Two days/3 nights - we will have a hire car. Any suggestions of things to do or best places to visit in a short space of time. Will be there at beginning of September.

Sorry - forget to mention it is Bellagio.

To visit:

The Melzi garden outside Bellagion, the ◊illa Carlotta and its garden across the lake.

We stayed at http://www.ilperlo.com/en which had, when we were there, free parking.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...th/4201613152/

You can also find my trip report by clicking on my name.

Having a car in Bellagio is not easy. Are you sure you want to drive there? If so, how do you plan to do that? I would stay on the west shore and ferry to Bellagio.

We had a car in Bellagio - while you don't need it at all to see Bellagio or the other small cities around the lake, we did drive one day to Lugano, Switzerland. Just took the car ferry across. It was a beautiful drive and we enjoyed our day there.

You could visit Lugano coming or going to Bellagio. While in Bellagio, you will use ferries for transportation.

I second the Villa Carlotta and the Villa Melzi gardens. If you can, take the motor launch over to the Villa Balbionella for the tour of the Villa and the lake. Your hotel can arrange it, or they have a slip down at the harbor where the boat leaves from that has the info and prices.

I stayed in a 2 storey's motel in a small place called Varenna (by train from Milano, get out from the station, walk to the right down the street-you will see it )-across the lake from Bellagio. The only way to get around is by boats and ferries (botellos)-from 8 EUROS and up per trip. They have many stops around: visit town of Como-famous Silk factory+store, ancient chapel, in Bellagio i had romantic supper (hot pot-Italian-way) and walked to the lake -man on a boat riding from the fog, violin/cello musicians on the street, delicious gelato (best icecream next to Burano' island treats....Car is a bad way to travel around-roads are VERY narrow, steep, no sidewalks, very bumpy-you will surely get stuck or lost!Pizza and capuccino are excellent, except i needed more liquid in my cup!

We love just hanging out in Bellagio -- yes, the walk down at lakeside, but also the road parallel to it that is up the stairs/side streets -- where the shops (including cheese, wine and butcher shops as well as apparel) are. Some wonderful stops for cappuccino in the morning, or a wee drop in the afternoon. Also there's a nice walk past Villa Serbelloni (the hotel) which is also worth a browse. Also see if you can get a reservation for the Serbelloni (I think it's called) gardens affiliated with the Rockefeller center.

I agree about using ferries/train to degree possible. We did the trip to Lugano that way as well.

Take the ferry out to the island in Lago Como for an unforgettable lunch.
http://www.comacina.it/menu.php

Walk out to Punta Spartivento for a another gorgeous view.

Have dinner La Terazza at Villa Serbelloni for a special occasion.

Have lunch at the restaurant owned by Hotel Florence, across the street, right on the lake.

Visit:
Basilica of S. Giacomo (Bellagio)
One of the most important examples of the Lombard Romanesque style. Built between the eleventh and twelfth centuries by the Maestri Comacini, it houses several works of art form different ages, from the archaic Crucifix, to the triptych by Foppa (1432), to the Deposition from the school of Perugino.

Bellagio is one of out favorite places in Italy.