Lake Como looks like it was designed by committee to be as photogenic as physically possible, and the committee did not miss a single meeting. Every village on the shoreline is stacked in shades of terracotta and butter yellow, like a set built for a movie about people richer than us.
We took a boat from one end to the other, stopping in Varenna for gelato and in Bellagio to get thoroughly lost on cobblestone streets too narrow for anything but foot traffic and the occasional very patient dog. The bell towers ring on the hour, which is either charming or an excellent way to know exactly how much vacation time you have left.
A private villa with cypress trees lined up like they were standing at attention came into view from the water, and I understood immediately why every wedding photographer in Europe has a client list built entirely around this lake.
My only real advice: stay somewhere with a boat dock, and let the water do the work of getting you between towns. Driving the lake road looks scenic in photos and feels like a hostage negotiation in practice.