Lake Como

Lake Como rewards a stay organised around the water rather than a checklist of towns. Its branching shoreline creates markedly different settings: Como provides an urban gateway, Cernobbio and Moltrasio offer the atmosphere of historic estates, and the central lake brings Bellagio, Varenna and Menaggio into a particularly rewarding conversation by boat. Smaller villages and quieter stretches add room to step away from the busiest routes. The hotels are part of the destination’s appeal. A grand historic property offers ceremony, gardens and a sense of continuity; contemporary retreats place architecture and the lake’s changing light at the centre of the stay. Choose the mood and locality first, then consider how you want to move around. A beautiful isolated address is most rewarding when its transport arrangements suit your plans. Days can move between villa collections, botanical gardens, a hillside walk and a long lunch. The strongest restaurants provide more than a view, from experimental cooking to thoughtful interpretations of regional ingredients. Allow time simply to travel across the water. Watching the shore appear and recede is one of the lake’s enduring pleasures, and a persuasive reason to keep the itinerary light.