Explore Lake Como’s Little-known Autumn Obsessions

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It’s the season for walking in cleaner, crisper air, and watching morning mists settle on the lake with the promise of sunny days to follow. The peak season can get a little busy, and as much as we love the summer sun there’s something to be said for the calming presence of a cool breeze when visiting the famous spots like Villa Carlotta with its gardens, Villa Bernasconi one of the few art deco grand homes on the lake, or Villa Balbianello used as location for that Star Wars without the crowds. Hire a bike, set out on a hike, or settle back in Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni’s private lake boat – taking in the colour of the surrounding hills before a dinner dominated by the season’s treasure.

Take a look at our guide and plan your next visit to Italy.

The only 5-star luxury hotel in Bellagio, the best-loved village on Lake Como, Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni has been part of the Bucher family for four generations.

The hotel is found on the lakefront in the heart of Bellagio, surrounded by luxurious Italian-style gardens of Mediterranean and subtropical plants. All 72 rooms and 22 suites – with lake or park views – are elegantly decorated providing the best of comfort and glamour. The hotel offers an expansive array of cuisines that are sure to tantalise all taste buds – from à la carte menus and buffet-style venue offering an enviable range of dishes, to breakfast room service with no extra costs.

Headed by Chef Ettore Bocchia, The Mistral Restaurant, a Michelin star restaurant, offers innovative yet traditional molecular dishes inspired by the seasons while La Goletta Restaurant takes its guests on a flavourful journey of the wonderful Italian regions. The ingredients come from across the region, and seasonality combined with local produce means you’ll get a real taste of Lake Como here.

The hotel is in Bellagio which like other popular destinations on the shores of Lake Como can become overcrowded in summer. Of course you can always retreat to the comfort of your room or enjoy the ample activities they have on offer, but you will also want to take a look around yourself. If going in the summer then your best bet is to head into the centre just after sunrise and be back by the pool before breakfast. That might be fine for some, but there’s so much to do later in the year that we think a return visit is in order if you’ve experienced Lake Como during the summer season.

The surrounding mountain regions open their hills and mountain huts to welcome walkers collecting ripe chestnuts, and organise regional walking tours for locals and visitors. The tantalising aroma of chestnuts are often associated with colder months in the UK and US, and here they also form a core ingredient in local cuisine. For most of October the Chestnut Festival (Festival della Castagna) lets everyone experience firsthand what it’s like to fully embrace one of the delicacies of the region. For an even more eye-opening experience, make sure you plan a trip around October 7-8 where the Witches Festival takes place in Cernobbio. Roast chestnuts are served with honey and cream while the ancient village is overrun with witches… hopefully of the dress up variety!

One benefit of Lake Como is that you can rent a car to get around, rent a boat to explore and rent a bike to get some exercise! On previous visits we’ve done all three and even though the area is known for is celebrity residents like George Clooney and Sir Richard Branson, you don’t have to take the expensive option when considering what to do here.

Of course, if you really want to experience a some glamour, why not take a seaplane tour over the lake and head south to see the best of the region from the sky?