Lake Como has been attracting the wealthy and the artistic since Roman times, and one look explains why. The lake sits in a deep glacial valley, its surface reflecting the mountains and the villas that line its shores in a composition so perfect it feels staged. Bellagio sits at the point where the lake splits into two branches — a village of stepped lanes, silk shops, and waterfront cafés that earns every superlative thrown at it.
The Villa del Balbianello — perched on a wooded promontory near Lenno — may be the most beautiful private garden in Italy, which is saying something in a country that takes gardens seriously. Varenna on the eastern shore is quieter and more authentic, its waterfront walkway threading between the lake and pastel-colored houses. Take the ferry between towns — the slow crossing reveals the scale of the mountains and the depth of the water beneath. The western shore hides trattorias where the lake fish is served minutes after catching.
When to go: May through June for gardens in bloom and comfortable temperatures. September for golden light and fewer visitors.