Lake Como Beyond the Crowds | 4 Days in Varenna, Perledo, & Bellano

Our time in Lake Como wasn’t what we expected. Between the weather warnings, rainy skies, and long ferry lines, we quickly realized this trip would be different than what we had imagined for our anniversary. The towns were far more touristy than we anticipated, so we made it our mission to step away from the crowds and discover quieter corners of the lake.

We started in Varenna, where we wandered the charming streets and tried our very first Italian pizza and cannoli before heading up into Perledo, a peaceful hilltop village that became our base. From Perledo, we had amazing views of Lake Como from our balcony. We spent the majority of our time here.

The whole next day weather was not in our favor. As we watched the storms pass from our balcony, we missed reservations for a villa in Lenno and tried to decide what best to do to save our day. We decided to explore the quiet streets of Perledo, which turned out to be very peaceful and fun, and did some grocery shopping to make some homemade meals at home.

The next morning we hiked to Castello di Vezio from Perledo on ancient Roman paths. We had more amazing views of the lake from the castle while also exploring its history. The castle was very quirky with dementors scattered around, an owl in captivity, and even a spooky old prison.

To round out our adventure, we ventured over to Bellano, a town that felt worlds away from the busy tourist hubs. Walking through the Orrido di Bellano gorge and visiting the local churches gave us the sense of authenticity we had been searching for.

We originally wanted to home base from Varenna and travel to other towns on the lake (Bellagio, Menaggio, etc.). But between the busy ferry lines and the weather, it didn't happen. Even with the rain and unexpected challenges, Lake Como surprised us in new ways—it showed us that sometimes the best memories come when you step off the beaten path and embrace the experience as it unfolds.

*This video was filmed in May 2025.


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== About Us ==
We are Matt and Rachel, a couple based out of Pennsylvania, with a knack for adventure. We want to discover all of what this wonderful world has to offer. Follow along on our journey of exploring exciting places, meeting new friends, and trying unique foods! Join us in this crazy adventure we call life and learn with us as we go.

00:00 Varenna
02:35 Trying Our First Cannoli
04:11 Drone Shots from Perledo
05:02 Airbnb With a View!
07:22 Rain Rain Go Away
09:35 Grocery Haul
10:09 Perledo in the Rain
12:14 Hike to Castello di Vezio
13:55 Castello di Vezio
18:42 Spooky Prison
21:21 Drone Shots of Castello di Vezio
22:38 Gelato Time!
24:03 Back to Airbnb for Dinner
25:13 Escaping the Tourists in Bellano
26:10 Orrido di Bellano
29:38 Churches of Bellano
31:25 Lake Como Recap