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Lake Como is loved around the world for its gardens, villas and views, set between mountains, parks and forests. It covers about 145 square kilometres, has a shoreline of some 170 km (106 miles) and reaches a depth of 418 m (1,371 ft), so it is far too big to see in one sitting. The smart approach is to choose two or three places and give each some time. the Lombardy region's official tourism page for Lake Como is a good place to start before you go.
The town of Como is a good starting point for the lake, with road and rail links to Milan, Lecco and Switzerland. Como Cathedral, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, dominates the old centre, and a funicular railway climbs from Como to Brunate, a panoramic viewpoint over the area.
If you want to understand the old town, the Guided Walking Tour in Como: Lake, Duomo & Old Town is a guided walk, according to its operator, through the historic centre, with the cathedral and the lakefront among the stops. For something slower, the Wine Tasting with Food Pairing Tour in Lake Como pairs regional wines with local food in an enoteca a short walk from the shore, as its operator describes.
Bellagio sits on the tip of the central headland that splits the lake into its lower branches, with ferry links to both branches. That position is why it appears on almost every itinerary. The gardens of Villa Melzi stretch for almost a kilometre along the lake, which makes the waterfront walk there one of the nicest things to do in the village.
Several day trips from Milan are built around it. The Lake Como & Bellagio Guided Day Trip from Milan combines Como's old town with a boat crossing to Bellagio, according to its operator, and leaves you time in each place without rushing.
Varenna sits on a small promontory on the eastern shore, opposite Menaggio. Above it, the medieval Vezio Castle, surrounded by an old olive grove, looks out over the lake. Menaggio, across the water, has a lakeside promenade lined with exotic plants, flower beds and palm trees.
The Lake Como Day Trip from Milan: Bellagio, Varenna & Ferry links Menaggio, Bellagio and Varenna, travelling between them by public ferry, according to its operator, which is a simple way to see three villages in a day without driving.
Tremezzo, Mezzegra, Lenno and Ossuccio are four old lakeside villages that today form one municipality, Tremezzina. Two famous villas stand here. Villa del Balbianello, an 18th-century villa with a celebrated garden, stands on a wooded promontory; it was chosen as a filming location for Casino Royale and for Star Wars: Episode II, and its last owner, the explorer Guido Monzino, left it to FAI, the Italian National Trust, in 1988.
Villa Carlotta, in Tremezzo, was built in the late 17th century by the Milanese Marquis Giorgio Clerici. Its museum holds masterpieces by Canova, Hayez and Thorvaldsen, and its botanical garden is famous worldwide for its azaleas, which flower each spring. Check each villa's own page for opening days before you plan around a visit.
Navigazione Laghi runs the scheduled public ferries on the lake, which reach villages such as Tremezzo, Menaggio and Varenna. Navigazione Laghi, which runs the public ferries publishes the timetable, and it is worth checking it the day before, because the boats that suit your plan decide how many stops you can fit in.
If you would rather stay on the water for the whole day, the Lake Como Full-Day Boat Tour: Bellagio, Varenna & Lugano sails past Bellano, Varenna and Bellagio and continues to Lugano in Switzerland, according to its operator, so bring a passport or ID card.
One day is enough for a first taste, for example Como and Bellagio, or three villages by ferry. Choose a base on the lake if you want to see the villas.
Bellagio is the usual first choice, because it sits where the lake splits and has ferry links to both branches.
Yes. Trains link Como with Milan, and the public ferries stop at Tremezzo, Menaggio, Varenna and other lakeside villages.
Villa del Balbianello and Villa Carlotta, on the western shore, and the gardens of Villa Melzi in Bellagio.
