Day 2: Milan - What to see on Lake Como: Villa Balbianello - Lenno - Bellagio - Brienno - Cernobbio - Como
Waking up at 6:30 in the morning and not knowing where we are. That is what happened to us this morning after going to bed yesterday at 2 in the morning after the flight delay and having had to go to Lake As if everything had gone as expected. But there is no harm that for good does not come, as they say, so today we get up fresh, willing to start with everything we have what to see on Lake Como sooner.
It is 7:30 when we go to breakfast at the Best Western Cavalieri Della Corona, where we find the worst breakfast service in the world. Not for how fair it can be, but for finding all the tables full of remains of the previous guests and the empty trays ... something that already makes us think that this hotel has been a success because of its proximity to the airport, but not as a place to have breakfast, at least at a little late hours like 7:30 in the morning. And it is necessary to think that these types of hotels provide service from 4:30 in the morning, so this time is practically "last minute" of breakfast and now they have little attention to having everything clean or trays with food.
After a rather scarce breakfast, we collect our bags, check out and go straight ahead to wait for the free shuttle offered by the hotel and the one we arrived with yesterday, but they directly tell us that they are all full, since only one leaves each Half an hour, which can accommodate 8 people and that unfortunately last night did not notify us. The only option we have left is to wait until 10:30 that can make us a hole or go by taxi to the airport, something that kindly They offer to manage us. Logically we are not like to stay here for 3 more hours, so we tell you to call a taxi to take us to the airport, which is only 5 minutes away, something that will charge us 25 euros according to the nice Reception girl. It is clear that the service of this 4-star hotel, located next to the airport and that supposedly offers all the comforts based on that, is not as much as they paint it, right?
More practical information to prepare your trip to Lake Como
- 10 tips to travel to Lake Como essential
The surprise we got when a normal car appears in 10 minutes, not a taxi as we requested and stressed, private hotel service. Given the time it is and with the little desire we have to discuss, we ride the cab commenting on the play and arriving at the T2 of the Milan airport in 5 minutes and charging us at the end 20 euros instead of the 25 that the girl had told us. The truth is that the hotel itself is a good option if you have to stay one night near the airport and more considering the prices of the other hotels in the area, although the services can not say that they live up to what is You can expect from a chain like this.
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Once inside the terminal we get a new surprise. Our flight arrived at T2 and it turns out that Hertz, the car rental company in Milan, is on T1, so we have to take a free bus to transfer between terminals and finally pick up the car that we It will take about 45 minutes to Como, where our trip to Lake Como will begin in 4 days.
In the end we arrive at the car rental office when they are almost 9 in the morning, and after queuing for more than 30 minutes, the truth is caused by bad organization, and do all the paperwork and photos to the car so as not to have any surprises at the time of the return, finally we start to Lake Como, which is our destination for the next few days.
We connect our new GPS, which we had to buy since ours died After the last trip we took and that he took with us from the trip to the West Coast of the United States, to Villa Balbianello, which will be our first visit of the day and that is that the villas of this area of Italy are part of the landscape of Lake Como, so we decided to visit one of the most tourist to get an idea of how they are.
Something that has us a little worried is the bad weather that is expected from tomorrow, so we decided on the way that we will make a small change of plans and today we will try to make the most of the day, enjoying everything what to see on Lake Como and so if it rains tomorrow or after, at least having known the most important places. We take the highway where we pay 2.20 euros at the toll that marks the exit of Como, from where we enter the lake, starting to see what this place really is. Today we will stay in Como, but since we have a very tight day, we have already spoken with the owner of the apartment to meet directly in the evening and so check in without wasting time now that we have just arrived.
Roads of Lake Como
We arrive at Villa Balbianello when it's 11 in the morning. Just before the entrance we find a small free parking, where we leave the car to go directly to the visit we want to do this morning.
Entrance to Villa Balbianello. What to see on Lake Como
The entrance to Villa Balbianello is found just a few meters, on the right hand side, where the two paths that lead to the villa just leave. The first is 1 kilometer and is panoramic. The second is 2 kilometers and a half, which is 45 minutes or so walking that takes you through the area, giving a detour. We choose the first one, which takes us in about 10 minutes directly to the ticket offices of Villa Balbianello where we have two options: pay to see the villa inside and the gardens that are 18 euros per person or directly pay 7 euros, which give you access only to the gardens
We decided on this last option, both for the opinions we have read, and for the time we have and access to the gardens of one of the most well-known villas on Lake Como, apart from being one of the most important gardens in Italy .
Villa Balbianello
Views of Lake Como from the gardens of Villa Balbianello
This villa was built in 1787 by Cardinal Angelo Maria Durini. At his death, Giuseppe Arconati Visconti acquired the villa, thereby improving the garden, which is known today.
Years later Villa Balbianello was abandoned until Butler Ames took her and renewed the garden again.
But Villa Balbianello still went through more owners, being bought later by Guido Monzino, who in 1988 after his death, left donated to Fund per l'Ambiente Italiano, current owner of Villa Balbianello.
Details of one of the terraces of Villa Balbianello
Apart from the gardens and the meaning of this place for the area, Villa Balbianello is also famous for having been the scene of films like Star Wars: Attack of the Clones or Casino Royale by James Bond.
Villa Balbianello
Villa Balbianello Gardens
The visit to Villa Balbianello gardens It takes us about an hour, which we take in a relaxed way, enjoying all its corners, especially from which we have stunning views of Lake Como.
Once we finish the visit we approach the town Lenno, the town where the villa is located, and where we leave the car parked where we left it this morning, to take a boat and approach the villages to see on Lake Como that we had planned for tomorrow, but that we decided and took the opportunity to visit today that the weather is good and not risk that it will rain tomorrow as the forecast says.
We take the boat that leaves at 12:30 that will take us directly to Bellagio, which is the first town what to see on Lake Como that we want to visit and where we will also take the opportunity to eat. The boat ticket costs us 18.40 euros for two people, round trip from Lenno to Bellagio, stopping before in Tremezzo and Cadenabbia, where Villa Carlota is also, another one of the Famous Lake Como villas.
Lake Como boat
Villages of Lake Como
Without a doubt, the boat on Lake Como It is one of the best ways to know the area and alternating it with the car, we believe that it is the ideal way to know this incredible area of Italy.
Tremezzo on Lake Como
Villa Carlota in Tremezzo. What to see on Lake Como
The ship takes about 20 minutes from Lenno to Bellagio And as we said, it is more than advisable since it gives us a unique perspective of Lake Como, leaving us with stunning views. And there is nothing like seeing lovely towns on the lake from the water.
Book the best rated tours and excursions in Lake Como by travelers:
- Tour of Lake Como and Bellagio
- Tour of Lake Como and Brunate
- Excursion to Lake Como and Bellagio from Milan- More excursions and tours here
Colorful on Lake Como
Peoples What to see on Lake Como
Upon arriving at Bellagio we find a charming town, with incredible little streets, which remind us in some way of the Cinque Terre villages. The first thing we do is find a restaurant where to eat, choosing the Fontana Bellagio, the sixth recommended on Tripadvisor, where we ordered as a starter a cod tartare with olive and second two pasta dishes plus soda, beer and two express for 53 euros, a price that we found more than adjusted, counting the place where we are and the prices that are shuffled.
Eating in Bellagio
After the experience we have to say that we have found it very good and highly recommended. It is clear that if we return to the area, we will definitely eat here again.
It is a quarter to 3 when we leave the restaurant ready to tour Bellagio and get lost in its beautiful streets, which although we have not yet known them thoroughly, we see that they are full of charm.
Bellagio Street
Bellagio What to see on Lake Como
Bellagio is considered the main town of Lake Como, that place you can't miss for anything in the world. With a unique atmosphere, which we could almost say that borders on the luxury of other areas of the world, which are characterized by that, Bellagio is a town to devote at least two or three hours to enjoy and explore its most beautiful corners.
Typical streets of Bellagio
Coming at this time of the year has also given us a special atmosphere and it is that Lake Como in summer is a totally different place from what you can find in winter, time of the year in which many shops and establishments close, leaving the villages a much less environment friendly, so to speak. Although if we look for the positive part it has it and we can enjoy the area almost alone.
Streets of Bellagio
In Bellagio, apart from walking, the most advisable to know the population, we recommend you go to the Piazza della Chiesa, where we find the Basilica di San Giacomo, one of the most visited places.
Right next to it there is a lovely little square, which unfortunately at this time of day is very full of cars, something that makes this area of Bellagio quite charming.
Bellagio
One of the most charming streets in Bellagio
In the end, when we realize we see that we have been walking through the town for more than an hour, at which time we decided that being already more than four in the afternoon, the time has come to take the boat again to take us back to Lenno, where we have the car parked since this morning we went to visit Villa Balbianello.
Bellagio What to see on Lake Como
Bellagio Harbor
Bellagio
We get back on the Lake Como boat, which at the moment leaves us one of Bellagio's most beautiful perspectives, this time from the water, a vision that we assure you is recorded in our retinas and it is that as much as we had read about this place, it does not cease to surprise us Every step we take.
As we mentioned earlier, take a tour of the villages of Lake Como by boatIt is undoubtedly one of the best options and it is that the perspective of the small towns and villages is so different from the water, that it is well worth enjoying them.
Lake Como
Boat on Lake Como
Without a doubt, these minutes we spent in the boat on Lake Como they leave us unforgettable images and confirm that the idea of doing tomorrow the rest of villages to see on Lake Como By boat it is a success, with which we can enjoy these postcards that leave us minute after minute with our mouths open.
Lake Como
We arrive in Lenno when a few minutes past 5:00 p.m. and while we travel through the port area on the way to the car, we take the opportunity to take a couple of handmade sides for five euros, which give us enough energy to continue with this first day of the trip to Lake Como. Once in the car and on the way to Como, we decided that before we will make some stop on the road, first in Brienno another of the villages of Lake Como What we wanted to visit and what we will do now that we are going in that direction.
Road along Lake Como
We parked the car a few meters outside of Brienno, where there are free parking spaces and non residents, it is necessary to take special care since the parkings of residents are yellow and we walk through this lovely pub for about 30 minutes in which, apart from taking a walk through the center, we go down to the port area, where the jetty is and from where the people's perspectives are lovely.
Brienno What to see on Lake Como
From here and when it is a little after six in the afternoon we go to Como, where we will stay the next days in the apartment that has only given us apartments these days, although before we can not avoid making a brief stop in Cernobbio , another of the towns that we wanted to visit and that we cannot resist being so close.
We parked directly in the blue zone, in the center of the town, where we only paid 0.20 euros for half an hour, something that really surprises us since we thought that this area of Lake Como would be much more expensive, especially in the area of parking , something that as far as we can see was totally wrong on our part.
Although Cernobbio would give for a good while more, we focus on the part of the jetty, very lively at this time of the afternoon, from where you have a beautiful perspective, both of the town and the surroundings, with the jetty in the first line.
Cernobbio What to see on Lake Como
From here and being late in the afternoon, we are heading to Como, our last destination of the day, where we arrive in 10 minutes or so, directly entering the parking lot of what will be our accommodation at Lake Como here, the B&B Al Porticciolo di Sant'Agostino.
After getting settled and taking a shower, we must bear in mind that contrary to what it may seem, we have been practically all day passing 30 degrees, it's time to go out to dinner. We always look at Tripadvisor and see that right in front of our accommodation we have a Japanese restaurant, the Kazan Sushi, also highly recommended, so without thinking too much, there we go, wishing to have dinner and rest after having had a most complete day . We ordered a varied one, which includes tuna tartare plus several rolls dishes, more water and soda for 41 euros, a more than adjusted price, taking into account the place where we are.
Having dinner in Como
It's almost 11 at night when we return to the apartment totally exhausted. We have to say that we are bursting and that is that after having slept very few hours today due to the delay of the flight yesterday and the very complete day of today, we do not see the moment of taking the bed and above all, taking strength for tomorrow to continue discovering the impressive Lake of Como
Day 3: Como - Boat trip on Lake Como: Varenna, Menaggio, Nesso - Como
