Lake Como is one of the most popular and beautiful destinations in Italy. It might be the romantic atmosphere that is in the air at almost every corner. It might be the colorful houses and the surrounding mountains making the scenery look even more spectacular. For some, it is the majestic villas close to the water which can be spotted from the water. But whatever it is in the end, one thing is for sure: Lake Como is a stunning destination which you should visit at least once. In this guide, you will find a detailed overview on the best things to do at Lake Como and all you need to know before visiting.
1. Base yourself in one of the main areas
The best way to explore Lake Como is to base yourself in one small city around the lake. There are about four main areas, each located in the middle or in south of Lake Como.
- Bellagio – probably the main tourist area with most of the hotels and shops
- Varenna – the historic city with some luxurious and expensive hotels
- Menaggio – a small and quieter city with cute accommodation
- Como – the capital of Lake Como is the city Como itself which is located on the Southern end of the lake
It is totally possible to spend your full time at Lake Como in just one hotel and explore the surrounding areas by boat or car. But you can also change your stay one time and look out for two beautiful hotels or hostels to stay. Make sure your hotel is close to the harbor of the main cities, this will allow you to travel more easily around the Lake.
I personally recommend staying in Varenna. It is an incredibly picturesque and historic place which is almost unique. You can spend your evenings in the many restaurants and take the days to explore the area or take the boat to other shores.
2. How to get around on the lake
For travellers exploring Lake Como, there is only one mean of transportation: the boat. There are some main ferries leaving on a regular basis from the main tourist spots. You can as well rent your own boat for the day or use the private taxis who take you in just about 10 minutes to the other side of the lake. It is fairly easy to travel Lake Como by just using the boat. Other options are exploring the area by bike or take the car for longer distances, such as changing the hotel. But for day trips, you are much quicker by boat.
3. Visit the city of Varenna
You cannot come to Lake Como without spending a day in the picturesque city of Varenna. The old town is mainly known for its medieval style and reminds travellers of the typical Italian flair. It is best if you come as early as possible and take one of the first ferries to Varenna. This allows you to enjoy the beautiful streets all by yourself and explore a bit before the first tourists enter the city.
An absolute must-do when visiting Varenna is to have breakfast by the water and enjoy a breathtaking view over Lake Como. You can watch the boats coming in and the locals getting their boats ready for the tourists. If you are coming during summer, you will as well see the most beautiful flower blossom in the whole village.
Varenna has a few small local shops that offer some shopping opportunities. Apart from that, you should definitely walk south along the road to the next small village. On the way you will get a view down in a beautiful botanical garden of a famous villa, before reaching a small but amazing little spot by the water. Small stairs lead the way down to the little beach (which you will most likely have for yourself). You get a totally different view on the old town of Varenna and can take a rest from exploring by diving in the cold and refreshing water. Can it get any better?
4. Rent a boat and drive over the lake by yourself
It is considered the ultimate Lake Como experience. Even if you are on a budget, renting a boat will mark your whole trip to Lake Como. Promise.
There are countless rentals offering prices for an hour or two of incredible fun. If you are coming with your partner or a friend, you can split the price. By splitting it, the boats become (more or less) affordable. For an hour, you should expect (depending on the type of boat and the rental you chose) a price between a 100 to 120 Euros. For two hours, you pay between 160 and 200 Euros.
Despite the price, this is a bucketlist moment and gives you a total new angle on the area. Rent the boat in the late afternoon as you will avoid other traffic on the lake. You do not need to have a special license to drive most of the boats and after a short instruction, you are ready to go. Make sure to drive along the coast of Varenna and enjoy the amazing view. You can also stop and jump into the water. Listen to some good music while you speed over the Italian water – one of the summer memories which will last forever!
5. Visit the beautiful village of Bellagio
If you are not already staying in Bellagio, it is definitely worth a day trip. The city is known as the main tourist spot around the lake and therefore the most crowded place at Lake Como. But this does not take away the beauty of Bellagio. Make sure to take an early ferry to avoid the crowds at least a little bit.
When you arrive in the harbor, you can first take stroll along the water. Walk towards the city and keep on the way leading directly above the water. You will come across a small market and some spots where you can get into the water. The whole promenade is covered with beautiful trees blooming in pink during the summer season. Make sure to take some pictures from Bellagio from this angle. You can have lunch or breakfast in the tiny streets and enjoy a typical Italian Espresso while watching the tourists go by. If you are eager to do some shopping, Bellagio is the place to go. There are many small and beautiful shops in the city center, offering anything from Italian goods to unique jewelry or art.
Tip for your return journey: Do not take one of the last ferries. They tend to be even more crowded.
6. Visit Brunate
A more unique experience but still a must-do when coming to Lake Como is Brunate. Brunate is a small mountain village up in the South of the lake. You can reach Brunate by driving down to Como. From here, a small and curvy road leads you up the hill.
Secret tip: Make sure to stay a night in the beautiful hotel “Bellavista Boutique Hotel Brunate”. From their terrace you get the most amazing view in the area. If it is clear, you can spot the buildings of Milano on the horizon.
One night in Brunate is enough, as there is not much to do. There are some tracks for the wanderlust travellers leading up the hill to some beautiful view points. But apart from that the best part of the visit to Brunate is the view. This is best for those travellers who like to get different perspectives of a place and love to see various areas and angles.
7. Eat, eat, eat
Apart from the best places you need to see when travelling Lake Como, one of the best things to do is obviously dig deeper into the culinary side. Its Italy – one of the best cuisines in the world. In Bellagio and Menaggio are delicious places to get your daily pizza or typical Italian pasta. In Varenna, most of the places offer Bruschetta and of course, a tiramisu should never be missing when travelling Italy. As well there are good sea-food places for those travellers who love to eat freshly from the lake. While strolling through the towns, there is always time for an Italian ice cream.
8. Relax at the beautiful beaches
Most of the beaches at Lake Como are covered with stones. There are a few private beaches belonging to hotels or official swimming areas. Most of the beaches are down on the way to Como and you can stop by the lake to go for a swim. Near Varenna, there is one main beach where most of the tourists spend their day if they are not exploring the area. You can also find some nice spots along the road, keep your eyes open. Every once in a while there is a bay where you can spend an afternoon and bath in the sun.
