The moment when you zoom out of the tunnel from Milan and Lake Como dazzles before you is one that many talk about for months afterwards. Visitors wax lyrical about the pristine waters, the backdrop of mountains and charming, orange-coloured towns along the shoreline, and you can tell it’s love! The accommodations in this area can be pretty spectacular too. The best places to stay in Lake Como range from seriously opulent pillared palazzos, to traditional five star hotels and lakeside grande dames; and from hillside hotels with incredible panoramic views, to waterfront charmers. There’s plenty of choice if you’re looking for a family-friendly hotel, or a B&B too — in short, there really is something for all tastes and budgets.
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Many report how resistant to spoiling the region feels, saying that Lake Como’s popularity and visitor numbers seem not to phase the well dressed locals, who give off the impression that it’s always been thus, and definitely the feel that this is a working region not a tourist trap. This impression of longevity and continuity can be seen in the hospitality establishments too; there are several hotels that have been in the same family for more than two hundred years.
When it comes to making a shortlist of which of Lake Como destinations to prioritise, you’re spoilt for choice by the shoreline dotted with pretty towns. Bellagio is exquisite, George Clooney champions Laglio and Tremezzo, and Menaggio is beautiful too. Varenna is a quiet old fishing village, and a good choice if you’re watching your wallet; elegant Como is the region’s capital, and right next door is Cernobbio. Lecco is Lake Como's other major town, but there are plenty of smaller hamlets worth considering, including Blevio and Lezzeno.
However blasé the locals appear about the tourist influx, don't forget that this region is exceptionnally busy during the peak summer months. So if you want to guarantee a room in one of the best places to stay in Lake Como, you'll need to get organised and book well ahead.