Updated 6 November 2026
In brief
Bellagio sits on the point where the lake splits into the Como, Lecco and Colico branches: Punta Spartivento is the place to see it.
The main stops are the Gardens of Villa Melzi, the park of Villa Serbelloni (guided tours only), the Basilica of San Giacomo, the stepped lanes of the centre and the hamlet of Pescallo.
From November to March the two large gardens are closed: Villa Melzi reopens at the end of March 2027, and tours of the Villa Serbelloni park run from mid-March to early November.
From Como you can get there by ferry (Como–Colico line) or on the ASF C130 bus; from Bellagio the ferry to Varenna takes 15 minutes.
Hours and prices come from the official websites, checked on 6 November 2026.
Bellagio is the village on the point where the branches of the lake divide, linked by ferry to Varenna and Menaggio. You can walk around the centre, between flights of steps, churches and views over the lake. Here you will find what to see, how to get there from Como and what changes between the garden season and winter.
Read this guide together with the one on Varenna: things to do: the two villages are a quarter of an hour apart by ferry and you can combine them in the same day.
The centre: stepped lanes, tower and Punta Spartivento
Salita Serbelloni and the steps
Salita Serbelloni is a wide stepped lane that goes down from Via Garibaldi to the lakefront, with shops, restaurants and bars. Locals call the area “il fosso” (the ditch), in memory of the medieval moat. Close by is Salita Genazzini, which was once the only way up to the upper part of the village.
The medieval tower
In Piazza della Chiesa there is a tower, the last remaining part of Bellagio’s medieval defences. Today it hosts temporary exhibitions and is the meeting point for tours of the Villa Serbelloni park. From the ferry pier it is about a 10-minute walk.
Basilica of San Giacomo
The Basilica of San Giacomo is in the Lombard Romanesque style, built between the end of the 11th and the beginning of the 12th century. In 1904 it was declared a national monument. The current bell tower is from the 18th century. It is close to the medieval tower, so the two stops go together.
Punta Spartivento
This is the tip of the promontory. From here you see the lake divide into three branches: Lecco on the right, Como on the left, Colico in front of you. It is the place to understand the lake’s geography, and you can reach it on foot from the centre.
Gardens of Villa Melzi
The villa was built between 1808 and 1810 for Francesco Melzi d’Eril, vice-president of the Napoleonic Italian Republic. The villa is private and cannot be visited: you can visit the garden, the chapel and the museum, all included in the ticket. The entrance is at the end of the lakeside walk.
When it is open. As of 6 November 2026, the official website says the gardens are closed for the winter and will reopen at the end of March 2027. In season, from the end of March to early November, they open every day. For the 2027 hours, check the website before you go.
Tickets (official website, checked on 6 November 2026): 10 euros for a single ticket, 14 euros for two days or more, free up to age 11. You buy them at the entrance on the day of your visit. The ticket is only valid for the day if it is stamped at the ticket office. Picnics are not allowed and there is no food or drink inside.
In winter 2025-2026 the Bellagio tourism website had listed some guided tours of the garden at weekends in November and December. For winter 2026-2027 we found no confirmation on the official websites: ask the tourist office.
To compare with the other villas you can visit on the lake, see the historic villas of Lake Como (in Italian).
Park of Villa Serbelloni
The park belongs to the Rockefeller Foundation, which allows the Comune di Bellagio (the municipality) to organise guided tours. The villa hosts the foundation’s conferences and residencies and cannot be visited. It should not be confused with the Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni, which is a different place.
How to visit. Only on a paid guided tour, with a maximum of 30 people, in Italian and English. Tours start from the medieval tower in Piazza della Chiesa, at 11:00 and in the afternoon, every day except Monday according to the tourist office’s itinerary. In bad weather the tour is cancelled. The first hour is uphill on uneven ground and there are no toilets in the park.
When. The season runs from mid-March to early November. On 6 November 2026 the booking website showed the park as closed and bookings not yet open. Exact prices and times for 2027 will be on the official Bellagio Lake Como website.
Pescallo
Pescallo is an old fishing hamlet on the Lecco branch. In the 13th century it was one of the three lake villages that supplied the most fish to the Como fish market. From the centre of Bellagio you can walk there in about 15 minutes, down a flight of steps. It has a small harbour, two little squares and the church of Santi Biagio e Andrea. It is a stop that works all year round, because it has no opening hours.
Getting to Bellagio
From Como by ferry
Bellagio is a stop on the Navigazione Laghi Como–Colico line, served by ferries (“battelli”) and by fast services with a supplement. The winter timetable runs from 2 November 2026 to 14 March 2027. Navigazione Laghi has announced a change to the arrival and departure piers in Como from 3 November 2026: read the notice on the website before you head to the lake. Journey times vary a lot between the ferry and the fast service, so check them in the timetable PDF.
From Como by bus
The ASF C130 Como–Nesso–Bellagio bus leaves from Como San Giovanni station. With the winter timetable (valid from 14 September 2026 to 8 June 2027) the first weekday bus leaves at 6:20 and arrives at Bellagio Lido at 7:29: just over an hour. There are different timetables for weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays/holidays. ASF has announced changes to some runs from 3 November 2026: check the updated timetable.
By car
The road from Como follows the lake and passes through Nesso, the same road as the C130 bus. For parking in Bellagio, ask locally before you go: we did not find an up-to-date official source on car parks and rates to report here.
From Milan
A good alternative is the Trenord train from Milano Centrale to Varenna-Esino (about 64 minutes, no changes) and then the ferry from Varenna to Bellagio, 15 minutes. You will find the details in our Varenna guide and in Come muoversi sul Lago di Como (in Italian).
The Bellagio, Varenna, Menaggio triangle
The Bellagio–Cadenabbia–Varenna–Menaggio ferry (“traghetto”) links the three villages in the centre of the lake. From Bellagio to Varenna it takes 15 minutes; the other crossings between 10 and 30 minutes, depending on the run. In the winter timetable there is a weekday and a Sunday/holiday timetable; on weekdays the first departure from Bellagio to Varenna is at 6:20, the last at 19:35 (some weekday runs do not operate on Saturday). On 25 December and 1 January the service is reduced.
Bellagio in one day: an itinerary
In season (from the end of March to early November):
When | What to do |
|---|---|
Morning | Arrive by ferry, walk up to Piazza della Chiesa, Basilica of San Giacomo |
11:00 | Guided tour of the Villa Serbelloni park (booked) |
Lunch | In the centre |
Early afternoon | Gardens of Villa Melzi along the lakeside walk |
Late afternoon | Salita Serbelloni, Punta Spartivento |
Evening | Ferry to Varenna or Menaggio, or back to Como |
In winter (from November to mid-March): the two gardens are closed, so the day moves to the village. Morning among the stepped lanes, the tower and San Giacomo; then Pescallo on foot; lunch; in the afternoon Punta Spartivento and the ferry to Varenna, where Villa Monastero opens Thursday to Monday. This way the day stays full even off season.
What is open from November to March
Place | November–March |
|---|---|
Gardens of Villa Melzi | closed, reopening at the end of March 2027 |
Park of Villa Serbelloni | closed, guided tours from mid-March |
Centre, stepped lanes, Punta Spartivento, Pescallo | outdoors, no tickets or opening hours |
Ferries | winter timetable from 2 November 2026 to 14 March 2027 |
C130 bus from Como | winter timetable until 8 June 2027 |
Where to stay
Breva has no homes in Bellagio. A convenient base for Bellagio is Nesso, on the Como–Bellagio road, a different village but connected by bus:
Rock’s Flat, apartment set in the rock with a lake view in Nesso, up to 3 guests.
Anna’s Balcony, apartment with a balcony on the lake in Nesso, up to 4 guests.
La Casa sul Fiume, apartment on the river in Nesso, up to 6 guests.
From Nesso (Piazza Castello stop) the ASF C130 bus reaches Bellagio in about half an hour. In summer 2026 Nesso also had a few ferry runs a day; it does not appear in the current winter timetable. You can book directly from each home’s page.
Frequently asked questions
Are the gardens in Bellagio open in winter?
No. The Gardens of Villa Melzi are closed for the winter until the end of March 2027. The park of Villa Serbelloni can only be visited with a guide, from mid-March to early November.
How much time do you need to visit Bellagio?
One day is enough for the centre, Pescallo and one of the gardens. In season, with both gardens, the day is full.
How do I get to Bellagio from Como without a car?
By ferry on the Como–Colico line, or on the ASF C130 bus from Como San Giovanni station, just over an hour with the first weekday bus.
Do I need to book the Villa Serbelloni park?
Yes, the visit is guided only, with limited places: you book on the official Bellagio Lake Como website.
Can you see Bellagio and Varenna on the same day?
Yes. The ferry between the two villages takes 15 minutes and in winter, on weekdays, it leaves Bellagio between 6:20 and 19:35.
Sources
Giardini di Villa Melzi, official website (checked on 6 November 2026)
Bellagio Lake Como (PromoBellagio), guided tour of the Villa Serbelloni park (checked on 6 November 2026)
Bellagio Lake Como, guided tours of the Gardens of Villa Melzi
Navigazione Laghi, Como–Colico winter timetable 2026-2027 (PDF)
Navigazione Laghi, Bellagio–Cadenabbia–Varenna–Menaggio ferry, weekdays (PDF)
Discover the Breva homes
If you want to spend a few days on the lake and see Bellagio and Varenna at your own pace, take a look at the Breva homes: they are in Como, Cernobbio, Maslianico, Carate Urio, Laglio and Nesso, and you can book directly on the website.
If you own a home on Lake Como and are thinking of letting it, see our guide for owners and our short-term rental management in Como.
This guide is also available in Italian: Leggi in italiano.
