Menaggio is a lovely small resort on the shores of Lake Como, halfway up the western side of the lake and our base for the last five days of our holiday. We stayed in the Grand Hotel Victoria situated on the shore of the lake.

Menaggio is a popular tourist destination, there are lots of outdoor activities including an eighteen-hole golf course close to town, and plenty of good walking in the area, from easy strolls to tough mountain hikes, as well as opportunities for swimming, water-skiing, mountain-biking and riding. 

Although there isn’t a great deal of things to see in Menaggio, the town offers a pretty lakeshore lined with trees and flowers, some attractive old buildings and dramatic mountain views as well as a sports centre and a lido for swimmers and sunbathers. From Menaggio you can take boat trips around the lake, and embark on excursions to the lake's scattered gardens and beauty spots. The town has a choice of restaurants, as well as general stores and bakeries.

 Menaggio makes an extremely good centre because of its transport links. Ferries arrive there from the northern and southern ends of the lake, and cross the waters to Varenna and Bellagio, while buses run to Lake Lugano, and along the lake, making it easy to visit all Lake Como's attractions. The town itself has a pretty little lakeside promenade and harbour to sit around, and a town square with some cafes. The historic town, sloping up the lakeshore, is appealing if not extraordinarily interesting, but it’s attractive setting and status as a communications centre make it an excellent place to stay.