Surrounded by the spectacular scenery of the Alps, Lake Como is a long, thin lake in the shape of an inverse ‘Y’. At its south-west corner is the beautiful town that it’s named after – Como. A short train ride from Milan, this is the starting point for several Lake Como cruises. If you take the funicular railway up to Brunate you get magnificent views of the lake and mountains, towards Switzerland just to the west.

The laidback and sophisticated way of life makes Como Lake popular with celebrities and several have homes in exclusive Bellagio, which is almost entirely surrounded by water. The views here are breathtaking, so it’s easy to see why of all the Lake Como hotels, Bellagio has the greatest concentration.

Just across the water are Lenno, Tremezzo and Menaggio, home to many exclusive lakefront hotels, many with swimming pools. You can actually swim in some parts of the lake, and the best beaches are found in the area near Gravedona in the north. Fanning out around a small harbour, this town offers some of the best Lake Como watersports.

At the lake’s south-eastern corner is Lecco, a town in the shadow of rugged mountains. Booking.com has a great range of apartments, B&Bs and hotels in Lecco and all the other main Lake Como towns.