Any Lake como tips ?

Got 3 days cycling booked this week , staying in como itself .
We have a car , any route advice ?
Must see sights ?
I hear 'use the ferries'

The ferry goes from Como up the lake towards Bellagio, stopping of at different places along the way. Takes just over two hours I think.

You can get it down the other side (the lake is like an inverted V), which is a lot less touristy, more small towns with little beaches along the lake. If you buy the ticket to Lecco at that end, you get a bus ticket included back to the town of Como.

If you have the time I would do the whole thing. You can stop along the way, have lunch and then continue on later.

Splugenpass (Passo di Spluga?) if you fancy a quite big esoteric climb, maybe skip a few kms with the car or ferry, else it will be a huge day to do a round trip from Como. The road on the Italian side has some quite characterful sections. There is a small town just before the top where you might get lunch. But, when we drove over last september it was a pretty desolate seeming spot, so definitely worth checking carefully that both road and cafes are open before going up there.

Take the funicular or ride up to Brunate. Go to Trattoria Cacciatore. Set menu. 3 courses. Amazing.

Fabio Casartelli's family used to have a shoe shop in town. It may still be there.

I think comobike, where a pile of Lampre riders used to hang out, has gone.

Obvs you should go up the Ghisallo and pop into the museum and chapel.

Definitely use the ferries - Mennagio, Varena, Bellano are all lovely. Bellagio is more touristy, loads of shops selling overpriced handbags and other rubbish.

For local cuisine, eat some pizzoccheri - loads of places do it, delicious buckwheat pasta dish.

If you get to Mennagio go to Osteria Il Pozzo for some delicious meaty eats - osso buco / rabbit and polenta etc. So delicious.

A bit further up in San Siro, right on the lakeside there's a small restaurant called Creme Caramel - they do great pizza.

The botanical gardens at Villa Carlotta are incredible - especially at this time of year.

There are fast ferries and slow ferries. The fast ones are faster, but you're enclosed, the view is rubbish and they are more expensive. The slow ones are slower, cheaper and have more character, and the view is super.

George Clooney has a house on the shore somewhere.

Cheers guys , ghisallo climb was quite tough for me at 90+ kg but great museum , popped into Switzerland today ... weather not good at all , thunder , torrential rain , would have been stunning in the dry

Wow...
actually did a Rapha ride, great local knowledge , and free drink and snacks from the good folk at nice but pricey