May be you tell us in which month you want to rent a boat for 4 pax only.
In witner or by strong winds that wouldn't be pleasant at all!

Its about experience and a peaceful time together with our friends on a lake for us - so a private (without a skipper) boat is what we will be doing. We will be there mid may - so not swimming weather, but I think it will be warm enough. I am mostly wondering what day I should do it, 2nd or 3rd. I think my 2nd day is too packed, so leaning toward the 3rd day.

Day 2 is still too scheduled (for me, but perhaps not for you) and at a minimum I would re-order the destinations. Varenna and boat trip in the morning. Drive to Ortanella for lunch. Then, with whatever time is left, Bigallo, Esino and Perledo. Depending on your dinner plans (which side of the lake?), you may have to drop Bellano. Don't underestimate the time to drive between points and find parking.

Alternatively, you could lunch in Varenna, and then drive to the towns in reverse order. I don't think you can avoid some backtracking, and Bellano is still an outlier.

Be sure to understand the ZTL concept and how to recognize/interpret the traffic and parking signs. Know the ferry schedule. Bellagio has a ZTL, so have the hotel give you the driving route to reach the hotel and drive out the next day. I believe Varenna has a ZTL, and I suspect both Nesso and Asso have ZTLs. Don't assume your GPS will alert you to the boundaries and/or route you accordingly.

Where do you end Day 3? If Bellagio, I would route Bellagio-Nesso-Asso-Ghisallo-Bellagio. Less than 2 hours of driving overall. You could drive through/past Pescallo on the way back to Bellagio. You could also WALK to Pescallo from your hotel in about 15 minutes... less than 1000 meters. Here's a short video of walking around Bellagio and walking Bellagio-Pescallo (start at 4:30). Other than views, there isn't much to Pescallo. (FWIW, I feel that way about Asso as well, but it's your trip.)


You really don't have to pre-plan your meals unless you're more a foodie than a tourist. Wherever you are at noon-ish, look around. (Dinner is different only in that in high season in most towns you should have a reservation.) With limited time, I wouldn't purposely drive to some remote spot just for a meal, but that's me. I think it's hard to have a bad meal in Italy.

May be you will check https://www.boathirebellagio.com/en/

...or https://www.acboatrentals.com/en/

,,or https://www.viverelavela.com/noleggio-lago/

OH, Mid May is absolutely high season, because there are some holidays:
May 14. is a holiday in Austria and Germany, which makes a nice 4-day weekend and a lot of families use it for going to the lake.
May 25. is Pentecost. Around that date are 2 weeks school holidays in Germany what a lot of families use for their summer holiday on the lake.
You don't have time for the boats trip the day you are visiting Varenna, Ortanella and Bellano. Maybe you can take it on your day 3.

Perfect thank you Neckervd and Miwunk!

This is what I have...

Day 1
Bellaggio and walk to Pescallo

Day 2
Varenna
Ortanella Lunch at Cacciatori
Bigallo
Esino
Perledo
Bellano
back to the hotel

DAY 3
Boat Trip from Bellaggio
Orrido di Nesso
Colma di Sormano Lunch: Ristorante la Colma
Asso
Ghisallo - museo del ghisallo
back to the hotel

If that is settled... Question.... My next destination is Turin. Do I create a new post or continue here?

As Turin, the first capital of Italy, has nothing to do with the Lakes area (Lake Orta, Lake Maggiore, Lake Varese, Lake Lugano, Lake Como, Lake Iseo, Lake Idro, Lake Garda) I would open a new thread.

This is the lake thread

Sorry Feldman, what does your answer in post # 50 mean? Nobody had doubt about the topic of the thread.

I got confused with posts for a min. Here is my question...During my Day 2 I am going to the Varenna area (see below). I absolutely need to take the car for many reasons.
Question...
Do I take the car on the ferry from Bellagio to Varenna OR do I drive around from the south. If I drive around, should I reorder this?

Hotel in Bellagio
Varenna
Ortanella - Lunch: Cacciatori
Bigallo
Esino
Perledo
Bellano
back to Bellagio

Feldmann, please have a look at any map. If you drive from Bellagio around the lake to Varenna it would take half a day, so you'd have not time for anything else.
So, for sure, take the car ferry to Varenna and also back to Bellagio. You don't need to prebook anything, just go early to the ferry point, stay your car in the right line and buy your ticket just there.

Great. I suppose they run fairly often. Do you happen to have a link so I can see the schedule.

Navigazionelaghi.it

Click on Lago di Como.
Don't search route; scroll down and click on timetables (tabelle orari).
Click on Traghetto.
Take note of schedules for weekdays v. Sundays/holidays.
Refer to legend for footnotes on ferry direction, passengers only (no cars), etc.

The website is currently showing reduced winter timetables. Check back in Feb./March for service info effective after March 22, 2025.

If you "must" have the car in Varenna, make sure you know where you're going to park and how you'll get to that point in the town without violating the ZTL. Fines are not insignificant. Citations arrive in the mail after you get home.

Sorry, just saw an error in my post #55... Current timetables posted on the website run through March 22, 2026... not 2025.

Thank you. I was able to find it I think. It does not show may service yet. Traghetto - means with the car I gather. Looks like most "Ferrys" accept cars. It takes about 30 min.

Feldman, here is the timetable:
Orari_WebVerticali-I25-26-TR-dal_10.11.2025.pdf
At the moment the timetable for the summer is not available, but it will be a few more departures.

Thank you

It's more important to know the time of the last car ferry back to Bellagio than the frequency of service. If you miss the last car ferry of the day, driving back on land would take about 90 minutes.

Have the Serbelloni give you precise driving directions between the hotel and the ferry dock. Both ways, leaving and returning.