Lake Como in two days allows doing Como city, Bellagio or Varenna and Villa Carlotta in a relaxed way. Italy's deepest lake (410m, 146 km²) and the most elegant — 19th-century noble villas, botanical gardens with palms and magnolias, colourful villages on the water. From Milan Centrale by train: 40 min to Como (€5.50) or 55 min to Varenna (€7.30, direct train). Lake navigation (Navigazione Laghi, daily ticket €18.50) connects all villages. Avoid the SS340 in summer — use the ferries.
Day 1 — Como and Bellagio
Como (centre): the Gothic-Renaissance Cathedral (15th-18th century, interior with Flemish tapestries, free entry), the Broletto (13th century), the lakefront. Steamer to Bellagio (1h from Como, €7.50, every 30 min) — the lake's most beautiful village: Salita Serbelloni with silk shops and restaurants, Villa Serbelloni (gardens by booking €10), the belvedere overlooking the three lake branches. Ferry to Varenna (10 min from Bellagio, €4.80 — or train from Milan 55 min, €7.30): Villa Monastero (€7), Castello di Vezio (€4, 15 min on foot), the Passeggiata degli Innamorati.
Day 2 — Villa Carlotta and Tremezzo
Villa Carlotta (Tremezzo, ferry from Bellagio 15 min, €13, open March-November) is the lake's main visit — 70,000 sqm of botanical gardens with 600 varieties of rhododendrons and azaleas (flowering April-May), camellias, wisteria, tropical plants. The villa holds Canova sculptures (original plaster of Amor and Psyche) and Thorvaldsen. Lenno (5km from Tremezzo, ferry) has Villa del Balbianello (garden entry €10 or €22 with villa, only by boat or on foot, location of Casino Royale and Star Wars Episode II — the lake's most photographed villa). Varenna in the evening: the lakefront fish restaurants are among the lake's best and least expensive.
Practical tips
Villa Carlotta in April-May with azaleas and rhododendrons in bloom is one of northern Italy's most beautiful natural spectacles
Varenna (direct train from Milan, 55 min) is more authentic than Bellagio and cheaper — better base for those arriving by train
Villa del Balbianello in Lenno (Casino Royale) is only reached by boat or on foot — book online
Plan your Lake Como weekend
Bellagio, Villa Carlotta and Varenna — tailored itinerary in 5 minutes.
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