Lake Como, Lago di Como in Italian, is Italy’s most popular lake and also its deepest. It is shaped like an inverted Y, giving it a long coastline, and is surrounded by mountains and hills dotted with beautiful villas and resort towns. There are good hiking trails, boat trips and water activities.
Since Roman times, Lake Como has been one of the main tourist destinations. It’s a great place for photography and it’s also a popular getaway for Italians from cities like Rome, Milan, and Turin who want a break from their cities, especially in the summer.
Lake Como is located in the Lombardy region and is part of the Lake District of Northern Italy. It is located between Milan and the Swiss border with its southern tip about 40 km north of Milan.
Where to stay on Lake Como
Lake Como has a variety of accommodation options, from campgrounds to historic villas to luxurious 5-star retreats. The elegant Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni in Bellagio is a superior luxury hotel on the lake and one of the oldest. Grand Hotel Tremezzo is another luxury option, while the modern Hilton Lake Como offers a wide range of rates, depending on the season. See these top-rated Lake Como hotels around the lake.
How to get to Lake Como
Lake Como is on the train line from Milan to Switzerland. The train stops in the city of Como, the main city on the lake, where there is a tourist office in Piazza Cavour. Several trains per day make the journey of about 1 hour from Milan to Como San Giovanni station.
Milan Malpensa Airport is 65 km away. To get to Como from the airport, take the Malpensa Express Train to Saronno and transfer to a regional train from TreNord to Como.
Transportation to get around Lake Como
Ferries connect the main villages and towns on Lake Como, providing a good form of public transport and a good way to sightsee from the lake. There is also a bus system to the villages around the lake, and several funiculars to take you up the hills. You can rent cars in Como if you want to explore other nearby areas on your own.
When to go to Lake Como
Lake Como is a popular weekend destination for the people of Milan, so weekdays can be less crowded. July and August are the busiest months, as you can imagine.
Spring and fall are the best times to visit, as the weather is still quite pleasant and the lake is much less crowded than the summer months. During the winter, the ferries will run less frequently and many lakeside hotels and restaurants will close for the season. Still, you can ski in the nearby mountains and enjoy the winter solitude of the lake.
Things to do in Lake Como
The main cities near Lake Como are Bellagio, the city of Como and Menaggio, but there are also smaller towns that are quite charming and attractive to tourists.
Bellagio, known as the pearl of the lake, is in a beautiful setting where the three branches of Lake Como come together. Easy to get to by ferry or bus from other towns on the lake. Read more in our Bellagio Travel Guide.
The walled city of Como has a good historic center and lively squares with pleasant cafes. Silk is produced in the city of Como and you can see the entire silk-making process in the Silk Museum or buy silk in many shops. There are also several walking trails near the city.
As it is a good base if you are traveling through Italy by train. From Como, you can take the funicular to the village of Brunate, for hiking trails and views of the lake and the Alps.
Menaggio, in the foothills of the Alps, is a lively resort with a lakeside promenade. Menaggio is popular with outdoor enthusiasts for walking or hiking, swimming, windsurfing, and rock climbing. Villa Carlotta, just south of Menaggio, has beautiful gardens open to visitors. You can tour the interior with its original 18th century furniture and artwork.
Villa del Balbianello, in the village of Lenno, is also worth a visit and has some unusual treasures. Fun fact: this villa was used as the setting in “Star Wars Episode Two: Attack of the Clones.”
Things to do in Como
Cycling, mountain biking, hiking, boating, paragliding, and windsurfing are popular activities in and around Lake Como during warm weather. In winter, you can ski in the nearby mountains.
There are also some interesting cruises around the lake in commercial boats, mainly on weekends in the summer season.
And Lake Como and its surrounding towns have many festivals. The Sagra di San Giovanni is celebrated on the last weekend of June in the city of Como with folk art and fireworks and in Ossuccio with a festival, boat procession and regattas.
The Palio del Baradello , a recreation of the medieval history of the region, is held the first week of September. Also in September is a traditional rowing race, Palio Remiero del Lario . And the Lake Como International Music Festival features summer musical performances at venues around the lake.
