Lake Como guide – 16 best things to do at Lake Como, Italy

Lake Como is one of those destinations everyone dreams of. The sparkling lake, quaint towns, palatial villas, colorful gardens, and mild climate are perfect for a relaxing holiday. But it isn’t all relaxation – whether you are visiting just for a day or staying a week or longer, there are plenty of things to do in Lake Como, Italy, to keep you busy.

A favorite vacation spot for the rich, Lake Como has been the setting for many films and shows. Pretty much everyone is familiar with the area’s cute towns and colorful flowers from greeting cards or jigsaw puzzle images. With such a plethora of beautiful sights, it can be difficult to know where to go in Lake Como to make the most of your holiday.

In this guide you will find out more about the best places and activities in Lake Como. From where to stay to the very best things to see in Lake Como, this guide will help you plan your trip!

What is Lake Como and why visit

Lake Como is Italy’s third biggest lake. It is located in the North close to the Swiss border and surrounded by wooded hills and with a view of the Alps in the distance. There are several towns along its shores, but the main attraction is the scenery. 

Due to its mild climate and beautiful nature, Lake Como has long been a bucket-list destination for regular travelers as well as for the rich and famous. 

Along the lake’s shores you will find many beautiful mansions and palaces. While many of them are still privately owned, others can be toured and are popular sightseeing destinations. One or two of them definitely need to be on your list of what to do in Lake Como.

Where to stay at Lake Como

Best towns on Lake Como to stay in

Lake Como is over 50 km long and there are about a dozen different towns and villages along its shore. So, on any trip to the area, you will first have to decide where exactly you want to stay.

Como Town and Lecco are the biggest towns along the lake. They offer a greater variety of hotels, restaurants, and activities than the smaller villages. If you plan on using public transportation during your stay, these are your best options. Of the smaller towns, only Varenna has a train station.

On the other hand, the smaller towns are closer to what you imagine when thinking of Lake Como. Bellagio, Varenna, and Menaggio have a quaint charm that is unsurpassed. Also, Como and Lecco are located at the very Southern ends of Lake Como, while most attractions are further North so you will have further to travel for your Lake Como sightseeing.

Overall, you are probably best off in Como Town if you rely on public transportation, plan on taking organized excursions, and prefer a greater variety of shops and restaurants. For a romantic getaway, the “Golden Triangle” villages of Belaggio, Varenna, and Menaggio are a top choice.

Best Hotels on Lake Como

There are plenty of places to stay around Lake Como, from moderately priced budget chain hotels to luxury properties with all the amenities. Be warned though – Lake Como is not a cheap vacation spot.

Top tip: Lake Como is a very popular destination, especially in the summer. So, book early if you want to have a choice of where to stay!

B&B Hotel Como City Center is a basic but clean hotel near Como’s main train station. Close to grocery stores and restaurants, you can walk to the lake or the city center in about 10 minutes from this hotel. B&B Hotel Como City Center is nothing fancy but provides everything you will likely need at a good price.

Albergo del Duca is a top-rated mid-price hotel right in the center of Como. Visitors rave about the staff at this small family-run property, but its biggest plus is the location, 5 minutes from the lake and main town square.

If you are up for a splurge, Vista Palazzo in Como is the place for you. Just steps from the lake and ferry terminal in Como, this member of Small Luxury Hotels of the Worlds will make you feel like one of the celebrities that flock to Lake Como every year. Top service, outstanding location, beautiful décor, and Italian charm make this one of the very best places to stay at Lake Como.

Just minutes from Lake Como, Hotel Garni Corona in Menaggio is an excellent choice if you are looking for a charming local property at an affordable price. Modern rooms and a wonderful location make this smaller hotel a top choice. In addition, Hotel Garni Corona is one of the hotels in Lake Como with lake views!

Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni in Bellagio has everything you could dream of when you think of a hotel near Lake Como. Right at the lake, this Five-Star-Luxury-Property offers a pool with a view of Lake Como as well as a beautiful indoor pool and spa. With its traditional décor, Villa Serbelloni evokes the grandeur of a bygone era. But don’t worry – the bathrooms offer all modern amenities!

16 Best things to do at Lake Como

Do a Lake Como Boat tour

Of course the lake is the most important aspect of Lake Como, so no trip would be complete without a Lake Como lake tour. There is a wide variety of different tours for all tastes and at various price points to choose from. You can take the large ferry boats to explore the quaint villages lining Lake Como’s shore, hire your own boat to explore at your leisure, or enjoy a sunset sailing trip with a private skipper.

Explore the town of Como

With about 84,000 residents, Como is the largest town at Lake Como. The city’s history dates back to the time of the Celts and under Julius Caesar the swamp at the southern tip of the lake was drained to make space for the town.

With all this history, it is no wonder that Como Town offers a variety of Romanesque and Baroque churches, Medieval Walls, and imposing squares. Exploring the town of Como is definitely one of the best things to do at Lake Como, Italy. Make sure to join this walking tour with a guide to get the lowdown on all the attractions and stories behind them.

Take the Funicular up to Brunate

One of the best views of Lake Como can be found in Brunate, a small town on a hill next to Como. Luckily, you don’t have to climb all the way up yourself – there is a funicular that will whisk you up in just seven minutes at a low cost. 

And riding the red funicular train (it is over 100 years old!) is one of the best things to do in Lake Como. Brunate also is a good starting point for several walks and hikes, like the nearby lighthouse of San Maurizio.

Discover Lenno and Villa Balbianello

There are many mansions and palaces around Lake Como, and they all have something to recommend them. A visit to one of them is a Lake Como must see. 

The most famous of these homes is definitely Villa Balbianello near Lenno. It has starred in both Star Wars and James Bond movies.

Make sure to pre-book this popular attraction! I highly recommend this guided Villa Balbianello and Bellagio full day tour. It offers you a chance to enjoy a ferry ride, admire the gardens of Villa Balbianello, and explore the charming streets of Bellagio.

Explore Bellagio with Villa and Gardens Melzi

Bellagio is probably the most famous of all the Lake Como villages – after all, an iconic Las Vegas casino has been named for it. Pretty as a picture, it is typical of the smaller charming lakeside towns.

One of the best things to do in Bellagio, Lake Como, is a visit to the adjacent Villa and Gardens Melzi. This English landscape garden offers sweeping lawns, colorful blooms, stunning views of the lake, and many camellias.

Visit Switzerland for a day on the Bernina Express

The Bernina Express connecting Tirano in Italy with St. Moritz in Switzerland is one of the world’s most iconic train routes. It travels from the Mediterranean flair of Italy up into high Alpine country with turquoise glacier lakes and snow-capped mountains before reaching glitzy St. Moritz with its serene mountain lake surrounded by dark-green forest.

The Bernina Express is a great way to get to Lake Como, but you can also experience this wonderful train on a day trip. Whereas the train ride is easy to book on your own when traveling one way, an organized excursion is best for a one day excursion as the logistics for getting there and back on the same day would be difficult to manage yourself.

Visit Castello di Vezio and Villa Monastero near Varenna

Together with Bellagio and Menaggio, Varenna constitutes the “Golden Triangle” of romantic Lake Como towns. Easily accessible by car, bus, train, and ferry, this village with its fishing harbor, lakeside promenade, and lido is worth a visit just for its charming atmosphere.

However, with Castello di Vezio and Villa Monastero, Varenna is also home to two of the best places to visit in Lake Como.

Castello di Vezio, a Medieval castle perched on a bluff overlooking Varenna, is surrounded by a beautiful garden and offers a stunning view of the lake.

The villa of Villa Monastero now houses a museum and conference center, but again it is the garden that is the real showstopper.

Take a cooking class

Lombardy, the region Lake Como is located in, is known for its food. So, what better way to spend your time here than learning how to cook some of the famous Italian dishes? 

There are various options, so whether you want to learn how to make homemade pasta in Menaggio or prepare a 3-course Milanese-style menu of northern Italian favorites in Como – you will find the right class for you.

Hunt for truffles and mushrooms

If you are looking for more unusual things to do in Lake Como, this mushroom and truffle hunting excursion is perfect for you. During this highly rated tour you will hunt for truffles and mushrooms in a forest with a local chef and his dog. Fresh air, beautiful nature views, and a unique experience – this is another of the cool things to do in Lake Como.

Visit Orrido di Nesso

The small village of Nesso is definitely one of the most enchanting in Lake Como. Set between Como and Bellagio, the rustic houses perch on the hillside, giving the town a fairytale look. 

But the main attractions of Nesso are the waterfall and Orrido di Nesso, a charming stone bridge. If visiting in the summer, try jumping from the bridge into the clear waters. And in any other season or in the evening this is one of the most romantic places anywhere!

Indulge yourself on a food tour

Food tours are always a fun opportunity to get to know the local culture while enjoying culinary treats and Lake Como is no exception. 

The town of Como is the ideal place to get to know northern Italian delights like polenta or nuvola cakes. Join this Lake Como Food Tour to explore the city center and the the best eats in town. 

Go on a hike

Lake Como is the ideal destination for hikes and walks. You can choose between leisurely walks along the lake shore and more strenuous hikes in the hills and mountains surrounding the lake. If you’re a seasoned hiker you may set out on your own, otherwise, joining this group hike is recommended.

The Greenway trail from Colonno to Lenno (about 6 km) along the western lake shore with its stately villas and cute villages is a popular choice. Hiking a section of the Via dei Monti Lariani is more challenging but offers spectacular views. 

Take it easy in Menaggio

Menaggio is the third of the towns making up Lake Como’s “Golden Triangle”. The quaint houses, lake promenade with beautiful flowers, many bars and restaurants are what the Lake Como region is known for. 

One advantage of Menaggio compared to many of the other beautiful towns around Lake Como is that the city center is level and not on a steep incline, so Menaggio is the best choice if your mobility is limited.

Explore the lakeshore by bike or e-bike

If hiking doesn’t appeal, renting a bike or an e-bike may be the Lake Como attraction for you. 

You can challenge yourself to the 160 km long ride around the lake’s perimeter, explore the mountains around Lake Como on one of several mountain bike routes, or take part in an organized E-Bike tour of Lake Como.

Admire Villa Carlotta near Tremezzo

Villa Carlotta near Tremezzo is yet another beautiful mansion surrounded by extensive gardens. The villa is furnished with authentic furniture and houses a small art museum. 

But you will likely spend most of your time outside, enjoying the manicured gardens with fountains, trees, and shrubs. Spring is the best time to enjoy this Lake Como attraction!

Join the water sports fun

The lake is of course the defining feature of the area, and you will want to take advantage of all it has to offer. Whether you enjoy swimming, kayaking, standup paddle boarding, windsurfing, or water skiing – spending time on the water is bound to be one of your favorite things to do on Lake Como.

Getting to Lake Como

If you are traveling from overseas, you can fly to either Italy or Switzerland.

The closest airport in Italy is Milan which is only about one hour from Como by car and 40 minutes by train. Alternatively, the Bologna or Venice airports are also well connected by train routes and highways.

If you decide to fly to Switzerland, there are hourly trains from Zurich that pass through the Gotthard Tunnel and by the beautiful Lake Lugano and get you to Como in about four hours.

A bit more time-intensive but absolutely worth the hassle would be a ride on the Bernina Express from Saint Moritz.

Getting around Lake Como

With a car you can easily explore all of Lake Como as there is a road circling the entire lake. However, parking in some of the smaller towns may be challenging, especially in the summer months.

A popular alternative to road travel between the Lake Como tourist attractions is a boat tour or the ferry. Though not the fastest (a trip between Como and Bellagio will take one to two hours), it offers a chance to admire the towns and mansions from the water.

There is a train route between Como, Lecco, and Varenna with regular trains and travel time is reasonable. In addition, buses connect the towns with each other.

Best time to visit Lake Como

Lake Como is a beautiful lake that is worth a trip all year round. However, many of the popular sights are closed during the winter, so if you are planning to see the main Lake Como attractions, late March to mid-October is better suited.

While the more famous towns can get crowded in the high season, there are plenty of lesser-known villages to explore. And if you travel in spring or late summer, you will be enchanted by the quiet charm of this Northern Italian jewel.

How long to stay at Lake Como

There are easily enough Lake Como sights for a week-long trip. Staying a whole week will give you a chance to experience most of the major things to do around Lake Como, engage in water sports, taste the delicious food, and enjoy the quaint charm of the small towns. However, you can get a good first impression of Lake Como on a 2 day trip.