My birthday was just over a month ago and this year was a bit different – no party, no cake, and no presents – but sometimes different is the best. As the United Kingdom has rules on who can meet and when I had drinks with a few friends at my London flat five days before my birthday because on the big day I was in Italy with Mark. I had been to the four big cities; Rome, Venice, Florence, and Milan, prior this this visit but the Lakes were new to me.
While celebrities like George Clooney have helped put it on the map it has been popular for hundreds of years and the historic villas dotted around the lake front are gorgeous. We visited quite a few including Villa Balbianello and Villa Carlotta in Tremezzina as well as Villa Monastero in Varenna and they are so stunning the properties will get their own posts but today I will show the properties via the water taken while on our Lake Como boat trip.
After seeing that Lake Como is a in a very long inverted Y-shape and with long windy roads around the lake the best way to get around is certainly is by boat. Even off season, at the end of September, and with the limited tourism I was able to find more than a dozen options of private boat tours around Lake Como holly crud are they are expensive! What do I mean? The options range but two hour private Venetian Romance tour will set you back €450 to the 6-hour Gran Turismo from Lake Como Tours which starts at €1,400 ($1,650). As these private options were just a bit too much. Thus, we ended up booking a small group tour called Central Lake Tour & Visit to Villa Balbianello which was advertised as a two and a half hour tour for up to 12 people from Taxi Boat Varenna. But as a wonderful and unexpected birthday present no one else booked this tour which made it private without paying that normal price tag. I could go on and on but i know what you are all really here for – the photos of our Lake Como boat trip:
Would you want to go on a Lake Como boat trip?
Warthog Eaten Alive by Lions
Wine Tasting at Tinwood Estate
Live from St. Lucia
Travel Diaries: Hiking in Utah
Yushu says
The scenarios are so beautiful!
By the way,
Belated Happy Birthday dear!
Thank you for sharing your experience with us.
restaurant medan says
You have brought up a very wonderful details, regards for the post.
Abigail says
You look like a movie star on the back of that boat, did anyone ask for your autograph?
Was George Clooney around to personally wish you a happy birthday.
Nice getting the float plane in the background of one of your shots and I bet it is spectacular to view the lake from a plane.
Yes indeed you would not have to ask me twice to go on a boat ride with you!
Betsy says
What a memorable place to spend your birthday especially with COVID. You snuck that in right under the radar.
Looks like perfect weather and your fiancé is rocking the James Bond look, very mysterious and suave at the same time.
Great photos and what a magical spot.
Julie says
I agree, Lake Como is really quite beautiful but of all of the lakes in Northern Italy, Lake Maggiore is my favorite!
I remember like it was yesterday landing in Milan, renting a car and heading out for Lake Maggiore. Rounding the corner as we got closer to the lake all of a sudden the Italian and Swiss alps with their peaks covered in snow even in summertime was a sight I will never forget. The lake was so serene and unlike the busy and bustling Lake Como.
The Islands close off shore also house some historical mansions that are a must to visit.
Richard says
Happy belated birthday! This looks like you had the best time and the weather looks gorgeous – I hope I can take this boat ride one day! My girlfriend has always wanted to go here?
Is this a good place to get engaged?