Romantic Lake Como for Couples

Although it’s equally appealing to families traveling with children, Italy’s most beautiful lake ticks all the boxes for a romantic getaway. Snowcapped peaks reflect in its waters and views from every lakeside village seem to be framed by flowers. Luxurious hotels, scenic cruises, palaces to visit and gardens to stroll through — few places could offer more for couples.

You can choose to drive along its scenic shore, stopping in post-card villages for a lakeside lunch, or enjoy the views from the deck of a lake steamer, hopping off at towns along the way. The boat schedule includes narrated tours, express trips between major points and, my favorite, the slow boat stopping at small towns along the shore.

For the ultimate in romance, rent a classic wooden boat and explore the lakeside villages on your own. However you choose to travel, these are the most romantic places to go:

Villa Carlotta
One of Italy’s most beautiful gardens, Villa Carlotta rises above the lake in a sheltered spot where foliage stays green year-round. In May, camellias and banks of massed rhododendrons are in bloom, but the gardens are filled with colorful flowers through late autumn, framing views of the mountains and lake.

Villa Monastero

The terraced gardens are more formal at Villa Monastero, reached by a long flight of stone steps a short walk from the steamer landing in Varena. Beds of native and exotic flowers cascade among the stone walls, colonnades, statues and miniature temples.

Bellagio
The prettiest town on the lake, with its setting on the long point where the lake’s three arms meet, Bellagio doesn’t need a palazzo or a garden to lure visitors (although it has both). The town itself is the attraction, with its picturesque lakefront and narrow lanes and stairways climbing to reveal ever more beautiful mountain views.