Things to do on Lake Como: villages, villas and ferries
Lake Como is a long, narrow lake in the Alps, with a string of small towns and gardens along its shores and ferries that link them. It is not a place you tick off in a day: the pleasure is in moving slowly by boat. The one thing to know is that the towns are far apart by road, so pick a base and add short boat hops.
The short answer
- First trip
- Base yourself in Bellagio or Varenna, and spend a day on the ferries between Bellagio, Varenna, Menaggio and Tremezzo.
- Where to stay
- Bellagio for the classic view, Varenna for trains and quiet, Como town for transport and value. The full guide compares eight areas.
- How many days
- Three nights is enough for the central lake. Two works if you are coming from Milan and keep to one area.
- Best time to go
- April to June and September to mid-October. July and August are busy and hot; winter is quiet and many places close.
- Book ahead
- Rooms from June to September, and timed entry to the villas at weekends in season.
- From the airport
- Milan Malpensa is the closest of the three airports. There are no direct trains to the lake villages, so plan for a change or a bus to Como.
Where to stay on Lake Como, in brief
Como town
trains and value
A real city at the southern tip, with a cathedral, a lakefront and direct trains from Milan. Cheaper and less pretty than the villages, and the best base without a car.
Bellagio
views and first visits
The town on the tip of the promontory where the lake splits in two, with steep stepped lanes and ferries all day. The most visited place on the lake, so busy and expensive in summer.
Varenna
quiet and trains
A small, steep village on the eastern shore with a station on the Milan line. Calmer than Bellagio, with fewer rooms and early bookings.
Menaggio and Tremezzo
villas and walks
The western shore, with Villa Carlotta, lakeside walks and bus links. Menaggio is a working town; Tremezzo is quieter and greener.
Things to do on Lake Como
Ride the public ferries
Navigazione Laghi boats and car ferries link Bellagio, Varenna, Menaggio and Cadenabbia, and slower boats stop all the way up from Como. A day pass or a few short hops costs far less than a private boat, and the views are the same.
Villa Carlotta, Tremezzo
A large villa with terraced botanical gardens above the western shore, open mainly from spring to autumn. Allow two to three hours, and go early or late in summer.
A few days ahead on summer weekends
Villa del Balbianello, Lenno
A garden villa on a wooded point, reached by boat or on foot from Lenno. It is run by the FAI and has fixed opening days, so check the official site before you plan around it.
1 to 2 weeks ahead in season
Bellagio old town
Stepped lanes of shops and cafes running down to the water, and the garden path at Punta Spartivento at the tip. It is very busy from late morning in summer; come in the evening or early morning.
Varenna and Villa Monastero
A steep fishing village with colorful houses, a lakeside walk and a villa with gardens along the water. Small enough to see in half a day.
Como cathedral and old town
A compact walled center with a marble cathedral, the lakefront and the silk-trade history behind the city's shops. Easy to combine with the Brunate funicular for a view over the lake.
Walk the Greenway del Lago
A waymarked path on the western shore that links villages, churches and viewpoints, in sections you can do in an hour or two. Wear proper shoes: it climbs and descends on stone steps.
Isola Comacina
The lake's only island, a short boat ride from the western shore near Ossuccio, with ruined churches and a footpath around it. Quiet outside weekends.
Menaggio and the mountain paths
A practical lakeside town with a promenade, and the starting point for hill walks above the water. Good for a day that is not about villas.
What to book before you go
These sell out. Most of the rest of Lake Como can be decided on the day.
Every tour and ticket in Lake Como, and which to pick- Rooms in Bellagio, Varenna and Tremezzo2 to 4 months ahead for June to September
The villages have a limited number of rooms and fill first on weekends.
- Villa Carlotta and Villa del Balbianello1 to 2 weeks ahead in season
Both limit entry and have set opening periods, so a missed slot can cost you the day.
- Airport buses and transfersA few days ahead
Direct buses link Como with Malpensa and Bergamo airports, and booking online is cheaper than turning up.
What to skip on Lake Como
- Driving between the villages in summer
The lakeside roads are narrow and slow, with queues and little parking in Bellagio and Varenna. Use the boats and buses instead.
- A private boat tour of celebrity villas
Most of the famous villas are private and seen only from the water, and the same views come from the public ferry for a fraction of the price. Spend the money on a garden you can walk into.
- A same-day dash from Milan to six villages
The distances look short on a map and are not. Pick two places and go slowly, or stay a night.
Best time to visit Lake Como
April to June and September to mid-October are the best months. The gardens are in flower in spring, the lake is warm enough to swim from June, and the villages are busy without being packed.
July and August are hot and crowded, and rooms cost most. From November to March the weather is gray, the mountains can be hidden for days, and many hotels, restaurants and villas close or run fewer days, so check before you go.
- From Milan Malpensa airportThere is no direct train to the lake villages. The Malpensa Express runs to Saronno, where you change for Como, and a direct bus between Malpensa and Como has run since November 2025.
- From Milan by trainRegional trains run from Milano Centrale to Como San Giovanni in about 40 minutes. Trains from Milano Centrale or Cadorna also reach Varenna-Esino-Perledo on the eastern shore in a little over an hour.
- By ferryNavigazione Laghi runs slow boats, fast boats and car ferries. Fast boats need a supplement and tickets bought before boarding, and winter timetables are much thinner.
- By bus and carASF buses run along the western shore from Como to Menaggio and beyond. A car is useful for the quiet corners and a nuisance in the villages.
Lake Como in three days
- Day 1
Arrive in Como, walk the old town and cathedral, and take the funicular to Brunate for the view. Ferry or bus on to your base for the night.
- Day 2
Take the central ferries: Bellagio in the morning, a boat to Varenna for lunch, and on to Menaggio or Tremezzo for Villa Carlotta in the late afternoon.
- Day 3
Walk a section of the Greenway del Lago or visit Villa del Balbianello, then take the boat or bus back toward Como or Milan.
Day trips from Lake Como
- MilanA train from Como San Giovanni to Milano Centrale takes about 40 minutes. It suits a day of the cathedral and a museum, but book ahead for the Last Supper.
- Lugano, SwitzerlandTrains and buses run from Como across the border in about an hour. Bring your passport, and expect Swiss prices.
- BergamoA hill town with a walled upper city, reached by train from Milan or by bus from the lake in a couple of hours. Better as a stop on the way to or from the airport.
Lake Como: questions people ask
How many days do you need on Lake Como?
Three nights covers the central lake without rushing: Bellagio, Varenna, Menaggio and a villa. Two nights is fine if you keep to one area. A week lets you see the quieter northern and southern ends.
What is the best time to visit Lake Como?
April to June and September to mid-October. The weather is good, the gardens are open, and the villages are busy without being packed. July and August are hot and crowded.
Is Lake Como worth visiting without a car?
Yes, and it is easier in the villages without one. Trains reach Como and Varenna, and ferries and buses link the rest. A car helps only for quiet corners away from the water.
Which is better, Bellagio or Varenna?
Bellagio is larger, with more shops and restaurants, and far busier. Varenna is smaller and calmer, with a train station. Many visitors stay in one and visit the other by boat.
How do you get from Milan to Lake Como?
By train to Como San Giovanni in about 40 minutes, or to Varenna in a little over an hour. Buses run from Milan's airports to Como as well.
Can you do Lake Como as a day trip from Milan?
Yes, but you will see Como town and one village at most. The ferries are slow, so a day trip is a taste, not the lake.
Do I need to book the ferries?
Not usually for the public boats, which you buy at the pier. Fast boats need a ticket before boarding, and car ferries queue at weekends in summer.