Hotels in Lake Como

Glide across waters that seem impossibly blue on a vintage wooden boat, where each villa appears more extravagant than the last. In Bellagio, the 'pearl of the lake,' narrow lanes reveal artisan shops selling Como's famed silk scarves. The funicular railway climbs from Como town to Brunate, offering views that explain why aristocrats have squabbled over lakeside real estate for centuries. Villa Monastero's botanical gardens showcase Mediterranean plants that have no business thriving this close to the Alps. At sunset, join locals for aperitivo at lakefront cafés where the mountains turn pink against darkening waters. Don't miss Menaggio Beach for swimming or Teatro Sociale for performances in a neoclassical jewel box that's hosted opera since Napoleon's time.