Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
LAKE COMO WEST BANK
By not having the mountains block the light, the western shore gets the most sunshine on
the lake. For this reason, it's lined with the most lavish villas, where high-fliers from foot-
ball players to film stars reside. The shore stretches 75km from Como north to Sorico at the
lake's tip; from here you can continue north along an Alpine valley to Chiavenna and,
40km further, cross into Switzerland.
In May and June, watch out for musical concerts at some of Lake Como's lakeside villas
Getting Around
BOAT
In addition to the regular ferries linking most Lake Como lake ports (check out Navig-
azione Lago del Como (
Click here
)
for a full timetable), regular car ferries cross from
Cadenabbia to Bellagio (€9 per small car and driver) every half-hour through most of the
day.
BUS
Buses run the length of the lake from Como to Colico: Como to Menaggio takes about an
hour and 10 minutes and from there you change for Colico (another hour). Buses stop in
most towns en route.
CAR
Traffic along the west shore of Lake Como can be intense at the best of times and choked
on summer weekends. The SS340 road runs some way inland and is characterised largely
by tunnels. This is for moving around quickly. More picturesque at the southern end
(between Cernobbio and Brienno) is the old Via Regina shore road.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Cernobbio
POP 7059
The shoreline of Cernobbio, a graceful town 5km north of Como (and now melded to it
with residential districts), is laced with a series of fine villas fronting the water. It's prob-
