Our Lake Como, City of Milan and Bergamo Italy Visit: Day 1 and 2

Unfortunately our flight to Bergamo was canceled with less than 24 hours before departure. After our arrival in Italy, we spent the first day in navigating our way to Lake Como, instead of visiting picturesque villages like Menaggio, Bellagio or Varenna, with their famous villas and gardens – like Villa Serbelloni Gardens – and enjoying la dolce vita relaxing at lake shore restaurants . The flight was canceled because of a strike of the Italian airport workers scheduled in various airports in Italy. This never happened to us before.

Flight Cancellation and Unexpected Journey to Lake Como, Italy

With difficulty we managed to find another flight to get to Italy, but this one landed in Pisa, which is quite far from Menaggio, Lake Como. Moreover, the plane tickets were quite expensive for being bought last minute. So in a very short time we had to do our best to make an itinerary that would work. We struggled to find suitable train connections. We changed 3 trains and spend quite a serious amount of money to get in time to the accommodation we had booked and paid for in Menaggio.

To begin with, from Pisa airport we took the tram – People Mover service to Pisa train station – 5 euros per person. Then, from there we boarded a train to Florence – 8 euros per person, and from there another train, a very fast and expensive one to Milan – 60 euros per person, passing through Bologna, and then another train – a very nice one heading to Lugano – 9 euros per person, and we got off at Como San Giovanni. Then we took a taxi to get fast to Argegno – 50 euros and then finally the C10 bus to Menaggio – 5 euros per person.

So, we spent all day in trains and train stations, buses and bus stations, a taxi and finally got to our accommodation in Menaggio, late at night and very tired. Sadly we had to adjust our itineraries and maybe a little also the budget planned for the following days.

Day 2 – Exploring Menaggio on Lake Como, Italy

Arrival at the accommodation in Menaggio

Because our first day at Lake Como was wasted on the transfer from the airport to the accommodation, we got very tired. And the next day we woke up late and had to start an adjusted itinerary. First we decided to have lunch at a restaurant in Menaggio and then take the ferry in order to get to Bellagio, just across Lake Como.

We stayed for 3 nights at a budget hostel, Lake Como Peace Lodge. It costed us only 160 euros, but we booked it with 6 months in advance. Although if was a hostel, the room we booked had a private bathroom. Moreover, breakfast was included and the accommodation was on a hill and thus offering beautiful views of the lake.

Walking from Lake Como Peace Lodge to Menaggio Center

In order to get from the accommodation to the main road we had to go down a little on Via Monsignor E. Poletti and pass by Casa di Riposo Giardino degli Ulivi. From there we could see Menaggio town center in the distance, Lake Como and also the bump of Bellagio.

We continued ahead and then descended the stairs on the left, passed by some houses and then descended a second flight of stairs. We went towards left and got to Lake Como Youth Hostel La Primula, where the main reception of our accommodation was.

Lunch at Dal Tato Restaurant in Menaggio – Lake Como Views

Eventually, we got to the main road, Via IV Novembre, crossed the street, passed by the ferry stop, saw Grand Hotel Menaggio on the right. At the first intersection we kept right on Via IV Novembre and found Dal Tato restaurant, ex. Ristorante La Conca situated on the lake. So, we stopped there for lunch on their beautiful terrace. We had lemon sodas, Ravioli di lago burro e salvia – ravioli filled with lake fish, butter and sage, Milano con patatine fritte – breaded meat with French fries. The food was very tasty, and, moreover, the lemon soda was a surprising discovery. The total price was around 40 euros, but it was definitely worth it.

Moreover, as you can see in the pictures bellow, the views of Lake Como from the restaurant were amazing.

Ferry from Menaggio to Bellagio on Lake Como, Italy

Then, after lunch we went to the ferry stop and bought our one way traghetto tickets to Bellagio.

There were two departing points, so we asked around to be certain from were to board the ferry we needed in order to get to Bellagio.

On board the ferry we chose to sit on the outside seats on the upper level in order to enjoy the views.

The tickets costed 4.6 euros per person and we got to Bellagio in 15 minutes.

Bellagio – The Pearl of Lake Como, Italy

We finally got off at the ferry stop in Bellagio. As most of the attractions are located in Bellagio within walking distance, thus we started our stroll along the lakeshore. First we went towards north on Via Lungo Lario Manzoni. In the picture bellow you can see the touristic train that stops at the main sights in Bellagio. It is a good alternative if you don’t feel like walking.

Strolling Along Via Lungo Lario Manzoni

We saw Restaurant La Terrazza on the left and then Bellagio Bar Pizzeria Splendide on the right – also having a large terrace from which to enjoy breathtaking views of Lake Como.

Then forward on Lungo Lario Manzoni on the right side there are Gelateria Excelsior and Bar Sanremo.

We kept ahead and at the intersection we found the famous Salita Serbelloni – the Serbelloni steps starting on the right and climbing up to the old town center.

But the iconic view of the Serbelloni steps is the one from the upper end of the stairs, not from the bottom. So we didn’t climb the stairs, but instead we kept forward on Via Lungo Lario Manzoni and passed through an arched way and got to Piazza Giuseppe Mazzini and then on the left side we found Hotel Metropole Bellagio with its terrace facing the lake.

Piazza Giuseppe Mazzini and Bellagio Lakefront

Then continuing forward at Piazza Giuseppe Mazzini we saw the beautiful restaurants facing Lake Como, full of people enjoying lunch and the Italian “dolce far niente”: Hotel Restaurant Suisse, next to it Bar Pasticceria Rossi, and then NANDO – ex Carillon, restaurant-pizzeria with a large outdoor garden on the lakefront, and Hotel du Lac.

In front of Hotel du Lac there is the second ferry stop – Imbarcadero. From there you can board ferries to other directions than Menaggio.

Just before the street turned right we could see Hotel Florence and Restaurant de l’ hotel Florence, with its charming terrace on Lake Como.

As Via Lungo Lario Manzoni and Piazza Giuseppe Mazzini end, the road continues to the right and it’s now called Via Roma.

Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni – Luxury by Lake Como, Italy

At the intersection there is the entrance to Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni; you can see it in the picture below.

The famous 5-star Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni is set on a promontory extending into Lake Como. The hotel dates from 1850. It also has some beautiful Italian gardens. Its amenities consist of 3 bars and 2 refined restaurants – Ristorante La Goletta situated in front of the pool, with average prices: 20 euros a course, 10 euros a pizza or dessert, and Ristorante Mistral a one Michelin star restaurant, with prices between 40 – 90 euros a course, There’s also a spa, a pool, a fitness center and tennis courts.

Piazza della Chiesa and Basilica di San Giacomo

Then back in Via Roma, we went up the road and turned right at the intersection. Further on Via Roma we arrived in Piazza della Chiesa, with its Basilica of St. Giacomo, Romanesque church dating since the 11th century.

Villa Serbelloni’s park could only be visited on guided tours. There were only 2 visits scheduled, one leaving at 11 am and the other one at 3.30 pm. The guided tours were starting from the Promobellagio Office situated into the medieval tower in the St. Giacomo square.

We had booked our tickets for the 3.30 pm tour. The price was 10 euros per person. We got there an hour before and went to Promobellagio Office to announce our arrival. Then we continued our stroll through the Borgo neighborhood – the historic center of Bellagio, having plenty of time to explore the old narrow streets.

Exploring Bellagio Old Town and Local Shops

So, from Piazza della Chiesa, we continued south on Via Giuseppe Garibaldi and found many shops selling local foodsand also leather goods, clothes, perfumes, souvenirs. Even if it is a main street, it is a narrow one. There are always many people strolling at almost any time of the day, doing some shopping, and also sitting at the tables set outside the many restaurants and bars. Also, there are some cars passing, so you have to pay attention and get out of their way. Don’t worry it’s no different from any other charming Italian old town street.

From this main street we could see the many alleys descending to the lakefront, many of them consisting of stairs. These alleys are also full of shops and restaurants. At the 3rd intersection with an alley descending to the lakeshore we saw Bar Ristorante Vecchio Borgo on the right and Gelateria del Borgo on the left.

Further, also on the right was Da Caio shop selling Italian specialties: sweets, pasta, truffles, Italian wine and liquors, local olive oil, cold sandwiches and take-away dishes, picnic baskets; and Macelleria Salumeria Butti Enrici – selling selected Italian meats, typical regional smoked meats, Italian cheeses, Italian wine and grappa. We entered these two stores because my husband was looking for a ‘porchetta’ sandwich. The reason why we couldn’t find some, I think was because porchetta it’s a specialty found only in the Lazio area – Rome and Castelli Romani. My husband was carving for a good porchetta like the ones he tasted in Rome and in Nemi but no way to find some here in Bellagio.

Bellagio’s Famous Serbelloni Steps

Then we continued forward and we got to the intersection with the famous Salita Serbelloni. We went down a little because we wanted to capture some nice pictures of this iconic Bellagio stairway street.

Scalotta per Pescallo

Afterwards, back on the same Via Giuseppe Garibaldi we continued forward South and at the next intersection we found Bellagio City Hall and Chiesa di San Giorgio on the right. On the left there were the stairs that led to Pescallo – the nice Scalotta per Pescallo.

We thought to continue our itinerary towards Pescallo hamlet – the old fishing village located southeast of the promontory. The stepped pathways – Salita Cappuccini continued then by Scalotta per Pescallo, would have taken us there in about 10 – 15 minutes. But we would had to be very fast in order to get in time back to Piazza della Chisa for the guided tour of Villa Serbelloni’s park. And being a little tired – maybe not because of the walking, but more because of the heat, sadly we decided to skip this part of the itinerary.

Coffee Break in Piazza della Chiesa and the Guided Tour of Villa Serbelloni’s Park

At that time we still had around 30 minutes before the tour started and wanted to sit somewhere in the shade and have a refreshing drink in order to cool down. So we were searching for a bar, given that the restaurants closed after lunch around 3 pm and wouldn’t open again until dinner time, around 6.30 pm the earliest. So, back in Piazza della Chiesa, we stopped at Caffè Bar Sport. We sat outside at a table just in front of St. Giacomo church. We had some good espresso and orange juice. I don’t recall the prices, but it were some very reasonable ones. There wasn’t even a coperto fee. The location was also great for people watching.

Finally our tour started. The entrance to Parco di Villa Serbelloni it’s in the back of St. Giacomo church. Our guide was very nice, she told us the history of Villa Serbelloni and it’s gardens.

The world famous Villa Serbelloni is a luxury hotel built in the 15th century. It is currently owned by the Rockefeller Foundation. It’s on the lakeside. If you’re not a guest of the villa, you cannot visit the interior. However, you can book a visit and enjoy a walk into the park and gardens that surround the villa. There are 18 km of avenues and paths that allow the visitor to admire the large quantity of plants, including rare plants, which grow on the terraces sloping down towards the lake. Moreover, the garden offers great views of the Como and Lecco branches of the lake. The villa has hosted famous people: Leonardo da Vinci, Emperor Maximillian I, Queen Victoria.

Views and Experience from the Villa Serbelloni Tour on Lake Como, Italy

The guide also told us about the other sights of Bellagio, such as Villa di Melzi. She told us about Varenna and about Tremezzo and its Villa Carlotta. From the top of the hill we could see the Lecco branch, also the Como branch and Pescallo harbour. At the top of the Bellagio bump was very windy. You can notice this in some of the pictures in the gallery below.

Scenic Walk and Discoveries in Villa Serbelloni Park, Lake Como, Italy

We could see the villa only from the distance and no photos were allowed because it is a private home. Also it we were not allowed to take certain paths, that were only reserved for the owners.

The tour took us from the square of the Basilica of San Giacomo up to the top of the promontory. Besides tropical plants, there were commemorative stones, statues, busts, caves and also some remains of the old castle and of a Romanesque church, both on the summit of the promontory. Then, from the top of the windy promontory we descended through different paths from the ones that brought us up there. The tour lasted around one hour and a half.

Skipping Villa Melzi Gardens Visit – Time Constraints. Lake Shore Stroll

We also had our tickets booked and already paid for, to I Giardini di Villa di Melzi, open daily from 10 am to 7 pm, last entry being at 6.30 pm. When we finished our guided tour of Villa Serbelloni’s park it was already around 5 pm. We were tired after all the walking and the heat and in order to get to the entrance to I Giardini di Villa Melzi we would have to walk for around 20 minutes or more, and then visit the gardens in a hurry in order to catch the last ferry to Menaggio at 7 or 7.30 pm, and also the visit in the garden would include some walking.

We started our way from Piazza della Chiesa towards the lakeshore promenade – Lungolago Europa, a 10 – 15 minutes walk, following to decide then if we would still visit I Giardini di Villa Melzi or not. The itinerary towards Lungolago Europa was through the Borgo neighborhood on Via Giuseppe Garibaldi all the way back to the town hall – Commune di Bellagio. We crossed Parco Martiri Della Libertà and got to the lakeshore Lungolago Europa. We went a little left on the lakeshore, took some pictures and also took a good rest on a bench admiring beautiful lake Como and the promenade full of colorful flowers.

So, unfortunately, we were running out of time and had to skip the visit to Villa Melzi Gardens and also the visits we have planned to Loppia hamlet and San Giovanni hamlet. You can check the itinerary we had in mind in the article Destination Italy: Lake Como, City of Milan and Bergamo – Day 2.

Returning to Menaggio – Evening by Lake Como, Italy

On the lakeshore – Lungolago Europa there was a small beach, in fact just some stairs to descend into the water offering the possibility to bath or just sit and tan. There was a group of people bathing and having fun.

If we had chosen to stay for dinner in Bellagio we would have missed the last ferry to Menaggio, given that the restaurants opened for lunch at 6.30 pm or 7 pm the earliest, and the last ferry was usually leaving at 7.30 pm.

So, we went back to Gestione Navigazione Laghi and took the ferry to Menaggio. As leaving the pier we also captured some nice pictures of the elegant lakefront Bellagio hotels.

The traghetto goes Varenna – Bellagio – Menaggio or Bellagio – Varenna – Menaggio. The one we boarded passed through Varenna first on its way to Menaggio. So we took a picture of the colorful lakefront.

Dinner in Menaggio and Evening Walk

From the ferry stop we turned right on Via IV Novembre and passed by Grand Hotel Menaggio.

At the first intersection we kept right on Via IV Novembre, passed by Dal Tato where we had lunch earlier that day and then passed by Ristorante Del Porto Menaggio, also a nice restaurant overlooking Lake Como, just opposite the cape of Bellagio, with a wide terrace and private docking.

Then we continued our stroll on the lake shore and got to Piazza Giuseppe Garibaldi. We had dinner at Ristorante Pizzeria where we had some gazpacho and pizza, beer and orange juice. Everything was good, the service was fast, they were full but immediately set up a new table for us two. Prices were reasonable, given that we were in the center of Menaggio and having a nice view of the square and the lake.

After dinner we took a look around the piazza before heading to our accommodation after a full day. On the opposite side of the square there was Cafè del Pess – nice and elegant, offering amazing views.

Read On

Don’t miss Our Lake Como, City of Milan and Bergamo Italy Visit: Day 3 for the next chapter of our Italian journey — from hidden corners to breathtaking views, there’s so much more to discover. You can find all our posts on Lake Como on this page. Also, for more inspiration and practical travel tips, don’t miss our maps and travel guides, and visit our Italy Travel Hub and Italy Bucket List — your go-to resources for exploring Italy in depth. Are you looking to expand your itinerary? Don’t miss our posts on Venice!

Thanks for reading!

Related:

• Destination Italy: Lake Como, City of Milan and Bergamo – Day 2
• Destination Italy: Lake Como, City of Milan and Bergamo – Day 1
• Our Lake Como, City of Milan and Bergamo Italy Visit: Day 3
• Destination Italy: Lake Como, City of Milan and Bergamo – Day 5
• Our Lake Como, City of Milan and Bergamo Italy Visit: Day 5

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