Lake Como at the tail end of summer is always a good idea — and Katie Holmes clearly knows it. Think jade-green water, grand villas tucked into the hills, and that dreamy late-summer light that somehow makes everything (and everyone) look more romantic.

Earlier this summer, Holmes and Jason Bard Yarmosky first sparked dating rumors when they were spotted holding hands in New York before attending a screening of The Invite, hosted by The Cinema Society in East Hampton. Now, it appears the pair have taken their relationship Instagram-official.

At the beginning of September, Holmes shared a sweet photo of the two of them to celebrate Yarmosky’s birthday, writing, “Happy Birthday to the best of the best…❤️.”

That was quickly followed by a very romantic photo dump from their late-summer vacation on Lake Como — and, unsurprisingly, the trip looks incredible.

In Yarmosky’s carousel, shared on September 6, the couple can be seen cruising across the lake on a sleek speedboat, their hair whipping in the wind. Holmes, 47, lounges on the cushions in a white bikini, while Yarmosky, 39, takes turns steering the boat and documenting their Italian escape. The whole thing feels less like a carefully orchestrated celebrity vacation and more like two people genuinely having a very good time together.

Who Is Jason Bard Yarmosky?

Yarmosky is a New York-based visual artist known primarily for his figurative paintings. Unlike Holmes, he is not a regular fixture on Hollywood red carpets, making their pairing an intriguing meeting of two different creative worlds.

Holmes has increasingly expanded her work beyond acting in recent years, directing, producing and working in theater, while Yarmosky has built his career in the visual arts.

The couple reportedly met through New York’s creative scene.

Why Lake Como Keeps Calling Celebrity Couples

Lake Como has long been one of the ultimate celebrity escapes, combining old-school Italian glamour with the kind of privacy that is increasingly difficult for famous couples to find.

Its boats, secluded villas and waterfront restaurants make it easy to disappear for a few days while still enjoying one of the most photogenic landscapes in Europe.

And for Holmes, who has spent much of her adult life under intense public scrutiny, there is something particularly appealing about these photos. Rather than looking like a carefully staged relationship reveal, they capture a woman seemingly very much at ease — swimming in the lake, lounging on a boat and laughing with someone she clearly enjoys being around.

The bikini, the boyfriend, the boat and Lake Como certainly deliver the Italian vacation fantasy.