TIPS FOR NESSO, ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL VILLAGES ON LAKE COMO

by Mack Smith Founder

Are you looking for a nice place for a holiday on Lake Como? How about Nesso, a village about halfway between Bellagio and Como. Nesso has an ancient village center and a handful of sights. There are some restaurants and cafes, a few b & b's and of course you can take a dip in the cool waters of Lake Como.

NESSO

During my trip to Northern Italy , I spend three days in Nesso on Lake Como. I thought it was highly recommended to choose this village as a base. It is atmospheric, not too busy and you are also in a good location on Lake Como, because Bellagio and Como are around the corner.

Curious about what you can do during a holiday in Nesso on Lake Como? Below you will find my tips for Nesso and the surrounding area.

For more info check travel guides at https://delaattravel.com

HOLIDAYS ON LAKE COMO

Lake Como is also known as the most beautiful lake in all of Italy. It is located in the far north and practically on the border with Switzerland. Along the banks you will find winding roads, fashionable towns, luxury villas and many interesting sights. It is a popular destination for a holiday in Italy and for good reason. With one of the many holiday homes as a base, you have all the ingredients for a relaxing stay within reach.

You can swim in Lake Como, enjoy Italian cuisine and take trips to beautiful towns in the area. But the active and adventurous holidaymaker will also get their money's worth. There are many beautiful hiking trails through the mountainous area and you can make beautiful canoe trips in various places. It does not even matter in which part of Lake Como you are exactly, because it is actually very beautiful everywhere.

THE VILLAGE OF NESSO

Nesso is an extremely charming village that, to my great surprise, is never mentioned in lists of beautiful places on Lake Como. Undeserved, because Nesso is incredibly atmospheric. The village consists of two parts: a higher part in the mountains and a part that lies directly on the shores of Lake Como. The lower part is particularly worthwhile, because you will find beautiful old houses and attractive alleys that are too narrow for modern cars. Here you can enjoy a wonderful holiday on the shores of Lake Como and enjoy the good Italian life in summer.

The nice thing about Nesso is that - unlike many other villages on Lake Como - it has not been completely taken over by tourists. It is a pleasant mix of Italians and tourists, with here and there a cozy restaurant or small b & b. Enough reasons to book a house here this summer.

PONTE DELLA CIVERA

Nesso is not very big, but right on the waterfront is one of the main attractions in the area: the Ponte della Civera. A medieval bridge that spans a deep gorge and would not look out of place in a romantic film. If you book a boat trip in this area, you are guaranteed to pass here and on a warm day it is full of admirers. You have tourists who only come for a photo, but also enough people who linger to swim and dive off the bridge. Beers are drunk along the waterfront and clap for anyone who jumps in the water. Not only a nice spot, but also very cozy. If you want to have this place to yourself I recommend arriving early in the morning or on a day when the weather is not so nice.

ORRIDO DI NESSO

Besides the Ponte della Civera, the Orrido di Nesso is also an important attraction on Lake Como. A narrow but deep gorge that divides the village in two. If you drive on the main road, you will not immediately notice this natural phenomenon, but you can see it well from the Ponte della Civera. A steep staircase starts right next to the gorge that takes you to the Ponte Della Civera in about 350 steps. From here you have a good view of the gorge and meter-high waterfall that plunges down with great force.

SWIMMING IN LAKE COMO

There are several places in Nesso where you can enter the water. They are not real beaches, but with a towel, book and some tasty drinks you can quickly make yourself comfortable. We often looked for a place at the small harbor that is located all the way north of Nesso, about the height of the church. Here you can roll out your towel on a narrow ledge and into the water via a ladder.

RESTAURANTS IN NESSO

There are a handful of restaurants in Nesso where you can sit down for pasta and pizza, aka the usual suspects .

At the height of the Orrido di Nesso you will find Ristorante Pizzeria Ness , a restaurant with a very nice roof terrace. The pizzas are not expensive and the view is incredibly beautiful. It is advisable to make a reservation, and then immediately ask for a table with a good view.

A little further to the north is Tre Rose , which has a terrace on the street side. Here too you can enjoy fine Italian food, although the view is less beautiful than at Ness. This restaurant is also very nice if you like to people watch. A lot passes by on the terrace. You're right on the main road that runs around Lake Como and that means a constant parade of old Italian sports cars, shiny cars and bright red Vespas. Nice to see!

Opposite Tre Rose is a small, cozy bar where you can enjoy a cappuccino at the bar or an aperitif during the day. At Bar L'insolito Posto you are among the Italians and you pay a small amount to eat and drink something.

TIP FOR AN AIRBNB IN NESSO

There are no large hotel chains in Nesso, only a few small-scale b & b's and accommodations. I booked an overnight stay here through Airbnb, in this attractive apartment in the middle of the old town. This is the lower part of Nesso and in my opinion the best choice for a holiday address, because you are on the shores of the lake with a few steps.

Then the house itself. The apartment consists of two floors and can accommodate two people. On the ground floor you will find an old-fashioned kitchen and a wine cellar where you can choose a bottle for a few euros. The top floor consists of a nice dark bedroom with a good bed and a surprisingly large bathroom. Enough space if you are with two. The only drawback: apart from the collapsed sofa, there is not really room to sit and read or have a drink. We were often by the water all day, but outside the summer season this may be less ideal.

TRIPS TO COMO AND BELLAGIO

As Nesso is conveniently located between Como and Bellagio, you can also take trips to other beautiful places on Lake Como. This is of course possible with your own (rental) car, but there is also a bus every hour to both places. Bus tickets can be bought at the small shop behind Bar L'insolito Posto.

What to do next in Como and Bellagio? In Como you can, for example, do a food tour with a guide and in Bellagio a canoe trip along the most beautiful villas in the area.

TRAVELING TO LAKE COMO: HOW TO GET THERE

Lake Como is located in Northern Italy, near the border with Switzerland. The lake is easily accessible from the Netherlands: you should then expect about 11 to 12 hours by car. You can also choose to fly to Milan and from there travel by public transport or a rental car to Lake Como.

If you rent a car, I always recommend booking through Sunny Cars . They offer all inclusive car rental, so you will never be faced with unpleasant surprises. Certainly with all that narrow road and mini-parking spaces on Lake Como, it is no superfluous luxury that you always get your own risk back with them. Also read my blog about my experiences with Sunny Cars .