3 Days on Lake Como: A Day-by-Day Itinerary

Three days on Lake Como cover the city of Como, the villas of Tremezzina and Lenno, and Bellagio and Varenna, with ferries tying the stops together. The trap is Villa del Balbianello, which can’t be reached by car, and weekend and summer traffic around it makes parking hard.

At a glance

• Recommended length: 3 days
• Main transport: Navigazione Laghi ferries, 42 stops on the lake
• Bus and train: Como Open Pass, €15
• Sunset visit: guided tour of Villa del Balbianello, €30
• Climate figures on hand: Bellagio, January to May

Is 3 days enough on Lake Como?

Three days is enough for the main stops: Como’s Duomo and lakefront, the villas of Tremezzina and Lenno, the gardens of Bellagio and the two villas of Varenna. It leaves out Lecco, Menaggio and Colico, all ferry stops, and the Isola Comacina, which charges an entry fee.

With one more day, add the Isola Comacina or give Varenna a day of its own, since the town extends over more than 7.5 miles (12 km) along the Lecco branch.

Anyone who wants to see Villa del Balbianello at sunset should keep an evening free for it.

When to plan 3 days on Lake Como

The season changes the days more than the route. January gives 4 hours of sun a day in Bellagio, and highs stay near 45°F (7°C). By March the sun reaches about 6 hours and rain falls on about 6 days. April and May are wetter, with about 10 and 12 rainy days, and May highs reach 69°F (21°C). Ferries may be suspended in bad weather or strong waves, so keep a spare half day in the plan.

Where to stay on Lake Como for 3 days

Bellagio is the base that fits the plan best. It’s a ferry stop, it has its own garden at Villa Melzi d’Eril, and Hotel Belvedere is listed there. Villa d’Este has been converted into a hotel, if the budget allows a grander stay.

Hotel Villa Aurora, in Frazione Sossana in Lezzeno, is a 3-star hotel. It has rooms in the hotel, ten rooms facing the lake in the villa, and two apartments named il Molo and il Mulino. Pets are welcome for a supplement of €10 per night.

Getting around Lake Como in 3 days

The ferries of Navigazione Laghi serve Como, Bellagio, Varenna, Menaggio, Cadenabbia, Lecco and Colico, among 42 stops. At piers without a ticket office, tickets are sold on board at no extra cost. At piers with an office, arrive about 20 minutes before departure. During a strike, the guaranteed time bands are 6:00 to 9:00 a.m. and 5:55 to 8:55 p.m.

The Como Open Pass costs €15 and covers unlimited daily travel on local ASF bus routes, except on-demand and reservation services. It also includes a return train journey from anywhere in Lombardy to Como Lago or Como San Giovanni. It’s sold on the Trenord website, at Trenord ticket offices and at authorised retailers. A paper pass must be shown to the driver together with the purchase receipt.

A car is a poor fit for Lenno and Tremezzina on weekends and in summer. If you do drive to Villa del Balbianello, the closest free parking is Mercato Parking in Via Comoedia, in Lenno. There is also paid parking on the same street.

3 Days on Lake Como, day by day

Day 1: Como’s Duomo and the Brunate funicular

Start in Como with the Duomo, the last Gothic cathedral in Lombardy, then the Broletto and the city tower. The Chiesa di San Fedele, the Porta Torre and the lungolago, the lakefront promenade, follow on the same walk. The museum system adds the Pinacoteca civica and the Tempio Voltiano, the only museum in the world entirely dedicated to a scientist.

The funicular to Brunate leaves from Piazza Alcide De Gasperi, a stone’s throw from the lake, and has an intermediate station at Carescione. The Como Open Pass is worth buying if you plan to use local ASF buses. A ferry from Como is the way to start day two.

Day 2: Villa Carlotta and Villa del Balbianello

Villa Carlotta, at Via Statale 5605 in Tremezzo, has an original Italian garden. Villa del Balbianello, in Lenno, includes the villa on 6 levels, the Loggia Durini, the Loggia Segrè with its historic park, and the Dosso di Lavedo.

Villa del Balbianello is managed by the FAI and can’t be reached by car. Park at Mercato Parking in Via Comoedia in Lenno, the closest free option. A guided tour at sunset costs €30.

Day 3: Bellagio and Varenna

Bellagio, known as La Perla del Lago, comes first, with the gardens of Villa Melzi d’Eril. Both Bellagio and Varenna are ferry stops, so the crossing links the two. Varenna is on the Lecco branch of the lake. Villa Monastero is there, and the botanical garden of Villa Cipressi sits right next to it.

Buy the ticket about 20 minutes ahead where there’s an office. Keep the last ferry back to your base in mind before settling in for the evening.