Lake Como and Bellagio

A long, Y-shaped lake surrounded by mountains, lined with elegant villas and gardens. Bellagio, on the point where the lake divides, is called the 'pearl of the lake'. Visit the gardens of Villa del Balbianello, Villa Carlotta and Villa Melzi, and take the ferries between the lakeside villages such as Varenna and Menaggio.

The town of Como, at the southern end, is about 40 minutes by train from Milan, with a funicular up to Brunate for the view. Trains also run to Varenna, from where it's a short ferry to Bellagio.