Cernobbio is little town situated on Lake Como. It is easily accessible from Como town (just 15 minutes by boat or bus) and its hiking paths offer spectacular views overlooking Lake Como. And while the name Cernobbio might not ring any bells, it may ring some wedding bells?
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If you have an Italian Wedding Pinterest board, you likely know Cernobbio without realizing it. It is home to the grandiose Villa d’Este on Lake Como.
Don’t worry, I’m not here to start making you spend thousands of dollars. Instead, I want to talk about the less-posh side of Cernobbio, Italy. I want to share an incredible and authentic restaurant to try along with a scenic hike that starts and loops back to Cernobbio. Andiamo!
As we start the hike, you’ll already get some sneak-peaks of the lake. However, most of this portion involves cutting our way up through the town. You’ll also pass by Il Gatto Nero, one of George Clooney’s go-to spots.
Random Tangent: Speaking of…George is a touchy subject here. One on hand, locals feel like he really put Como back on the map and kicked off its success (aka money) with tourists. On the other hand, maybe it worked too well. Lake Como now receives enormous crowds! People are packed on the train like sardines, some areas feel completely overrun, and when it is too crowded, the Italian towns can sometimes start to loose their charm.
Enough ranting. Eventually, you’ll come across Bar Azzurro, a little hole-in-the-wall joint that is the ideal spot to sit down for a hearty, home-cooked meal. We need fuel for this hike!
As you can see, I loaded up on some cheesy gnocchi with a bit of a kick and rounded it off with dessert. The menu is constantly changing depending on the season, so you’ll always get the best quality dishes.
Now that there is food in our system, the hike can officially begin.
If you arrive in the fall you are bound to find plenty of chestnuts on the trails! At risk of sounding very naive, I didn’t know people go out and forage them! Along the way I saw many chestnut burrs left behind. Next year I’ll have to make sure I get out and forage some on my own.
The hike switches between cutting through paths in secluded mountain towns and then taking you back into the path through the woods. Some portions are quite steep, so make sure you bring proper shoes.
My favorite portion of the hike was arriving at a clearing looking out directly over Lake Como. I mean LOOK.
The timing was perfect with the light hitting the town below us. Across the lake, there is a perfect view of another Lake Como town, Torno.
Look at these incredible panoramic views as we work our way back to Cernobbio! I did this hike in October and was also fortunate enough to see families starting to harvest their olives.
The overall hike loop takes about 4 hours total, not including our lingering lunch.
Once you make it back to the town of Cernobbio, stop and warm up with a cup of tea and some pastries. I recommend the delicious Pasticceria Poletti and snag a spot on their little courtyard. After a long hike calories don’t count. 😉
If you want to lean into luxury (again, without spending a fortune), I suggest doing a Lake Como boat tour. This way you’re guaranteed to see even more of Lake Como – and from another perspective. Consider any of these tours below if you want to head out on the water.
And with that, we’ve had a successful day! This hike on Lake Como around Cernobbio is a must-add to your itinerary if you want to get outdoors during your Italian trip.
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