Bellagio: getting there and what to see in the pearl of the lake
Car ferries from Varenna and Menaggio, boats from Como, the stepped lanes, Villa Melzi and Punta Spartivento: a practical guide to Bellagio.
Redazione Lovecomo12 November 2026
min read2
Bellagio sits at the tip of the promontory that splits the lake into the Como and Lecco branches. You can explore it on foot in a few hours, between stone stepped lanes, shops and gardens, and it is the heart of the mid-lake.
Getting there
- By car ferry: from Varenna, Menaggio and Cadenabbia, with frequent sailings all year; the easiest option, even for a day trip.
- From Como: by boat or hydrofoil, stopping at the villages on the west shore.
- By car: from Como along the narrow, slow road on the east side of the Como branch, or from Lecco; parking in the village is limited.
- By train: to Varenna-Esino on the Milan-Lecco-Tirano line, then the ferry.
What to see
- The stepped lanes: between the lakefront and the Romanesque basilica of San Giacomo.
- Punta Spartivento: where the three branches of the lake meet.
- Villa Melzi: lakeside gardens, open in the warmer months.
- Villa Serbelloni: the park on the hill, with guided tours.
Good to know
In summer and at weekends the village is very busy: early morning and evening are the loveliest times. The market is on the third Wednesday of the month.
