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Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni, Como

Things to do guide

The best things to do on Lake Como

Updated 1 October 2026 · 15 things to do

Pictured: Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni

Lake Como is shaped like an upside-down Y, ringed by steep green mountains, and everything on it's arranged for looking at. Painted villages tumble down to the water. Grand villas sit behind stone walls, their gardens running to the shore. Ferries stitch it all together, and the best way to see the lake is simply to ride them.

It rewards slowness. Pick a base, then spend your days hopping between villages by boat, wandering lakeside gardens and eating perch from the lake on a terrace as the light drops. The three towns at the centre of the lake, Bellagio, Varenna and Menaggio, are close enough that you can visit all of them in a day, though you won't want to rush.

Don't miss

  1. 1Bellagio
  2. 2Varenna
  3. 3Villa del Balbianello
  4. 4Villa Melzi Gardens
  5. 5Brunate

Villages on the water

Three small towns, three very different moods.

  1. Bellagio

    Neighbourhood

    The tip of the Bellagio promontory on Lake Como
    Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Bellagio sits right on the tip of the promontory where the lake splits in two, and it looks the part: stepped cobbled lanes, ochre and cream houses, silk shops, gelaterie and a waterfront promenade lined with cafés. It's the most glamorous village on the lake and also the busiest, so do your wandering early or late.

    Walk the steep staircase streets up from the harbour, then follow the shore to the point itself, where the two arms of the lake meet and the views run in both directions.

    Tip: Arrive by ferry rather than road: the approach across the water is half the point.

  2. Varenna

    Neighbourhood

    Pastel houses on the lakefront at Varenna
    Photo: Ray in Manila, CC BY 2.0

    On the eastern shore, Varenna is smaller, quieter and many people's favourite. Pastel houses are stacked above a tiny harbour, with a lakeside walk along the water known as the Lovers' Walk and a villa with botanical gardens, Villa Monastero, right on the front.

    It has a railway station on the Milan to Colico line, so it's also the easiest village on the lake to reach without a car. Eat at a harbourside table, then catch the ferry across to Bellagio.

  3. Menaggio

    Neighbourhood

    Menaggio seen across Lake Como
    Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Facing Bellagio and Varenna across the water, Menaggio is the practical, friendly one. It has a proper town square, a lakeside promenade, a small beach and lido, and is the gateway to mountain walking on the western shore.

    It's also a ferry hub, which makes it a good base for exploring the whole central lake without paying Bellagio prices.

Villas and gardens

The lake has been a rich man's playground for centuries. Today you can walk into several of the results.

  1. Villa del Balbianello

    Landmark

    Villa del Balbianello on its wooded promontory above the lake
    Photo: Sheeba Samuel, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Perched on a wooded promontory near Lenno, with a loggia looking over the water, this is the villa you have almost certainly seen in a film: it appeared in Casino Royale and in a Star Wars prequel. It's owned by the Italian heritage trust FAI and its gardens are as lovely as the building.

    You can reach it by boat or on foot along a shore path from Lenno. Either way, the first sight of the villa through the trees is the whole reward.

    Tip: Check the opening days before you go and arrive by water if you can; the little jetty is part of the experience.

  2. Villa Carlotta

    Landmark

    At Tremezzo, Villa Carlotta is a grand neoclassical house with sculpture inside, including work by Canova, and terraced botanical gardens running down to the lake. It's at its showiest in spring, when the azaleas and rhododendrons are in flower.

  3. Villa Melzi Gardens

    Nature

    The lakeside gardens of Villa Melzi in Bellagio
    Photo: Ray in Manila, CC BY 2.0

    A short stroll along the shore from the centre of Bellagio, the lakeside gardens of Villa Melzi are laid out in the English landscape style, with mature trees, a pond with Japanese maples, statuary and constant views over the water.

    It's the easiest and most relaxing way to escape the crowds on Bellagio's main street.

Como and the water

  1. Como's Duomo

    Landmark

    Como's marble Duomo
    Photo: Corby1960, CC BY-SA 4.0

    The lake's namesake town has a compact, walkable old centre inside its medieval walls, and the marble Duomo is its showpiece, a mix of Gothic and Renaissance with a huge dome. Around it are arcaded squares, pedestrian streets and a lakefront for the evening passeggiata.

  2. Brunate

    Activity

    The Como to Brunate funicular at its upper station
    Photo: Chris j wood, CC BY-SA 3.0

    A funicular climbs from the lakefront in Como to the hillside village of Brunate in a few minutes, and from the top you look straight down the lake with the Alps beyond. There are walking paths from the village and a short stroll to a lighthouse viewpoint.

    Tip: Go at the end of the day for the best light, and take a jacket: it is cooler up top.

  3. Isola Comacina

    Nature

    Isola Comacina, the lake's only island, off the western shore
    Photo: LigaDue, CC BY-SA 4.0

    The lake's only island sits off the western shore near Ossuccio. It's car-free, wooded and carries the ruins of ancient churches, and small boats shuttle over from the mainland. A morning here, with a swim and a walk round the shore path, feels a long way from Bellagio.

  4. Castello di Vezio

    Landmark

    Varenna and the lake seen from the Castello di Vezio
    Photo: Martin Lindner, CC BY-SA 4.0

    A medieval tower and fortress on the hill above Varenna, reached by a pretty walk uphill from the village. From the battlements you look down over the rooftops and out along the lake, and it's a quiet counterpoint to the harbour below.

  5. Lake ferries

    Activity

    The ferries aren't just transport, they are the best sightseeing on the lake. Regular boats link Como, Bellagio, Varenna, Menaggio and the villages between, with faster services on the main routes and car ferries crossing the central lake. Buy a day pass if you plan to hop around, and sit on the upper deck.

Eat and drink

  1. Lake fish

    Food

    Perch fillets pan-fried in butter and sage, often served with risotto, are the lake's signature dish, and you'll find them in almost every lakeside restaurant. For something more local, try missoltini, sun-dried and grilled shad from the lake, a traditional preserved fish of the area.

  2. Aperitivo by the water

    Food

    The Italian ritual of an early-evening spritz or glass of wine with snacks is at its best here. Pick a waterfront bar in Bellagio, Varenna or Como at golden hour and watch the ferries glide by. It's the cheapest way to see the lake look expensive.

Day trips

  1. Milan

    Day trip

    Lombardy's capital is under an hour from Como by train, which makes it an easy day out: the Duomo and its rooftop, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, and Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper, which you need to book well ahead.

  2. Lugano

    Day trip

    Just across the Swiss border, Lugano is a lakeside city with arcaded streets, a pretty promenade and mountain views. It's a short train ride from Como, so bring your passport.

Where to stay in Como

Not sure which area suits you? Read our guide: Where to stay on Lake Como →

Getting around

Ferries are the best way to move around the central lake, and there's a train line along the eastern shore through Varenna. Roads are narrow and winding, parking in the villages is hard, and a car is more of a burden than a help if you're staying in one of the main towns.

When to go

Late spring and early autumn are the sweet spot, with warm days, flowering gardens in spring and fewer crowds. July and August are hot and busy, and some villages and ferries run reduced services in winter.

Questions about visiting Como

What is Lake Como best known for?
Its scenery and its villas: pastel villages like Bellagio and Varenna, lakeside gardens, grand historic houses such as Villa del Balbianello, and a mountain backdrop that has attracted writers, film-makers and the rich for centuries.
How many days do you need on Lake Como?
Three days lets you see Bellagio, Varenna and a villa or two at an easy pace, with a ferry day built in. Five days adds Como itself, a day trip to Milan or Lugano and some walking.
Do you need a car on Lake Como?
No. Ferries link the main villages, trains serve Como and Varenna, and buses fill the gaps. Roads are narrow and parking is difficult, so most visitors are better off without one.
Is Lake Como worth visiting?
Yes, especially if you like scenery, slow days and good food. It's expensive in high season, but the combination of water, mountains and villages is hard to match.

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