Lake Como - 2 Full Days
 

Driving from Zurich on a Monday morning to Lake Como (Lenno). The day is pretty shot so will wing it for that afternoon/evening.

My initial thought is to take next day to ferry to Bellagio and spend the day on Tuesday and ferry around the lake. The next day drive around the lake to the various towns/villages.

Any recommendations for town/villages that are worthwhile for a stop/lunch? ((b))

When is your trip? Are you staying both nights in Lenno?

Spending 3 nights in Lenno. Arriving Lenno on the 14th of May, leaving the 17th, via Lugano (for a couple of hours of so) to Piedmont. ((b))

ttt. ((b))

Other than Bellagio, Menaggio, or Varenna, what other villages on Lake Como are worth a stop/look/see/stroll? ((b))

As I understand your tentative plans, you'll spend a day in Bellagio. That might be a generous amount of your limited time on the lake. Bellagio has beautiful views, a couple of nice restaurants, some very nice (although not particularly unique) shopping, a beautiful 12th C. church, and the gardens of Serbelloni (reservation required) and Melzi (which should be gorgeous with its azaleas and rhododendrons in bloom). Unfortunately, because of your base in Lenno, it probably won't be possible to have dinner in Bellagio before the last ferry.

Varenna is definitely worth a visit, but most things of interest require some walking. I particularly recommend the views from the castle ruins above the town. A falconry is based on the castle grounds, and in fair weather the birds are released for exercise. There is area bus service, and you can get schedules at the Varenna tourist office. Again, your last ferry will probably be too early to allow for dinner.

If you decide against Varenna, at least take the short walk from Bellagio to Pescallo which also began as a fishing village and was the first developed area on the lake.

On your driving day, I'd suggest Punta Balbianello and its Villa Arconati, Villa Carlotta and Isola Comacina (all on or accessible from the western shore). If you're more interested in the drive and towns along the lake than villas and gardens, then take the car ferry to Varenna, drive north to the end of the lake and then south on the western shore.