Lake Como looks like an upside-down Y among the Lombard Prealps, with villas and villages along its shores and Bellagio on the central promontory. Start with the gardens and art of Villa Carlotta, then book Villa del Balbianello, and keep a day for Bellagio and the boat ride that links the lake’s towns.
At a glance
- Top sights to see first: Villa Carlotta, Villa del Balbianello, Bellagio, Como’s Duomo
- Main access: Navigazione Laghi ferries, with stops at Como, Bellagio, Varenna, Menaggio, Cadenabbia, Lecco and Colico
- Day trip from Milan: easy by train and boat
- Best time of day: morning for the villas, sunset for the Balbianello park
- Best season to visit: May to September for sun, with the most sunshine in July
What are the best things to do on Lake Como?
Villa Carlotta
Villa Carlotta stands in Tremezzo, in the Tremezzina area. The Clerici marquises of Milan built it at the end of the 17th century. The museum holds works by Canova, Hayez and Thorvaldsen, and the botanical garden has color in every season.
Bus line C110 also stops at the villa. Tickets cost €15 for over 65s with ID, €12 for ages 19 to 25, €7 for ages 6 to 18, and €35 for a family of two adults and two children. Plan on arriving by boat and walking up.
Villa del Balbianello
Villa del Balbianello sits at Lenno, on a promontory that once held a Franciscan monastery. It was built in the 18th century. American general Butler Ames bought it in 1919, and explorer Guido Monzino left it to the FAI when he died in 1988. Film fans know it from Casino Royale and the love scenes of Star Wars II.
The villa can be visited only by reservation. A guided visit of the interiors with free access to the park at sunset costs €30 and starts at 5:30 p.m. The ticket covers a guided tour of the interiors plus the garden, terraces and Loggia Durini. There’s no cafeteria, but the bookshop sells water, drinks and small snacks.
Bellagio
Bellagio, known as La Perla del Lago, stands on the central promontory of the lake. Villa Serbelloni dates to the 16th century, and the neoclassical Villa Melzi d’Eril has gardens that run about 2,600 feet (800 meters) along the water.
The Villa Serbelloni park opens on a 2-hour guided tour, morning or afternoon, Tuesday to Sunday. Book it for the morning, then walk the Melzi gardens after lunch.
Como: the Duomo and the lakefront
Como has Roman origins. The Duomo was begun in 1396 and its dome was finished in 1744. Nearby are the Broletto, the city tower and the Basilica di Sant’Abbondio, a fine example of Como Romanesque. The Tempio Voltiano is dedicated entirely to a scientist, Alessandro Volta, who was born here.
Villa Olmo, a neoclassical residence from the 18th century, now hosts exhibitions and cultural events. The Como Silk Museum covers the city’s textile tradition. If time is short, stay on the lungolago and the old center.
The Como-Brunate funicular
The funicular links Como to Brunate in 7 minutes, with views of the lake and the Alps. The Como station is in Piazza Alcide De Gasperi, steps from the water. It runs from 6 a.m. to midnight and is wheelchair accessible.
The funicular will be closed from Monday, November 9 to Friday, November 27, 2026 for planned works.
Varenna
Varenna sits on the Lecco branch of the lake. Villa Monastero and Vezio Castle, which dominates the village from above, are the main visits. Villa Cipressi’s terraced gardens next to Villa Monastero are open to the public.
The Passeggiata degli Innamorati is a walkway about 1,150 feet (350 meters) over the lake. Trains stop at Varenna-Esino, so it’s an easy stop from Milan.
Isola Comacina
Isola Comacina is the only island of Lake Como. Its houses were razed in the 12th century by the people of Como, and it’s considered one of the most significant early medieval archaeological sites in northern Italy. The Antiquarium in Ossuccio holds about 250 finds from the island.
Taxi motorboats from Ossuccio and Navigazione Laghi boats reach the island. You can cross it on foot in about half an hour, so it fits a morning or afternoon.
When is the best time to visit Lake Como for sightseeing?
July is the sunniest month at 8.4 hours a day, with highs of 81°F (27°C), but summer and holidays bring heavy traffic, parking trouble and queues at the ticket offices. May and June are warm too, though both see around 10 to 12 rainy days. Winter is cool and gray, with 3.5 to 5 hours of sun a day in November to February. Traffic around the villas is heaviest on weekends, so go on a weekday.
Beaches and outdoor things to do on Lake Como
The lake’s beach life centers on equipped harbors and lidos in the lively lakeside towns, which suits families. Along the Greenway there are small beach kiosks where you can swim in warmer months, and the last part ends at a small beach with a bar.
The Greenway del Lago di Como runs about 6 miles (10 km) from Colonno to Cadenabbia di Griante. You can cover it by the C110 bus or by boat. From Varenna, the Sentiero del Viandante leads to Bellano, Lierna and Albiga on routes of rising difficulty. Colico has gentle winds, and surfers wait there for the Breva or the Tivano.
- Greenway beach kiosks: on the walk · swimming in warm months · walkers who want a dip
- Colico: lakeside, windy · water sports · surfers and sailors
With children, pick the lidos. For a long walk with swimming stops, take the Greenway. For wind, go to Colico.
Day trips from Lake Como
Boats from Como reach Villa Carlotta in about 45 minutes. By train, get off at Varenna-Esino and take the Navigazione Laghi boat toward Tremezzo.
- Como to Villa Carlotta: about 45 minutes · boat or bus C110 · villa and garden lovers
- Varenna to Tremezzo: train plus boat · no car needed · a longer day across the lake
- Bellagio, Cadenabbia, Varenna, Menaggio ferry: weekdays and holidays · car ferry available · drivers
Without a car, use the boat from Como. With a car, the ferry between Cadenabbia, Bellagio and Varenna saves long drives.
What to eat on Lake Como
Restaurants are listed in the information from Lake Como Tourism. The Révolt da Stazuna event offers local specialties along with wines, and its cellar tour is limited to a small number of participants. At the Abbey of Piona in Colico, the monks prepare honey and liqueurs. Lenno holds a weekly market on Tuesdays on the lakeside, and Villa Carlotta has the Caffetteria Antica Serra.
Things to do on Lake Como at night
Tremezzina Gastronomica runs from October 3 to December 13, 2026, and the ONde LARIANE cultural festival runs from October 2 to November 19, 2026. At Villa del Balbianello, a trekking event is held on November 7, 2026.
On June 24, the Lumaghitt fireworks light the water for St John’s Day near Isola Comacina. Bellagio holds a traditional sagra at the end of June, with three days of festivities. The Floating Stage season has dates in Cernobbio, Tremezzina, Dongo, Gravedona, Colico and Malgrate.
Things to do on Lake Como with kids
Families can mix lidos, boat rides and short excursions. The Faro Voltiano tower in San Maurizio has a spiral staircase of 143 steps. The Pigra Argegno cable car shows the southern part of the Como branch.
At Villa Carlotta, the family ticket for two adults and two children aged 6 to 18 costs €35. Go in the morning, before the summer traffic builds up.
Sources
- ncei.noaa.gov (https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/wmo-climate-normals), checked 2026-10-30
- italia.it (https://www.italia.it/en/lombardy/lake-como), checked 2026-10-25
- in-lombardia.it (https://www.in-lombardia.it/index%2Ephp/de/wohin-gehen-lombardei/comer-see), checked 2026-10-30
- villacarlotta.it (https://www.villacarlotta.it/it/visita/?pag_id=26&sez_id=18&lang_id=1), checked 2026-10-30
- in-lombardia.it (https://www.in-lombardia.it/index%2Ephp/en/activity/lake-como-villas-0), checked 2026-10-25
- italia.it (https://www.italia.it/it/lombardia/cosa-fare/itinerario-per-le-ville-sul-lago-di-como), checked 2026-10-25
- in-lombardia.it (https://www.in-lombardia.it/en/tours/greenway-lago-di-como), checked 2026-10-30
- in-lombardia.it (https://www.in-lombardia.it/evento/visite-guidate-alla-villa-del-balbianello), checked 2026-10-30