Before you make your way through the different towns in and around Como, spend a lazy day in the Centre of Como, sipping Italian coffee, devouring a gelato or just a peaceful morning walk around the lake.
Day Trips in Como
Brunate
@nikitashah
On the first day already you can explore views of Lake Como from Brunate. The funicular from the centre takes you all the way up. Not only do you get to have an amazing view of Lake Como, you can explore and walk around Brunate itself, in about half a day
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Bellagio
@nikitashah
Only about an hour away (by fast boat or car - the slow boat takes about 2-3 hours) from the centre of Lake Como, is a beautiful Italian village called Bellagio.
Close to the port, you can have a leisurely lunch at 'La Terrazza Metropole', situated on the Lake, offering beautiful views and the ideal place to take the perfect picture. As a vegan I had a penne arrabbiata, a simple, yet tasty meal.
Stroll through the streets of Bellagio, stopping over in the local shops, taking pictures of the long street, and eventually finding a cafe that serves a delicious coffee.
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Varenna
@nikitashah
Another road trip from Como, is another charming village. Just an hour away, Varenna is a picturesque town, with colourful buildings, walks through nature & amazing views of the lake from different parts of the town.
Visit the botanical gardens at Hotel Villa Cipressi, making your way through a path of remarkable flowers and reaching all the way to the bottom where you can enjoy views of the lake and mountains in the backdrop.
Do not miss getting a delicious gelato from Riva Gelateria, where you can find vegan flavours as well.
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What to eat in Como
Although there are plenty of pizzerias in Como, Bar Touring Cafe was a favourite and recurring lunch spot for us, with plenty of vegan and vegetarian options.
Another simple meal, but flavourful and fresh was Namaste India.
You cannot be in Como and not indulge in gelato. Out of the two spots we tried, I managed to capture the name of one which was a favourite: Bar Gelataria Tolini.
Shopping in & around Como
COMO CENTRE
Stroll around Via Vittorio Emanuele II, Lake Como's own shopping district with well known shops as well as unique local boutiques. During seasonal sales, you can catch some great discounts.
MENDRISIO
Not far from Lake Como, in Mendrisio, you can visit the Foxtown outlet (in the Italian side of Switzerland), with over 160 stores in this indoor outlet.
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