The Best Towns on Lake Como for an Italian Fairytale Holiday

Visiting the towns on Lake Como is like stepping into an Italian dream. But when you only have one weekend available, as I did, choosing the best towns on Lake Como to visit can be overwhelming. I did the research for you when I visited Como for a weekend, back in spring. Despite the weather not being the best and it was raining quite a lot, I was still filled with inspiration and felt like royalty whilst visiting all these gorgeous towns and villages.

I went to Como after managing to buy a return ticket from London Gatwick at the bargain price of £17. I landed in Milano on a Friday and spent the weekend strolling around the most magnificent gardens I have ever seen, enjoying delicious local Italian food, imagining that I was rich when walking past the most expensive villas, and sipping on Aperol Spritz in the afternoons. My love relationship with Italy will never end!

How to Get to Lake Como

I decided to go straight to Lake Como from Milano Malpensa Airport. I have visited Milano a few times before and I am not a fan, so I thought I should maximise my three days in Italy in Como and Lugano. Getting to Lake Como from Milano Airport is pretty straightforward by train, but you do need to change once, in Saronno. It takes around one and a half hours to reach the Como Lago station, and it costs 10 euros.

From Milano Centrale there is a direct train to Como St Giovanni station. This is the station you will need to go to if you are planning to continue on to Switzerland, and wish to take a day trip to Lugano, as I did.

How to Move Around Lake Como

If you are only in Como for a weekend, it’s important to know the public ferry timetable, in order to maximise your time here. I used the fast hydrofoil to go from Como to Bellagio, and from there the slow ferries. Many people take the slow ferry from Como because it is much cheaper, but the journey time will more than double. I reached Bellagio in 50 minutes, whilst the ferry would have taken over two hours.

I bought a day pass for the ferry, which costs 25.80 euros. To use the hydrofoil, I had to pay an extra supplement of 4.60 euros. I bought my ticket at the main booth in Como, about an hour before the hydrofoil left. If you are travelling to Como during high season, I highly recommend buying your pass online, from here.  

I decided to take the first rapid service of the day, at 7:30 am, which reached Bellagio at 8:14 am. I wanted to start with Bellagio and avoid the crowds, and it was the right choice, as most people got off the boat in Menaggio.

Make sure you check the time of the last ferry back to Como, or to where you are staying. I’ve heard many stories of people getting stranded in one of the towns on Lake Como because they didn’t check the times of the boats. If in doubt, ask, because the schedule printed in the harbours can be confusing because of where the arrows on there are pointing. I missed the restaurant’s lunchtime because I misread the schedule, thinking that the arrow up meant that the boat arrives at Varenna, then goes back to Menaggio.

You can also book a private boat to take you around Lake Como. The hire price for one day with a skipper and a guide, is around £1,100 per boat. You can see some options below:

• Sailing Experience on Lake Como with Private Skipper
• Private wooden-boat tour on Como Lake
• 2 Hour Private and Guided Cruise to Lake Como
• Sunset sailing on lake Como with private skipper

Where to Stay on Lake Como

I chose to base myself in Como, simply because I was on a weekend trip, and Como is the most accessible town on Lake Como. However, if you are spending more time around Lake Como, I would highly recommend staying in one of the more charming towns, such as Bellagio or Varenna. Not that Como is not charming, it’s just much bigger and you might not necessarily get that romantic “la dolce vita” feeling.

I booked an apartment in Como, paying £75 for two nights. I thought it was a great deal, especially as it could have easily slept 4 people. The nearby hostel had a similar price for a shared bed in a dorm. The apartment had two bedrooms, a large kitchen with a cooking area, and a bathroom. It was located close to the lake, a 10 minute walk away from Como S. Giovanni train station. I visited just after Easter, and the owner left some chocolate eggs for me. The only downside was that there was no WiFi, but as I was only there to sleep, it made no difference to me.

You can book the same apartment on Booking.com by clicking here. 

If you are travelling to Lake Como on a budget, check out my dedicated article here.

The Best Towns on Lake Como:

Bellagio

Bellagio is one of the most beautiful towns on Lake Como, and one of the most popular as well. Sometimes, Bellagio is referred to as the “Pearl of Lake Como” and no wonder, as it’s so pretty with its narrow uphill alleys, between pastel-coloured buildings with flowerpots hanging over ivy-covered balconies. There are plenty of boutique shops in Bellagio from where you can buy a handmade gift, or small restaurants with a couple of tables in small gardens overlooking the lake, where you can taste some of that delicious Lombardian cuisine.

Besides the pretty streets of Bellagio to stroll along, the town offers a few other things to do. Firstly, don’t miss the gorgeous view of Salita Sebelloni, from where you can take a photo of that iconic view of Bellagio with the lake behind it. If you want that photo without any people in it, arrive early!

Another thing to do in Bellagio is visit the basilica of San Giacomo, a Romanesque church built between the 11^th and 12^th century.

There are two villas you can visit in Bellagio: Villa Serbelloni and Villa Mezi. Villa Serbelloni is home to a five star hotel and you can only visit its gardens if you pre-book ahead of time. Villa Melzi, which has spectacular gardens as well, can be visited for a fee of 8 euros. 

Another cute place I stumbled upon in Bellagio was the L’Angolo delle idee (The angle of the ideas) glass shop. They have the cutest Christmas ornaments, handmade by local artisans. I highly recommend paying a visit, as it’s such a unique place.

For more things to do in Bellagio, check out my dedicated article here.

Where to Eat in Bellagio

As I arrived early in Bellagio, I had my breakfast there, at Café Vecchio Borgo. I loved that this small café was filled with locals having their morning coffee, and that the waiter knew exactly what they wanted, without them ordering. I enjoyed a lovely cappuccino with soya milk and a delicious cornetto with cream. The bill was around 3 euros.

Pescallo

I found Pescallo by accident whilst walking up a narrow, walled alley, from Bellagio. And what a wonderful accident that was, as Pescallo is simply adorable and void of tourists, no crowds at all. I could just walk around the sleepy alleys and have the entire village to myself.

Pecallo is located on the other side of the lake from Bellagio, with a small harbour where the water is so crystal clear that you can see the stones on the bottom. There were many small boats anchored in the bay, and I later learned that Pescallo is an old fishing village, which made sense.

Pescallo is also known as a great water sports destination, so if you are looking for a kayak or a sup board, this is the place to come.

Where to Eat in Pescallo

A wonderful place to eat in Pescallo is La Terrazza di Lake Como. This restaurant offers a fine dining experience with a view, and has a menu that changes based on seasonality. They use local producers’ ingredients and focus on giving their guests a slow food experience.

Varenna

Varenna is in my opinion the most charming town on Lake Como. During my trip to Lake Como the weather wasn’t great, so I can only imagine how much more beautiful the town is when the sun is shining. To get to Varenna from the ferry harbour, you must follow this beautiful promenade which is dotted with colourful flowers, on the side of the lake.

Varenna is colourful and full of flowers. They are everywhere! Varenna is also an artistic town, with quite a few art shops dotted around the narrow stairs going up to the main square. And no wonder its beauty is an inspiration for so many.

On the other side of the main square is a small beach overlooking the village of Fiumelatte.

The most popular thing to do in Varenna is to visit Villa Monastero which has beautiful, landscaped lakeside gardens. The eclectic villa was built over a former monastery founded at the end of the 12^th century and can be visited inside as well. A combined ticket for the museum and the gardens costs 10.40 euros.

As you approach Varenna by ferry, you can spot a castle on top of the hill above the town. This is Castello di Vezio, over 1,000 years old. The castle is open to the public from March to November, but only when the weather is good. Inside you can see falconry demonstrations, an exhibition dedicated to a prehistoric creature, the Lariosaurus, and “ghost” statues scattered around the grounds. A ticket to the castle costs 5 euros.

It is good to know that Varenna has a train station, with direct connections to Milano and Bergamo.

Menaggio

Menaggio is another one of the charming towns on Lake Como. The main street in the town is dotted with gorgeously decorated shops, which are very pleasing on the eye. The town has a lovely promenade as well, which you will walk along after coming from the ferry station, passing by the marina with small yachts anchored along the medieval stone wall dividing the shore from the deep water.

Menaggio is small but definitely worth a visit, especially as it is not as crowded as Bellaggio or Varenna. The church in Menaggio is almost hidden on the main road, leading to the piazza. The inside of the church is simple, but it has a nice fresco on the ceiling and delicate stained windows close to the altar. 

Where to Eat in Menaggio

Because I mixed up the ferry times, I missed the lunchtime in Menaggio. Most good restaurants in Italy open for lunch only between 1pm and 3 pm, and then re-open again for dinner. As I was pretty hungry, I went into one of the places that was still open, Bar Al Paladar, where I ordered from the daily menu. And to be fair, it wasn’t bad at all. I went for the rustic pizza, the lemon cake, a glass of red wine and an espresso to finish the meal with. The price for this combo was 14 euros, which is very affordable for Lake Como. 

I also had my gelato of the day in Menaggio, at La Fabbrica del Gelato, a chain with shops in a few of the towns around Lake Como. I went for my usual combination of flavours, pistachio and amarena. The ice cream was very good, but I thought the one I had in Como was better. I always judge gelato by how creamy and flavoursome the pistachio is.

Tremezzo

Tremezzo is probably the most touristic town on Lake Como, and that is because of the many hotels built on the waterfront. Tremezzo is the place to stay if you want to visit Villa Carlota, one of the most beautiful villas around the lake. The gardens of Villa Carlota are a photographer’s dream.

It can take a good half a day to see everything Villa Carlota has to offer. Built at the end of the 17^th century, the villa hosts an impressive art collection which includes sculptures, paintings, and original period furniture.

A ticket to visit Villa Carlota and its gardens is 12 euros.

Lenno

Lenno is not usually on the touristic path around Lake Como. Most tourists who do day trips on Lake Como prefer to move between Bellagio, Varenna and Menaggio. But Lenno is one of the most exquisite towns on Lake Como. 

The most famous sight in Lenno is Villa del Balbianello, which was used as a filming location for movies such as Casino Royale and Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones. To reach the villa you can either go on a short hike through the beautiful woodland and gardens, or jump on a taxi boat from near the Lido di Lenno. Villa del Balbianello is open from March to November, and the entrance ticket costs 20 euros.

Another interesting site in Lenno is the Villa Aureggi architectural complex. The tower dates from the 14^th century and it was built for tax reasons. 

Como

Many tourists who come to Lake Como use Como as a starting point for their trip around the lake, and don’t really get to see much of the city. Como is as beautiful as other towns on Lake Como, even if it is bigger and has a more developed, urban area around its historical centre. I arrived in Como just after lunch and reserved the rest of the day to explore its narrow streets and the majestic Cathedral in the old centre.

The main architectural site in Como is the Duomo, an imposing 15^th century building with a Gothic façade.  Walking underneath the arches on the left-hand side of the Cathedral you will descend to the original floor of the portico. Back in the 14^th century, because of the floods, the town of Como was raised by approximately one meter.

One of the most interesting streets in Como is Via Vittani. This is the only medieval alley remaining in Como, with six different original buildings. Don’t forget to look up. You will see some impeccable architectural elements such as frescos, stone bricks or iron pieces brought back to life by restorations.

Where to Stay in Como

I stayed at Apartamento Alle Rampe, which was a 10 minute walk to the waterfront. It had a lovely view from the balcony over the mountain in front. I paid £75 for two nights there. I travelled to Como on my own, but the apartment had the capacity for four people as it had two bedrooms.

You can book the same apartment directly on Booking.com by clicking here.

Where to Eat in Como

I chose Rivenoteca to have my dinner in Como, which offered me an exceptional culinary experience. The restaurant focuses on Lombardian cuisine, concentrating on the flavours of Lake Como. They have a very knowledgeable sommelier and a small cellar in the back, where you can choose the wine you want to pair each course with. The food was exceptional. I went for the marinated carpione fish served with polenta for the appetiser, and the risotto with perch and sage with a Gran Padano wafer for the main course. Both courses were full of flavour and the entire experience was memorable.

For gelato in Como, I highly recommend L’Ulivo. The gelato was creamy and had so much flavour. Definitely the gelato highlight of the entire trip. 

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