Bellagio
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Latest page update: 25 February 2025
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By: Dion Protani
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Quite simply one of the most beautiful places on Lake Como, the town of Bellagio sits at the tip of the promontory known as the Triangolo Lariano, (Lario being the ancient name of the lake).
This puts Bellagio straight in the middle of the lake and makes it a staging post for ferries crossing between Cadenabbia on one side and Varenna on the opposite bank. However, to merely call Bellagio a staging post is something of a travesty; this is a place that would merit any journey to get there. |
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Arriving in Bellagio
Most visitors arrive into Bellagio at its ferry port between Via Roma and Piazza Mazzini. Taking the ferry across you'll have already seen the picture emerge of the town centre which rises up a hill, studded with grand hotels and villas.
A series of parallel streets are connected by various alleyways that rise up from the port area, the most important of these being Via Garibaldi which is always buzzing with its variety of shops. This is also the location of Bellagio's most famous church, the beautiful Basilica di San Giacomo which was built in the 11th century.
A series of parallel streets are connected by various alleyways that rise up from the port area, the most important of these being Via Garibaldi which is always buzzing with its variety of shops. This is also the location of Bellagio's most famous church, the beautiful Basilica di San Giacomo which was built in the 11th century.
Beautiful gardens
The grandeur of Bellagio's medieval town centre is matched by a number of gardens. Following the lakeside promenade for a couple of kilometres (around 15 minutes' walk) you eventually reach the Giardini di Villa Melzi which offer some of the lake's best views and lavish gardens. A second garden, Villa Serbelloni is back towards the centre of town up on the hill but can only be visited as part of a guided tour.
Away from the town centre, there's much to explore around the promontory, much of which can be achieved by walking. At the very northern extreme of the Triangolo is Punta Spartivento, while to the south, just beyond Villa Melzi lies the little harbour of Loppia.
Away from the town centre, there's much to explore around the promontory, much of which can be achieved by walking. At the very northern extreme of the Triangolo is Punta Spartivento, while to the south, just beyond Villa Melzi lies the little harbour of Loppia.
Close to Bellagio
If the gardens of Villa Melzi prove to inspire you for further garden visits, you're in one of the best places in the world to enjoy more. For example, you can take a ferry across to the beautiful town of Varenna with its Villa Monastero, or across to Lenno on the opposite side of the lake where you'll find the famous Villa del Balbianello and Villa Carlotta slightly to its north near the car ferry port of Cadenabbia.
Bellagio has enough accommodation options for it to be considered as a good base for exploring Lake Como, but much of that accommodation carries the "exclusive" tag and can be a little expensive. For a wider range of hotels it's a good idea to consider the major towns of Como and Lecco, both of which are just a short distance to the south and reachable by road or lake.
Bellagio has enough accommodation options for it to be considered as a good base for exploring Lake Como, but much of that accommodation carries the "exclusive" tag and can be a little expensive. For a wider range of hotels it's a good idea to consider the major towns of Como and Lecco, both of which are just a short distance to the south and reachable by road or lake.
How to reach Bellagio
Wherever you plan to visit on Lake Como, any of Lombardy's three international airports of Milan Maplensa, Milan Linate or Bergamo Orio al Serio are the best option, all around an hour or so by car from the foot of the lake.
If you're able to rent a car, it's a great way of discovering the dozens of little towns around the lake but you can also use the ferries for the same purpose. Rail travel is possible but limited to Como on the western shore, while there are more train stations on the eastern shore including Lecco, Varenna and Colico.
If you're able to rent a car, it's a great way of discovering the dozens of little towns around the lake but you can also use the ferries for the same purpose. Rail travel is possible but limited to Como on the western shore, while there are more train stations on the eastern shore including Lecco, Varenna and Colico.
Comune di Bellagio
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Province: Como
Region: Lombardy Population: 3,586 (in 2024 - source) Size: 26 km² Elevation: 229 metres Highlights: Giardini di Villa Melzi, Basilica di San Giacomo Close by: Varenna, Villa Monastero Recommended hotel: Borgo Le Terrazze |
