An Itinerary for Somewhere in Northern Italy

Lake Como and Crema, both nestled somewhere in northern Italy, pair for the perfect weekend trip. During the first weekend of May, I visited these two cities to live out my Call Me By Your Name (2017) dream. Here's how I planned my weekend:

If you're looking to travel to both Lake Como and Crema, or even if you're traveling to just one of these destinations, keep reading for all of my insights and itinerary items that you can use for your own trip.

My Itinerary at a Glance

Thursday, May 1: Travel to Bellagio

• Train from Florence to Lecco: 6:55 a.m.—10:54 a.m. (€64)

  • Stayed on the train from Lecco to Varenna

• Briefly explored Varenna

• Ferry from Varenna to Bellagio: 12:15 p.m.—12:45 p.m. (€6)

  • Wandered around downtown Bellagio

• Checked-in for 2-night stay in Bellagio: Agriturismo La Derta (€94/night)

  • Relaxed on the San Giovanni secret beach

  • Explored the gardens of Villa Melzi

• Walked back to Bellagio for dinner

On the ferry from Varenna to Bellagio

Friday, May 2: Full day on Lake Como

• Breakfast at La Derta

• Explored around Bellagio (shopping!)

• More garden/beach relaxation

• Bus to Nesso & back

  • Iconic Nesso bridge/waterfall

• Bellagio for dinner

Nesso, Lago di Como, Italia

Saturday, May 3: Day trip to Crema

• 6:30 a.m. public bus to Como from Bellagio

• Train from Como to Crema: 8:36 a.m.—11:28 a.m. (€13)

  • Explored Crema from 11:30 a.m.—4:25 p.m.

    • CMBYN film locations:

      • Elio's Secret Spot

      • CMBYN door

      • The bookstore in Crema

      • Disco scene set

• Train from Crema to Milan Centrale: 4:25 p.m—5:35 p.m.

  • Explored Milan with free time

• Train from Milan to Florence: 8:10 p.m.—10:04 p.m. (€50)

Picturing: Fontanile Quarantina

Day 1 & Day 2

Lake Como: Bellagio | Beaches, Villas, and Bridges

Where I Stayed:

Agriturismo La Derta, Bellagio

I couldn’t recommend this spot more. A peaceful, rustic farm property tucked into the hillside just a short walk from the Bellagio ferry port. They offer free access to Villa Melzi’s gardens and it’s beyond dreamy. They have private rooms available if you book in advance, but I ended up staying in the dorm room with seven other girls. The breakfast was delicious, and the whole place felt like a retreat. This is the best spot on Lake Como for budget travelers.

Views from I Giardini di Villa Melzi

What I Did:

• Laid out at the secret pebble beach in San Giovanni (an easy walk from Bellagio, and relatively uncrowded in May).

  • If needed, there are public restrooms to change in at the beach.

• Shopped around Bellagio—including a local jewelry shop where I found a Nomination charm that says I ❤️ Bellagio (exclusive to the store!).

  • Location: "Bellagio New Wave" di Marcolini Filippo

  • Address: Salita Serbelloni, 1, 22021 Bellagio CO, Italy

From the San Giovanni Secret Beach

• Ate at Mr. Panino three times (yes, it’s that good and affordable).

• Strolled through Villa Melzi gardens—completely free with my stay at La Derta. I went through more times than I can count.

• Took the public bus to Nesso from Bellagio S. Giovanni and jumped off the famous bridge (Ponte della Civera) into the gorgeously cold water—totally worth the full body shock.

Ponte della Civera

Pro Tip: A popular way to explore Lake Como is by taking a boat tour. I personally chose to spend my afternoon on the beach instead, but it’s a great option if you want to hit multiple lakeside villages like Menaggio or Tremezzo. This is also a speedy way to see many villas, including the famous Villa del Balbianello (which acted as the set for Naboo during Star Wars filming).

Lake Como Transport Tips

Lake Como is breathtaking, but the transportation around it can be really confusing, especially during peak season.

Ferries:

• They get PACKED starting in May. Buy tickets early in the day or online via Navigazione Laghi.

• Tickets are good for the whole day on your chosen route (slow vs. fast ferry).

• Some small towns (like Nesso) have limited ferry service—check printed schedules posted at ferry terminals.

Buses:

• Public buses (like the one I took from Bellagio to Como at 6:30 a.m.) are unreliable but sometimes necessary, especially for early morning train connections.

• They do not run on time, and the narrow, one-lane roads around the lake cause major delays. People were packed in like sardines on the bus I took from Nesso back to Bellagio.

• Info is available at ASF Autolinee’s website but it’s best to check the flyers posted at the bus stops, which have QR codes attached to them for links to live updates.

Day 3

Crema: A Day-Trip | Living the CMBYN Dream

Crema is easily navigated, charming, and completely walkable—the perfect contrast to glitzy, complex Como. If Call Me By Your Name also inspired you to travel to Italy, then you have to go off-the-beaten-path to visit Crema.

Trail to Elio's Secret Spot

What I Did:

• Explored the historic center—pastel buildings, quaint streets, and a completely authentic Italian vibe.

• Visited the bookstore from CMBYN where Oliver shops

• Saw the iconic kiss-scene door right near the main square

• Met a UNC student (s/o Hannah!) and wandered with her for the day

• Walked to Arci, the spot where the disco scene was filmed

  • Location: Circolo Arci San Bernardino

• Picked up a free CMBYN postcard at the tourism office (main square)

• Took a short train to Capralba with Hannah, then walked to Fontanile Quarantina—Elio’s secret swimming hole—where we dipped our feet in the water!

Pro tip: It’s about a 25-minute walk from Capralba station to Fontanile Quarantina, so wear good shoes and bring water. It’s totally hidden and feels like stepping into the film. Some people also choose to rent bikes and bike the route from Crema, which reportedly takes 1 hour.

CMBYN door + an unknown Italian man

Bonus Stop: Milan

Finishing up my sightseeing in Crema quicker than expected, I took an earlier train back to Milan. I arrived around 5:30 p.m. with 3 hours to spare before my final train back to Florence, so I did a very quick tour.

Picturing: Duomo di Milano

With 3 hours in Milan, I:

• Saw the Duomo di Milano

• Walked through the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

• And grabbed a sandwich and espresso before catching my train back home (to Florence!)

Picturing: Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

What I Would Do Differently

If I was planning this trip again, here are a few things I would consider, and so should you:

1. Lake Como's water is freezing—it's hard to swim in if it's not peak summer.

2. Transportation around Como is very complicated, so budget more time than you think for getting around.

3. Sightseeing in Crema took less time than I expected, so I could've adjusted for more time on Lake Como.

4. Spend as much time on Lake Como as possible—it's truly the most beautiful place in the world.

5. Hiking around Lake Como is very popular, so plan out enough time to go on one!

   
   

Crema, Italia

If you're looking for advice on how to navigate your journey to Northern Italy, then check out my article on How to: Navigate Transportation in Italy.

Final Thoughts

This weekend was absolute magic. Lake Como gave me sun, swims, and strolls in solitude. Crema gave me a deep hit of nostalgia and felt straight out of a movie (wonder why?). The whole trip was very Italy-in-May—mildly warm, cinematic, slightly chaotic, and 100% worth it.

If you’re dreaming of Lake Como and Crema, you don’t have to choose. Just time it right, plan your routes carefully, and get lost...

Somewhere in Northern Italy