Lake Como, Italy: A Short Travel Guide

Updated: 3 days ago

Located in the North of Italy's Lombardy region, Lake Como is known for its dramatic beauty. Shaped like an upside-down Y, this vast lake stretches about 50 kilometers or 30 miles and is set against the foothills of the Italian Alps. Unlike other Italian lakes, Como boasts a chic atmosphere, with historic villas and elegant towns lining its shores. In this travel guide, we share our top things to do in Lake Como as well as great places to stay, eat, and drink.

Check out our video about Lake Como to see the best things to do through our camera!

Best Things To Do In Lake Como

Discover the Old Town of Como City (Go on a guided walking tour)
Take the Como-Brunate funicular (& walk to the Volta Lighthouse)
Visit the town of Bellano
Admire the Orrido di Bellano gorge and river
Explore Bellagio
Get a view from Piani dei Resinelli (Hike to the Belvedere Lookout)
Visit one of the Villa’s
- Villa Carlotta's Botanical Gardens
- Villa del Balbianello
- Villa Melzi (Bellagio)
- Villa Monastero (Varenna)
Discover Valtellina Valley (Sondrio, Val di Mello & Bernina Express)
Rent a boat or take a boat tour
See Varenna
Hike along the lake (Lake Como Greenway or Sentiero del Viandante are beautiful hikes)
Explore Menaggio

Download our Google Map with all the places to go, eat and drink here.

Places To Stay In Lake Como

Lake Como is vast and there are many towns along the lake with great accommodation options. The "golden triangle" towns of Bellagio, Menagio and Varena offer the easiest access for tourists but they also come with a hefty price tag when it comes to accommodation. Como City provides more budget-friendly options as do the smaller towns along the lake. Just make sure the location you’re staying at is nearby a train station or ferry dock! Here are some of our favorite options:

Bellagio: Hotel Bellagio ($$): Located in the heart of Bellagio’s city center, this hotel boasts lovely views over Lake Como. The rooms in this boutique hotel have minimalist decoration and include a TV with satellite channels. Access to gym and a continental breakfast is included.
Como City: Al Porticciolo di Sant'Agostino ($): great location in the harbour of Como City, 150 metres from Como Lago Nord Train Station & 100 metres from the bus station. Each room is air conditioned and is equipped with a flat-screen TV, coffee machine, and a private bathroom with a bath.
Galbiate (where we stayed - but need a car): MINIloft ($): Cozy, clean loft outside the hustle and bustle of Lake Como in a small residential town. Loft has a well-equipped kitchen, bathroom, couch and TV.
Lecco: Lake Como Apartments ($): Located near the Lecco train station, this holiday home comes with air conditioning, a seating area, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, a kitchen, a dining area and a private bathroom with a hair dryer, a bidet and free toiletries.
Menaggio: Suites Menaggio ($$): Set in the heart of Menaggio, Suites Menaggio offers accommodation with seating area, air conditioning, a satellite flat-screen TV, private bathroom and a balcony (if seleted). It's walking distance to the ferry dock.
Varenna: Enjoy Varenna Casa Vacanze ($$$): Located on the beachfront in Varenna, the apartment features family rooms with a fully equipped kitchen with an oven, a seating area, a flat-screen TV, a washing machine, and a private bathroom with bidet. A fridge, a stovetop and kitchenware are also provided, as well as a coffee machine and a kettle.

Places To Eat And Drink In Lake Como

Bellagio:

Aperitivo et Al: This lively bar is a great place to enjoy an aperitivo or a glass of wine with friends. They also offer a small selection of snacks and light meals.
B-Lake Restaurant: this restaurant offers stunning views of the lake and a menu featuring fresh, seasonal Lombard cuisine.
Bstyle Bellagio: This is a great spot for a casual lunch or dinner. They offer a variety of pizzas, pastas, salads, and sandwiches.
Enoteca CavaTuracciolo: This wine bar offers a wide selection of Italian wines and regional specialties. They also have a lovely outdoor seating area.
Gelateria del Borgo: This popular gelateria offers a wide selection of delicious homemade gelato and sorbetto.
La Lanterna: low-key, traditional venue with fresh pasta dishes, antipasti & ciabatta sandwiches at reasonable prices
Trattoria La Busciona: cozy, scenic, and traditional trattoria offers delicious local dishes, with a focus on fresh seafood and homemade pasta

Como City:

Enoteca Da Gigi: quaint little wine bar with some excellent wines and shop to buy Italian wines
Figli Dei Fiori Restaurants: Airy, elegant setting with a patio for high-end dining, cocktails & an extensive wine list
Gelateria Lariana: the best gelato in town
IL Pacchero 2.0: Italian restaurant with homemade pastas
Lo Storico: Seafood pasta, fish soup & refined Italian classics in an upscale setting with courtyard tables
Pizzium: great pizza chain with some unique pizza combinations
Ristorante Antica Darsena: classic Italian restaurant in the harbor with excellent views of the lake and the mountains
Rom'antica Como: great for lunch or a quick bite with pizza slices ready to take away
TRATTORIA DEL CACCIATORE (Brunate): great trattoria for lunch with amazing Lake Como views
Trattoria Del Fagiano (in nearby Moltrasio): proper homemade Italian dishes

Menaggio

Divino 13: bistro with a variety of food options in a romantic setting
Gelateria Artigianale Leopoldo: ice cream shop in the main square with lots of flavour options
Hosteria de Menàs: It’s a hostel restaurant with good pizza and pasta, very cool atmosphere with good value for money and excellent tiramisu
Il Gabbiano: great place to have a drink while overlooking the lake
Pizzeria Lugano: affordable wood-fired pizza restaurant
Osteria Il Pozzo: Beautiful restaurant in the corner of the main square of Menaggio, serving traditional local dishes with fresh ingredients.

Varenna

Al Barilott: good place to grab a coffee and breakfast
Caffe Varenna is a cafe that offers pasta & aperitifs and has a charming terrace overlooking the water
Il Cavatappi: Antipasti, pasta & creatively plated regional dishes, in a modest trattoria with tables in an alley
La Passerella: great ice cream shop
Riva Gelateria: delicious gelato!

polenta dish in lake como italy — polenta-based dish

Map Lake Como Italy

Find all the places to go, eat, drink, and stay in Lake Como on Google Maps. To follow and save the list, do the following:

Tap on the link to open it (click button below)
Tap Follow. This list will now be added to the group of lists you follow.
Optional: To unfollow a list someone shared with you, tap the list Saved.

If you follow the list we made, all our saved places of Lake Como will show up in Your Places. The places will also appear as suggested locations in Google Maps.

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