Best Things to Do in Lake Como

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Lake Como, also called Lago di Como or Lario, is found in Lombardy, northern Italy. It is a glacial lake shaped like the letter “Y” due to the movement of glaciers and the Adda River. With an area of 146 square kilometres, it is the third-largest lake in Italy, after Lake Garda and Lake Maggiore. It is also very deep, going down over 400 metres, making it one of the deepest lakes in Europe. Its bottom lies 227 metres below sea level.

History

The area around Lake Como has a long history. People began living here in the Iron Age with a town called Comum. In 196 B.C., the Romans took control of the area. Julius Caesar later helped build a new town on the lake’s edge in 59 B.C., called Novum Comun. During Roman times, the lake was known for its good fishing and hunting. A Roman military fleet was even based here in the 4th century.

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During the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, the lake was the site of many battles. In the 1100s, the people of Como fought with Milan on the lake. Later, between 1525 and 1532, the Musso war took place here.

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How to Plan Your Lake Como Visit Properly

Most people approach Lake Como the wrong way. They book a day trip from Milan, arrive at Como town (the least interesting part of the lake), take a slow ferry to Bellagio, walk around for an hour, and head back. That is not visiting Lake Como. That is seeing Lake Como from a distance.

Here is how to do it properly.

Where to Base Yourself

The lake has three distinct areas, and where you stay changes the entire experience.

• Bellagio sits at the point where the lake splits into two arms. It is the most famous village and the most expensive. A double room in summer starts at around €200/night. It is beautiful but very busy from 10am to 5pm with day-trippers.
• Varenna is directly across the water from Bellagio. It is quieter, more residential, and roughly 30% cheaper for accommodation. The lakefront walk at sunset is one of the best experiences on the entire lake. Rooms from around €130/night in shoulder season.
• Menaggio sits on the western shore and is the best base for hikers. It has direct ferry connections to both Bellagio and Varenna, good restaurants, and a more local feel. Rooms from around €110/night.
• Lecco (south-east arm) is the budget option. It is a working Italian town, not a tourist village. Accommodation from €70/night. The trade-off is that it takes 40-50 minutes by ferry to reach the central lake.

Getting Around: Ferries vs. Driving

Do not drive around Lake Como unless you have no alternative. The lakeside road (SS340 on the west, SS36 on the east) is narrow, winding, and choked with traffic in summer. Parking in Bellagio is almost impossible from June to September.

The ferry system is run by Navigazione Laghi and is affordable and reliable. A single ticket between major villages costs €2-10 depending on distance. The car ferry connecting Menaggio-Bellagio-Varenna runs every 30 minutes and costs around €5 per person. Buy a day pass (€15) if you plan to village-hop.

The fast hydrofoil service is roughly double the price but halves the journey time. Worth it if you are short on time.

What It Actually Costs (2026 Prices)

• Accommodation: Budget €100-250/night depending on village and season. Lakefront rooms with a view command a 40-60% premium.
• Meals: A full lunch (primo + secondo + water) at a non-tourist restaurant runs €20-35. Aperitivo with lake views: €8-15. Coffee at a bar: €1.50.
• Villa entry fees: Villa Carlotta €12, Villa Balbianello €10 (gardens only) or €20 (gardens + house), Villa Melzi €8.
• Ferry day pass: €15 for unlimited travel on the central lake zone.
• Total realistic daily budget: €150-250 per person for a comfortable mid-range visit including accommodation, meals, ferries, and one villa.

Villas and Gardens

Lake Como is famous for its grand villas and well-kept gardens. Many were built by wealthy families over the centuries. These gardens grow well thanks to the lake’s mild climate.

Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo has a large garden with fountains and sculptures. It also has a museum and artworks by famous artists like Canova. It was named after Princess Carlotta, who once lived there.

Villa d’Este in Cernobbio was built in the 1500s and later became a hotel. It has English-style gardens and was once the home of Caroline of Brunswick.

Villa del Balbianello, built in 1787, is now a museum that holds artefacts from explorer Guido Monzino. It has also been used in movies like Star Wars and James Bond.

Villa Melzi d’Eril in Bellagio has a peaceful park with a chapel, statues, and a Japanese garden. It was the summer home of Duke Francesco Melzi.

Villa Serbelloni, also in Bellagio, is now home to the Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center, an international conference and study centre. Some believe it may be built near or on the site of the ancient Roman villa “Tragedia,” once owned by Pliny the Younger.

Villa Monastero in Varenna was once a monastery. It has a unique Nordic design and is another popular villa to visit.

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Nature and Wildlife

The area is home to many plants and animals. Thanks to the lake’s stable temperature, plants like rhododendrons, citrus trees, and palms grow here. Hikers in the mountains around the lake may spot deer, foxes, and birds.

Outdoor Activities

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Lake Como is great for many outdoor sports. People enjoy sailing, windsurfing, and kitesurfing. The hills and mountains around the lake have many trails for hiking and cycling. These paths often lead to small villages and traditional restaurants.

Swimming in Lake Como is allowed only in certain places. It can be dangerous because the lake quickly becomes deep near the shore, and the water is cold. It’s best to swim in public beaches or lidos with safety measures.

Boat Trips and Transport

Lake Como has a strong boat network. Boats have been used here since 1826. Today, the transport system includes:

• Motorship Services: These boats stop at many towns around the lake.
• Fast Services: These hydrofoils stop at fewer towns but are quicker.
• Car Ferries: Ferries carry both people and cars between towns like Menaggio, Bellagio, and Varenna.

Taking a boat is one of the best ways to enjoy the lake. Both public and private boat tours are available. Many visitors enjoy sitting back and seeing the lake and villas from the water.

Cultural Sites

• Sacro Monte di Ossuccio is a religious site with 15 small chapels built between 1635 and 1710. These chapels tell the story of the Rosary and lead to a monastery at the top. In 2003, it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List for its cultural value.

Lake Como’s peaceful views, historical depth, and variety of activities make it a place many people return to year after year.

What Most Guides Do Not Tell You About Lake Como

There are a handful of things that catch visitors off guard. Knowing them in advance will save you time and frustration.

• The weather changes fast. Lake Como sits in a mountain basin. A sunny morning can turn into afternoon thunderstorms, especially from May to September. Pack a light waterproof jacket even in summer.
• Many restaurants close between lunch and dinner. The kitchen typically opens 12:00-14:30 for pranzo and 19:00-21:30 for cena. If you arrive at 15:00 looking for a hot meal, you will struggle. Bakeries and gelaterias stay open, but sit-down restaurants do not.
• Villa Balbianello is only reachable on foot or by boat. There is no road access. You either walk 20 minutes from Lenno (easy but uphill) or take a taxi boat from Lenno harbour (€7 return). The villa is closed on Mondays and Wednesdays.
• The lake is genuinely cold. Even in August, water temperature rarely exceeds 24°C on the surface, and drops sharply below. The lake is over 400 metres deep. Swim at designated beaches with gradual entry, not off rocks.
• August is the worst month to visit. Italian families flood the lake for Ferragosto (15 August). Prices peak, restaurants are full, and the ferries run standing-room-only. Late June, early July, or September are all better choices.
• George Clooney’s villa (Villa Oleandra) is not open to the public. You can see its gates from the water, but that is it. Do not plan your trip around it.

A Suggested 3-Day Lake Como Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive at your base (Varenna or Menaggio recommended). Settle in, walk the lakefront, have an aperitivo overlooking the water. Dinner at a local trattoria — ask your hotel for a recommendation away from the ferry dock.

Day 2: Take the ferry to Bellagio in the morning (before the day-trip crowds arrive around 11am). Walk the stepped lanes and visit Villa Melzi’s gardens. After lunch, ferry across to Tremezzo for Villa Carlotta. Return to base by late afternoon.

Day 3: Ferry or taxi boat to Villa Balbianello (arrive when it opens at 10am to beat queues). Afternoon: hike a section of the Greenway del Lago — a flat, paved path along the western shore with constant lake views. Final dinner somewhere you discovered on Day 1.

If you have a fourth day: Take the hydrofoil to Como town. Visit the Duomo di Como (free), walk the old town, and take the Brunate funicular (€6 return) for a panoramic view across the entire lake.

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What They Never Tell You About Como

Lake Como is famous for a reason — the scenery is genuinely extraordinary, a deep blue lake enclosed by steep mountains with Belle Époque villas clinging to every shore. But the travel brochure version of Como can set you up for disappointment if you expect a quiet escape. The lakeside towns, particularly Bellagio and Varenna, are heaving with day-trippers in summer, and the celebrity villas are behind high walls.

The secret to Como is simple: go in the shoulder season, take the ferry to the smaller villages, and walk. The old mule tracks that connect hilltop churches and hamlet farms above the lake offer views that the waterfront crowds never see. Como rewards the traveller who looks up from the postcard view and keeps climbing.

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