Located in the Lombardy region of  Italy, Lake Como is a fantasy-like oasis. Lake Como has a reputation as a retreat for the wealthy and famous. The Huffington Post even named it the most beautiful lake in the world in 2014. Shaped in the form of the letter, “Y,” the lake has many wonderful towns to choose from – this is a place to spend at least 2 days visiting.

We stayed in the small town of Brienno on the west side of the lake. There were two restaurants in the town and it was a short walk to the ferry station to take the water taxis to all other towns on the lake. Our view was quite picturesque from our charming apartment find on Booking.com. There is a market in the town (great for breakfast items), a cafe, and few shops. Brienno is the perfect spot for a relaxing weekend getaway – a lot of time was spent on the balcony overlooking the lake.

We spent a long weekend at Lake Como which the perfect amount of time to get a taste of this desirable area. Our best meal was at Crotto dei Platani, with seating facing the waterfront and delectable seafood. The restaurant is also know for famous visitors such as George Clooney and family.

During the day, we took the water taxis to famous towns of Bellagio and Varenna. The water taxis are a great way to see the landscape of the lake from the water. In Bellagio, we walked the cobblestone streets, meandered in and out of shops, and stopped for an aperitif at Hotel Metopole’s cafe overlooking the water.

The Italians take “spritz time” seriously.

Bellagio is the most famous city on Lake Como, but don’t miss the chance to take the water taxis to other towns that are just as beautiful and less crowded. The city of Como is a little more industrial and a great place to go if you’re looking for nightlife.

Whatever you choose to do while visiting Lake Como, you will not be disappointed by the dazzling views and exquisite culinary options.