Why Lake Como Is Still the Ultimate Flex Destination
2025-03-29 · 5 min read
Lake Como has been attracting wealthy travelers since Roman senators built villas along its shores two thousand years ago. Today it draws a different crowd — tech founders, fashion executives, and anyone who wants their vacation to look like a Slim Aarons photograph. The appeal hasn't faded because the setting genuinely cannot be replicated anywhere else.
The geography does the heavy lifting. Como is shaped like an inverted Y, surrounded by steep Alpine foothills that plunge directly into deep blue water. Towns like Bellagio, Varenna, and Menaggio cling to the hillsides with pastel facades and narrow stone staircases. The scale feels intimate compared to lakes like Garda or Maggiore.
Villa d'Este in Cernobbio is the iconic stay — a 16th-century palace converted into a five-star hotel where George Clooney reportedly had his rehearsal dinner. Rooms start around 800 euros per night in peak season, but the floating pool on the lake and the formal gardens justify the price for a once-in-a-lifetime visit. For something less stratospheric, Hotel Belvedere in Bellagio offers lakefront rooms at roughly a third of the cost.
The food scene around Como has quietly leveled up. Materia in Cernobbio holds a Michelin star and serves modern Italian cuisine with lake fish as the centerpiece. For something more casual, the waterfront restaurants in Varenna dish out fresh perch and polenta with views that would cost triple in Positano.
Getting there is straightforward. Milan Malpensa airport is about an hour's drive, and the ferry system connecting the lake towns runs frequently from spring through fall. Rent a vintage Riva speedboat for the afternoon if you really want to commit to the aesthetic — several marinas offer private charters with a driver.
The best time to visit is May through June or September through early October. July and August bring crowds and premium pricing. Shoulder season gives you warm weather, fewer tourists, and the kind of golden light that makes every photo look like it belongs in an Italian tourism campaign.
