Discovering Bellagio: A Toddler-Friendly Adventure in Italy's Pearl of Lake Como

Bellagio, Italy | April 2024

Vrunda has dreamed of visiting Italy for as long as I can remember. Venice was at the heart of her dream, and our desire to turn this Italian holiday fantasy into reality grew stronger over the years. They say the right things happen at the right time, and what we couldn't do as a couple, we achieved as a family of three—indeed, the more the merrier!

The excitement of planning a vacation can sometimes surpass even the trip itself. Our "excel-sheets season" began months before our departure. With our "threenager" Ayaansh quickly developing his own preferences, creating an itinerary that catered to everyone's tastes was a challenge. We had two weeks at our disposal, and we wished for a trip that was inclusive yet relaxed, reserving afternoons for leisure and evenings for slow walks. After what felt like eons, we settled on an itinerary that promised a fulfilling first experience and yet keep us coming back for more.

I wanted to experience driving in Europe this time and so the baby and the mommy obliged by letting me build a drive-friendly itinerary.

We flew to Milan, to just spend a night before driving to Bellagio along the beautiful, scenic roads hugging the eastern arm of Lake Como. We had three days to ourselves in Bellagio, fondly known as the "Pearl of Lake Como".

Ciao Italia!

Note to self: This is an airport and I am an airplane

The Drive

Driving along the foothills of the Italian Alps, with the gorgeous Lake Como by your side is an experience beyond words. The 2-hour drive from Milan to Bellagio seemed like the perfect start to our vacation in Italy. We had booked a fantastic lake-facing apartment through AirBnB in Bellagio. A short pitstop at a supermarket allowed us to buy a few essentials for our stay, while Ayaansh could have the joy of putting things in the basket, all by himself!

Bellagio

Reaching Bellagio in the late afternoon meant we had the entire evening to ourselves, with no plans at all. Walking along the narrow streets of the city centre with a three-year-old in a stroller seemed like a well-earned luxury. Well, Ayaansh did enjoy his own share of indulgence, with daily doses of 'Gelato', because when in Italy—why not!

One can never have enough gelato on a holiday. I repeat...never...

Over the next couple of days, Bellagio kept us great company! With sumptuous breakfasts overlooking the lake, heartwarming meals that were a delight for our culinary senses, long walks that unintentionally turned into extra-long walks back home, and an audacious toddler curious about every single thing that existed, we were having the time of our life!

She said we're going to see a lake. I didn't know what a lake was. It's just water, so...

Varenna

Our desire to always try something new at every destination we visit uncovers experiences that stay with us forever! Being in Bellagio, taking a ferry to Varenna is a regular fare, but having a beautifully organised picnic in the hills of Camaggiore, overlooking the Lake Como and the Swiss Alps in the distance is not! Views to die for, a picnic table with food that your palette refuses to forget, and a well-rested happy toddler enjoying all of this with open arms, what more can parents ask for! For him, the fact that picnic Aunty had thoughtfully brought juice for him because he could not have the wine she brought for Mumma-Dadda was a bigger win than seeing the Italian Alps on one side and the Swiss Alps on another. To each one his own!

cake, juice, cheese, juice, tomatoes, juice, fruits, juice, wine, juice, crackers, and some juice...

I could jump, I could fly... If only my parents had as many yes's as no's...

Italian Alps, Swiss Alps...they all have snow, they are all far...and here we are...

Maybe the creators of the place knew that scenic beauty would not be enough for the little monsters. God bless them for creating a playground at 1200 meters above sea-level! Happy kid, happy parents!

A picnic and a horse...erm...or a lion...whatever rocks...

Throughout our stay, between Ayaansh's first ferry ride, the awesome Bellagio Express train ride, countless scenic lakeside walks, the expansive Gardens of Villa Melzi, and endless vistas of Lake Como, we never realised when we lost our heart to the beautiful Bellagio! She is the Pearl of Lake Como and she proved it more than once!

Is this where we board? Or is this where the train goes without me?

I raise my arms and the mountain still seems taller...things Dadda makes a sleepy toddler do, for a blog I can't even read!

As we bid farewell to Bellagio, we prepared for the next leg of our journey that Ayaansh was eagerly anticipating—the magical realm of Gardaland, Italy's ultimate theme park

From here and beyond!