Lake Como Travel guide
Lake Como is one of my favourite places in Italy! It makes the perfect weekend getaway and is less than two hours away from Milan by train. I put together this complete guide on what to do in Lake Como, along with how to get there, where to stay, and what to eat.
Recommend stay – 1-2 days
Day trips – Milan
Recommend tour – Lake Como, Bellagio, Varenna
Brief Overview
When you visit Lake Como you are mesmerised by the natural landscape. The lake’s shimmering waters cover 146 square kilometres and forms the shape of an upside down ‘Y’. Forming a dramatic backdrop to the lake, the Italian Alps rise majestically in the distance.
This region has been the playground of the aristocracy since Roman times, although George Clooney put it on the map more recently. People come to Como for its (relative) quiet seclusion, natural beauty and easy way of life.
Best time to visit
The best time to visit Lake Como and its surrounding areas would be from April to October, when the weather gets warm and mild. The territory is characterized as having a subcontinental climate, with cold winters and muggy summers; humidity is particularly high through the whole year.
As it sits between mountains the weather can change in an instant.
Getting to Lake Como
The best way to see Lake Como is on our recommended trip which also includes Bellagio and Varenna.
Lake Como is easily accessible from Milan and other cities in Italy by train. There are two train lines serving Lake Como, Trenitalia and Trenord.
Tip: I recommend using Eurail to book your trains in advance. (Or consider getting a rail pass to save money if you’ll be travelling by train enough to make it worth it – check their website for details.)
Unless you are staying in a larger town like Como or Varenna with its own train station, you will most likely need to take a bus or ferry on to reach your final destination.
The bus and ferry timetables change based on season. You can find current routes and timetables on this website for the buses and ferries, as well as the funicular (cable car.)
One other option for getting around Lake Como is by car.
Renting a car is quite popular and gives you a lot more flexibility than having to rely on the local buses and ferries, which often run on Italian time (AKA late.)
However, driving in Italy is not for the faint-hearted, and driving around Lake Como with its narrow twisting roads can be even crazier. So keep that in mind before you decide to rent a car!
Things to see and do
There’s a lot to do around Lake Como. From visiting charming towns to gorgeous villas, there is plenty to see and do. Here are a few of the best things to do in Lake Como! If you are staying in Gravedona (or any of the other towns on the lake) you can easily access most of these places via ferry or bus.
Bellagio, Varenna, and Menaggio
These are three of the prettiest towns on Lake Como. If you only have time to visit one, I recommend Bellagio! While it can get very crowded and touristy during the day, it’s very quiet in the morning and evening. Bellagio is known as one of the most beautiful towns in Lake Como.
With narrow, steep cobblestoned streets and breathtaking views around every corner, Bellagio truly looks like a town out of a storybook. You can easily spend a whole day here just wandering the streets and sitting down at a cafe along the lakefront promenade for a long lunch.
Villa del Balbianello
One of the most beautiful villas on Lake Como is Villa del Balbionella. It’s famous for its gorgeous terraced gardens overlooking the lake. It’s also famous for being featured in quite a few movies. Star Wars fans will definitely recognise this spot!
To get to the villa, you will need to take the C10 bus to Lenno and follow the signs to walk to the villa. (It’s about a 20-minute walk from the station to the villa.)
Other Villas to Visit in Lake Como
While Villa del Balbionello is my favourite, here are some other villas you can visit:
- Villa Monastero
- Villa Carlotta
- Villa Melzi d’Eril
Wander Around
One of the best things to do in Lake Como is just wandering around and exploring. Strolling around the promenades of the lakefront towns is a lot of fun. And don’t forget to stop for gelato or spritz as you go!
There are plenty of old churches, hidden alleyways, and gorgeous viewpoints to discover. There are also lots of paths along the lakefront which are great for walking or biking.
Don’t forget to use the ferries to get from place to place!
Varenna
If your idea of heaven is a medieval town full of colourful buildings perched upon a lake then you will no doubt fall in love with Varenna as I did.
Away from the hustle and bustle of Como and Bellagio,
A lakeside promenade winds around the shore leading to a pretty square off which climb stone alleyways hiding boutiques and gelaterie. When I return to Lake Como I would like to stay in Varenna.
Where to stay
If you are looking for a beautiful, tranquil town to spend your time in, Gravedona is a great choice. This sleepy town is dripping with charm and is the perfect base for exploring the rest of the lake. It’s also not very touristy, which is nice during the more crowded summer months at Lake Como.
Stay at the Hotel Regina, which is the perfect place to stay for almost any traveller. (Families, couples, friends, etc.) Hotel Regina is pretty affordable, family-owned, spotlessly clean, and in the perfect location. Most of the rooms have balconies overlooking the lake, and there’s a pool along with free bike rentals available to guests.
Other places to stay in Lake Como
There are plenty of other highly-rated accommodation options around Lake Como.
Best for budget travellers: Ostello Bello Lake Como
This affordable hostel in the town of Como is the top-rated hostel in the area. Although it’s still not particularly “cheap” as far as hostels go, it’s a great value for your money in pricy Lake Como. Bonus: Como is the largest town on the lake and directly accessible by train.
Best mid-range hotel: Hotel du Lac
This highly-rated mid-range hotel is a great option for travelers who want to splurge a little but not totally break the bank when visiting Lake Como. Hotel du Luc’s prime location in the extremely popular town of Bellagio is a big selling point.
Tip: Be sure to check Airbnb too! There are TONS of amazing Airbnbs around Lake Como with breathtaking views, and many of them are much cheaper than hotels.
Where to Eat
Rodrigo Restaurant – Via Regina, 7, 22011 Griante
A short stroll from Villa Carlotta, the wonderful Rodrigo Restaurant has been serving patrons classic Italian dishes and local specialties since the 1920s. In its heyday the restaurant was renowned for its opulent style but these days I can heartily recommend the pizza.
Ristorante l’Antica Riva – Via Lungo Lario Trieste 50, Como
This elegant restaurant overlooking the city of Como’s shoreline.
La Terrazza Metropole – Hotel Metropole Bellagio
Perched above the gentle lapping waters of Lake Como I had one of our most memorable meals of the year at the terrace restaurant of Hotel Metropole Bellagio.
Fantastic food and service were only eclipsed, quite unfairly, by the sunset spectacle across the lake. I recommend the caprese salad and truffle linguine.
Book tours and Purchase Tickets
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Final thoughts
Lake Como is a wonderfully glamorous place, even if you are travelling with a couple of almost three year olds, and should definitely be included in your travel plans for Italy.
Most days I don’t feel like I ooze glamor but I certainly felt it on our visit to this most classic of Italian lakes during the last days of summer. And wouldn’t you know, Sophia Loren has a property on its shores.
Here are few more tips for visiting Lake Como:
Learn some Italian before you go. Less people in Lake Como speak English compared to more touristy destinations in Italy. Try to learn a few key words and phrases in Italian before you go to make communication easier.
Don’t miss the last ferry of the day. If you’re visiting a town along the lake and you need to take a ferry to get back to where you’re staying, be sure to note when the last ferry of the day leaves. (Sometimes it is pretty early.) Otherwise you’ll get stuck with a very expensive cab ride!
Lake Como is a good place to rent a car. Yes, there are ferries and buses to get you around the lake, but driving is usually quicker and easier. Most places around Lake Como have free parking as well, making it a great place to explore by car.
Don’t base yourself in Como. The large town of Como, located at the bottom of the lake, is nice but nowhere near as charming as the villages in the central part and northern end of the lake.
Make plans on Italian time. Don’t try to cram a bunch of activities into one day, especially if you are relying on buses or ferries to get around. Things run on Italian time here, meaning the ferry might be thirty minutes late and it will just be shrugged off as no big deal.
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Other Italy Related Guides
Be sure to check out our other exciting guides related to Italy:
Top 10 places to visit in Italy
We loved Lake Como! Make sure it’s on your list.
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