Lake Como

Located in the region of Lombardy, Lake Como is the third largest lake in Italy, just behind Lake Garda and Lake Maggiore. Lake Como boasts a tranquil atmosphere surrounded by charming villages making this an ideal destination for travelers looking to relax in a paradisical setting.

Also known as Lake Lario after its Latin name (Larius Lacus), Lake Como is shaped like an inverted Greek "Y" formed by three long arms; to the west is the town of Como, to the east is Lecco and to the north is Colico.

Lake Como’s charming villages

Lake Como has numerous picturesque villages along its shores. These are some of our favorites:

• Bellagio: Located at the intersection of the three branches, Bellagio is Lake Como’s most famous village. It is a delightful little village with narrow, steep streets and stunning views of the lake. This village is truly special.
• Varenna: Situated between the lake and the mountain, Varenna is a sweet little hamlet of Roman origin. Its walkways above the water and infinite stairs gain ground both on the lake and the mountain.
• Tremezzo: The municipality of Tremezzo is a top tourist destination thanks to Villa Carlotta, a remarkable neoclassical residence sold in 1843 as a wedding present for Princess Charlotte of Prussia. Visitors can visit the mansion and its striking gardens.
• Menaggio: Menaggio is a small medieval town which is beautifully preserved with an old castle tourists can visit. There are numerous villas and impressive villas by the banks of the lake, which make it a very agreeable walk.
• Como: Founded by the Romans in 196 BC, Como is a very popular destination, especially because of its beautiful landscapes. We recommend taking the funicular to Brunate for some breathtaking views of the lake and the city of Como.

Getting to Lake Como

There are several ways of getting to Lake Como from Milan. The trip from the capital of Lombardy to the Lake District is very enjoyable if you decide to rent a car since the roads offer stunning views of the lakes. If you do not want to drive, you can catch a train or book a guided tour.

One-day trips

There are day trips to Lake Como by bus that make for a pleasant day of boating and visiting the charming villages of the lake. Some of our favorites are listed below:

• Lake Como Day Trip
• Como & Bellagio Day Trip + Cruise
• Bellagio and Bellano Day Trip

By car

Renting a car from Milan is the easiest and most comfortable way of getting to Lake Como. We recommend getting a GPS with the car since the signposts are not clear and it's easy to get lost.

If you would like to hire a car, you can click here:

• Rent a car in Milan 

By train

To get to Lake Como from Milan by train you can take the train at the station "Cadorna" and make a journey of about an hour to the station "Como Nord Lago". The ticket costs € 5.20 (US$ 5.47) and can be purchased through the Trenitalia website. Trains depart from 5:30 am with a frequency of 20 minutes, which in summer may be higher. 

Getting Around Lake Como

If you're staying in the region for a few days, you'll have time to discover Lake Como by car, although the most interesting and unique way of exploring the lake is by taking the ferry that crosses Lario every day.

Lake Como has several inexpensive car ferries that will take you from one side of the lake to the other with your vehicle. If you are interested in crossing the lake and taking the car with you, you can do it with some of the ferries for a small fee.