Lake Como Travel Guide

~ Thanks to the wonderful Hannah Rice for her amazing photography assistance! Also, for making my birthday so special! ~

~ Outfit Details: Shorts ~ Top (under $20!) ~ Cork Wedges (old) from BP. by Nordstrom ~ Tassel Earrings by Andrea Del Bello Jewelry (under $50 and in so many colors) ~ Sunglasses, also love these & these! ~

~ SO I know that I’ve already gushed about Lake Como on the blog and given a few tips in this post here, but I wanted to share a bit about my birthday weekend on the lake back in September and give a bit more of a guide! Lake Como is one of my FAVORITE PLACES and since it’s only about a 50 minute train ride from Milan, I couldn’t wait to get back there once I arrived. Quite literally, it was my first weekend in Italy, before classes really even began, that I met up with my dear friend (and fellow blogger), Hannah, for a perfect weekend! Hannah is studying abroad this semester in Florence (FATE) and I was so glad to be able to celebrate with such a sweet friend from back home. Hannah made my birthday SO special and even surprised me with rosé (my favorite!) and a beautiful sketch that she drew me. I couldn’t have asked for a better start to the year and to my adventure here in Italy.

In all of my travel posts, I like to give “highs” and “lows” (old FOCUS camp tradition!), so here are my lists of *mostly* highs and lows!

~ Highs ~

• The view from our room! ~ We booked a room last minute at a five star resort  hotel that was pretty crowded during the then high season, but our room had a big door and a little balcony which allowed us to see the lake from our room. It’s the best view to wake up to!
• Dinner over on Bellagio (a short ferry ride away) ~ It was my first gluten-free pasta since arriving to Italy and it was perfect! All of the restaurants on Bellagio are pretty amazing and really I don’t think you can go wrong!
• Villa Carlotta ~ This is the villa in many of my photos above. It was right down the road from where we stayed on Cadenabbia. The gardens here are perhaps my favorite from all of the villas I have visited! Also, structurally, the art on the ceilings and the walls of this villa are absolutely breathtaking.
• Live music, gelato, and spritz ~ After dinner on Bellagio, we sat outside on the water and listened to amazing live music and just enjoyed the warm night. It was so wonderful!

~ Lows ~ 

• My wine stained limited edition cork Jack Rogers broke….that’s the only low I can remember! Those cobblestone streets will get you…

~ MUST Do’s and Travel Tips ~

• Visit the villas! ~ The villas along Lake Como are some of the most beautiful in Italy and many of them are surrounded by gardens, ancient caves, sculptures, and a breathtaking view of the lake. You can also stay in many of these villas if you visit at the right time of the year. I really enjoyed visiting back in May, when everything was in bloom! Back in May, I visited Villa Monastero (Varenna) and Villa Melzi (Bellagio). There’s something just so enchanting about these villas!
• Wear comfortable shoes ~ The towns and villas surrounding the lake tend to be very hilly and filled with old stone streets. Even if you are in great shape, it can really be a long day of climbing walking!
• Take time to enjoy a little “Dolce fa niente” (sweetness of doing nothing) ~ With all of that walking and exploring, make sure to take time to just stop and enjoy! Italians do this so well, and it’s something that I am learning to do better now, but there are so many cute cafés and restaurants that offer a great view of the lake. Sit. Drink. Eat. Enjoy!
• Rent a Criscraft ~ They can be a bit pricey, so ask around, but I really think that was a high of visiting Lake Como! You can get some amazing photos and feel like a local.
• Bug Spray ~ The Mosquitos can definitely be a bit of a problem, especially if you’re already sensitive to them. These are a different breed (we have them in Milano) and they are called “Le Tigre” for their stripes. Be prepared!
• Bring a light jacket or shawl ~ Even when it was very warm in the summer, at night it gets very cool on the lake!
• HIKE ~ I had planned to hike a trail around Lake Como this past weekend to see the fall leaves, but IT RAINED. I’m still planning to do this hike and will update you when I finally do! Not many people think of this area for hiking, but there are 5 stunning trails of varying difficulties. I hear that the view from the top is UNREAL. Still on my list 🙂

Thanks so much for following along with all of these crazy adventures! I can’t wait to share all of my fall break travel posts! If you have any recommendations for places I MUST go to in Europe, send me an e-mail (wearbowsandsmile@gmail.com)! I have to see everything while I’m here!

Gratefully with love,

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo Rhiana