Lake Como Travel Guide: Where To Visit/Eat/Sleep/Drink
Welcome to my Lake Como Travel Guide. In this guide you’ll find my recommendations on the best things to do in Lake Como, including the top places to visit, must-do activities, along with my recommendations for restaurants, bars and hotels.
At the end of this post you’ll also find a saveable Google map of Lake Como with all my recommendations pinned, ready for your trip!
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Lake Como Key Info
When to visit
late April – early May for beautiful wisteria or September for warm, mild weather (averaging 24ºC/75ºF).
How to get there
Fly to Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) or Milan Linate Airport (LIN), then take a train or drive to Lake Como.
How to get around
Ferries are the best way to hop between towns/across the lake.
IDEAL TRIP LENGTH
3-5 days
PLACES TO VISIT
Bellagio
Como Town
Varenna
Lenno
Menaggio
MUST-DO ACTIVITIES
Private Lake Como Boat Tour
Shared Group Boat Tour
1 Hour Boat Rental (no licence needed)
Winery Tour & Wine Tasting
Como Food Tasting Tour
RESTAURANTS
Figli Dei Fiori (Como)
Ristorante La Vista (Varenna)
Ristorante Hotel Florence (Bellagio)
Bar Il Molo (Varenna)
TOP luxury HOTELs
Top 10 things to do in Lake Como
1. 🏡 Wander through the town of Bellagio
Often referred to as the “Pearl of Lake Como,” Bellagio is one of – if not – THE prettiest villages in Lake Como, known for its cobbled streets and stunning lake views. Be sure to stop for a drink at Aperitivo Et Al – a winebar located on the famous street, Salita Serbelloni.
If you’re visiting during spring, grab lunch at Hotel Florence – their restaurant is located right in front of the lake and sits beneath a jaw-dropping canopy of purple wisteria flowers in April/May.
2. 🏰 Villa del Balbianello
One of the most iconic villas on Lake Como, both famous for its appearance in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones and for its beautiful terraced gardens and breathtaking views across the lake.
To get here, you will need to walk 25 minutes from the town centre of Lenno. Alternatively, if you want to visit from Como, Varenna, Bellagio or any other town in Lake Como, this tour package includes entrance to Villa del Balbianello as well as round-trip ferry tickets from most locations.
3. 🚤 Tour the lake on a private boat tour
Hands down the best see Lake Como is by water, where you can get up close and personal with all the lake’s stunning villas and picturesque towns.
Most luxury hotels in Lake Como have their own boats you can book via your hotel concierge, otherwise I recommend booking this Private Lake Como Boat Tour on a classic Cadenazzi wooden boat.
For a more affordable alternative, consider this Shared Group Boat Tour or explore at your own pace with this 1 Hour Boat Rental (no boating licence needed!).
4. 🌻 Gardens of Villa Melzi
If Bellagio wasn’t already picturesque enough, Villa Melzi takes it to another level. This lakeside estate has some of the most beautifully manicured gardens you’ll ever stroll through, with flowers, exotic plants, and paths lined with towering trees.
The villa itself isn’t open to the public, but trust me, the gardens alone are worth the visit — especially when the wisteria is in bloom in April/May.
5. 🍹 Grab a spritz from Bar Il Molo
While this restaurant isn’t going to win any awards for their food or their (somewhat slow) customer service anytime soon, I’m still going to recommend visiting Bar Il Molo to enjoy a drink and one of the best views in Lake Como.
If you want to grab a table for photos specifically, come just before they open at 8am. Otherwise stop by here to rest your feet and wet your whistle for an hour or two.
6. 💦 Discover the hidden waterfall at Orrido di Nesso
Hire a self-driving boat and visit this hidden waterfall in the village of Nesso. You will have to navigate your boat under a bridge (Ponte della Civera) which will lead you to this narrow ravine with a waterfall.
While the waterfall can be access by foot, it involves a lot of steep steps (over 300!) so the best way to access it is via the lake. It’s also a popular swimming spot for locals, you’ll likely spot them jumping off the historic bridge.
I recommend booking this Lake Como 3-Hour Boat Rental – where you can explore Lake Como at your own pace, no special boating licence is needed.
7. 🩷 “Walk of Lovers” in Varenna
Varenna is easily one of the prettiest spots on Lake Como, and the Walk of Lovers (Green Way dei Patriarchi) path is an absolute must.
This lakeside stroll is short but seriously stunning — think postcard perfect views, colourful houses, and that perfect Italian dolce vita energy. It’s hard to miss, just a few steps from the Varenna ferry terminal.
8. 🌺 Villa Carlotta
Explore the magical gardens of Villa Carlotta. This villa in Tremezzo is home to an impressive botanical garden with hundreds of species of plants, as well as a museum filled with renaissance sculptures & artworks.
Access to both the museum & gardens cost €15. Villa Carlotta is easily reached, within a 10-minute walk from the Tremezzo ferry terminal.
9. 🏖️ Have a Beach Day
Lake Como isn’t just about grand villas and boat rides — it’s also home to some stunning beaches and beach clubs where you can soak up the sun and sink your feet in the sand.
For beach clubs, Lido di Bellagio is perfect if you’re after comfy loungers, cocktails, and a lively vibe, while Lido Villa Olmo is a great option closer to Como town with easy access to restaurants and bars.
Although San Giovanni Beach (map location) is covered in pebbles rather than sand, it’s one of the only real beaches in Lake Como and has no cover charge, just an 8-minute walk from San Giovanni ferry terminal.
10. 💜 Wisteria at Villa Cipressi
If you’re visiting in spring, Villa Cipressi in Varenna is an absolute must-see to witness the purple explore of wisteria along with the panoramic lakeside views.
The wisteria here is next level, covering the villa’s terraces in cascades of purple blooms that look straight out of a fairytale. Entry is €10 and the is open daily 8-5 pm.
Note: You can actually stay overnight at Hotel Villa Cipressi and wake up to the insanely beautiful views each morning — but be warned, it books out fast!
Grand Hotel Tremezzo
3 swimming pools
SPA & WELLNESS CENTRE
5 RESTAURANTS & BARS
TENNIS COURTS
BEACH LIDO
BREAKFAST INCLUDED
Grand Hotel Tremezzo is a jaw-dropping art nouveau-style lakefront hotel on the western shores of Lake Como. This iconic hotel is a quick 2-minute walk from the nearest ferry terminal in Tremezzo. This means you are just a short ride across the water to the picturesque towns of Bellagio and Varenna which makes this location the perfect spot of exploring Lake Como’s best spots.
I had the pleasure of staying in one of their prestigious lake view rooms which have charming private balconies. You can enjoy an epic breakfast spread in the morning and a bottle of champagne at sunset with panoramic views over the lake.
On site there are four restaurants offering a mix of fine dining and casual lakeside bites, three pools, a private beach, wellness spa, tennis court, shopping boutique, yoga studio & more.
The friendly staff at Grand Hotel Tremezzo will treat you like royalty and after your first 24 hours staying at this stunning palazzo, you’ll start to believe you’re a princess too!
Map of Lake Como
Here’s a Google map of all the places in Lake Como mentioned in this post.
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