Italian Lakes, Como & Maggiore

Como · Bellagio · Stresa · 7 nights

Seven nights from Lake Como to Stresa, paced around the days that matter.

The Journey

Seven nights across three stops: Lake Como for three nights, Bellagio for two and Stresa for two. Every transfer between them is private and timed around the day's plan.

The days are built around Villas of the Western Shore, Villa Melzi and the Promontory, The Borromean Islands and Como Town and the Funicular. Each one is set out below with what you will see, how you get there and which meals are included.

The defining moment of this route: classic wooden Riva boat across Lake Como. Your travel specialist can add a night, swap a day or change the order before you book.

Signature Highlights

Classic wooden Riva boat across Lake Como
Villas of the Western Shore, Lake Como
Como Town and the Funicular, Lake Como
Villa Melzi and the Promontory, Bellagio
The Borromean Islands, Stresa

Your Experiences

Moments shaped just for you

Villas of the Western Shore, Lake Como

Villa del Balbianello at Lenno and Villa Carlotta at Tremezzo, both reached most pleasantly by boat, with their gardens at their best from April to June.

Villa Melzi and the Promontory, Bellagio

The Villa Melzi gardens along the shore, then the point where the lake splits, with a walk up to Pescallo on the quieter eastern side.

Day by day

Your Itinerary

8 days

01
Day 1 · Lake Como
Arrival in Lake Como
Arrive at Milan Malpensa or Linate, about 60-90 minutes by road to the lake and transfer privately to your base. Time today to take the lake road to your base and end the day on the water's edge.
- Private transfer via Milan Malpensa or Linate
- Take the lake road to your base and end the day on the water's edge
- Time to settle in before dinner
Meals:
D
02
Day 2 · Lake Como
Villas of the Western Shore
Villa del Balbianello at Lenno and Villa Carlotta at Tremezzo, both reached most pleasantly by boat, with their gardens at their best from April to June.
- Villa del Balbianello
- Villa Carlotta gardens
- Private boat between the villas
Meals:
BL
03
Day 3 · Lake Como
Como Town and the Funicular
The Duomo and silk-trade streets of Como, then the Brunate funicular for the view down the lake's fork, with a slow return along the shore.
- Como Duomo
- Brunate funicular viewpoint
- Lakefront walk to Villa Olmo
Meals:
B
04
Day 4 · Bellagio
Lake Como to Bellagio
Continue up the lake by car or take the ferry across to the Bellagio promontory. On arrival, climb the stepped lanes above the ferry landing before dinner.
- Continue up the lake by car or take the ferry across to the Bellagio promontory
- Climb the stepped lanes above the ferry landing before dinner
- Timings reconfirmed locally the day before
Meals:
B
05
Day 5 · Bellagio
Villa Melzi and the Promontory
The Villa Melzi gardens along the shore, then the point where the lake splits, with a walk up to Pescallo on the quieter eastern side.
- Villa Melzi gardens
- Punta Spartivento
- Pescallo fishing hamlet
Meals:
B
06
Day 6 · Stresa
Bellagio to Stresa
Drive across to Lake Maggiore, a quiet alternative to Como's busier shores. On arrival, walk the lakefront promenade with the Borromean islands in view.
- Drive across to Lake Maggiore, a quiet alternative to Como's busier shores
- Walk the lakefront promenade with the Borromean islands in view
- Timings reconfirmed locally the day before
Meals:
B
07
Day 7 · Stresa
The Borromean Islands
A boat day to Isola Bella's terraced palace gardens and Isola dei Pescatori's fishing lanes, with Isola Madre's botanical garden if time allows. Island sites close in winter.
- Isola Bella palace and gardens
- Isola dei Pescatori lunch
- Isola Madre botanical garden (seasonal)
Meals:
BL
08
Day 8 · Stresa
Departure from Stresa
A lakeside breakfast before the short run back to Malpensa. Private transfer to Milan Malpensa in good time for your onward flight.
- A lakeside breakfast before the short run back to Malpensa
- Late check-out arranged where the hotel allows it
- Private departure transfer
Meals:
B

Inclusions

Handpicked luxury accommodations across the journey
Daily breakfast; select lunches and dinners as noted
Private airport transfers and inter-city ground movement
Curated experiences and reserved access as listed
24×7 on-trip concierge from our India desk

Not included

International airfare unless explicitly mentioned
Visa fees, travel insurance and personal expenses
Meals and experiences not listed in the itinerary
Gratuities for guides, drivers and hotel staff
Anything of a personal nature (spa, minibar, laundry)

Transfers

Private arrival and departure transfers with a named driver
Moves between stops by private car, rail, ferry or domestic flight, as shown day by day
Timings reconfirmed with you the evening before each transfer

Visa & Documentation

Visa guidance provided by our documentation desk
Recommended to hold passport valid for 6+ months
Digital pre-arrival forms handled on your behalf where possible

Common Questions

When is the best time for the Italian Lakes?+

April to June and September to October. Many lake villas and ferries keep shorter hours from November to March.

How do we travel between Lake Como and Lake Maggiore?+

By private car, about two hours. On each lake we use the public boats and private launches shown in the plan.

Do Indian passport holders need a visa for Italy?+

Yes. Italy is in the Schengen area, so a Schengen visa is required.

How far in advance should we book?+

Three to four months ahead gives the widest choice of rooms and guided days, and more for school holidays, festivals and peak season. Shorter notice is often possible; ask and we will check live availability.

Can the itinerary be customised?+

Yes. Every journey is a starting point: add or remove nights, swap a day's plan, change hotels or reorder the route, and your travel specialist re-plans the whole trip around it.

What is the payment schedule?+

Your quote sets out the deposit that confirms the booking and the date the balance is due. Both depend on the hotels, airlines and guides involved, so they are agreed with you before you pay anything.