Dolce vita on Lake Como: walking from Bellagio trip : Intura, Lake region self-guided walking stay

- Give you a treat and stay extra nights in Brunate - Como !

best walk in italy on lake como

Give yourself a treat and stay 1 or 2 extra nights in the perched hamlet of Brunate !
. Located at 750m above sea level, high above Lake Como at the summit of the historic cable car, Brunate boasts spectacular views over the lake. This charming hamlet is a maze of small alleyways and stairs, famous for its beautiful baroque church, magnificent "Art Nouveau" style villas and the Volta lighthouse with its sprial staircase. By staying the night, you can really appreciate Brunate once the crowds have left. The amazing sunset over the lake is yours to enjoy! The following day, you go against the crowd and take the cable car down and exlore Lake Como while the rest of the tourists head up from the lake to explore Brunate!
. Extra walk : Loop walk from Brunate to the Volta lighthouse, famous for its spiral staircase and 143 steps. Along the way, you can admire the magnificent "Art Nouveau" style villas : A unique experience !
Comfort to Charming accommodation in Brunate
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Day 1 - Arrival on lake Como in Bellagio

Short holidays in Italy lake region

Arriva on your own in the picturesque and traditional little village of Bellagio (1 hour). Have a stroll through the village of Bellagio, one of the most beautiful villages in Northern Italy. This former small fishing village - perched on a hill - is very popular with Milanese people: a real picture postcard with its narrow streets and alleyways, red roof houses, its terraced cafés and camellia and rhododendron gardens.
You will stay 5 days in true Italian style with terraced cafés & small restaurants: The real "dolce vita"!
You will enjoy diving into the blue waters from Bellagio's lido
Night in Bellagio
We recommend :
. Having an extra night in Bellagio.
You can enjoy some extra relaxation time and use your flexible 6 day boat pass to visit the neighbouring villages.
You can take the time to complete one of the 2 walks from Lenno suggested on Day 2.
Access:
. Flight : Regular flights and low cost airline to Milan : Milano Malpensa Airport (click here ) and Milan Linate Airport (click here )
. Train : Regular train lines from Milan city / Milan airport > Como city on trenitalia. Access information here
. Boat : Regular boat from Como city > Bellagio. Schedule here
. Car rental : you can also rent a car in Milan or Como city. Contact us for the hotel parking information
All day Market on the third Wednesday of the month in Bellagio

Day 2 - Walking around Bellagio: pearl of lake Como

Walk - Loop Bellagio
4 hours - 8km / 4.9 miles - Ascent: +300 m / Descent: -300 m
The start of your walk is in the village of Bellagio, one of the prettiest Italian villages, affectionately known as the "pearl of the lake" with its narrow streets lined with flowers, its church and cafés. You pass through the picturesque village of Pescallo and walk through the Villa Giulia park and then climb up to Perlo. Retour to Bellagio via the Villa Melzi gardens that greatly inspired Stendhal, Flaubert and Wagner : a wonderful example of an English garden with trees and flowers from around the world.
. Option : Vous can enjoy a guided tour of the Villa Serbelloni gardens: a former palace of the last century belonging to the Rockfeller foundation, where Léonard de Vinci and Reine Victoria stayed. The visit of the gardens leads to the top of the promontory, revealing very beautiful views of the three arms of Lake Como (depart from Bellagio tourist office)
Night in Bellagio
MEALS included: Breakfast
All day Market on the third Wednesday of the month in Bellagio

Day 3 - Panoramic & historic walk from Lenno

Walking day during a self guided tour in Lake Como

Boat transfer to Lenno (30 mn)
Today you have the choice of 2 walks :
Option 1 - Easy - Walk - Lenno > Villa Carlotta
2 hours 30 - 5km / 3.0 miles - Ascent: +200 m / Descent: -200 m
From Lenno, you climb above the lake and enjoy stunning panoramic views of the mountains. Your walk takes you through a small medieval village with narrow streets, past churches and chapels on paths lined with olive tress and lush vegetation.
Option 2 - Moderate - Walk - Lenno > San Benedetto Abbey - Madonna del Soccorso + > Lenno
4 hours - 9km / 5.6 miles - Ascent: +600 m / Descent: -600 m
A steady climb takes you above Lenno on a panoramic trail that passes through a lush forest. You arrive at the San Benedetto Abbey dating back to the 11th century. This magnificent building of Romanesque architechture is perched at 800m in the heart of the countryside at the confluence of two valleys where the Perlana stream flows. It's a steep descent, plunging on the other side leading to Osuccio. You arrive at the Sanctuaire de la Madonna del Soccorso and the Mont Sacré d'Ossuccio dating back to the 17th century. Famous for its 14 chapels and 230 life size statues, it is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. You then head back to Lenno via the lake. You can take the boat from Lenno to Villa Carlotta (return journey with the boat pass)
You end this first walking day at Villa Carlotta: a "must see villa" on Lake Como ! You can visit the beautiful botanical garden where camellias, azaleas and rhododendrons bloom (April -May) .
Return by boat to Bellagio
Night in Bellagio
MEALS included: Breakfast
Small Market on Tuesday morning in Lenno

Day 4 - Walking trails from the coloured village of Varenna

Dinner in Varenna, in Lake Como during the best independent tours of italy

Walk - Bellano > Varenna
3 hours 30 - 7km / 4.3 miles - Ascent: +300 m / Descent: -300 m
Boat transfer to Bellano (30mn)
Your walking tour continues on one of the oldest walking paths of the lake. The "sentiero del viandante" was traced by the Roman legionaries who reached the great passes of the Alps. It's a gentle climb past the "Orrido di Bellano" (visit is possible), and natural gorges formed in the antiquity. The path then offers panoramic views, passing through the village of Gittana and the Vézio castle dating back to the 12th century. You end the walk in the pretty village of Varenna, known for its colourful hillside houses. In Veranna, you must visit the Villa Monastero gardens : the villa is surrounded by a botanical garden home to rhododendrons, glycines, magnolias and citrus fruit trees. For the garden enthousiasts you can also visit the Villa Cipressi, dating back to the Renaissance era.
Boat transfer from Varenna to Bellagio (30 minutes)
Night in Bellagio
MEALS included: Breakfast
Market on Thursday morning in Bellano
Market on Saturday morning in Varenna

Day 5 - End of your Italy lake region walking stay

End of your trip in Bellagio after breakfast
MEALS included: Breakfast
Market on Thursday morning in Como city
We recommend :
. Have an extra night in Como city, and enjoy the great lively atmosphere of Como, and continue your exploration of the Italy lake region ! (Great market on Thursday morning)
Return:
. Train : Regular train lines from Como city to Milan city/ Milan airport on trenitalia. Access information here
. Flight : Regular flights and low cost airline from Milano Malpensa Airport (click here ) and Milan Linate Airport (click here )

- Continue your trip onwards to Lake maggiore and Lake Orta !

Continue your trip onwards to Lake maggiore and Lake Orta !
Have a look at our trip on Lake Maggiore & Lake Orta

Dolce vita on Lake Como: walking from Bellagio

About the Italy lake region walking stay

Highlights of the trip

Go Private or go guided ! Customize your holidays with a local specialist here

Dolce vita on Lake Como, walking from Bellagio: Day By Day

- Give you a treat and stay extra nights in Brunate - Como !

Day 1 - Arrival on lake Como in Bellagio

Day 2 - Walking around Bellagio: pearl of lake Como

Day 3 - Panoramic & historic walk from Lenno

Day 4 - Walking trails from the coloured village of Varenna

Day 5 - End of your Italy lake region walking stay

- Continue your trip onwards to Lake maggiore and Lake Orta !

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More walking trips in Italy Lake region

Highlights of the trip

Go Private or go guided ! Customize your holidays with a local specialist here

Highlights of the trip

Go Private or go guided ! Customize your holidays with a local specialist here

Highlights of the trip

Go Private or go guided ! Customize your holidays with a local specialist here

Highlights of the trip

Go Private or go guided ! Customize your holidays with a local specialist here

Highlights of the trip

Go Private or go guided ! Customize your holidays with a local specialist here