Italy - Lake Como, Bellagio, Varenna & Leaning Tower of Pisa

If you are still following through, you know we went to Venice yesterday and were tired from such a long but a fantastic day. We purposely kept Lake Como today because its a shorter train ride from Milan and relatively lighter day.

Lake Como is a 40mins train ride from Milan. You also choose to rent a car and drive but know that Italy has a lot of “No Car Zones”, you can get penalties for entering those areas. Additionally, parking in Lake Como could be a bit problematic. Lastly, we wanted to do Como, Bellagio and Varenna, all 3 areas and had booked the direct train from Varenna to Milan which took about an hour so it was very convenient for us. You can do all 3 in one day, just plan better.

Just like all of my posts, here comes the important to note:

If you plan to take the ferry from Como to Bellagio, there is no way to buy that ticket from the Vending machine or online. You must go to the counter in person and buy tickets. There are 2 vending machines right outside the Center office building but those don’t dispense Bellagio tickets.
Ferries are not as frequent. I am posting the Ferry schedule as of June 2026, they are subject to change but this will help you see and plan a bit.
Another crucial thing to note - You must specify that you want Rapid Service train which will take you from Bellagio to Como in 50mins, the normal ferry will take you 2-3hours one way. The officers at the counter don’t automatically give you Rapid so you must ask for this specifically.
Also check your tickets once you get them. We specifically asked for Rapido but the officer just gave us normal tickets. We checked and found out later that it was for a normal ferry and not rapid service. Ended up spending another 24 EUROS for 2 people to get rapid ferry.
You also have an option to take private fast boats but those are a little expensive so try to negotiate if you can. The fast boats will also take you about 50mins to reach Bellagio.

Lake Como

Lake Como, nestled at the foot of the Italian Alps, has been a coveted retreat since Roman times. Julius Caesar founded the city of Novum Comum in 59BC and transformed it into a major trade hub. Wealthy patricians, including Pliny the Younger, built the region’s first lavish villas. As you cruise through Como, you can still see the luxurious villa including the one now owned by George Clooney.

We reached at lake Como around 11am. Our plan was to spend a couple of hours before taking the ferry to Bellagio. In Lake Como, we did not want to go and explore any villas but see more local attractions. We saw Porta Torre, Doumo di Como and walked around the promenado.

Doumo di Como - This magnificent construction began in 1396. It was built over nearly four centuries, it serves as an architectural masterpiece, blending late-Gothic naves, a Renaissance facade featuring statues of the Plinys, and a soaring Baroque dome completed in 1770.
Porta Torre - Built in 1192, 40-meter-tall Romanesque gate that served as the primary southern entrance to Como. It was designed to defend the city against Milan and symbolize Como’s medieval strength.

We decided to get our lunch at Bellagio and took our ferry to that place.

In my honest opinion, I enjoy Bellagio so much more than Como. I can totally understand why is it called the “Pearl” of lake Como. Once a roman elite treat, it now is an iconic spot for many tourists. This has been famous for silk since the 1400s. What started with mulberry trees and silkworms under the Visconti and Sforza rulers grew into a world-renowned silk industry that now supplies many of the world’s top luxury fashion brands.

We found ourselves a nice Wine bar and drank some delicious Gavi de Gavi with some food. Spent sometime strolling through the tiny alleys and got ready for our last stop, Varenna.

Varenna

Our last stop of the day. There are regular ferries running from Bellagio to Varenna and it’s only a 15mins ride. I absolutely loved Varenna. It was founded as a roman fishing village in 493 AD. During conflicts, it welcomed displaced refugees from the destroyed Comacina Island, earning the name Insula Nova. But today, this picturesque gem is celebrated for its stunning botanical villas.

One of the very popular things to do here is to walk the, Lover’s Walk (Passeggiata degli Innamorati). This picturesque, red-railed pedestrian path hovers directly over the lake, connecting the ferry dock to the quaint waterfront bay of Riva Grande.

Varenna is so beautiful that even doing nothing feels special. Simply sitting by a waterfront restaurant, enjoying a glass of wine, good food, and the stunning lake views is enough to make you happy.

If you are interested in visiting Villas in and around these areas, there are many options for you. I am listing a couple of them down for you:

Villa del Balbianello (Lenno): The most iconic estate on the lake, famed for its terraced gardens and movie appearances in Star Wars and James Bond.
Villa Carlotta (Tremezzo): A massive 17th-century estate known for its vast botanical gardens and museum rooms featuring neoclassical sculptures.
Villa Melzi d’Eril (Bellagio): A neoclassical estate offering an easy-to-reach lakeside park, Japanese garden, and family chapel.
Villa Monastero (Varenna): A former convent with a beautifully preserved house museum and a stunning, elongated botanical garden stretching along the water.

We wrapped up our fantastic date and headed back home. Next day was Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Leaning Tower of Pisa

So the main reason we wanted to see is because the kids in our group were extremely excited and had been dreaming about taking funny photos with Pisa. The train ride is about 3 hours from Milan which we had booked in advance.

We had booked the tickets in advance for the Pisa but what I realized is, you need tickets if you plan to go inside the towers and nearby basilica. If you just want to go and take photos from outside, you can visit it without the tickets.

We did plan to go inside so we bough the tickets which were about $26 per person. Some fun facts about the leaning Tower:

Tt started leaning during construction. The tilt began in the 12th century because the tower was built on soft, unstable ground with a shallow foundation.
It took nearly 200 years to complete. Construction began in 1173 and was finished in 1372, with several long pauses due to wars and engineering problems.
It was never meant to lean. The famous tilt is actually the result of a building mistake, not a deliberate design.
It is part of a larger masterpiece. The tower is the bell tower (campanile) of the nearby Pisa Cathedral and sits in the famous Piazza dei Miracoli (“Square of Miracles”), a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

We had booked 1/2 day for this experience and it was more than sufficient. After Pisa and Lunch, my husband I decided to go to Florence as it is quiet close train ride and we just bought the tickets to leave from Florence to Milan.

It was such a fantastic idea because we got to see the beautiful Sunset at Ponte Vechhio. More on it in next blog.