
Bellagio and Varenna by Ferry — Lake Como's Showpiece Villages
Lake Como, Italy
About This Activity
The 15-minute ferry crossing between Bellagio and Varenna (€4.60 one-way) is itself one of Lake Como's great views. In Bellagio, walk the narrow Salita Serbelloni to the Villa Melzi gardens (€8) and browse the silk and cashmere shops on Via del Lario. Board the ferry to Varenna and follow the Passeggiata degli Innamorati — a lakeside promenade carved into the rock with the Lecco Alps dead ahead. Lunch at a waterside restaurant on risotto al persico (perch risotto), the lake's signature dish. A €15 Centro Lago day pass covers unlimited ferry rides.
Seasonal note: Most beautiful in spring (camellias) and autumn (foliage); summer ferries can be very busy
See This in an Itinerary
This activity appears in 158 of our curated itineraries.
Best 14 Days in Italy
Rome → Florence → Venice → Sorrento → Capri → Positano → Milan → Cinque Terre → Tuscany → Lake Como
Best 14 Days in Italy — Walking Tours
Rome → Florence → Venice → Sorrento → Capri → Positano → Milan → Cinque Terre → Tuscany → Lake Como
Best 14 Days in Italy — Temples & Shrines
Rome → Florence → Venice → Sorrento → Capri → Positano → Milan → Cinque Terre → Tuscany → Lake Como
Best 14 Days in Italy — Romantic
Rome → Florence → Venice → Sorrento → Capri → Positano → Milan → Cinque Terre → Tuscany → Lake Como
Best 14 Days in Italy — Nature
Rome → Florence → Venice → Sorrento → Capri → Positano → Milan → Cinque Terre → Tuscany → Lake Como
Best 14 Days in Italy — Wellness & Spas
Rome → Florence → Venice → Sorrento → Capri → Positano → Milan → Cinque Terre → Tuscany → Lake Como
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