stroll along the vibrant gardens of Villa Melzi.
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Bellagio
A Boat trip to Bellagio is A MUST! - take a glance at some of the most luxurious villas and hotels on Como Lake during your boat trip then visit the picturesque village, which has kept spots of its old Liberty mood, and displays intriguing shops for a souvenir of the lake. There you can enjoy a lunch with typical lake produce, as well as a stroll along the vibrant gardens of Villa Melzi.
Isola Comacina is the only island of Lake Como, you can reach it by private taxi boat (€7 pp return ticket) departing from the medieval complex of Santa Maria Maddalena or with the Lake Como public navigation company. There is an extra fee if you want to visit the museum too. The walk around the island is peaceful, with lovely views and there are pic nic areas too. There are Roman ruins and a church at the top of the hill and the only restaurant on the island!
If you want just to spend a nice relaxing day in the nature, then it's a perfect option.
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Isola Comacina
Isola Comacina is the only island of Lake Como, you can reach it by private taxi boat (€7 pp return ticket) departing from the medieval complex of Santa Maria Maddalena or with the Lake Como public navigation company. There is an extra fee if you want to visit the museum too. The walk around the island is peaceful, with lovely views and there are pic nic areas too. There are Roman ruins and a church at the top of the hill and the only restaurant on the island!
If you want just to spend a nice relaxing day in the nature, then it's a perfect option.
Th Sacro Monte di Ossuccio is a Unesco Heritage, a beautiful pleasant walk, with beautiful lake views consisting of 14 chapels, containing tableaux of the life of Jesus. At the back of the Sanctuary is a trattoria with excellent home cooking. It's not too long a climb but steep. The views alone are worth the climb.
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Sacro Monte della Beata Vergine del Soccorso - Ossuccio
Via SantuarioTh Sacro Monte di Ossuccio is a Unesco Heritage, a beautiful pleasant walk, with beautiful lake views consisting of 14 chapels, containing tableaux of the life of Jesus. At the back of the Sanctuary is a trattoria with excellent home cooking. It's not too long a climb but steep. The views alone are worth the climb.
9 euros per couple takes you on a cable car 900 feet high to Pigra and some breathtaking views of Lake Como. There are different trails and paths to sample while up there too and a couple of restaurants as well. A simple but must-see addition to your Lake Como stay.
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Funivia Pigra Argegno station
9 Via alla Funivia 9 euros per couple takes you on a cable car 900 feet high to Pigra and some breathtaking views of Lake Como. There are different trails and paths to sample while up there too and a couple of restaurants as well. A simple but must-see addition to your Lake Como stay.
Varenna is an essential stop for anyone wishing to visit one of the most typical and quite towns of the lake. It has a pretty walkway looping through the town, a nice harbour, restaurants and cafés and romantic medieval lanes.
Things to do in Varenna: take a stroll along the "walk of love". have a waterfront Aperitivo, visit Villa Cipressi, Villa Monastero and its gardens and hike to the Castle of Vezio .
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Varenna
Varenna is an essential stop for anyone wishing to visit one of the most typical and quite towns of the lake. It has a pretty walkway looping through the town, a nice harbour, restaurants and cafés and romantic medieval lanes.
Things to do in Varenna: take a stroll along the "walk of love". have a waterfront Aperitivo, visit Villa Cipressi, Villa Monastero and its gardens and hike to the Castle of Vezio .
Where to eat
Good for pizza but also pasta meat and fish dishes. Possibility for outdoor dining.
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Ristorante Pizzeria Il Cris
13 Via Armando DiazGood for pizza but also pasta meat and fish dishes. Possibility for outdoor dining.
Tucked away in a lovely old building, stop here to enjoy authentic local cuisine, prepared using the highest quality seasonal produce. Booking is recommended :)
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Antica Trattoria del Risorgimento
8 Via Sant'AbbondioTucked away in a lovely old building, stop here to enjoy authentic local cuisine, prepared using the highest quality seasonal produce. Booking is recommended :)
Family run restaurant serving lake como traditional dishes. For the summer seasons the Locanda has a cozy gardenwhere you can enjoy the local specialties in the shade of linden trees. It has a typical stone cellar with an extensive wine list. Good for dinner and lunch.
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Il Grifo
19 Via Mattia del RiccioFamily run restaurant serving lake como traditional dishes. For the summer seasons the Locanda has a cozy gardenwhere you can enjoy the local specialties in the shade of linden trees. It has a typical stone cellar with an extensive wine list. Good for dinner and lunch.
Ristorante Lenno in a beautiful location on Lenno's lake front, 1 minute from the harbour. Book the veranda and enjoy a lake front star meal!
Albergo Lenno
Ristorante Lenno in a beautiful location on Lenno's lake front, 1 minute from the harbour. Book the veranda and enjoy a lake front star meal!
Great at anytime of the day, serving breakfast, Italian or continental, Spritz, wine and pizza.
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Lido di Ossuccio
Via SomalvicoGreat at anytime of the day, serving breakfast, Italian or continental, Spritz, wine and pizza.
Offers a seasonal selection of local dishes and has a lovely lake view terrace
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Osteria al Vecchio Bacucco
8 Via SantuarioOffers a seasonal selection of local dishes and has a lovely lake view terrace
Places to stop
At the top of the list among the free beaches in the area is the beach in OSSUCCIO:
the public park “Ospedaletto”, one of the most popular beaches during the summer season; the access is free and close there is a kiosk opened also during the night with music and entertainment. It is near the bell tower of the Church Santa Maria Maddalena. Next to the area there are several parking areas. From the dock you can catch the boat to the Comacina Island. Relax in front of Comacina island, or stop for an Italian Spritz in a relaxed atmosphere lake front!
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Lido di Ossuccio
Via SomalvicoAt the top of the list among the free beaches in the area is the beach in OSSUCCIO:
the public park “Ospedaletto”, one of the most popular beaches during the summer season; the access is free and close there is a kiosk opened also during the night with music and entertainment. It is near the bell tower of the Church Santa Maria Maddalena. Next to the area there are several parking areas. From the dock you can catch the boat to the Comacina Island. Relax in front of Comacina island, or stop for an Italian Spritz in a relaxed atmosphere lake front!
The Teresio Olivelli park (also known as Parco Meier) located in Tremezzo is a beautiful place to stop either after a visit at Villa Carlotta or to relax after walking the Greenway, plenty of room to unwind in front of the lake, you can also go for a swim or have a drink and the café located inside. Not only a relaxing place where to take a walk, but it is the heart of all the cultural and artistic activities, as well as a place of entertainment thanks to the presence of a bar and beach.
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Parque Teresio Olivelli
47 Via StataleThe Teresio Olivelli park (also known as Parco Meier) located in Tremezzo is a beautiful place to stop either after a visit at Villa Carlotta or to relax after walking the Greenway, plenty of room to unwind in front of the lake, you can also go for a swim or have a drink and the café located inside. Not only a relaxing place where to take a walk, but it is the heart of all the cultural and artistic activities, as well as a place of entertainment thanks to the presence of a bar and beach.
Located at the end of Lenno's lake front promenade and on the Greenway Path, this pretty kiosk is a nice spot to stop by for a waterfront aperitivo, a coffee or a snack. It's next to a lovely free beach where you can rent sun beds and deck chairs for major comfort!
Chiosco Di Venere
23 Via Lungo LagoLocated at the end of Lenno's lake front promenade and on the Greenway Path, this pretty kiosk is a nice spot to stop by for a waterfront aperitivo, a coffee or a snack. It's next to a lovely free beach where you can rent sun beds and deck chairs for major comfort!
Where to go
The moment you walk off the ferry at Varenna, you'll find yourself in a special place. The town is above the lake reached by taking one of many stairways to the main piazza.
Wander along the stone walkway along the lake passing cafes, boutique hotels, postage stamp sized parks with benches enjoy a coffee or an aperitivo and fall in love with the lake!
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Varenna
The moment you walk off the ferry at Varenna, you'll find yourself in a special place. The town is above the lake reached by taking one of many stairways to the main piazza.
Wander along the stone walkway along the lake passing cafes, boutique hotels, postage stamp sized parks with benches enjoy a coffee or an aperitivo and fall in love with the lake!
Wineries and local produces
Cantina Follie
16 Via Alessandro VoltaLe Specialità Lariane - Bottega Tremezzina
Local produces including wine an olive oil
winery and local produces great location for an aperitivo or lunch on the lake
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Da Luciano - Bottega e Caffe'
61 Via Vecchia Reginawinery and local produces great location for an aperitivo or lunch on the lake
Bistrò Argegno
37 Via Cacciatori delle AlpiGo for a wine tasting tour and stop by for lunch or dinner in this beautiful location
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Azienda Agricola Sorsasso Lago di Como
1/bis Località GaggioGo for a wine tasting tour and stop by for lunch or dinner in this beautiful location
Consejos para los viajeros
Reserva antes de marcharte
Book your visit at Villa Balbianello in advance
Parking is available nearby, you can reach the villa either on foot or by taxi boat
Desplazamientos
It's always best to have a car to get around.
Most of our homes are located above the main road uphill. Can be tiring for some walking up and down on a daily base.
On the main road you can take the bus line C10 that runs all along the main road Strada Statale Regina from Como to Colico. Tickets can be bough at the newsagent's.
Boats to explore the lake are available in Lenno or Cadenabbia (fast rout to Menaggio, Bellagio and Varenna).
Don't rely on local taxis to get about. They always need to be booked in advance.