Summer in Bellano (and on Lake Como), told by someone who lives here: tips, hidden gems and authentic beauty

🌅 1. Mornings by the lake: slow and luminous

In summer, the light on the water changes everything. In Bellano, if you wake up early, you can stroll along the lakeside almost on your own, with only the sound of the water and a few ducks for company.

📍 Where to go:

• The old jetty in Bellano—perfect for sitting with a coffee you brought from home
• The free little beach near the Lido—ideal for an 8am swim

📝 Local curiosity:

The old boys in town swim all year round and swear that “the lake takes away aches and pains”. In summer, they become our morning sentinels.

🍝 2. A light lunch (or a picnic with a view)

Avoid restaurants during the hottest hours. When we can, we locals make a sandwich and slip away to the shade—preferably with a view.

📍 Perfect picnic spots in Bellano:

• The Passeggiata dell’Amore (towards Oro): cool, panoramic, quiet
• Parco delle Rimembranze, above the church, in the shade of the pines
• The grassy area above the Orrido (a 10-minute walk)

🚤 3. Afternoon by ferry: let the lake take you

When the Breva starts to blow, between 1:30pm and 3:00pm, it’s the perfect moment to hop on a ferry.

🎯 Suggested routes from Bellano’s pier:

• North towards Colico: breezier, great for water sports and boat hire
• South towards Varenna and Bellagio: for a coffee and a gelato with a view
• Or… stay on board and enjoy the full loop, like we do when we want to “think in peace”

🔗 Timetables: navigazionelaghi.it

🧊 4. A proper afternoon snack: not just gelato

Of course, gelato from the Lido kiosk is sacred. But if you want to do it like we do:

• Lemon or citron granita at the gelateria opposite the old pier
• Or a bowl of fresh cherries from the greengrocer, eaten on a lakeside bench

🌅 5. Sunset isn’t for photos. It’s for living

From mid-June onwards, sunset on the lake becomes a ritual. Locals walk quietly towards the jetty or the little beach, sit down, chat softly, and watch the water turn gold and pink.

📍 The perfect spots:

• The Puncia jetty, behind the roundabout
• The viewpoint above the Orrido (less crowded at sunset)
• Or… simply with your feet in the water

🌙 6. Summer evenings in Bellano

Late-June evenings are full of life, but never too chaotic.

What do locals do?

🎭 Bellano summer events (check the “Bellano Pliniana” programme):

• Open-air cinema under the stars
• Roaming theatre performances through the alleyways
• Jazz nights or concerts at the Parasole

🍷 After dinner:

• A glass of chilled white wine in one of the many lakeside bars
• A walk to the jetty when everything is quiet. Admire the Lucie moored there—the traditional boats of Lake Como.

📚 Bonus: a few secrets and anecdotes

• The Orrido di Bellano is magical in summer too: go early in the morning or after 6:00pm, when humidity and light create a fairytale atmosphere
• The Breva is so regular that in Bellano people say: “If the Breva doesn’t arrive, the weather will change tomorrow.”
• Once a year, Bellano’s fishermen hold a night-time barbecue on the pier—only for those who know… maybe this year you’ll be there too

🏞 In short: live summer like we do

Lake Como isn’t just a postcard view. It’s a way of life—made of small gestures, slow rhythms, and wind in your hair.

Summer has only just begun. And Bellano is waiting for you—not as a tourist, but as a true guest.

See you on the jetty.