Lake Como
Cypress trees, belle-époque villas and mountains sliding straight into deep blue water — Como has been the discreet romantic choice since Roman times.
- Best forCouples · Honeymooners · Luxury seekers
- In December9°C · 8 rainy days
- Ideal stay3–4 nights
- Approx. flying time~12h 10m from Los Angeles
- CurrencyEUREuro
- LanguageItalian
- Local time12:161h ahead of the UK
- PlugsType C / F / LBring an adapter
- Drive on theRightOpposite to the UK
- Dialling code+39
Why go
An inverted Y of deep water squeezed between mountains, with villages stacked on whatever flat ground they could find. The lake runs about fifty kilometres, so choosing a base matters more here than on a smaller one. Life revolves around the ferry timetable, garden visits and long lunches on terraces above the water. The northern arm is windier and better for sailing, while the central branch holds most of the villas.
Varenna, Bellagio and Menaggio sit at the crossing point and are linked by frequent boats, which makes the middle of the lake the easiest place to stay without a car. Como town is under an hour from Milan by train. April to June and September show the gardens well with fewer visitors, and the western shore road is narrow and slow all summer. A beach holiday this is not.
- Ideal stay
- 3–4 nights
- The vibe
- Elegant, watery, unapologetically romantic
From our guides
Base yourselves in Varenna, quieter and prettier than Bellagio opposite, and travel everywhere by ferry. Gardens at Villa del Balbianello, aperitivo on a stone jetty, dinner overlooking the water: repeat until restored.
Featured in Ten grown-up escapes for a proper romantic reset
Things to do
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Villa del Balbianello
A terraced garden on a wooded promontory near Lenno, reached by boat or a short woodland walk, with loggias and water on three sides.
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Varenna's lakeside walk
A short railed path along the water links the ferry pier to the old village. It is lit at night and best walked before dinner.
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Villa Carlotta
Above Tremezzo, a botanical garden of azaleas, camellias and citrus terraces surrounds an eighteenth-century house that is full of sculpture and worth an hour.
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Ferries across the centre
Boats shuttle constantly between Varenna, Bellagio, Menaggio and Cadenabbia, and the crossing is the cheapest good view on the lake.
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Greenway del Lago
A ten-kilometre marked path along the western shore, linking villages by old mule tracks, cobbled lanes and stretches of lakefront.
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Brunate funicular
From Como town, a steep funicular climbs to a hillside village with a view down the length of the lake and paths into the hills.
Getting there
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Fly to
Orio al Serio (BGY)
Nearest airport to Lake Como, about 50km away as the crow flies.
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Then
To Varenna
About an hour and a half by car from Lugano (LUG); Milan Malpensa and Bergamo are the usual arrival airports at roughly two hours. From Milan a direct train reaches Varenna in about an hour.
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On the ground
Getting around
Ferries are how you move on Como, linking Varenna, Bellagio, Menaggio and the villa gardens in ten to twenty minutes. Varenna itself is a steep, stepped village best walked.
Public transport: Very good. Trains run along the eastern shore to Milan and a frequent ferry network covers the central lake.
Flights
Los Angeles Lake Como, Italy
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Roughly 12h 10m in the air from Los Angeles (LAX), estimated from the distance — check for a direct route. Pick a month to see every available flight with live prices.
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When to go
Daytime highs run from about 9°C in January to 27°C in July. Driest December to February; wettest in May, with rain on about 21 days.
The year at a glance — pick a month for detail
December9° · rain 8 daysCold with rain most weeks.
Monthly figures averaged from daily records for 2020–2024 at this location (ERA5 reanalysis). Live conditions from MET Norway, CC BY 4.0.
Where to stay
Historic lakefront hotels, small family-run alberghi, apartments in old town houses and a scatter of villa rentals. Chains are almost absent and lake views carry a heavy premium.
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Best base overall
Varenna
A vertical little town on the eastern shore with its own railway station and the ferry hub for the mid-lake triangle, so no car is needed. It is tiny, and steps are everywhere.
Find stays in Varenna -
Best for couples
Bellagio
The lake's postcard town at the fork of the two arms, with cobbled staircases, gardens and grand old hotels. Day-trippers own the middle of the day and prices reflect the fame.
Find stays in Bellagio -
Best with children
Menaggio
On the western shore, flatter than most, with a lido, a cycle path and easy ferries. It is a working town rather than a jewel box, which keeps it liveable.
Find stays in Menaggio -
Best value
Lecco and the southern arm
Bigger towns at the unfashionable end where rooms cost a fraction of the mid-lake rates and trains run to Milan. You are further from the famous villas and ferry routes.
Find stays in Lecco and the southern arm
Worth knowing before you book: The mid-lake towns book out from May to September, and ferry timetables thin sharply in winter when many hotels close. Check whether the hotel has parking; most have very little.
Search everything else in Varenna by budget. These are indicative budget bands in GBP per night for two people, not live quotes or guarantees of hotel type. Check your dates, guests, taxes and final price on Booking.com.
Good to know
- Getting there
- Trains from Milan reach Como in about forty minutes and Varenna in around an hour, both within walking distance of the ferries.
- Driving
- The western shore road is narrow, busy and short of parking. Ferries and trains are usually faster than driving.
- Book ahead
- Villa gardens, popular terraces and the better rooms fill months out for summer weekends.
- Timing
- Many gardens and some hotels close from November to March, when the lake goes quiet and grey.
- Crowds
- Bellagio absorbs most day trippers between eleven and four, while the villages opposite stay noticeably calmer.
Similar places
Nearby destinations
Varenna
Lake Como, Italy · 2km away →
Lugano
Switzerland · 24km away →
The GoldenEye bungee
Verzasca Dam, Switzerland · 39km away →
Maloja Pass
Switzerland · 56km away →
St. Moritz
Switzerland · 72km away →
Bernina Express
Switzerland to Italy · 74km away →Elsewhere in Italy
Related articles
Quick answers
When is the best time to visit Lake Como?
Daytime highs run from about 9°C in January to 27°C in July. Driest December to February; wettest in May, with rain on about 21 days.
How long should I spend in Lake Como?
Our suggestion: 3–4 nights.
How do I get to Lake Como?
About an hour and a half by car from Lugano (LUG); Milan Malpensa and Bergamo are the usual arrival airports at roughly two hours. From Milan a direct train reaches Varenna in about an hour.
Do I need a car in Lake Como?
No. Very good. Trains run along the eastern shore to Milan and a frequent ferry network covers the central lake.
What currency and language are used in Lake Como?
Currency: Euro (EUR). Language: Italian. Plugs: type C and F and L.
Who is Lake Como best for?
Best for couples, honeymooners and luxury seekers. In a phrase: elegant, watery, unapologetically romantic.