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No trip to Italy is complete without visiting this famous lake. I have outlined below the nine best things to do in Lake Como.
Lake Como had been on my bucket list for years before actually visiting. I had high expectations for this place after all of the beautiful photos and rave reviews this location received. You will be happy to know that Lake Como exceeded my expectations and I hope it will be everything you are hoping for and more! There are plenty of things to see and do to keep busy without feeling overwhelmed. Most importantly, the lake view will mesmerize you for days.
The best time to visit Lake Como is from April to October. You can visit this oasis all year round, but spring and summer are when you will have the best weather and views. April – June can get quite a bit of rain, however, they tend to be some of the best months to visit. This is because the lake gets extremely busy in the peak summer months, so I highly recommend visiting in the shoulder season.
To get the most out of your visit, I have compiled a list of the 9 best things to do in Lake Como. From enchanting villas to charming lakeside towns, there is something for everyone here. When it comes to vacations at the lake, you can easily make it a family trip or a romantic weekend getaway.
This post is all about things to do in Lake Como.
9 Best Things To Do In Lake Como
1. Explore Bellagio
Bellagio is probably the best-known town on Lake Como, and rightfully so, it is absolutely beautiful. Due to its popularity, make sure to get here earlier on in the day, to be able to walk around without huge crowds. It only starts to fill up here from around 11 AM, so you don’t have to wake up at the crack of dawn to make this possible. Walk around the little streets, see how some of the locals live and soak up the atmosphere. If you’re looking for the street that screams “I’m in Lake Como”, then head to Salita Antonio Mella.
While you’re here, make sure to stop for lunch at one of the lakeside restaurants. Personally, we ate at Hotel Metropole which we enjoyed, especially thanks to the beautiful views.
2. Tour Lake Como by Boat
To truly witness the beauty of Lake Como, you must take a water tour. This is because you get a bigger panorama of the views as well as experiencing it with the sea breeze. In addition, this is the only way to see some of the villas spread out. While the water bus runs frequently between the big towns, there are many more places to see which can only be reached by private boats. This way you can travel to less frequented areas, and when the towns get busy by midday, this makes for a great escape.
Although tours can be costly I think this is 100% an experience you should invest in. The private tours run for pretty high sums so I recommend getting a shared tour. We went with Bellagio Water Limousines as they offer amazing tours for very affordable prices. This way you share the boat with around 10-20 people but can experience having a local guide and seeing interesting points along the lake.
3. Visit Villa del Balbianello
This famous villa has been the backdrop in several movies including James Bond and Star Wars. While the villa has had many owners in the past, the last was Guido Monzino, an Italian expeditioner. In his will, he stated that he wanted the villa to be open to the public. Due to this, today anyone can visit the beautiful Villa Balbianello.
The gardens are incredible and boast some of the best views over the lake. In addition, the villa has been kept in the way Guido left it, and the top floor has been transformed into a museum of his expeditions. I recommend getting a tour of the villa while visiting – if you take this tour it is included.
4. Take the Water Bus around Lake Como
Coming at a more affordable price, the public water bus is a great way to see the lake. The ferries cover the entire lake so depending on your journey it can take a few hours. Routes vary and there are 3 main options. The first route is one that takes you from Como (south) to Colico (north) and stops at all the towns with a pier on the way. It will take a long time, but if you want to enjoy the entirety of Lake Como then this is for you. On the other hand, this route has a faster version for those who want to skip the smaller towns. The last route only operates in the center of the lake and allows for the transport of vehicles. It runs between Bellagio, Varenna, Menaggio, and Cadenabbia. Here is a link with more details on ferry schedules and prices.
Not only is this a budget-friendly option for transportation, but you also get the same amazing views over the towns and lake. I recommend taking the ferries to all the towns you want to visit and indulging in a single boat tour (either private or shared).
5. Visit Villa Cipressi
Villa Cipressi is located in the town of Varenna and it is breathtaking. You can either choose to stay overnight here (comes with quite a price tag) or you can simply visit the gardens. Lake Como is full of incredible villas that have either tranformed into hotels or are owned by celebrities. Although you are never short of villa options, Villa Cipressi should definitely be on your list. I recommend coming in the morning hours to have it pretty much for yourself.
You can bring a book and sit here to read and enjoy the special views in the morning hours, or just stroll around for an hour enjoying every corner of the garden. The entrance costs 8€ or you can combine it with an entrance to the gardens of Villa Monastero making it 15€ in total.
6. Visit Villa Monastero
I can’t mention Villa Cipressi without Villa Monastero. These are the two of the most beautiful villas in central Lake Como, and are conveniently both found in Varenna. Furthermore, the two villas are practically adjacent to one another, making it incredibly easy to visit both. While I think it’s worth visiting both villas, Villa Monastero is my favorite of the two. The garden has so many unique features and variability to it. Thanks to this, you wont feel like it’s unnecessary to visit both gardens since they offer somewhat different experiences.
Once again, the same entrance fee applies, so if you plan on visiting both villas, make sure to get the combined ticket.
7. Swim in Lake Como
I only recommend doing this if you come during the summer or if you enjoy freezing cold water. The lake is actually a glacial lake and is fed by ice water coming from rivers in the mountains. This means that the water is extremely cold and only gets warm in July and August. If you want visit in shoulder season to avoid the crowds yet still enjoy warm water to swim in, make sure to visit during September – early October. During the spring and early summer the water temperature can easily only reach around 16 degrees. With that said, regardless of the temperatures, when in Lake Como make sure to have a dip in the refreshing water.
Pro tip: this is actually the deepest lake in all of Europe (410 meters at its deepest) so watch out not to drop your phone as it will be extremely difficult if not impossible to retrieve.
If you stay at one of the Villas by the water, you will probably have a beach section for guests. If not, all towns have public beach areas, but they can be rather small so make sure to arrive early.
8. Explore Varenna
Varenna is a quieter town than Bellagio, but has amazing things to do and is the easiest to reach when wanting to visit Lake Como. Due to this, I recommend making Varenna your base while travelling around the lake. It gets busy during the day, however it is significantly less popular than Bellagio and stays quiet before and after the afternoon hours. Make sure to walk across the “lovers walk” connecting the ferry station to the historical center, offering beautiful views over the lake. In addition, an aperitivo is a must in Italy. If you only join this tradition of an afternoon drink and small snacks once, make sure it is by the water in Varenna. There is almost no scene that compares to this one, and it is a great way to cherish the moment and soak in the beauty of the lake.
Pro tip: for my vegan friends, when staying in Varenna, check out NaturalMente (supermarket/cafe) for some vegan panini options and vegan groceries (yogurts, etc) a rarity in Italy😅.
9. Go Hiking
Lake Como has many hikes to offer of varying difficulty to suit everyone. An easy hike everyone can enjoy is the famous Greenway path. It is about 10 km long mostly flat route winding by the lake and crossing through some smaller towns. The path starts at Colonno, and passes through Sala Comacina, Ossuccio, Lenno, Mezzegra, Tremezzo, and ends in Griante. You can pick and choose sections to do if you don’t want to complete the whole walk. All in all, if you find yourself with some extra time, I recommend this walk to enjoy the scenery.
If you’re looking for some more challenging hikes, then Lake Como is full of mountains you can climb. One of the more popular choices is Monte Crocione (about 15 km total) and you should set aside most of your day for this one. Overall, there are many options to choose from so I recommend checking beforehand some of the trails you may be interested in.
Lake Como has such a staggering reputation on social media that I was a bit hesitant prior to our visit here. I was worried I would come with expectations that would ruin my experience. Although this, our visit exceeded my expectations and I had the most dreamy days here, and I hope that this guide will help you have the same experience! While I have nothing but positive reviews, remember that it is a popular spot. Due to this, you can only get these glimpses of magic if you put in the effort to wake up early and avoid the crowds. Save this post to elevate your Lake Como experience.
