%22%2F%3E%3Ccircle%20cx%3D%22600%22%20cy%3D%22300%22%20r%3D%2290%22%20fill%3D%22%23c8a06a%22%20opacity%3D%220.35%22%2F%3E%3Cpath%20d%3D%22M0%20620%20L300%20420%20L520%20560%20L760%20360%20L1000%20540%20L1200%20460%20L1200%20800%20L0%20800%20Z%22%20fill%3D%22%23a97c50%22%20opacity%3D%220.22%22%2F%3E%3Cpath%20d%3D%22M0%20700%20L260%20540%20L480%20640%20L720%20500%20L980%20620%20L1200%20560%20L1200%20800%20L0%20800%20Z%22%20fill%3D%22%2320241f%22%20opacity%3D%220.14%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E)
THINGS TO DO
Cruise the lake by steamer
A ride on the lake’s public steamers, the way the lake was meant to be seen — the villas, the gardens and the villages passing from the deck, with the Alps above.
Nature & Hiking
Lake Como
A deep glacial lake in the Lombard pre-Alps, fringed by villas, gardens and the towns of Como, Bellagio and Varenna.
QUICK INFORMATION
- COUNTRY
- Italy
- REGION
- Lombardy
- BEST TIME TO VISIT
- April to June and September to October
- DURATION
- 1–2 days
ABOUT THE DESTINATION
Lake Como is a Y-shaped glacial lake in the Lombard pre-Alps, one of Italy’s deepest, ringed by historic villas, terraced gardens and the resort towns of Como, Bellagio and Varenna. A retreat of the wealthy since Roman times, it remains a summer destination for its alpine scenery, lake steamers and lakeside promenades within easy reach of Milan.
MAP & LOCATION
Lake Como
HISTORY & CULTURE
The Story Behind the Place
Lake Como has been a retreat since Roman times, when Pliny the Younger built his villas along its shore and described the lake in his letters. In the Middle Ages the lake was fought over by Como and Milan, and its villages lived by fishing and silk. The modern lake was born in the 19th century, when the Romantic poets — Wordsworth, Shelley, Byron and Stendhal among them — discovered the lake and made it fashionable, and the European aristocracy followed, building the villas and gardens that line the shore. The silk industry, which had been on the lake since the 16th century, made Como the silk capital of Europe in the 19th and 20th centuries. Today the lake is a resort within easy reach of Milan, but its villas, its gardens and its alpine setting keep the 19th-century character that made it famous.
TOP THINGS TO DO
Experiences Not to Miss
TOP ATTRACTIONS
Sights & Highlights of Lake Como
FOOD & DRINK
WHERE TO EAT
01
Trattoria San Giacomo — a beloved local trattoria in Bellagio for lake fish and risotto, no reservations
02
Ristorante La Vista — the terrace restaurant at Hotel Albergo Milano in Varenna, with lake views and refined cooking
03
Al Prato — a quiet garden restaurant in Bellagio for modern Italian cooking, book ahead
04
Vecchia Varenna — a canal-side trattoria in Varenna for traditional lake cooking
05
Gatto Nero — a family-run restaurant on the Brunate hill above Como, with the view and the cooking to match
HOTELS & STAYS
WHERE TO STAY
01
Grand Hotel Tremezzo — a grand lakeside hotel at Tremezzo with a floating pool and gardens, opposite Bellagio
02
Hotel Florence — a charming hotel in the centre of Bellagio, with a garden and a restaurant
03
Albergo Milano — a family-run hotel in Varenna with lake-view rooms and a terrace restaurant
04
Hotel Du Lac — a simple, well-placed hotel on the Varenna waterfront, good value
ITINERARIES
Keep Driving
More here soon — the road is still being mapped.
NATURE & WILDLIFE
The Living Landscape
Lake Como is a glacial lake in the Lombard pre-Alps, more than 400 metres deep in places, ringed by mountains that rise to over 2,000 metres. The lake’s mild microclimate supports olive groves, cypresses and camellias along the shore, while the upper lake is alpine, with the peaks of the Grigna and the Legnone above. The water is clean and cold, fed by alpine streams, and the lake is a habitat for lake fish — lavarello, agone and the trout of the Adda. The Greenway and the Sentiero del Viandante, the old pilgrim path on the eastern shore, are the best ways to walk the lake’s wilder edges.
PLAN YOUR VISIT
Practical Information
Getting There
Lake Como is reached by train from Milan to Como San Giovanni (1h), to Varenna-Esino (1h) on the eastern shore, or to Lecco. By car, the A9 motorway runs to Como from Milan. The lake itself is navigated by the public steamers of Gestione Navigazione Laghi, which connect all the lakeside towns.
Park Entrances
The villas and gardens (Villa Carlotta, Villa del Balbianello, Villa Melzi, Villa Monastero) are ticketed and have seasonal opening hours — check before you travel. The steamers run a reduced service in winter.
How Long to Stay
Allow two full days. A steamer cruise, Bellagio and one villa garden fill that time; a third day lets you walk the Greenway or reach the upper lake.
When to Go
April to June and September to October are ideal — the gardens at their best, the weather mild and the crowds softer than July and August. Winter is quiet and misty, with some villas closed.
What to Wear & Bring
Comfortable shoes for the cobbled lanes and the garden paths, a layer for the boat (the lake breeze is cool even in summer), and a steamer day pass.
Accessibility & Mobility
The lakeside towns are mostly flat along the front but climb steeply behind; the villas and gardens have steps and terraces that make wheelchair access difficult. The steamers are accessible with assistance.
WEATHER
Lake Como — Current conditions & forecast
Forecast data from Open-Meteo. Updated regularly.
TRAVEL GUIDES · STORIES
More here soon — the road is still being mapped.
NEARBY DESTINATIONS
Continue the Journey
INTERESTS
Explore by what you love
REGIONS
Explore the region
COUNTRIES
Explore the country
MORE TO EXPLORE
Keep exploring
The atlas goes on — more destinations, stories and road trips from every corner of the world.