Room With A View: Bellagio (And More Travel Outfits)

morning in Bellagio, Italy

Lake Como!

It was a bit complicated getting here (two trains, one taxi, one boat, one shuttle) but OMG, so worth it!! Here’s the view we woke up to yesterday morning. We’re now in Bellagio, on Lake Como. We probably could have stayed here all day just watching the light change, but the rain that had been forecast seemed to be holding off so we bought day passes for the local boat service, and set out to explore the area.

Varenna on Lake Como

Our first stop was Varenna, a pretty village just north of Bellagio. We walked around for a bit, then hopped the next boat and rode to Lenno (on the other side of the lake), where we enjoyed a fabulous lunch at Trattoria Santo Stefano. (This was a serendipitous find; we happened to walk by and it had “the look” as well as an interesting menu.)

Lake Como from Lenno

My photos, sadly, don’t capture the magnificence of the scenery. The cloud cover rendered everything very flat, but it’s just so beautiful here.

By the time we got back to Bellagio, the sun was breaking through intermittently.

sunshine in Bellagio, Lake Como

It’s such a gorgeous spot, both for the natural scenery, and the charming streets and buildings.

The "Princess Grace" apartment building Bellagio

early evening in Bellagio

la punta in Bellagio, Lake Como

And that view…

Lake Como view

view of Lake Como from Bellagio

just can’t get enough of it! We’re both wishing we’d booked more time here.

Today, weather permitting, we’ll be out exploring more of the area. If so, I’ll try to get some better photos. Otherwise, there’s a spa nearby and I’m overdue for a facial…

Travel Outfits

what I wore in Rome

Wearing: jacket | tee (similar) | bag | jeans | ring | shoes

Backing up to Monday…our last day in Rome was very pleasant, weather-wise. Sunny, but not hot.

what I wore to explore Lake Como

Wearing: earrings (similar) | scarf (similar) | jacket (similar) | sweater (similar) | jeans | boots

And in Lake Como. The temperatures here have been even cooler (low-50’s F) than what were forecast when I did my final packing. I wouldn’t have minded having my puffer jacket along, but didn’t pack it.

To see what I did pack, check out my 12-Piece Travel Wardrobe. (Though I subbed out the pink tee for the black one with embroidery you see above, and both bags at the last moment. Am happy with my 11th-hour edits!)

Is there any place you’ve visited that exceeded your expectations?

 

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30 Comments

  1. I adore Italy, but I have to admit it was Iceland that completely exceeded my expectations. It’s the only time I’ve ever maxed out my camera storage on a trip.

  2. Fabulous photos! I went to Lake Garda in early May last year and it was quite cool and wet but so beautiful. Everyone was wearing short lightweight puffa style jackets which I noticed for sale in the local shops.

  3. Oh, baby! I knew you would go nuts when you got there. That’s one of world travelers’ favorite haunts for all the right reasons. So jelly right now. 🙂

  4. Fabulous pictures, Susan. I know othing about Lake Como, but would love to visit and explore that area after seeing your pictures. I hope the rest of your trip is a great adventure!

  5. This seals one of the last questions I had for our trip to northern Italy (and Lake Geneva) in June. I had saved one day of Milan for a potential run up to Lake Como, and now I know we have to go! Thank you for sharing such a lovely travelogue. I do hope the travel is easier when just from Milan. Any words of wisdom on that? And I think our lunch spot may just be your recommendation. All the best for the rest of your trip as well…I’m looking forward to the virtual tour.

    1. I was there last week from Milan. It’s easy.. Take the train to Varenna and from there the ferry to Bellamy. We were planning to go forward from Bellagio to como but it would have been too hectic for a day trip. We enjoyed both places and walked around a lot and couldn’t stop clicking pics. Stop at at least one Villa… They are beautiful. Enjoy your day.

  6. Lake Como is magical! So many wonderful places to visit – just travelling on board the slow boat to Como from Bellagio or Varenna is a dream – the hillsides, gardens, villas – and the lake itself. If you have the time, both the Villa Carlotta and Villa Balbianello ( where scenes from one of the Star Wars movies and also one of the James Bonds were filmed) had beautiful gardens and the villas themselves are worth visiting too. Como itself is also interesting – a fine museum and great silk shops. We’ve stayed in Varenna – so pretty and a bit quieter and smaller than Bellagio. Our room also had stunning views over the lake. So wonderful to wake up to. In one direction further up the lake we could see a rather good cover of snow on the higher peaks. But the weather down at the lake was pleasant and warm. Sadly we didn’t see George. Good luck with your weather – hope it brightens up a bit more. Best wishes, Pamela

  7. Lovely pictures! My heart belongs to Italy but the place that exceeded my expectations was Istanbul. The city, the people and the food! Loved it, it makes me smile every time I think of it. 🙂

    1. My husband worked in Istanbul for two years. He would fly there from the states for 3-4 weeks and fly home for 1-2. It was a rough schedule for both of us. At the time I was teaching, and flew to Istanbul on school vacations. It was a fabulous city. I too loved the people and food. It’s a one-stop history lesson because the Romans, Ottomans, Greeks all settled there. Sadly, I would not dare to go back now. We used to recommend that everyone visit the country.

  8. PS We returned to Milan by taxi from Varenna – the hotel organised one with a set price that seemed quite reasonable to us. Much more comfortable and easier than all those different transport vehicles. Best wishes, Pamela

  9. Love, Love, Love this post! My family wants to return to the Amalfi coast but now I want to go to Lake Como!

  10. Brings back memories…just last fall. We rented a beautiful apartment on the water there. We had a car but the driving is a challenge. My husband has no fear 🙂 The shuttle on the lake is fantastic to see the little towns. Lake Garda is also beautiful and of course Venice and the small cities not far away.
    Amalfi coast is also hard to beat. Positano…oh my… Thanks for sharing. Hope you have a lovely trip!

  11. This is high on my list of places I want to see before it is too late. I so enjoyed your pictures. I have the same jacket by Sandro and it is my “indispensable” jacket for travel to Europe. You look elegant.

  12. Susan your photos are gorgeous! Lake Cuomo looks amazing….haven’t been there yet. Be sure to review those sneakers for us. I ruined my feet with the Superga sneakers that I wore in Paris a few years ago. But then I also hadn’t found any good socks to wear with them–so that may have been part of the problem.

  13. I was in Bellagio two years ago, your shots bring back all of the memories, sigh….You might wish to check out Napoleon’s summer home on Bellagio. The grounds are beautiful there.

  14. Such great photos! I can see how Lake Como exceeded your expectations. San Sebastian and the Basque Country exceeded mine. The question now is whether to go back for another visit or go somewhere I haven’t seen before, like Lake Como – a wonderful decision to contemplate!

  15. Love love love Italy’s lake country, as you say it’s beautiful no matter where you look. You’ve gone at a good time, not too many tourists. Bellagio can get so crowded later on in the year. But even that is undaunting to me. My heart lives in Italy ! Lovely post, Susan !!!

  16. I’ve been eagerly awaiting your posts. Both for the clothes and for Italy. Sincere thanks for sharing both with us Susan. I have learned so much. Your ability to make us feel as if we are there with you is remarkable. And I love your casual, sophisticated chic (with a splash of boho) look. Very inspirational. Enjoy the rest of your trip!

  17. Beautiful Lake Como. When I left my job to move to Switzerland in 1984, my boss paid for us to spend 3 nights at the Villa d’Este because he loved it there and wanted us to experience it (he was the best boss ever). Like you, we were there in May and it was the same type of weather but we had so much fun. I would love to go back. Doesn’t look like much has changed.

  18. Lake Como and the little towns look beautiful and so convenient you don’t need a car, my kind of place.
    We have enjoyed Arles so much. Stayed ther once because there was a Cezanne exhibit near by and a cooking school. Well we were so happy ther, we gave up our car, the town was wonderful to walk, museums, shops and good food. We got a better hotel, no car expense, and swam every afternoon. Can walk to train station easily to see many other villages for the day, but in three times there, we never left Arles.
    Bellagio looks like the same idea, just need a cooking class or two.

  19. I am so jealous! We were there a few years ago. We were able to take a train from Bergamo and walk to Bellagio. We too took day boats as well. Funny I took warmer clothing (March) because it had snowed right before we arrived Montepulciano. Thankfully I threw in a pair of flip flops…guess what I ended up wearing nearly the entire time?!! Enjoy~~

  20. Just as I remember it! We stayed a week in Varenna-train rolled right in direct from Milan. Our albergo was right on the water & the views unforgettable. We ferried somewhere each day- Bellagio, Villa Carlotta, etc.A dream place!!

  21. OK – That’s it – I’m going to ask my son in law to request Italy as his next duty station for the family…… Love your photos.