Hop a ferry from Como to explore the entire lake region. Above, Villa
del Balbianello juts out along Lake Como's western shore.
A magnet for painters, poets, writers, (as well as Hollywood actor George Clooney owns a villa here), Lake Como continues to lure millions of tourists from around the world each year.
Just an hour's
ride from metro Milan, Lake Como towns are steeped in art and culture, lending a feeling of deep satisfaction beyond their breathtakingly beautiful location in the Italian Alps.
The first stop for most visitors is the central town of Como, easily accessible
by regularly scheduled trains from Milan's Centrale or Cadorna train stations (the latter featuring direct service from Milan that regularly spills tourists out on the main ferry dock.)
From here, get acquainted with an entire schedule of cheap boat service that navigates the lake's more northern regions to other such scenic towns as Mennagio, Bellagio and Varenna.
Beyond Como's sweeping views of the lake, don't leave without making time for a cable
car ride up the mountain for stunning shots of the surrounding area. Also take time to explore Como's richly decorated Gothic-Romanesque cathedral, the old Roman town wall, as well as the town's handful of art and history museums.
Como train station.
Como promenade.
The ferry to Bellagio.
Villa del Balbianello, on
the lake's western shore.