Where is the best base to explore Lake Como?

Use Torno as a base for exploring Lake Como Our first round of research led us to the conclusion that we should stay in either Bellagio or Varenna, both central and charming options that you'll find suggested on most travel guides (including Rick Steves').



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Good to know: Because of its central location and great boat connections, Bellagio is one of the best places to stay for exploring Lake Como. In the high season, you can visit most of the nicest towns of Lake Como by taking a 10-30 minute ferry from here.

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The entire village of Varenna is a scenic spot to enjoy the views of Lake Como but if there's one place in Varenna that offers better views than any other, it's the Villa Monastero.

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Perfect Pairings: Lake Como & Portofino. Dive into the abundant beauty of Lake Como and Portofino on this breathtaking tour of Italy. Combining the tranquillity of Lake Como with the glitz and glamour of Portofino, this idyllic break takes you to new levels of R&R.

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There is a bus system operating from Como city to the western lake shores. The main lines that run along the shores of Lake Como are the C30, which connects Como with Bellagio via Nesso and the C10 line that connects Como with Colico, passing through Tremezzina and Menaggio.

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Bellagio. A highlight of any trip to the shores of Lake Como is a day (or two, or three) in Bellagio. Set conveniently between the two southernmost branches of the lake, the town is made up of steep winding paths where pastel-hued houses provide peripheral pops of color.

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If you want any kind of night life at all, stay in Como. There's more opportunity for hiking near Varenna, and that's the more scenic part of the lake, but you can get there by boat. Touristy doesn't begin to describe Bellagio and Varenna. If you want any kind of night life at all, stay in Como.

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The main town of the group is Como which is located at the southern end of the lake. It is a more elegant resort than most and makes an excellent base for exploring the surrounding areas and towns.

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Bellagio. A highlight of any trip to the shores of Lake Como is a day (or two, or three) in Bellagio.

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If Lake Como is for relaxation plus some adventure, then the Amalfi Coast area is the opposite — plenty of adventure with the options of enjoying a beach day, should you chose.

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As much of Lake Como's culture and activities are focused on the water, so is the cuisine. Fish is a staple of the area with the most popular fish considered to be lavarello, but other often consumed fish include shad, perch, pike fillets, maltagliati, tench, and eel.

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As much of Lake Como's culture and activities are focused on the water, so is the cuisine. Fish is a staple of the area with the most popular fish considered to be lavarello, but other often consumed fish include shad, perch, pike fillets, maltagliati, tench, and eel.

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