Bellagio is accessible by air, train, road and water. The nearest airports are Milan Malpensa (code MXP, 36 miles from Bellagio), Milan Linate (LIN, 47 miles from Bellagio), and Bergamo (BGY, 39 miles from Bellagio). Trains operated by Trenitalia or LeNord run from Milan to several stations near Bellagio: Como, Varenna, Lecco, and Asso. Bellagio is accessible via hydrofoil from Como or car ferry from Cadenabbia. Buses run between Como and Bellagio, and it is possible to drive from Como or Lecco. Italians drive on the right-hand side of the road.
Bellagio offers great scenery around Lake Como, and views across to the Alps. A variety of shopping is available in the town, from antiques to leather, jewelry to stationery. The Rockefeller Foundation operates a Center in Bellagio, offering residencies and conferences for international attendees. Churches and other historic buildings are available to visit in Bellagio. Fishing and watersports are possible on Lake Como.
Average summer temperatures are typically between 25-30 degrees C (77-86 F). In winter the temperature tends to stay above 6 degrees C (43 F). The proximity of Lake Como makes Bellagio breezy during the summer.
Bellagio offers a range of accommodation with varying prices: hotels, apartments--also known as "residences"--bed and breakfasts, and camping. Expect to pay more for a lake view, in high season, or for facilities such as a swimming pool. Accommodation close to the town center is typically more expensive.
Bellagio has been inhabited for millennia, with small villages on the lake evident before the fifth century B.C. The Romans later colonized the area, making Bellagio a holiday resort as it remains today. Medieval Bellagio was in an important strategic position, and was also in a good position for transport and trade. Residents of the Bellagio region produced and traded candles, silk, silk worms and mulberry trees. In the 18th and 19th centuries, tourism developed further, with wealthy families building villas in Bellagio and shops opening in the town to cater to these high-class tourists. Italian poets and artists were drawn to the area, and Bellagio is mentioned in several literary works.
Italy uses the Euro, the single European currency which is also in operation in Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain. Euro coins come in denominations of 1c, 2c, 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, €1 and €2. The most commonly-encountered Euro banknotes are €5, €10, €20 and €50.
