Direct booking benefits:
- best rate available
- tailor-made packages
- better cancellation conditions
Book now
closeWhile it’s easy to lose hours by the waters of Lake Como, the true nature of our Lombardy region is found in the folds of the mountains, the hidden alcoves, and the family-run cellars and trattorias where time is put on hold.
If you’re interested in exploring the region as we do, you must venture a little further. Here are seven of our favorite things to do across the lake and Lombardy.
Ten minutes from Tremezzo is Cremia, a small village in Alto Lario. Tucked into a little bay, where you can hear the ducks and the gentle lap of the water against the pier, you’ll find Lo Scalo - a small craft cocktail bar with only ten tables.
Andrea is behind the bar, mixing drinks inspired by the botanicals and scents of Lake Como. It’s the perfect place to sit, listen, and just be.
2. Hiking La Grigna’s ‘Wall of Tears’
For those who want to see the lake from its most dramatic vantage point, the Grigna massif rises up from the eastern branch of Lake Como, extending from the towns of Lecco to Bellano.
It separates Lake Como from Valsassina and, if you’re visiting in the cooler months, the winter path to Rifugio Brioschi is iconic. The ascent via the Muro del Pianto (the Wall of Tears) is a steep 600-meter climb that tests your spirit, but the reward at the summit - standing 2,410 meters above the world - is a spectacle worth the small struggle.
3. Meet Lake Como’s sister
If Lake Como is the grand protagonist of our region, its sister to the west has a completely different attitude.
Lake Maggiore is a place of islands and elegance, and we always suggest taking a boat to see the Borromean Islands from the center of the water. Just a stone’s throw away from Lake Maggiore, albeit moving into the region of Piedmont, is Lake Orta - a tiny, 13km treasure. A visit to the island of Isola San Giulio is worth your time.
4. A romantic ascent of Bergamo Alta
Bergamo is a city of two souls, but the Città Alta is its heart. Protected by UNESCO-listed Venetian walls and perched on seven hills, it feels like a medieval dream.
Take the 100-year-old funicular up the hillside or, if your legs are willing, walk the romantic stone stairways that climb the slope. You can spend a whole afternoon getting lost in the narrow streets before finding a quiet spot on the wall to watch the sun set over the Lombardy plains.
5. Pilgrimage for stracciatella at La Marianna
While you’re in Bergamo, you can drop into La Marianna where stracciatella, an Italian icon of gelato, was born in 1961.
Enrico Panattoni created the recipe by drizzling melted dark chocolate into creamy Fiordilatte. The way the chocolate ‘shatters’ (stracciata) upon contact with the cold cream is a small piece of culinary magic that’s made even better when experienced at source.
6. Unlock the ‘Key of the Alps’
Chiavenna is a historic town in Lombardy known for its crotti - natural rock cellars formed by ancient landslides. These ‘breathing rocks’ stay at a constant temperature year-round, making them perfect for aging wine and cheese.
While there, visit Crotto Belvedere (a name we’re obviously fond of though have no relation to). Sit in their cellar for an aperitivo of local salami and pizzoccheri pasta. It’s rustic, seasonal, and wonderfully unpretentious.
7. The heroic vineyards of Valtellina
Valtellina is a scenic Alpine valley known for its impossibly steep, south-facing terraces where making wine is an act of heroic courage. In the winter, the vines freeze. In the summer, they bake in a Sicilian-like heat.
A highlight here is Dirupi winery. Although not classified as organic wine makers, Davide and Pierpaolo are real artisans, producing only 15,000 bottles per vintage each year from their 4.5 hectares.
The region of Lombardy has so much to offer…
Hopefully these detours will show you that. Whether you venture to the highest peaks or the smallest lakeside tables, just go slow. There’s no rush in this region.
What's next
