Buongiorno Lago di Como! Lake Como, a glacial lake in the Lombardy region of Italy, makes for a picture-perfect dreamy landscape: picturesque villages, elegant villas, luscious green mountains, and sparkling blue shores. Only a short train ride from Milan, I often skipped it as I imagined it to be over-touristy and wouldn’t live up to its fame. Well, let me tell you that I was wrong! Yes it is very touristy indeed, but it was incredible, better that all I could have imagined! In this 3-day itinerary, I’ll be sharing my top things to do and all the tips you need to know for your next trip in Lake Como.
Your trip is coming soon and you still haven’t booked anything? I got you covered! Here my top picks of hotels, tours, activities, etc!
– Best Tours and Experiences in Lake Como:
・1 Hour Private Wooden Boat Tour on Lake Como
・Villa del Balbianello Entry Ticket (gardens)
・Lakeside Villas Entry Tickets with Ferry (Villa Monastero, Villa Carlotta and Villa Melzi d’Eril)
– Best Day Trips to Lake Como:
・From Milan: Lake Como & Bellagio with Private Boat (day trip)
・From Milan: Lake Como, Bellagio & Lugano with Private Boat (day trip)
– Best Places to Stay in Lake Como:
・⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Grand Hotel Tremezzo (most iconic hotel in Lake Como)
・⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni (top luxury hotel in Bellagio)
・⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Hotel Royal Victoria (great hotel in Varenna)
・Pescallo Apartments, Seta Hotel, Villa La Rosa B&B (great budget options in Bellagio)
・Hotel Montecodeno, Hotel Olivedo (great budget options in Varenna)
3-day itinerary in Lake Como
Lake Como is the third largest and deepest freshwater lake in Italy, after Lago Maggiore & Lago di Garda. While there is enough to explore for a week, if you’re only there for a few days, I recommend to just stay around the golden triangle of Bellagio – Varenna – Menaggio.
Day 1: Bellagio
The “Pearl of Lake Como” is definitely living up to his name and is one of the most beautiful villages in Lake Como! Located at the tip of the peninsula that divides Lake Como into two branches, its central location means it is also a great base to visit other nearby villages.
I’d recommend to start your weekend wandering its pretty cobbled streets, bustling piazzas and charming churches, and soaking in the stunning lakeside views.
Wander through Bellagio’s cobblestoned streets
Start your day wandering through Bellagio’s old town. Its famous staircases streets ‘salita‘ make for some beautiful pictures. As it became quite popular over the years, I find it more enjoyable to start the day early here so I can have it all to myself!
Salita Serbelloni is the most famous ones, but Salita Plinio is just as beautiful!
Villa Melzi d’Eril
While it is not the most popular villas around Lake Como, it is definitely a must-see and one of my favorite things to do in Bellagio! Outside the old town, this stunning neo-classical villa was built in the early 19th century for Francesco Melzi d’Eril, Vice-President of the Italian Republic under Napoleon.
Sadly, you can’t visit the interior the villa but it is surrounded by stunning botanical gardens, with small ponds, fountains and quaint bridges. I recommend spending at least an hour here to fully appreciate the beauty and tranquility of Villa Melzi d’Eril‘s botanical gardens. Entry tickets cost 10€ per person and include access to the gardens, villa museum and chapel.
Lungolago promenade
End your day by strolling along the lakefront promenade, from the Villa back to the ferry terminal. It offers breathtaking views of the lake and surrounding mountains.
From there you can easily make your way to the tip of Bellagio, Punta Spartivento. The vistas you’ll get of the lake and the town of Varenna are incredible. It’s also the perfect place for a picnic!
Lake Como by boat
Unfortunately we couldn’t do a boat trip due to lack of time with good weather but discovering the villages from the lake is a must! You can either hire a private boat or a shared boat tour to save costs.
Alternatively, you’ll get amazing views (and cheap!) during the next days from the traghetto, the ferry crossing the lakes from one town to another 😉
Where to eat in Bellagio
- La Lanterna: by far our favorite restaurant in all of Lake Como (so good we went twice!)
- Dai Viga Pasta Fresca: one of the best fresh pastas I’ve ever had, perfect to takeaway and eat on the lakeshores!
- Antichi Sapori: really nice pizza and really friendly staff.
- Gelateria del Borgo: probably the best gelateria in town (and also the most central).
- Aperitivo Et Al: the best place to get a glass of wine / prosecco with the gorgeous view on Salida Serbelloni.
- Bellavita – Italian style street food: it was high on my list but was closed when I went…
Day 2: Varenna
Just 10min across the water from Bellagio is the beautiful town of Varenna, one of the most picturesque spots in the area. Varenna is home to two of the most jaw-dropping villas, Villa Cipressi and Villa Monastero.
Villa Cipressi
One of my favorite places in Lake Como, Villa Cipressi might just be the prettiest Villa on Lake Como! The beautiful terraced garden overlooking the lake is a must and needs to be on your Lake Como itinerary!
It’s just a 10min walk from the ferry port along the scenic passeggiata. Unfortunately the villa is now a hotel and therefore you can’t visit the inside but the gardens alone are lovely. It opens daily from 9am to 6pm and I recommend to buy your tickets online and come first thing in the morning to avoid queuing. Ticket costs 10€ or 19€ combined with the next door Villa Monastero.
Villa Monastero
The Villa Monastero dates back to the 12th century when it was a Cistercian’s woman monastery. It is now a fantastic museum showcasing furnished rooms with original decor and furniture. I would recommend a good 2 hours to fully explore the exceptional (and big) botanical garden. Stretching for about 2km, it features terraces, fountains, ponds and lots of unusual plants. It is one of the most romantic garden and is just such a pleasure to wander around!
Top tip: It opens from 9:30am to 7:30pm (10am-5pm in shoulder seasons) and I highly recommend to buy your tickets online and either come for opening or around 4-5pm for fewer crowds.
It costs 10,50€ per person for the gardens, 13,50€ for the villa and gardens, or 19€ combined with the next door Villa Cipressi.
Castello Di Vezio
If you have time, I highly recommend to walk up to the Castello di Vezio, which overlooks the beautiful town of Varenna. It used to be a military outpost but today it is open to the public and one of the best spots in town! It is a short but very steep walk so make sure to wear comfortable shoes!
Take a train ride to Bellano
A 5min ride from Varenna-Esino to Bellano-Tartavalle Terme (2€) will take you to the stunning Orrido di Bellano. This natural ravine is over 15 million years old! Walkways, staircases and bridges will take you around the gorge and offer remarkable views of cascading waterfalls and turquoise blue lakes. Entry tickets costs 5€ and is only a 6-min walk from the train station.
Where to eat in Varenna
- Bar Il Moro: the most famous restaurant and arguably the most beautiful view in town. Located on the shores of the lake, it is a bit pricey and the food is either a hit or miss but it’s worth to come for breakfast when it’s quieter.
- Il Cavatappi Restaurant: a tiny locally owned eatery in Varenna, perfect for dinner. Highly recommend to book well in advance as it is very small.
Day 3: Lenno, Tremezzo & Menaggio
Villa Balbianello
It is not the easiest villas to reach and bookings are mandatory, but let me tell you it is absolutely worth it! Located just across the lake from Bellagio, this stunning villa is famous for being featured in movies such as James Bond and Star Wars!
To reach the villa, you first have to take a ferry to Lenno. From there you have two options: either walk up to the villa (25min roughly) or take a taxi boat (6€). I recommend to take the taxi boat on your way to the villa (you’ll arrive from a less busy & stunning entrance) and then walk back to Lenno after your visit. The taxi boat starts running at 10am when the villa opens so I highly recommend to get there 10-15min earlier so you can secure a spot.
It opens from 10am to 6pm and is closed Mondays and Wednesdays. Bookings are mendatory: tickets are 13€ for the gardens, 24€ for a guided tour of the villa & gardens. As you can only visit the interior of the villa with a guided tour, tickets usually sell out a month in advance so you need to be quick.
Where to eat in Lenno
We had lunch at Il Cris Ristorante, a delicious restaurant uphill full of locals – always a good sign! If you want to stay on the shore, try Ristorante Giglio – their pastas are apparently delicious!
Villa Carlotta
Villa Carlotta is another beautiful villa, only a short boat ride from Lenno to Tremezzo. The Neo-Classical villa was built in 1690 facing the peninsula of Bellagio. It now features a fabulous art gallery, vintage furnishings and 18th-century ornaments. The architecture of the villa is absolutely stunning, especially with the gorgeous windows and balconies overlooking the lake.
The botanical gardens are magnificent and famous for its azaleas and rhododendrons. If you have time, I highly recommend to take the whole tour of the gardens (around 90 minutes) but if you’re short on time or just don’t want to walk that much, you can just walk around the shorter route or a explore a smaller part of the garden.
Villa Carlotta opens daily from 10am to 7pm and the quieter time is either at opening or around 4-5pm. You can buy your tickets directly at the office (15€) and it includes entry to both the villa and the gardens.
Menaggio
Finish your day by exploring the town of Menaggio, just a short ferry ride from Tremezzo. This laid-back village with its dusty-colored houses is one of the few flat towns on the lake, perfect for a relaxing afternoon! Don’t miss the Piazza Garibaldi and the promenade to take in the incredible views of the lake and surrounding mountains. Despite being pretty small, Menaggio is very cute and a nice way to end your short trip around Lake Como!
Where to eat in Menaggio
- Osteria Il Pozzo: mainly lake fish but also meat-based alternative
- Pizzeria Lugano: traditional pizzas with a reasonable price tag for the area.
When to visit
While it is extremely popular in the summer months when the weather is hot and the water is refreshing, if possible I’d suggest to visit during shoulder seasons. April-May or September-October tend to be less crowded and a really pleasant weather (around 17-20°C during the day, colder at night). April-May is also perfect for an abundance of gorgeous wisterias and colorful rosebay flowers.
I wouldn’t recommend to visit during the winter months as almost everything is closed (villas & restaurants).
How to get there & how to get around
If you’re only here for a few days, don’t go to Como city. Instead, come directly to Varenna by train from Milan Centrale Stazione (1h – 7,40€). That way you’ll be straight in the centre of the golden triangle, aka where most of the main activities are.
I don’t recommend renting a car unless you’re spending longer time and want more flexibility. Everything I mentioned above is easily reachable by the ferry boat ‘traghetto‘ (4,60€ one ticket, or 15€ for a day pass if you feel like hop & off, especially on Day 3 of this itinerary!).
Top tip: There’s a luggage storage in most of the ferry port for luggages of all size! You just need to book it in advance (I booked mine the day before and it was fine).
Where to stay
I’d highly recommend to stay in the central town of Bellagio. Most of the things to do are only a few minutes away with the ferry, and the town has the most diverse choices regarding restaurants and hotels/apartments. The only downside is that you have to take the ferry from Varenna to Bellagio (walk from the train station to the ferry port and then walk from the ferry port to your hotel) which can be a bit of a struggle if you have a big suitcase (I had a backpack so it wasn’t a problem for me).
Another option is Varenna. It has fewer accommodation options (which are generally a bit more expensive) but has the biggest advantage of having the train station nearby.
Best places to stay in Bellagio
500€+/night: Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni
300€/night: Hotel du Lac & Spa, Pescallo Apartments, Seta Hotel
200€/night: Hotel Bellagio, Villa La Rosa B&B,
150€/night: Blue Bellagio by Wonderful Italy (we stayed here and it was very comfortable, away from the old town but still easily walkable)
Best places to stay in Varenna
500€+/night: Hotel Royal Victoria
350€/night: Hotel Montecodeno
250€/night: Hotel Olivedo
200€/night: Varennahouse
This is my ultimate itinerary for a long weekend in Lake Como! But if you can and want to enjoy a slow travel, there is definitely enough to do around to keep you busy for a week!
I hope this weekend itinerary guide to Lake Como will be useful for you and if you need, feel free to reach out with any questions!
With love,
Marina
P.S.: Are you looking for other trip ideas from Milan? Discover Brescia, nested between Lake Iseo and Lake Garda and only 35min away from Milan by train, and Genova, 1h30 away from Milan by train with the most beautiful port, Boccadasse (also a great start to your Cinque Terre trip!).
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Never been to this part of Italy, it looks magical.
Author
It really is! It took me like 10 trips to Italy before I finally go haha
Lake Como i a dream. Your photos are so lovely. It looks like you are truly living the dream. Thank you for sharing your experience,
Author
Thank you! The place itself is so stunning, it was easy to take some nice photos!
We love how beautiful this area is–Varenna in particular is one of our favorites to visit.
Author
It’s just so beautiful, worth all the hype!
Lake Como looks stunning, so much so that it doesn’t even seem real. What a beautiful part of the world, and so many cute, historic villages. I would happily explore this region for more than 3 days, but this is a great first timer’s itinerary
Author
Yes it is worth staying longer for sure! But 3 days is already great to get a good taste!
Lake Como had been on my radar for DECADES! I don’t know why I have never visited. I go back to Italy nearly every year. I must prioritize. Love the dancing motif.
Author
Same!!! It took me 10 trips to finally visit Lake Como! I went to Lake Garda and Lake Maggiore even before Como haha I hope you get a chance to visit this year!
Bellagio’s old town, and the salitas look mesmerising! The pictures you have captured in this post are amazing!
Author
Thank you so much! Bellagio is my favorite town, so picturesque!