Fernweh: Home
    ExploreTravel GuidesPlan a tripMy tripLast visited
    de|en
    All Places & RegionsAll highlightsAbout FernwehFAQPrivacy PolicyImprint
    ExploreTravel GuidesPlan a tripMy tripLast visited
    Lake Como

    Italy

    Lake Como

    Point of InterestCulture

    Lake Como, shaped like an inverted Y, is one of the most striking pre-Alpine lakes and, at over 400 metres, one of Europe's deepest. Steep, wooded shores, terraced-garden villas and villages like Bellagio, Varenna, Tremezzo set the scene.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Italy
    7. Lombardy
    9. Lake Como
    Lake Como, shaped like an inverted Y, is one of the most striking pre-Alpine lakes and, at over 400 metres, one of Europe's deepest. Steep, wooded shores, terraced-garden villas and villages like Bellagio, Varenna, Tremezzo set the scene.

    Points of Interest

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Villa Carlotta
    Museum

    1Villa Carlotta

    The Milanese Marchesi Clerici had the villa in Tremezzo built in the late 17th century. It is situated in an approximately eight-hectare park, where camellias, azaleas, and rhododendrons bloom in spring. Inside, a museum displays sculptures and paintings, including works by Antonio Canova, Bertel Thorvaldsen, and Francesco Hayez.
    Open in Google Maps
    Como Cathedral
    Church

    2Como Cathedral

    Construction on Como Cathedral spanned from 1396 to 1770, combining Gothic and Renaissance elements with the dome completed in 1770 by Filippo Juvarra. The Cathedral is just steps away from the lake shore and the boat landing.
    Open in Google Maps
    Villa del Balbianello
    Museum

    3Villa del Balbianello

    At the end of the 18th century, Cardinal Angelo Maria Durini converted a former Franciscan monastery on the tip of the Lavedo peninsula into a country estate with a loggia. The villa has belonged to the Fondo per l'Ambiente Italiano (FAI) since 1988. The terraced garden served as a set for Star Wars: Episode II and Casino Royale. Lenno is the starting point for a visit; continue by boat or on foot from there. The villa is not open daily; check opening days beforehand.
    Open in Google Maps
    Villa Monastero
    Museum

    4Villa Monastero

    The villa on the shore of Varenna dates back to a Cistercian nunnery from the late 12th century, which was dissolved in 1567. Today, it is a house museum and conference center. The botanical garden stretches for almost two kilometers along the lake.
    Open in Google Maps

    Dining & Drinks

    1

    Ristorante Alle Darsene di Loppia

    Upscale restaurant at an old boat harbor in the Loppia district south of Bellagio. The cuisine is modern-Italian, the wine list is extensive, and some tables are right on the water.
    Show on Google Maps
    2

    Ittiturismo Restaurant Mella

    The restaurant of a fishery near Bellagio serves freshwater fish from Lake Como, often as a tasting menu, and homemade desserts. Rustic room with lake views.
    Show on Google Maps

    Food and Drink

    Missoltini

    Salted and sun-dried Agoni, small fish from the lake, are grilled and served with roasted polenta.

    Risotto with Freshwater Perch

    Risotto with perch fillets sautéed in butter and sage, a typical dish of coastal towns.

    Polenta Ounce

    Polenta with melted butter, garlic, and cheese from the alpine pastures around the lake.

    Villas, Silk and Summer Getaway

    Lakeside VillasEven the Romans valued the lake: Pliny the Younger owned two country houses here, which he named Comoedia and Tragoedia. Many lakeside villas were built starting in the 15th century, when families became wealthy through silkworm breeding and silk trade; writers, musicians, and travelers followed later.Silk from ComoFor centuries, Como was a center for silk production.Life on the WaterFishing, boat building, and shipping shaped the lakeside towns. The traditional rowing boat is popularly called Lucia, after the heroine from Manzoni's novel The Betrothed, which is set on the Lecco branch.

    Discovering Lake Como

    By BoatThe shipping company Navigazione Laghi operates regular line services, faster express connections, and car ferries. Car ferries run between Bellagio, Varenna, Menaggio, and Cadenabbia; day tickets are worthwhile if you visit several places.By Train and BusComo is accessible from Milan by frequently running regional trains. Varenna is located on the Milan–Lecco–Tirano railway line. Intercity buses depart from Como along the shore, including to Menaggio and Bellagio.By CarThe lakeside roads are narrow and often congested in summer, and parking spaces in the towns are scarce. Many visitors leave their cars and use the ferries.

    Accommodations in Lake Como

    Find perfect stay in Lake Como

    Booking.com* (Affiliate link)
    Search Hotels
    Agoda* (Affiliate link)
    Search Hotels
    Airbnb
    Vacation Rentals

    * Affiliate link: if you book through it, we earn a small commission. The price stays the same for you.

    Campgrounds in Lake Como

    Find perfect campground in Lake Como

    Search via Google Maps
    Campgrounds nearby (15km)
    Camping.info
    Find Campgrounds
    Park4Night
    RV Parks & Camping

    Nearby

    Bellagio

    Bellagio

    Bellagio is located at the tip of the peninsula, where Lake Como divides into the arms of Como and Lecco. Staircase alleys lead from the shore up to the small old town; south and above the village lie the parks of Villas Melzi and Serbelloni.
    Gandria

    Gandria

    The former fishing village clings to Monte Brè's slope directly above Lake Lugano, now part of Lugano. Stairs and narrow alleyways connect the houses; lakeside restaurants line the water. Reach Gandria by ferry or on foot via the Olive Trail.
    Lugano

    Lugano

    Lugano is located in Ticino on Lake Lugano near the Italian border, framed by its local mountains Monte Brè and Monte San Salvatore. Italian language, lakeside promenades with palm trees, and panoramic mountains directly above the city define the stay.On the shore lies Parco Ciani with the neoclassical Villa Ciani, and further along the promenade, the 2015 LAC cultural center with its concert hall and the MASI art museum. In the old town stands the Cathedral of San Lorenzo with its Renaissance facade. A funicular ascends the 912-meter-high Monte San Salvatore from the Paradiso district, and another to Monte Brè from Cassarate. The village of Gandria lies on the lakeshore east of the city.
    Bergamo

    Bergamo

    Bergamo consists of two cities: the medieval Upper Town, Città Alta, on a hill, encircled by Venetian walls, and the larger Lower Town, Città Bassa. The two are connected by a funicular.
    Ticino

    Ticino

    Ticino, south of the Gotthard, is Switzerland's Italian-speaking canton. Here lie Lugano on Lake Lugano and Locarno on Lake Maggiore; Switzerland shares both lakes with Italy.Palm trees along the lakeside promenades, stone villages in the valleys, and panoramic mountains like Monte San Salvatore define the region. You can reach it from Zurich by train through the Gotthard.

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Unsplash, Google Maps. Each photo carries its credit.
    • Place data such as addresses and ratings comes from Google Maps.
    • The content is based on web research from public, traceable sources. How the content is made · The role of AI