Lake Como sits in the Lombard Prealps, with Milan Malpensa airport 31 miles (50 km) away. It suits travelers who want villas, gardens and village waterfronts reached by boat, from a single afternoon to a three-day itinerary.
The boat is the way to see the villas, and it has its limits. Navigation restrictions apply from October to March, and the Brunate funicular is proposed as an alternative for the climb. A November trip works best with a plan for boats, buses and bookings.
At a glance
- Region: Lombardy, in the Prealps, about 115 miles (185 km) of shoreline
- Nearest airports: Milan Malpensa at 31 miles (50 km), Linate at 38 miles (61 km), Bergamo at 54 miles (87 km)
- By train: Milan Porta Garibaldi to Como San Giovanni
- Boat itinerary among the villas: 3 days, 7 stops
- Como to Bellagio by boat: 2 hours
- Local pass: Como Open Pass, €15
- Big summer date: June 24, the Lumaghitt fireworks
Where is Lake Como and what is it like?
Lake Como is in Lombardy, 31 miles (50 km) from Milan Malpensa, 38 miles (61 km) from Linate and 54 miles (87 km) from Bergamo. The lake is also called the Lario. On a map it looks like an upside-down Y among the Lombard Prealps.
The landscape mixes mountains, forests, parks and clear water with villas and villages, and Bellagio sits at the center, on the promontory where the branches meet. Isola Comacina is the lake’s only island.
Como goes back to Roman times. The two Plinys and Alessandro Volta were born here. Isola Comacina’s houses were razed by the people of Como in the 12th century.
Where to go on Lake Como
Como
The Duomo, the Broletto, the Basilica of Sant’Abbondio, Baradello Castle and Villa Olmo are all on the list.
Architecture fans can follow the Rationalism circuit of buildings by Giuseppe Terragni. The Como Silk Museum covers the city’s textile tradition, and a cable car climbs to Brunate for a view back over the city.
Bellagio
Bellagio stands on the central promontory and works as the lake’s crossroads. Villa Serbelloni dates to the 16th century, and the neoclassical Villa Melzi d’Eril has gardens stretching half a mile (800 m) along the water.
Boats link it with Como, Lecco, Varenna and Menaggio. The town holds a three-day sagra at the end of June.
Varenna
Varenna is a village with a Lovers’ Promenade that connects the shore to the village. Villa Monastero and Vezio Castle, which watches over the village from above, are the sights to visit.
Bellano’s Orrido gorge is nearby. Boats connect Varenna with Bellagio and Menaggio.
Tremezzina
Tremezzina holds Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo and Villa del Balbianello near Lenno. Lenno overlooks the Golfo di Venere.
Bus line C110 from Como stops at Villa Carlotta.
Lecco
Lecco has the Basilica di San Nicolò, whose 315-foot (96-meter) bell tower can be seen from everywhere in the city, and the Torre Viscontea. Villa Manzoni houses the Museo Manzoniano.
Fans of the novel The Betrothed can follow a Manzoni route from Lucia’s house to the castle of the Innominato above Vercurago.
What is there to do on Lake Como?
Villa del Balbianello
Villa del Balbianello was built in the 18th century on a promontory that once held a Franciscan monastery. The FAI manages it, and it appeared in Casino Royale and in Star Wars II. The villa also holds the relics of explorer Guido Monzino, who left it to the FAI.
The park-only ticket costs €15, and the villa and park ticket €25. Interiors are guided tours of 50 minutes in groups of 16 at most, and the ticket also covers the garden, terraces and Loggia Durini. Park visits require booking.
There is no cafeteria inside, only a bookshop selling water, drinks and snacks. It cannot be reached by car. Visitors who like film sets and quiet terraces will love it.
Villa Carlotta
Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo has an Italian garden and botanical gardens. It offers themed tours and workshops, and the Caffetteria Antica Serra is on site.
It opens from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. A family ticket for 2 adults and 2 children aged 6 to 18 costs €35, and the over-65 ticket €15. The boat stop is 400 meters (a quarter mile) from the entrance.
From Como, boats take about 45 minutes. Gardeners and families get the most from it, since the family ticket is built for them.
The villas by boat
The classic itinerary runs 3 days with 7 stops: Villa Olmo, Villa d’Este, Isola Comacina, Villa del Balbianello, Villa Carlotta, Bellagio and Villa Monastero. Navigazione Laghi boats and hydrofoils serve the villas.
The itinerary continues to Villa Pliniana and crosses to Laglio. Private cruises start at €200 for 1 or 2 hours, with 6 passengers at most. The villas cruise runs by reservation only.
Villa d’Este is now a luxury hotel, visible from the water. Travelers short on time can see the lake on a day trip from Milan.
Isola Comacina
Isola Comacina can be crossed on foot in about half an hour. It is considered a significant archaeological site in northern Italy for the Early Middle Ages. On the mainland at Ossuccio, the Antiquarium houses about 250 finds from the island.
Access is paid. Take a taxi boat from Ossuccio or a Navigazione Laghi boat. Around June 24, pyrotechnic shows light up the island for St John’s Day.
Choose Isola Comacina for history and a short walk, Balbianello for views and film fans, Carlotta for gardens and families.
How many days do you need on Lake Como?
A day trip from Milan is enough for the lake’s highlights, for example a morning in Como and a boat to Bellagio. The Como to Bellagio crossing takes 2 hours.
The villa itinerary takes 3 days with 7 stops and an easy difficulty. That pace allows time for Balbianello, Carlotta and Isola Comacina.
With more time, add the Brunate rack railway, which climbs to about 2,300 feet (700 m), or the Manzoni route near Lecco. Short on time, keep Como and one villa.
Where to stay on Lake Como
Bellagio, on the central promontory, is a natural base for boat connections in several directions.
Como itself has the train stations and the Como Open Pass buses. Tremezzina puts Villa Carlotta and Balbianello close, but with no train station. Traffic and parking can be difficult there, especially on weekends and in summer.
How do you get to Lake Como and get around?
Malpensa can be reached from Gallarate via the S50 line. Trains from Milan Porta Garibaldi reach Como San Giovanni on the S11 line, and the TILO RE80 serves Milan Central Station. Como Lago is served by the Milan-Saronno-Como Lago line, and Trenord trains also reach it.
Both Como stations are a short walk from the lakefront. The Como Open Pass costs €15. It includes a return train journey from anywhere in Lombardy and unlimited daily travel on local ASF buses, reaching Menaggio, Bellagio, Argegno and Val d’Intelvi.
By car from Milan or Como, take the A9 motorway, exit Lago di Como, then the SS 340 toward Menaggio. Bus C10 runs from Como to Lenno, and C110 from Como through Menaggio to Colico.
Boats are the best way around. Navigazione Laghi links the main towns, and a boat taxi system connects the main resorts. Routes include Como to Colico and Bellagio to Lecco. Cars travel only between stops marked Traghetto.
Go to the ticket office about 20 minutes before departure. At ports without one, buy the ticket on board at no extra cost, or pay contactless with NaviTap.
When should you go to Lake Como?
Late June brings the Lumaghitt, fireworks on the water on June 24 for St John’s Day, and Bellagio’s three-day sagra. Early September has the Ambrosetti forum at Villa d’Este.
Summer and holidays bring heavy traffic and queues at ticket offices. Weekends can bring heavy traffic and parking difficulties, so arrive early or plan for a little extra time.
What to know before visiting Lake Como
Boats and offices follow a few rules worth knowing.
- Routes may be suspended in bad weather or strong waves, and debris in the lake can delay some runs.
- Online ticket sales are temporarily suspended. Buy at ticket offices or with NaviTap.
- The toll-free number 800-551801 works only in Italy.
- The Infopoint Como is in Piazza Duomo, and the Infopoint Bellagio is in Piazza Mazzini, at the landing stage.
- Ospedale Valduce in Como is at Via Dante Alighieri 11, tel. +39 031 324111.
Booking Lake Como for November: what to know
Villa del Balbianello is hosting a dinner event with the FAI on October 31 and a trekking event on November 7. Park visits there require booking. The guided tours of the villa interiors run for groups of 16 at most.
The Lake Como Villas cruise is by reservation only. The boat timetables published run until November 1, so check the new schedule before planning crossings. On Villa Carlotta’s closing days, visits are possible by reservation only, by writing to the villa’s secretariat.
Sources
- 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 2026-10-25
- italia.it (https://www.italia.it/it/lombardia/cosa-fare/itinerario-per-le-ville-sul-lago-di-como), checked 2026-10-25
- fondoambiente.it (https://fondoambiente.it/luoghi/villa-del-balbianello/visita), checked 2026-10-25
- navigazionelaghi.it (https://www.navigazionelaghi.it/en/notices/?_sft_lago=lake_como), checked 2026-10-25
- in-lombardia.it (https://www.in-lombardia.it/index%2Ephp/en/activity/lake-como-villas-0), checked 2026-10-25
- villacarlotta.it (https://www.villacarlotta.it/en/visit/), checked 2026-10-25
- navigazionelaghi.it (https://www.navigazionelaghi.it/avvisi/guasto-tecnico-sistema-vendita-online/), checked 2026-10-25