the ultimate guide to lake como
by kat & joe
lake como
Located in northern Italy lies one of the country’s most popular destinations. Known for its serenity, popping colours and grandness, there’s no wonder why Lake Como attracts people from far and wide. In this post, we’ll give you the ultimate guide for your trip to Lake Como.
what and how?
So, what is Lake Como? As the name suggests, it is a large lake and is made up of numerous villages interspersed around the lake. The lake forms an upside down “Y” shape and if we think of the lake in this shape, Como is at the bottom left of the lake. Como is the largest town out of all the villages which form the overall Lake Como area, as well as also acting as the gateway into the lake and other villages. It is where you’ll find the main port and bus station giving you the option to either ferry or bus further into the lake which is where you’ll likely be staying.
The most common way to get to Lake Como is from Milan. The public transport makes Lake Como a very accessible area, however there are a few moving parts which can make the journey feel quite long.
Usually you’ll be able to catch the train from either Milan Malpensa or Milan Bergamo Airports into Milan Centrale Station which is where you’ll get another train to Como San Giovanni. To our surprise when we arrived at Milan Malpensa, there were train strikes so it was quite chaotic finding a bus to get ourselves to Milan Centrale where we would reassess our options. Fortunately, there was a train still available from Milan Centrale to Como shortly after we arrived so we grabbed our tickets and made our way into Como.
The train ride from Milan Centrale to Como San Giovanni will usually take about 40 minutes and then you’ll need to walk for around 15 minutes to get into Como itself, which is also where you’ll find the port. If you’re not staying in Como for your first night, you’ll probably need to take a ferry into one of the villages located further into the lake. The ferries seem to run quite regularly in high season and to get into the most popular areas, it will take roughly an hour from Como.
We can imagine that these trains and ferries would be absolutely packed during the peak season so we suggest booking tickets in advance if you are able to. We think getting yourself into Como is the main thing and although it’s not as scenic as the other villages, there’s certainly enough to keep you going if you need to wait or stay overnight to break up your trip.
Morning coffee at our Hotel in Bellagio
Our last morning in Varenna
where to stay?
You can’t really go wrong on where to stay as the villages are very well connected. The most popular areas are Bellagio and Menaggio, but there are so many other options to base yourself from. As we stayed in the towns of Bellagio and Menaggio, we are best suited to discuss these areas as our advice is limited elsewhere, but we also visited Varenna and are aware that the likes of Lenno, Tremezzo and Belleno are also good alternatives. Lecco provides another option, beautiful in its own right, but it is quite isolated from the other parts of the lake. As our time was limited, we positioned ourselves in the middle of the upside down “Y” which is where Bellagio, Menaggio and Varenna are based.
Bellagio is one of the most famous and picturesque places on the lake which also means it’s one of the most expensive. The village is set on a hill so be prepared for a lot of stairs, but it is also surprisingly small so it won’t take long to see everything you need. Unfortunately, this also means it can get jam packed.
We visited Bellagio in November so the streets were quite literally empty, with only a handful of shops open which made it super easy to get around. We imagine that in the warmer months, the village would have a whole different vibe to it as it would be lined with people, but this would create quite a cool buzz that we missed out on. Bellagio is home to the famous stairwell street which is posted all over social media – we were lucky enough to capture some photos with very few people around! It seems like not many people actually stay in Bellagio as they tend to visit it for the day. Overall, it gives us a more relaxing vibe, being a lot smaller and probably more quiet in the evening than other villages spread around the lake.
Menaggio is only a short ferry trip away from Bellagio and is a more bustly village than its counterpart. With a main square, promenade and more variety of shops, there was certainly a bit more going on compared to Bellagio. Another walkable area which won’t take too long to explore. We recommend Menaggio if you’re looking for a fun trip and a good base to venture out to other villages.
Varenna is an incredibly picturesque and quaint location. It actually turned out to be our favourite place that we explored in Lake Como! We took a morning ferry from Menaggio on our final day and it is just stunning from the moment you arrive. Like Bellagio, there were only a handful of shops open, but it is a lovely area to walk around and is full of photo opportunities. Be sure to check out Villa Monastero while you’re there – unfortunately for us, it was closed for maintenance when we visited so we missed out on this. Overall, Varenna is the perfect place to stay for a romantic trip away with your significant other.
As mentioned earlier, we can’t speak for the other places like Lenno and Tremezzo, but they provide cheaper alternatives than Bellagio and Menaggio while still being well connected and close to the centre of the lake. Lenno is also home to the famous Villa del Balbianello which we recommend going earlier in the morning with less crowds. Little tip: With Lenno being on the western side of the lake, the sun will be rising from the east and shining over the mountains on the eastern side which will help with the lighting in your photos!
when to visit?
One of the best things about Lake Como is that it is a year-round destination. Undoubtedly, the peak season is where Lake Como is at its best as socials would suggest, but the off season is great for snow-capped mountains, far cheaper prices and having dreamy villages all to yourself. We think the shoulder seasons of April/May and early June, as well as September/October would be the best time to visit as you will be able to enjoy the warmer climate and a nice lakeside atmosphere without the crowds of peak season.
We didn’t realise the extent of how quiet it would be when we visited in November. So many shops were closed for the winter and dining options were very limited, so we definitely think you will see the best of Lake Como in the shoulder seasons and warmer months. The beauty of going in the off-season is that it really forces you to slow down and enjoy the serenity. We would love to visit again in the summer and rent a boat for the day and explore Villas and their beautiful gardens, but if you are wanting to tick Lake Como off your list and aren’t concerned about missing out on the summer activities, then you can really make a cheap trip out of it by going in the winter!!
