Lake Como Highlights
A curated tour of Lake Como, from the historic city of Como to the grand villas and pastel-colored villages of the western and eastern shores. Ferries link the central-lake towns of Bellagio, Varenna, Menaggio and Tremezzo/Lenno, so check the current Navigazione Laghi tickets and day passes before you go.
Trip Stops
- 1
Marble cathedral that blends Gothic and Renaissance styles and took roughly four centuries to complete. Its facade features statues of the two Plinys, the Roman writers born in Como, an unusual honor for pagans on a Christian church.
📍 Como, Lombardy, Italy
- 2
A historic funicular, running since 1894, climbs from Como to the hilltop village of Brunate in about seven minutes. The terrace views span the whole lake basin and, on clear days, the Alps.
📍 Brunate, Lombardy, Italy
- 3
Neoclassical villa on Como's lakeshore, built in the late 18th century for the Odescalchi family. It hosts exhibitions and is surrounded by Italian-style gardens, a pleasant lakeside walk from the town center.
📍 Como, Lombardy, Italy
- 4
Renaissance villa in Cernobbio with a 10-hectare park, turned into a luxury hotel in 1873. Its floating pool on the lake is among the most photographed spots on Como, and non-guests can book garden visits.
📍 Cernobbio, Lombardy, Italy
- 5
Lake Como's only island, a short boat ride from Ossuccio. In the 12th century it was destroyed by Milan after backing Como in the Ten Years' War, and today it holds ruined churches and a famous restaurant. On the shore opposite, the Greenway del Lago di Como, a roughly 10 km walking route between Colonno and Griante, passes through Ossuccio, Lenno and Tremezzo.
📍 Tremezzina, Lombardy, Italy
- 6
Elegant villa with terraced gardens on the tip of the Dosso d'Avedo peninsula, built in 1787 on the site of a Franciscan monastery. It appeared in Star Wars: Attack of the Clones and Casino Royale, and is now run by FAI.
📍 Lenno, Lombardy, Italy
- 7
Late 17th-century villa in Tremezzo famed for its botanical gardens, with rhododendrons and azaleas in spring. Inside are works by Canova, including a plaster version of his Cupid and Psyche.
📍 Tremezzina, Lombardy, Italy
- 8
Lively lakeside town and a main ferry hub, with a pretty promenade and a cross-lake link to Varenna. Hiking trails start close to the center, and the Greenway del Lago di Como reaches Griante, just south of town.
📍 Menaggio, Lombardy, Italy
- 9
Often called the Pearl of the Lake, Bellagio sits on the promontory where Lake Como's two southern branches meet. Its steep stepped lanes are lined with silk shops and lakeside cafés, and the waterfront makes an easy base for ferry hopping.
📍 Bellagio, Lombardy, Italy
- 10
Neoclassical villa built in 1808-1810 for Francesco Melzi d'Eril, vice-president of Napoleon's Italian Republic. Its lakeside gardens were the first English-style park on Lake Como, with a Japanese pond, a small chapel and an orangery museum, a lovely walk south along the shore from Bellagio's ferry docks.
📍 Bellagio, Lombardy, Italy
- 11
Colorful fishing village on the eastern shore, with a narrow waterfront walk (Passeggiata degli Innamorati) and an easy ferry link to Bellagio and Menaggio. The ancient Sentiero del Viandante trail runs along this shore from Lecco to Colico, passing through Varenna.
📍 Varenna, Lombardy, Italy
- 12
Former Cistercian convent turned lakeside villa in Varenna, with a long, narrow garden that runs along the shore. It also houses a science museum and a conference center, and the botanical garden features citrus and exotic plants.
📍 Varenna, Lombardy, Italy
- 13
Medieval castle from the late 11th to early 12th century on the hill above Varenna, reached by a walk of about half an hour. Its tower hosts an exhibition on Lariosaurus, a Triassic sea reptile named after the lake, and the terraces command views over Lake Como, where the lake's branches meet.
📍 Perledo, Lombardy, Italy
- 14
Natural gorge carved by the Pioverna river, explored on a suspended walkway over the rushing water. It's cool, dramatic and quite different from the elegant villas elsewhere on the lake.
📍 Bellano, Lombardy, Italy
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