With its charming towns, stunning lake-side villas and the beautiful natural landscapes, Lake Como is one of the most beautiful places I have visited. It’s picture-perfect scenery and rich history makes it a perfect destination for your next Italian getaway. I visited Lake Como for 5 days as part of my 4-month trip travelling around Europe. I think Lake Como is best to be explored at a slow-pace, and there are so many stunning towns and Villa’s to visit, so for first time visitors I would suggest going for 5 days, or a minimum of 3 days.
In this guide, I’ll cover everything you need to know to plan the perfect trip to Lake Como including- getting to Lake Como, which town to stay in, and the best things to do and some recommendations.
Table of Contents
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Getting to Lake Como
Lake Como is located in the Lombardy region in Northern Italy. The closest and easiest airport to fly into is Milan Malpensa Airport or Bergamo Airport which is where many of the budget airlines fly into. Then it really depends where you have chosen to stay in Lake Como.
From Milan Malpensa, you can get to the town of Varenna by train. You will first need to get the Malpensa express to Milan Centrale Train Station, then you can get the train directly to Varenna. This train runs every hour, it takes 1 hour and 5 minutes and costs £6.50. I use the trainline app to book my train tickets in Italy.
From Bergamo Airport, you will need to get to Bergamo Train station first. This is a 5-10 minute drive if you want to get a taxi, or you can get the bus. Then you can get a train to Lecco and then change there to get the train from Lecco to Varenna.
From Milan Malpensa, to get to Como, you can take the Malpensa Express to Saronno and then change there and get the train to Como.
From Bergamo airport, you will need to get to Milan Centrale station using the shuttle bus, this will take about an hour. You can then get the train to Como S. Giovanni station.
If you are staying in one of the smaller towns on Lake Como, you will need to get into either Como or Varenna train station, and then get the Ferry or Bus. Make sure to check the Ferry timetable here to check the journey and frequency at the time you go.
Which Town to stay in Lake Como
There are lots of beautiful towns and areas to stay on Lake Como, however you want to make sure you choose to stay in a town with good transport links, not only from the airport but also to everywhere you want to go on your trip. I would choose to stay in a town in the central area of the Lake, these include: Varenna, Bellagio and Menaggio.
Varenna- Varenna would be my first choice of town to stay in because it has great transport links, you can get the train here really easily from Milan and it is part of the ‘Golden Triangle’ on the Lake which are three beautiful towns with regular ferry services between them. It is a beautiful town with colourful buildings, cobbled-stoned streets and it is also where two beautiful Villa’s that are part of this itinerary are located (Villa Monastero and Villa Cipressi).
Bellagio– another great option is Bellagio. This is the second town on the ‘Golden Triangle’ so it has regular ferry services to Varenna and Menaggio. However, it is a little bit more difficult to get to from Milan, as you would need to get into Varenna first and then catch the ferry. Bellagio is a stunning town with lots of great bars and restaurants, however it can get quite crowded.
Menaggio– this is the third town of the ‘Golden Triangle’ and this is where I chose to stay. Although it is well connected to the other towns, to get there from Milan, you will need to get the train to Varenna and then the ferry. You could also get the train into Como, and then get the bus. Menaggio is a really beautiful town, it is less crowded than the other two towns but it has some really lovely bars and restaurants. You can also get the bus to Lugano in Switzerland from Menaggio which would make a great day trip.
Como– Como town is very easy to get to from Milan by train. However, it is further away from the central towns on the Lake which is where most of this itinerary is based around. Como has a pretty Old Town, and a good choice for bars and restaurants. However, if you want to spend most of your time near the central towns, I would suggest staying there as the ferry from Como can take around 2 hours. I chose to visit Como for the day from Menaggio.
The Best Things to do in Lake Como
1. Exploring the Towns
Bellagio
Bellagio is one of the most popular towns to visit on Lake Como, and you have probably seen one picturesque street there on social media when researching Lake Como. It’s a fairly small town that can be explored in a few hours so I combined this with visiting Menaggio as well.
Top Things to do in Bellagio
- Wander around Il Borgo which is the centre of Bellagio. This area has lots of beautiful cobbled streets, with cafes, shops, bars and gelato shops
- Take a photo at the top of Salita Serbelloni– this is a picturesque alley which is one I have had saved on my pinterest for a while!
- Get a Gelato from Gelateria del Borgo– this place services the best gelato
- Visit Villa Melzi Gardens– this Villa is located just a 10 minute walk from the centre, and has the most beautiful gardens you can walk around. You can buy the ticket once you get there, it costs €8
- Visit Pescallo– this is a small fishing village with a small beach. It is about a 10 minute walk from the centre of Bellagio.
- Spend the day at Lido di Bellagio Beach Club– this beach club is located a 10-minute walk from the centre and has a beach, sunloungers, a pool, access to the lake where you can go swimming and a DJ
- A cooking class with a view of the Lake
Bellagio Restaurants and Bars
- Dispensa 63– incredible quality food but it is small so make sure to reserve a table in advance
- Enoteca CavaTuracciolo Wine Bar– great wine and food, located on a picturesque alley in the centre of Bellagio
- La Terrazza– great food and service, with beautiful views of the Lake
- Ittiturismo Ristorante Mella– a family run restaurant serving local seafood
- La Goletta– seafood restaurant with amazing views of the Lake
- Ristorante Silvio– this is a stunning restaurant on the Lake serving amazing seafood dishes
- Aperitivo Et Al– a wine bar with some outdoor seating on a stunning street in Bellagio
Varenna
Varenna is a stunning village in the centre of Lake Como with colourful buildings, a beautiful town, and two stunning Villas. This was my favourite place that I visited on Lake Como.
Top Things to do in Varenna
- Wander through the Old Town– there’s lots of pretty cobbled-stone streets, shops, restaurants and bars.
- Visit Villa Monastero– this is a must-visit Villa on Lake Como, it is in a stunning location on the lake, with the most beautiful gardens. I just bought a ticket to the gardens and the museum which cost €13, and I bought the tickets on the day at the entrance.
- Go to Bar Il Molo– this restaurant has the best location in Varenna with the most stunning view of the Lake and the colourful houses. I had lunch there but it is open for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. If you are staying in Varenna, this would also be the perfect spot for an aperitif at sunset.
- Visit the gardens of Villa Cipressi– another beautiful Villa in Varenna with stunning gardens overlooking the Lake. When I went, they were setting up for a wedding which was absolutely stunning.
- Get a gelato from Gelateria Bon Bon
- Walk along the Passeggiata degli Innamorati– this is known as the walk of lovers and is a really pretty walk from where the ferry drops you off to Varenna.
- Enjoy a cocktail at Bar Giardino at Hotel Royal Victoria
Varenna Restaurants
- Ristorante La Vista– a stunning lakeside restaurant in the Albergo Milano Hotel.
- Al Prato– one of the best restaurants on Lake Como. You can only make reservations in person so go a day or two in advance.
- Il Cavatappi– a small restaurant in the narrow streets of Varenna, serving great food. Make sure to book a table in advance.
- Osteria Quatro Pass– family-run restaurant on a beautiful street in Varenna, with amazing food and an option for outside or inside tables. I would recommend making a reservation in advance
- Hosteria del Platano– a Michelin star restaurant with a great location overlooking the Lake.
- Varenna Caffè– great location overlooking the lake. The perfect spot for breakfast or lunch
Menaggio
Menaggio is another beautiful town in the centre of Lake Como and is easy to get to from Varenna or Bellagio. I would spend a couple of hours here, and then pair it with another town to explore.
Top Things to do in Menaggio
- Walk along the Viale Benedetto Castelli lakefront for beautiful views of the lake, colourful houses, and surrounding mountains
- Have a stroll around Piazza Garibaldi– this is a beautiful Piazza right next to the Lake with shops, restaurants, bars and gelaterias
- Spend the day at Victoria Beach Club– a stunning new beach club with sand, sun loungers, a pool and a swimming area in the lake
- Spend the day at Spiaggia di Lerai beach– this is Menaggio’s free beach where you can go swimming
- Explore Loveno– this is a hamlet near Menaggio with cobbled streets and a historic centre. You can also visit Villa Mylius Vigoni which has a beautiful garden, and amazing views of the Lake.
Menaggio Restaurants
- Ristorante Il Vapore– a family run restaurant with amazing food. Make sure you make a reservation
- Ristorante Del Porto– lovely food in the most stunning location next to the Lake
- Divino 13– great food and the outside tables are on a lovely little street
- Dal Tato– great food and an amazing view of the Lake
- Osteria Il Pozzo– family run restaurant with great food, would recommend making a reservation
- Enoteca Re Di Quadri– located near to Piazza Garibaldi, this is a great spot for an aperitif or charcuterie board
- Pesin Tipo Un Bistro– great spot near the main piazza for an aperitif
- Café del Pess– great location near the Lake and Piazza Garibaldi, perfect for an aperitif
- Victoria Beach Club– great cocktails
Como
With beautiful Piazzas, historic beautiful, beautiful natural scenery and some great bars and restaurants, Como should definitely be a town you should add to your Lake Como Itinerary.
Top Things to do in Como
- Explore the town centre– there are lots of beautiful squares, buildings and some great bars and restaurants in the town centre. Some of the key things to see here include: Como Cathedral, Piazza Cavour, Piazza San Fedele, Piazza Volta and Piazza Mazzini.
- Walk along the promenade and have a drink in one of the lakeside bars
- Visit Villa Olmo– a beautiful Villa with stunning English gardens
- Take the funicular to Brunate– a small town with stunning views of Como and the Lake.
- Spend the day at Lido Villa Olmo– this beach has a pool, swimming area and a grass and sand area where you can hire sun loungers
- Get a gelato from ge.lab
Como Restaurants and Bars
- Terrazza 241 at the Hilton Lake Como- this is a beautiful rooftop bar with stunning 360 views of the lake. Great for cocktails, lunch or dinner
- Kitchen restaurant– a Michelin star restaurant serving incredible food in a beautiful garden setting. Make sure to make a reservation beforehand.
- Pizzium– amazing Neapolitan style pizza
- The Brothers Cafe– a small bar in the centre of Como serving amazing cocktails
- Figli dei fiori Bistrot– great food in a beautiful garden setting
- Il Diavolo L’Acqua Santa– beautiful restaurant with amazing food and a great atmosphere
- Trattoria La Costa- a family owned restaurant serving traditional Italian food, in a cosy setting
- Il Pacchero 2.0– the best pasta!
- Platēa Ristorante– great food with a beautiful lake view and modern interior
- L’Ora della Pasta– casual place for amazing fresh pasta
- Passion– great sandwich shop
2. Visiting the Villas of Lake Como
One of the best things to do in Lake Como is to visit the stunning Villas that are located right on the front of the Lake. These picture-perfect Villas, with stunning architecture and beautiful gardens are like something off the Great Gatsby.
Villa del Balbianello
This is possibly the most famous of the Villa’s on Lake Como, well known for appearing in James Bond Casino Royale and Star Wars. It is also one of the most beautiful places on Lake Como, with the perfect location right on the Lake.
It is located in a town called Lenno which you can easily get to by ferry from the central towns. You can then get to Villa Balbianello on foot or by boat. If you choose to walk, it takes about 25 minutes, and it is an uphill walk. You could also get the shuttle boat from Lennon which runs every 20 minutes in the summer months.
If your budget allows for it, one of the most amazing ways to visit Villa Balbianello is by a private boat tour. You can get these from most of the main central towns including: Bellagio, Varenna, Menaggio, Lenno and Tremezzo.
I would recommend buying your tickets beforehand as there was quite a long queue by the time I got there, and this was in May so I imagine it can get quite busy in July and August. You can buy these on GetYourGuide.
Villa Cipressi and Villa Monastero
These are two must-visit Villa’s when you are visiting Varenna. They both have stunning gardens, overlooking the Lake and the mountains. They are both a short walk from Varenna town centre so really easy to get to. I bought tickets at the entrance on the day, and this was no problem, there wasn’t much of a queue.
Villa Carlotta
This is a stunning Villa in Tremezzo, with incredible gardens, stunning interiors, artwork and a great view of the Lake and surrounding Mountains. This Villa is also really easy to get to, you can get the ferry to Tremezzo and then it is just a short walk. Tremezzo is only a 10 minute ferry from Lenno, or you could get the bus, so I would recommend combining visiting Villa del Balbianello and Villa Carlotta on the same day.
3. Other things to do in Lake Como
Spend the day at one of the beaches
- Lido di Cernobbio (beach club)
- Lido di Lenno
- Lido di Argegno
- Lido di Faggeto
- Blevio beach- here you can rents kayaks, wakeboards, super air Nautique and banana boats
Visit Nesso Gorg and Ponte Della Civera
Here you can find a beautiful waterfall which is one of the most picturesque spots on the Lake. You can get a great view of the waterfall from the bridge ‘Ponte della Civera’. You could also hire a boat to take you here to see the views and go swimming.
Private Boat Trip
This has been on my bucket list for so long, however as I was travelling on a budget, I wasn’t able to do this when I went to Lake Como. However, I will definitely be including this the next time I visit.
