Varenna

Varenna needs 1 day: touring the gardens of Villa Monastero, a former 14th-century monastery converted into a botanical villa on Lake Como, and walking the Sentiero del Viandante, the historic path along the lake's east shore, in a single day. April-September brings the best lake weather. It's mid-to-upper priced, cheaper than Bellagio despite facing it directly. It's considered one of the least mass-touristed villages on Lake Como despite views comparable to Bellagio's, and its Contrada Scoscesa alley, with stone steps between colorful houses, is one of the most photographed corners of the region.