Lake Como is truly a dream destination during the summer. Here I will list the most favourite, Lake Como’s best hotels, villages, villas, Swimming spots, Airbnbs, restaurants, and many beautiful spots to explore.
This destination is visually one of the most tranquil destinations in Italy. You will be immersed in the ambience, and you can explore the surroundings at your relaxed pace.
In a single day, you can travel to multiple destinations like hamlets, major towns, and many villages to visit, which are tiny. A weekend with the good extension of 3 – 4 days can make you more relaxed and may give ample time to visit the lesser-known places and the known places.
It is known for its elegant villas, charming lakeside towns, and stunning scenic nature, with many of inspiring artists and visitors coming to this place. This lake is Italy’s third-largest lake and the deepest in Europe.
15 Things To Do in Lake Como, Italy
1. Menaggio
Menaggiao is a better destination for travellers who seek a blend of lakeside relaxation, historical charm, and natural beauty. It is a beautiful town located on the western shore of Lake Como.
You can go around the stunning cobbled streets and pick a scoop of Gelato by stopping at Bar Gelataria, or if you are a coffee lover, you can pick an espresso at the Piazza Garibaldi.
Visit the Menaggio Marina to get the best views of the lake. You can walk around the little marina and take a boat ride. Many of the luxury hotels are surrounded by.
Many of the places to visit nearby are Santa Marta Church, Largo Cavour Lake Walk, Monumento alla Tessitrice (White marble is dedicated to women silk weavers), Piazza Tommaso Grossi (Visitors can rent boats or kayaks from Menaggio), and move ahead to the ferry station.
2. Bellagio
Bellagio has very good historical significance as a top tourist destination and for its scenic beauty. “Pearl of Lake Como” is a separate name for the city of Bellagio. Bellagio is the perfect mix of wonderful restaurants, photogenic streets, gorgeous views, and small shops across the lakeside.
The best thing is to wander on the streets of Bellagio. Each of the roads is perfect for pedestrian walking and perfect for exploring and strolling.
From the waterfront, you can walk towards the cobblestone streets, which are narrow and will lead to the uphill town. Take a perfect picture from the top of the street to Lake Como.
Sallita Serbelloni is a very long staircase from the waterfront to the last point. On your walk, stop at small shops and go for the wine tasting at the Enoteca La Principessa.
Visit many of the places, like San Giocoma, the Melzi Gardens, which are open to the public, and are inside the villa.
Pescallo is a beautiful small fishing village, and it is much quieter than the bustling city of Bellagio. It takes around 15 minutes by walk from Ballagio to Pescallo.
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3. Varenna
Varenna may be a small town, but its history and the overflowing charm with many of the panoramic lake-side views make it one of the significant places to visit. This place is for the visitors, for those with a laid-back kind of environment and more intimacy.
It is a perfect place for nature walk lovers, and you will come across many of restaurants and cafes.
If you go ahead up towards Castello di Vezio, it’s a steep hike uphill, and it is totally worth it for the incredible view.
The prices are a bit higher in the historical center of Varenna. Confine to an aperetivo at sunset or a gelato during your exploration and go around to the cheaper part of Lake Como for an early dinner.
Visit the beautiful Villa Monestaro for its beautiful botanical gardens.
Take a ferry from Varenna, which will connect to the four towns from the centre of the lake (Bellagio, Menaggio, and Cadenabbia).
4. Lenno
Lenno is the most charming town in Lake Como. This lake can be reached by ferry from Como to Lenno. Ferry service is available every three hours and is operated throughout the day. The journey time will take around one hour and thirty minutes (1.5 hrs).
Lenno’s Harbor is located behind the wooded hill that protrudes into the lake. A comfortable cove with small boats from Lake Como’s relaxed harbors. A broadwalk around the shore, which is lined with benches and umbrella pines. The harbor has many restaurants, which range from pizzerias to all the important gelaterias.
Along the lakeshore in another direction, you can visit Villa Balbianello. Chiesa Santa Stefano is a church with lavishly painted interiors, which are worth watching.
The other attractions around are the Lido di Lenno, the Golfo di Venere, Abbazia dell’Acquafredda, Reclame, Oleificio Vanini Osvaldo, and La Cantina (Outstanding knowledge on wine).
5. Como
The city of Como snuggles at the foot of the Alps in the Lombardy region of northern Italy. The beautiful city has a historical and ancient origin, which dates back to Roman times in the 1st century, and it was founded under Julius Caesar as a Roman colony.
This place is a deliberate hub for the industries and trade, and it is highly popular for the production of silk, and the same importance continues today as well.
There are many cultural attractions, like visiting Tempio Voltiano, the popular museum dedicated to Alessandro Volta.
There is a 10th-century cathedral of San Fedele. Take a cable car up the hill to Brunate for the stunning views of the lake and the city.
Como Cathedral, which is Gothic-Renaissance, and it’s a must-visit landmark.
Visit the Museo Didattico della Seta, which illustrates the history of the production of silk.
Last but not least, have a tour of Lake Como for activities like boat tours, and you can visit the other side of the lakeside towns like Varenna and Bellagio.
6. Tremezzo
Tremezzo is the delightful, picturesque town on the western shore of Lake Como (Lombardy), Italy, with many of the elegant villas, beautiful gardens, and the stunning lakeside promenade with access to the restaurants, hotels, and the steps to reach the water on the lakeside.
Villa Corlotta is an 18th-century landmark villa with a popular botanical garden, pervaded by sculptures and exotic plants. There are many historic villas built by the wealthy merchants of the 17th & 18th centuries.
Parco Civico Teresio Olivelli is a public park located near the pier, which is surrounded by shaded paths, fountains, and views of the lake.
Stroll along the promenade and stop at some of the cafes at the lakeside.
Grand Hotel is one of the luxury hotels, and you will be stunned by the ambience inside, and you will be wowed by the surroundings outside the hotel as well. But the beauty is to have a cocktail or mocktail on the terrace with your loved ones.
You will enjoy the back streets of the town, and you will get the Italian pasta or a pizza at the lakefront at La Locanda Trezza and the Bar Helvetia.
7. Nesso
Touring Nesso is marvelous for its natural, stunning beauty, highlighted by the substantial Orrido di Nesso gorge, the cascading waterfalls, and paved alleys with historic stones of the beautiful nature.
Nesso is on the shore of Eastern Lake Como, and it is halfway between Ballagio and Como.
The Orridio Nesso is best known for its best photographed spots on Lake Como.
You can reach the village by walking and hiking, which is built on steep terrain, and the track leads from the lake shore into the surrounding hills.
The village gives you an authentic experience with its peaceful and reliable standby option to the busier towns on the lake.
One of the most interesting hamlets in Nesso is Careno, which is located in the southern part of Nesso, and just a short distance from the Pognano Lario village. You will find the triangle-shaped houses, which are very peculiar.
Valle di Nosee is the best place during the hot summers, making it an ideal spot for regenerating in the natural beauty of the waters and cooling off in the crystal clear waters.
8. Cernobbio
Cernobia is a tiny city located in the north-west of Como. And it is situated between Mount Bisbino and the serene, calm waters of Lake Como.
Cernobbio is known for its peculiar talent for building luxury resorts for the sake of tourism, and one of its famous resorts in the world is the beautiful Grand Hotel Villa D’Este. It is the town’s prestigious resort.
To discover the hidden gems of Cernobbio, take a round of leisurely walk to immerse yourself in the stunning lake views.
Historic center Cernobbio’s is built around the Piazza Risorgimento, which is the town’s main area that represents the lakefront.
Riva di Cernobbio is very popular for its home to the Nouveau ferry pier and many of the restaurants, bars, and hotels. Importantly, there is a playground for the kids to enjoy.
Villa Bernasconi was once home to their family, who had established the silk factory during that period. Now this place is used as a cultural hub for conducting food festivals and concerts. The interiors will reveal the history of the villa’s evolution and its history.
9. Villa Balbianello
Villa Balbianello is best known for its religious blessings, or great wedding ceremonies will take place beneath the arches of the historic loggia. And the guests will enjoy the magnificent panorama of the lakes and the gardens.
Access to this Villa on foot will take around 25 minutes, or by boat taxi from the lakeside promenade of Lenno.
The Villa’s surroundings can accommodate approximately 30 – 40 guests. The most special characteristic of this villa is surrounded by dwellings, with the beautiful holm oaks rounded into umbrella shapes.
Inside the Villa, you will come across many of the glass paintings and the authentic, rich groupings of artifacts, and the sculptures.
The works, which are done inside the villa, are done by Guido Monzino and the former owner of this villa.
The villa’s interior is accessible only through guided tours and houses some French and English furnishings, which date back to the 18th century.
10. Brunate
Brunate is magnificent for its beautiful panoramic views, and we don’t want to miss this best place. It is also nicknamed with the name as ‘balcony over the Alps’. From here, you can look from the mountains to the lakeshores. You can take a photograph near the Campari Fountain.
Coming to the Como Brunate Funicular Railway allows visitors to travel and connect between the two towns. It allows us to travel very quickly, and it takes around 7 – 10 minutes to complete the journey on either side.
If you are more into the habit of walking long distances, you can leave from the centre of Brunate, and in less than 30 minutes, you can reach the Faro Voltiano lighthouse, which is erected in the name of Alessandro Volta on the centenary of his death.
Instead of walking to the Voltiano lighthouse, you can opt for the shuttle bus, which costs around 2 Euros to climb up the hill. Once you reach the hilltop, you can view the peaks of Switzerland are clearly visible from this place.
11. Villa Melzi
Villa Melzi is on the lakeshore of Bellagio. Even today, this villa is still a private property, and it was built for Duke Francesco Melzi d’Eril. This eye-catching garden is open to the public for visiting purposes, and the small museum is also open to the public seasonally.
It is so stunning for its Neoclassical architecture and very beautiful botanical gardens. The garden has many varieties of sculptures, plants, and a stylish pond in the Japanese style.
The great scenery of the garden with many colors can be seen during the springtime.
The visitors will be allowed into the park from March to the end of October, from 09:30 to 18:30. Once you come to the end of the route, you will find the captivating chapel in front of the lake for visiting.
Across the surroundings of the villa is you will come across the exotic and rare breed of plants that have been there for centuries.
If you are dreaming of a photoshoot, you won’t get a better place than this, which is a perfect spot to take the best snapshots and enjoy with your loved ones.
12. Traditional Ferry
The Traditional Ferry consists of the car ferries (traghetti) and the slow passenger type (battelli), and these are managed by Navigazione Laghi. And these are required for the transport and sightseeing.
To have a relaxed journey, occasional stops at many of the towns, and to have the beautiful scenic views, for these slow ferries are the best option.
Car ferries are allotted to transport both the passengers and the vehicles. These ferries operate mainly in the central lake, which connects to Menaggio, Cadenabbia, Varenna, and Bellagio.
The faster ferries are the ones which doesn’t allow vehicles, and you can take a quick tour with these modern transport services, which also connect to all the major towns like Menaggio, Cadenabbia, Varenna, and Bellagio.
Sometimes ferries can be crowded during the peak season. Some of the schedules are reduced during the winter, and sometimes they may cancel the trips due to bad weather.
13. Lecco
Lecco is one of the hidden gems when it comes to the international traveller’s destination, and it is the best place with fewer crowds.
Many of the traditional boats are docked around the shores of Lago di Lecco. You can observe so much calmness in the small villages with the gravel beaches that cuddle along the lakeside instead of being flooded with the large hotels and the villas.
It is very easy to take a walk around Lecco town center and explore many things on a pleasant walk between the centers of Piazza Settembre and Piazza Cerminati. While going from Cerminate to Settembre, you will find many of the modern buildings, and this town center is blended with contemporary life, which offers a wide range of cafes and restaurants.
From the Promenade, you can visit Lecco Port, the Orobie Alps, and the Larian Triangle formed by Lecco, Como, and Bellagio. The main highlight of the lakefront is the statue of Saint Nicholas at Punta Maddalena.
Villa Manzoni and Meuso Manzoniano are located near Lecco’s city center, which was transformed into a museum in the 1980s and renovated in 2019. They showcase the original architecture, paintings, and furnishings.
14. Colico
Colico is famous for many outdoor activities, and it is located on the northern side of Lake Como. The outdoor activities include flyboarding with a stand-up paddleboard, sailing, kitesurfing, and canoeing, which are all part of the windsurfing. All the equipment required for the activities is available on a rental basis.
Colico is a very popular tourist spot for day trips. It is a lively, tiny town with many large shopping centres, several beaches, and numerous shops on the shore.
The best time to visit Colico is the Spring season from April to June. During this time, hills and meadows are surrounded by the wildflowers.
The heart of the town is Colico Piano, filled with many restaurants and bars, and you can taste the local food with a variety of dishes.
Must-visit churches are the Church of Santi Angeli Custodi, Church of San Bernardino, and Church of San Giorgio.
You can visit Forte Montecchio Nord is best known for the preserved fort, which is a 20-minute walk away from the city center.
To visit Forte Di Fuentes is a 10-minute walk from the city center, and other places to visit are Fontenado Tower, Piano Abbey, Pian Di Spagna Nature Reserve, and many more.
15. Tempio Valtiano
Tempio Valtiano is best known as the Neoclassical museum, which is devoted to the Physicist and Inventor Alessandro Volta, who was born in the city of Como.
The museum is on the lakefront, which includes the collection of restored artifacts and the originals, with the enduring exhibition related to his life and the discoveries.
The ground floor and the first floor are displayed with the Volta’s works related to the scientific instruments, such as contributions to electrology, the study of gases, and batteries.
Ticket Prices for the museum may vary according to the age groups (Kids: 6-18, around 3.4 Euros, Adults (6.5 Euros), and for seniors, it is 4.4 Euros.
You can reach this Temple Vlationo on foot from the city center within a 10 – 15 minute walk on the lakeside promenade.
15 Best Things To Do in Lake Como, Italy – Conclusion
That’s all about the 15 best things to do in Lake Como, Italy, from my end. I hope this article will help you plan your Lake Como trip accordingly.
If you have already visited Lake Como or you are a local there, share your experiences or any other gems that should be added to this list.
Don’t forget to comment below.
