Lake Como, or Lago di Como, is located 30 miles from Milan in Northern Italy at the foot of the Swiss Alps. It is the third-largest lake in Italy and also one of the deepest at over 1,300 feet. The area is a popular getaway for people around the world, and it is not hard to see why. The rolling hills, crystal clear waters, and luxury villas make for some of the most beautiful views. This guide goes into the top things to do, places to eat, and some of the most exquisite Como hotels. I also give you some important tips on getting around. You will have everything you need for the perfect visit to Lake Como.
Towns of Lake Como
Lake Como is home to many small and picturesque towns. The most popular are Varenna, Bellagio, and Como. The town of Bellagio is a popular location due to its central location on the lake, but it is the most touristy. If you are looking for something a little more laid back, try staying in Varenna. It is just a short ferry ride from Bellagio but offers a little more of an authentic experience.
Bellagio
Bellagio is the most popular place to stay in Lake Como and has many things to do. It is located very close to the middle of the lake and is near some of Como’s most beautiful villas. Due to its popularity, it is also the busiest town and can be pretty pricey. Whether you decide to stay in Bellagio or not, it is a must-see on anyone’s itinerary. Bellagio has some unique shops and restaurants, and lots to do.
Popular Attractions: Vila Melzi Gardens and Villa Serbelloni Garden
Restaurants
Aperitivo Et Al – Aperitivo Et Al is a wine bar that offers 40 wines by the glass and 600 different labels. They have their own Sommelier that will help you with your selection. There is a small but well thought out menu for customers to order from during their tasting. I recommend trying the tasting menu organized by the Sommelier. There are a few menu options to choose from. Each menu comes with 2-3 glasses of wine and an assortment of food options.
La Fontana Bellagio – This cozy restaurant offers a variety of traditional Italian dishes to choose from. All meals are made with fresh ingredients from the area. Opt for either indoor or outdoor seating.
Alle Darsene di Loppia – Eat some of the most delicious meals while enjoying a view of the water. Alle Darsene di Loppia offers indoor seating as well, but if the weather is nice, try eating under the Pergola. The restaurant is also conveniently located outside the entrance to Villa Melzi. You can order menu items individually or choose from the restaurant’s tasting menu.
Ristorante Bilacus – If you love seafood, come here! They offer a variety of seafood options, as well as other meats and vegetarian options. The food here is delicious! They also have an extensive and well-curated wine list.
Ristorante Terrazza Barchetta – Open since 1873, this restaurant has been a large part of Bellagio’s history. The owners have done a great job taking the restaurant’s original dishes and modernizing them to what they are today.
Varenna
The town of Varenna is my personal favorite. It is such a picturesque and peaceful village. You can easily hop on a train to Milan or take a 15 minute ferry ride to Bellagio or Tremezzo from there. Varenna was originally a fishing village and is home to brightly colored waterfront homes. There is not much in terms of attractions here. Visitors stay mostly for the delightful restaurants and to spend a relaxing evening after a busy day exploring.
Popular Attractions: Villa Monastero and Vezio Castle
Restaurants
Il Cavatappi – My absolute favorite restaurant in Lake Como! We were so happy to stumble upon this gem of a restaurant. I know I talked about it early, but it was worth talking about again. This small, cozy restaurant was one of the highlights of our trip. For more information about this restaurant read the beginning of this post.
Varenna Caffe Bistrot – This was the first restaurant we stopped at during our trip. After a long day, it was nice sitting outside and enjoying a drink and meal while staring at the bright blue water and mountains in the background. If you are thirsty, try their aperitifs, they are delicious! Everything we ordered from the menu was delicious, and the staff was quick and friendly. We enjoyed it so much we came back a second time!
Ristorante La Vista – For dinner and a view, try eating at La Vista. The restaurant has a delightful menu made of seasonal ingredients and offers vegetarian options. The menu changes throughout the year for the best dishes all year round. Whether you decide to eat inside or out, you are guaranteed a beautiful view.
Osteria Quatro Pass – The restaurant itself is very cozy. The rooms have vaulted ceilings with exposed stone and romantic lighting. The food is just as amazing. Osteria Quatro Pass has created a delicious menu. All ingredients are fresh and made in-house. The fish even comes from Lake Como itself. Enjoy a romantic meal inside, or sit at the outdoor tables in the little alleyway.
Al Prato – With a range of seafood, Italian, and Mediterranean dishes, Al Prato has something for everyone. Each meal is not only well made but presented very beautifully. They also have a great wine list to choose from.
Como
The town of Como is on the southwest end of the lake near the Italian-Swiss border. The elegant town is the primary commercial center of the region, but it is also known for its villas, museums, and scenery.
Popular Attractions: Duomo, Museo Didattico della Seta, Villa Olmo, Basilica di San Fedele and Basilica di Sant’Abbondio
Restaurants
Trattoria La Costa – This family run restaurant has been around since the early 1900s and is known by locals. The family that runs La Costa now is very hospitable and makes sure that all their guests feel at home while they enjoy a glass of wine and home-cooked meals.
Kitchen – The Kitchen is a beautiful restaurant situated in the middle of a private park. It was featured in the Gambero Rosso Restaurant Guide 2020 as one of the best restaurants in the region. The restaurant offers two tasting menus and an à la carte menu. For a romantic setting, dine outside at night, surrounded by beautiful trees and nature.
Trattoria Tira Mola E Meseda – This lovely restaurant is in the heart of Como and enjoyed by both locals and tourists. The restaurant itself is beautifully decorated and offers a very intimate setting. Trattoria Tira Mola E Meseda has a tasting menu, à la carte menu, and a special Christmas menu during the holidays. For an authentic restaurant experience, this is a must try!
Tremezzo
The city of Tremezzo is across the water from Bellagio and Varenna. This quaint little town is home to some of the most beautiful and well-known attractions like the Villa Carlotta. Only a short ferry ride away from Como’s main towns, it is worth a trip to see.
Popular Attractions: Villa Carlotta and Villa del Balbianello
Restaurants
Cantina Follie – Cantina Follie is a wonderful wine bar in the Tremezzo. The husband and wife who own Cantina Follie are also sommeliers and have exceptional knowledge of wines. The wine bar is in the cellars of an old house. Enjoy an assortment of cold suits and cheeses to eat during your tasting. If you are looking for some great quality Italian wine, this is a great place!
La Darsena – The La Darsena hotel has a delicious restaurant. Enjoy a view of Bellagio while eating your dinner from the terrace. La Darsena is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even offers wine tastings.
Al Veluu Ristorante & Suites – For a peaceful getaway from the noise, this restaurant offers a peaceful place to eat with terrific views. Al Veluu has seen many famous guests since its opening in 1974. The restaurant grows its own herbs and vegetables and gets the other ingredients from top quality providers in the region, so the menu changes depending on the season.
Three-Day Trip to Como
Como was our last destination for our Italy trip. We spent a total of three nights on Lake Como, and it has now become one of my favorite places. We decided to stay in the city of Varenna for the duration of our stay. After the hustle and bustle of Rome and Florence, we wanted to spend our last few days in Italy relaxing. We stayed at a cozy little Airbnb just on the outskirts of the town. It was an easy 15-minute walk to Varenna or a quick taxi ride.
Day 1
On our first day, we did not get to Como until noon. Our Airbnb host was very gracious and picked us up from the train station. After dropping off our luggage, we spent the rest of the afternoon walking around the streets of Varenna and enjoying the outdoors. For dinner, we found a restaurant, Varenna Caffè Bistrot, that is right on the water for a tasty meal with a view.
Day 2
On our second day, we decided to explore some of the neighboring towns. We jumped on the ferry and started in Bellagio. Bellagio was a lot bigger than Varenna and had many little shops for us to explore. We spent a couple hours exploring the town, and stopped to have lunch at Ristorante Bilacus. My favorite part of Bellagio was all the little art galleries displaying the work of local artists.
After walking around the picturesque streets and exploring the Villa Melzi Gardens, we headed to Tremezzo. At that point, we only had time to visit one villa, so we opted for Balbianello. I am glad we did. It is absolutely gorgeous! Villa del Balbianello is right on top of the water and has some of the most beautiful views of our entire trip.
For dinner, we went to Il Cavatappi in Varenna. It was probably one of my favorite restaurants on our entire trip. The owner was very hospitable and involved in the running of everything. He made sure that each guest had the best experience possible. The restaurant itself had maybe ten tables at most, and you have to make a reservation to get in. The owner had to turn down a good dozen people just in the time we were there due to the restaurant being booked for the night. We luckily got the table in front of the kitchen. It is a tiny kitchen with a glass window, so you can peer inside and watch the chef at work. Just watching how meticulous he was with each dish that was made, made us appreciate the meal even more. The meal itself was delicious!!
Day 3
On our last day in Lake Como, we decided to enjoy the sights. We packed a lunch and rented a boat from Varenna Boat Rentals. We took it all the way down to the village of Como and back. It was so relaxing enjoying the weather and driving by the spectacular villas along the water. We even paid a visit to George on the way. The water in Como is crystal clear and very clean, making for an enjoyable swim. There were a decent amount of boats in the water that day, but it was still very calm. After our boat ride, we headed to Varenna’s local beach for the rest of the day before heading back to our Airbnb to freshen up for dinner.
Overall, I could have spent many more days there and was sad to leave. Lake Como is truly one of the most picturesque places I have ever been and somewhere that I will continue to visit. If you are looking for a relaxing getaway or want a laid-back end to your trip to Europe, Lake Como is the perfect place.
Getting Around
Traveling to Lake Como
The easiest way to get to and from Lake Como is from the Milano Centrale Train Station in Milan, Italy.
- Milan to Como – Get off at the Como S. Giovanni train station.
- Milan to Bellagio – Take the train to the Lecco station. From there, take the D10 bus to Bellagio.
- Milan to Varenna – Several trains run to Varenna.
Look at the Omio website for ticket prices, routes, and timetables.
Traveling in Lake Como
From my experience, the easiest way to get from village to village is by boat or ferry. The routes are cheap, easy to navigate, run frequently, and offer beautiful views of the water and mountains during your travel. You can purchase tickets at kiosks located in front of the docks. Once in the villages, it is easy to walk around on foot. There are, however, many options for getting around.
Motor Ships
These ships are much slower. They are great for people who want to relax and take in the sights while they travel from one town to the other.
Hydrofoil Boat
For a little more money you can purchase tickets on the Hydrofoil, which will get you to your destination much faster. The Hydrofoil boats do not service the southwest part of the lake but take you to all the other villages such as Como, Tremezzo, Bellagio, and Varenna.
Ferry
The ferry connects to the towns of Bellagio, Varenna, Menaggio, and Cadenabbia. It takes about 15 minutes to travel by ferry and it a great choice if you have a car that you need to bring from one village to the other.
Bus
Buses are another option for getting around the area. They do not, however, have the same picturesque views as taking water transportation. The ASF Autolinee service will take you around the city of Como. The bus companies Linee Lecco, and Arriva service the town of Lecco and will take you to destinations on the eastern branch of the lake, such as Bellagio.
Taxi
This is an easy but pricier option for getting around. If you are traveling by train to your hotel, taxis are the most convenient form of transportation.
Best Time To Go
The best time to go is during the summer months because of the warmer temperature, meaning it is also the busiest time to visit. If you want to go when the weather is still pretty warm, but the area is less busy, try the end of spring or the beginning of fall. I do not recommend visiting Lake Como in the winter as many attractions are closed during this time of year.
Things to Do
Rent a boat
My favorite part of my visit to Lake Como was spending the day cruising around the water and enjoying the beautiful weather and views. I highly recommend you schedule a few hours in your day and take out a boat.
Varenna Boat Rentals – This is the company we used for our boat rental. They were very friendly and helpful, and had a large variety of boats to choose from. The smallest boat seats up to 6 people and starts at 70€ an hour. The more hours you purchase, the cheaper the hourly rate is.
Bellagio Rent a Boat – This is another popular boat rental company. Boat rentals start at 75€ an hour and go up to 300€ for six hours.
Relax on the beach
There are a lot of beaches scattered along the water. I’ve listed some of the more popular beaches around. Something to consider when booking your stay in Lake Como is to find hotels on the water. Many hotels have their own private beaches for guests to enjoy.
Lido di Varenna
Lido di Varenna is Varenna’s main beach. It is a beautiful sandy beach that offers sun chairs and beach equipment. They also have a place for you to dock your boat. If you get hungry, there is a restaurant and bar available as well.
Lido di Bellagio
Lido di Bellagio is the main beach in Bellagio, located near the Villa Melzi gardens. The beach club offers sunbeds, umbrellas, a restaurant, and a cocktail bar. This particular beach can get very crowded, but it is one of the few sandy beaches on the water. Access to the beach is free, but you have to purchase some equipment for a small fee. At night it turns into a beach club and frequently hosts special events. Lido di Bellagio’s website.
Giovanni Beach
Giovanni Beach is a free beach located near the San Giovanni neighborhood in Bellagio. Like most beaches in Como, it is a pebble beach. Giovanni Beach is a quieter beach and great for people who want to relax in a more natural setting. During the summer, the beach has a bar set up with drinks, food, and ice cream.
Lido di Lenno
Lido di Lenno is another popular beach in Tramezzo. It has some great amenities such as gazebos and chairs to rent. Lido di Lenno also has a full-service restaurant offering some delicious Italian food and refreshing drinks. The beach is beautifully lit up at night and turns into a beach club after dark.
Como-Brunate Cable Car
Take this cable-car up the mountains of Lake Como for a beautiful view of the water. The entrance of the Como-Brunate cable car is near the village of Brunate. The trip to the top is very quick. From the top, many people like to hike the 30 minute trail to the San Maurizio lighthouse. Check out their website for more information.
Popular Attractions
Villa Carlotta
This famous villa sits on over 14 acres of gardens full of the most beautiful species of plants. Built in the late 1700s, the house passed to Giovanni Battista Sommariva who was a passionate art collector. For the next several centuries, the house passed from owner to owner, each adding their own personal touches to the property. It is now a museum that showcases some exquisite paintings, sculptures, tapestries, and furnishings. If you visit Villa Carlotta, make sure to buy tickets for both the museum and the gardens! Carlotta’s official website.
Villa Balbianello
Balbianello is my favorite attraction in Lake Como. Not only is it very famous, but is itself absolutely beautiful. Villa del Balbianello sits on the tip of Lavedo, easily accessed from the town of Tremezzo. One of the most famous villas on the lake, it has been the setting for several movies such as Casino Royale and Star Wars. Walk outside to the terrace and gardens and enjoy the panoramic view of the lake. Make sure to have a camera with you! Villa Balbianello’s website.
Villa Melzi d’Eril Gardens
Originally built as a summer villa for the vice president of the Italian Republic, Francesco Melzi d’Eril, it is still used as a private residence today. The villa itself is not open to the public, but visitors can enjoy the beautiful botanical gardens. The gardens have a collection of exotic and rare plants, beautiful sculptures, and is full of hidden places to explore.
Villa Monastero
Monastero is known for its botanical gardens that extend between Varenna and Fiumelatte. The gardens offer marvelous views of the lake and unique botanical plants. At this time, it is home to over 1,0000 species of plants for visitors to enjoy. You can also tour the house, which is now a tiny museum. Monastero also is used as a conference center and can be rented out for special events such as workshops and weddings. Villa Monastero’s official website.
Villa Serbelloni Gardens
The gardens belong to the Villa Serbelloni. They sit high above the village of Bellagio with over 11 miles of walking paths. The villa itself was built in the 15th century and has hosted famous visitors such as Queen Victoria, Emperor Maximillian, and Leonardo da Vinci. The property was given to the Rockefeller foundation in 1959. If you would like to get tickets to access the garden, visit Villa Serbelloni’s website.
The Isola Comacina
The only island in Como, it is on the north end of the lake near the village of Lenno. It has a famous history dating back to the Roman period. The Isola Comacina was used as the religious center of Como. It is home to several churches, including the well-known Basilica of St. Euphemius. The island is now an archaeological site and museum. For information on visiting Comacina Island, visit their website.
Villa Gaeta
Best known as a filming location for the James Bond movie, Casino Royale, Villa Gaeta is a pretty villa located near Menaggio. You cannot tour the actual house but can see if from the water. The home is also available to rent during your stay in Como.
Lake Como Hotels
Hotel Il Perlo Panorama (Bellagio)
This hotel has private gardens and a terrace for guests to enjoy. If you are interested in cycling around the lake, this is a great hotel for you. They are very knowledgeable about the best paths to take and offer guided bike tours and rentals. Make sure to take advantage of their restaurant that offers outdoor seating with a spectacular view. After 5:00 pm, a wine expert will be available for wine tastings as well!
Royal Victoria (Varenna)
Named after Queen Victoria, who visited in 1838, this beautiful hotel is full of historic charm. It offers several types of rooms and four suites to choose from. The Royal Victoria also has two restaurants and three bars for guests to enjoy. The best part about your stay is the concierge will help you plan out an itinerary or give suggestions on the best places to visit and dine.
Albergo Terminus (Como)
This beautiful hotel was built in 1900 by Italo Zanolini, and was used as a thermal spa for another nearby hotel. In 1940, it was taken over by the Passera family and eventually turned into a hotel. Although the hotel has been renovated, the owners have done a terrific job keeping it elegant and close to its original form. The hotel offers seven types of rooms to choose from, including suites with terrace views of the lake. Make sure to stop by the restaurant for breakfast or dinner. The menu is made from fresh Italian ingredients, and the dining room itself is beautiful.
Villa Làrio (Pognana Lario)
If you want to stay at a location a little further removed from the main towns, Villa Làrio is a great option. The hotel is located half-way between Bellagio and Como, making it the perfect location for visiting many of the popular towns. The property has over 2 acres of private gardens overlooking the water, and four different buildings to choose from for your stay.
There are several different suites to choose from with a variety of amenities, such as private terraces, kitchens, and house cleaning. The hotel also has a spa, outdoor pool, yoga classes, and golf. Make sure to rent out a private pontoon boat during your stay. Villa Làrio offers a picnic basket service for you to take on any trip, with an assortment of foods to choose from. If you are planning to stay in Lake Como for more than just a couple of days, try staying here!
5-Star Hotels
Grand Hotel Tremezzo (Tremezzo)
If you are looking to stay in a luxury hotel, the Grand Hotel Tremezzo is as luxurious as it gets. The hotel contains multiple types of rooms to choose from and eight rooftop suites with private terraces overlooking the water. Guests can enjoy access to their full-service spa, three pools, a private beach, and park. The most popular area for guests is the “floating” pool that sits in the middle of the lake. Hotel Tremezzo also offers lots of dinner choices for guests. For a fine-dining experience, the Gualtiero Marchesi offers only the best Italian dishes. For a more laid-back option, try the T-Pizza bar outside in the gardens. Make sure to take advantage of the many bars around the hotel and wine cellar.
Villa d’Este (Cernobbio)
This 5-star hotel was once home to several aristocratic families. It is considered one of the most beautiful architectures from the 16th century and was designed by the famous architect Pellegrino Pellegrini. In 1873 it was turned into a luxury hotel. The 152 rooms offer gorgeous views of the gardens and lake, and numerous amenities. Each is exquisitely designed with antique furniture and decor. Villa d’Este also offers a variety of restaurants and bars around the property for guests to enjoy. The concierge is very helpful and will book tours, excursions, car rentals, and help with anything you need.
Airbnb
Airbnb is another popular option in Lake Como. There are many wonderful homes in town, near the water, and up in the mountains. Many people like to book an Airbnb when staying in Lake Como for longer periods of time because many include kitchens, multiple bedrooms, and private outdoor areas. Airbnbs can also be a less expensive option than some of the hotels.
RELATED POSTS
[wp_show_posts id=”2983″]
