When visiting Lake Como, a visit to Bellagio is a must. Considered by some to be the most beautiful village around the lake, you absolutely must stop here.
We had the opportunity to spend half a day there and were not disappointed. We’ve detailed what we did there and what you absolutely must do when visiting Bellagio. We’ve also put together a full article to help you prepare for your visit to Lake Como. As you might expect, Bellagio is one of them.
Below, we give you all the information you need to prepare your future stay.
What to do in Bellagio?
The number 1 thing to do in Bellagio is to stroll through its charming streets, enjoy the fresh breeze coming off the lake, walk along the esplanade along the water’s edge and enjoy an Italian ice cream. We recommend the excellent Gelateria del Borgo.
That said, there are still a few iconic places in this city that you must see.
Visit Bellagio’s historic center
You can’t miss the old houses and villas of this beautiful village. Whether you arrive by water or by road, the splendid houses will leave their mark on you and make you want to wander through its alleys in search of treasures.
Parco Martiri Della Libertà of Bellagio
The Martiri Della Libertà park is very well known, without a doubt a must-see place in the city. It is directly at the exit of the city, it is a real lung. It offers one of the best views of the lake and a place to get away from the hustle and bustle of downtown Bellagio.
It’s the perfect place to take a break from your day!
The Church of San Giacomo in Bellagio
The Basilica of St. Jacob of Bellagio in Romanesque style. It was built between the end of the 11th century and the 12th century, although the interior dates from the 18th century. It was declared a national monument in 1904 in order to begin its restoration which lasted until 1990 with the tower.
You can find it in the north of the village, in the heights, following the main streets. You can enjoy its adjoining square to taste an ice cream in the shade (yum yum).
Walk on the lake shore
Leaving the city to the south, you can walk along Lake Como towards the Botanical Gardens and Villa Melzi. It’s very nice to get out of the crowds and noise to enjoy the sea breeze and fresh air.
We enjoyed taking a break on one of the benches facing the lake while enjoying the sun. It’s always nice to enjoy the moment!
Gardens of Villa Melzi
We chose not to visit this villa, for lack of time, and because it’s only possible to visit the gardens. We walked to the villa from the center of Bellagio.
Here are some sinfos about the villa to give you an idea! Villa Melzi was built at the beginning of the 19th century by the architect Giocondo Albertolli for Francesco Melzi d’Eril as a summer residence. This magnificent house is surrounded by a large English-style garden, with a small chapel, Egyptian statues and a bust of Napoleon Bonaparte.
You can find all the information about Villa Melzi directly on their website.
Where to sleep in Bellagio?
Bellagio being a tourist town, you will find a lot of accommodations on site and nearby.
We recommend staying in the center of Bellagio. As you’ll see, there’s very little well-placed accommodation in Bellagio, so we advise you to book as far in advance as possible.
Here’s a second address we’ve spotted if the first is sold out.
Accommodation in Bellagio: Hotel Bellagio in the center of Bellagio, a comfortable, very clean hotel, with a lovely view of the lake from the hotel terrace and a hearty breakfast. One last point to make the most of your stay: the location is ideal, right in the center of town and a stone’s throw from the pier.
The staff will give you good advice. In short, we loved it! On-site parking is rare in Bellagio.
At Hotel Fioroni, we also suggest an address within a 20-minute walk of Bellagio, as accommodation in the center of Bellagio quickly fills up. The hotel offers beautiful, clean rooms. Excellent breakfast with a good selection of sweet and savoury dishes. free parking and a beautiful view of the lake.
The grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni in Bellagio, a very chic address, with indoor and outdoor pools and direct access to the lake for swimming with pontoon and diving board.
Looking for a place to stay on Lake Como? To make your visit easier, we’ve put together an article detailing the most interesting villages to stay in on Lake Como, along with our best hotel addresses.
How to get to Bellagio?
If you’re in Lombardy, you can easily drive to Bellagio from Milan or Como. We obviously recommend taking a boat from Como.
From Como
At the port of Como you can easily find one of the shuttles that serve the different big cities of the lake, Como, Menaggio, Varenna, Lecco… All the necessary information on the schedules and prices of the boats here.
This will be an opportunity for you to take many pictures of the lake. You will also have an exceptional view of all the towns and villages that border this lake. This is how we enjoyed discovering Bellagio, its beautiful villas and hotels.
From Milan
➡️ If you want to save time and let yourself be guided, you can book your ticket for an excursion to Lake Como, by bus, with stops in the most beautiful villages, Côme, Bellagio and Varenna as well as a 1 hour cruise on the lake to enjoy beautiful panoramas from the lake.
➡️By car, allow about 1 1/2 hours to reach the charming village of Bellagio.
Car rental: To compare car rental prices, we advise you to use an aggregator that compares the prices of hundreds of car rental companies to find the best price. To give you an idea of the cost, we found a car for €50 a day at Milan airport.
When to visit Bellagio?
The city of Bellagio is a beautiful city, you will not get tired of it. You can enjoy it at any time of the year. But, if you don’t want to have too many tourists, you can go during the months of April, May and June.
It is a time when the weather is nice and warm enough to enjoy the lake, its beautiful beaches and the surrounding towns.
Bellagio Tourist Office
The Bellagio tourist office is located at 2 Via del Baccio. You can contact them by phone or e-mail, or go straight to their website.
As you can see, we loved the old world charm of Bellagio. Even if the city is small, it is a pleasant place to spend a few days on the shores of Lake Como.
Rent a boat in Bellagio
Explore Lake Lake Como by boat is a must-do activity during your stay! You’ll enjoy unforgettable views of the surrounding mountains and majestic villas from the middle of the lake, and above all, you’ll be able to swim away from the crowds.
We wish you an excellent trip! Feel free to drop us a note below to let us know if you’re planning this trip, ask any questions you may have here or on Instagram, we’ll get back to you with great pleasure.
