Lake Como and Bellagio

Lake Como lies in an upside-down Y below the Alps, about an hour from Milan. Its shores are lined with grand villas and gardens, many open to visitors, and the town of Bellagio sits on the point where the three arms of the lake meet.

Spend a day hopping between Bellagio, Varenna and Tremezzo by ferry, visit the gardens of Villa Carlotta or Villa del Balbianello, where Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh married in 2018, and finish with dinner by the water.

The lake is quietest in spring and early autumn. It works as a romantic two-night stop between Switzerland and Milan or Venice, or as a calm end to a busy Italy trip. For honeymooners, a private boat with a driver for an afternoon on the water is a lovely extra.