Lake Como, Italy
The Lake
in Full
An independent guide to the towns, restaurants, hotels, and hidden places that make the Como leg of the Italian lakes extraordinary.
Lake Como, Italy
An independent guide to the towns, restaurants, hotels, and hidden places that make the Como leg of the Italian lakes extraordinary.
Start here
Four towns, four very different ways to experience the same water. Pick one and plan your days from there.
Bellagio
Arrive before 10am to miss the day-tripper boats. The back streets between the main promenade and Piazza della Chiesa are quiet and picturesque. Ferry tickets a…
Best: April–June or September–October for fewer crowds and mild weather.
Como
The funicular to Brunate runs every 30 minutes and takes 7 minutes — the views from the top are extraordinary. Walk the city walls at sunset for a perspective m…
Best: April–June for lake views without the summer heat and crowds.
Menaggio
The Menaggio–Varenna ferry is one of the most photographed crossings on the lake. Take the kayak rental for an hour and paddle out to the middle of the bay. The…
Best: June for warm lake swimming with reasonable crowd levels.
Varenna
The ferry from Bellagio runs every 30 minutes and takes 12 minutes — one of the most scenic short crossings in Europe. Book accommodation above the main road fo…
Best: Late May to early July. Water is warm enough to swim, but the summer crowds haven't fully arrived.
Editor's picks
hotel
Hotel Belvedere Bellagio
Bellagio
A landmark hotel on the ridge above Bellagio with sweeping views across the lake to the mountains beyond. Classic Italia…
hotel
Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni
Bellagio
The grandest address on the lake — a 5-star resort in a 16th-century villa at the tip of the promontory. Michelin-starre…
restaurant
Ristorante Silvio
Bellagio
The legendary fish restaurant perched above the water on the Bellagio promontory. Open since 1880, consistently excellen…
experience
Villa Balbianello
Griffi
A stunning 18th-century villa on a wooded promontory near Lenno, open to visitors and used as a film set for Star Wars a…
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An interactive map of Lake Como with all the hotels, restaurants, trails, and beaches worth knowing about.
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