LAKE COMO'S TOWNS
The entire perimeter of Lake Como is studded with charming villages and towns. Quiet alleys, stunning views, beaches, enchanting villas… this and much more is what you can expect when visiting Lake Como’s towns.
If you are planning your trip to Italy and want to maximize your stay on Lake Como, here is a list of the most popular towns that every year attract thousands of visitors from all over the world.
Trust a local – me 
– and take some time to read the travel guides I have written about the 10 Lake Como’s towns I love the most.
Get ready to live one of the most beautiful experiences ever!
If you can, visit Lake Como in the off-season!
Lake Como is a true corner of Italian paradise that attracts tourists from all over the world, especially during the high season (late May to late September). My advice is, if you can, to visit Lake Como during the low season (for example, in April or October) to have a more relaxing and authentic travel experience.
Located on the Italian-Swiss border, the city of Como overlooks the southwest end of its lake and is surrounded by green ridge hills, resulting in unparalleled, natural scenery. Como is home to some of the best attractions in all of Lombardy.
COMO | Quick info
Main attractions
- The town center with its fascinating squares and churches (Como Cathedral, etc.)
- The lakefront and its monuments (Life Electric, Volta museum, War memorial)
- Villa Olmo
- Como-Brunate cable car and Spina Verde Park
Main public transportation services
- Train stations: Como S. Giovanni, Como Lago
- Bus lines: C10, C30
- Ferry: Como’s main pier and ticket office are located in Lungo Lario Trento
Information for people with walking difficulties
The city is mostly flat and is therefore suitable for people with walking difficulties.
Places to stay & Experiences
Bellagio is a small jewel located on the promontory that separates the two southern branches of Lake Como, those culminating in the cities of Como and Lecco. It is one of the most glamorous and romantic destinations in Lombardy.
BELLAGIO | Quick info
Main attractions
- The town center with its colorful alleys and shops
- Park of Villa Serbelloni and Gardens of Villa Melzi
- Punta Spartivento and the hamlet of Pescallo
- The hamlet of San Giovanni
Main public transportation services
- Bus lines: C30
- Ferry: Bellagio’s main pier is located in Piazza Giuseppe Mazzini. Some routes or types of boats, however, call at the pier located at Lungo Lario Manzoni (a few minutes further south).
Information for people with walking difficulties
The village is quite accessible, but it should be noted that the most characteristic alleys in the old town are full of steps.
Places to stay & Experiences
Varenna is a picturesque village, located on the eastern shore of Lake Como. Home to elegant villas with botanical gardens, Varenna is an essential stop for anyone wishing to visit one of the most peaceful towns of the lake.
VARENNA | Quick info
Main attractions
- The town center with Riva Grande and Passeggiata degli Innamorati
- The gardens of Villa Monastero and Villa Cipressi
- Castello di Vezio
- Fiumelatte and Sentiero del Viandante
Main public transportation services
- Train stations: Varenna-Esino station
- Ferry: Varenna’s pier is located in Via Imbarcadero.
Information for people with walking difficulties
The village is quite accessible, but it should be noted that some of the most characteristic alleys in the old town are full of steps.
Places to stay & Experiences
Tremezzina is located on the western banks of Lake Como, just opposite Bellagio, and is the result of a recent merger of the municipalities of Lenno, Mezzegra, Ossuccio and Tremezzo. It is home to some of the most beautiful villas on Lake Como.
TREMEZZINA | Quick info
Main attractions
- Villa Balbianello & Villa Carlotta
- The hamlet of Tremezzo
- The hamlet of Ossuccio and Lenno + Isola Comacina
- Sacro Monte di Ossuccio and other beautiful walks
Main public transportation services
- Bus lines: C10
- Ferry: Tremezzina has three piers, one in Tremezzo, one in Lenno, and one in front of Villa Carlotta.
Information for people with walking difficulties
The village is mostly flat and is therefore suitable for people with walking difficulties.
Places to stay & Experiences
Menaggio is a beautiful town of ancient origins. The characteristics of Menaggio make this town unique both for those who simply want to relax on its elegant lakefront (one of the longest on Lake Como) and for those who love nature.
MENAGGIO | Quick info
Main attractions
- The town center with its elegant lakefront
- The hamlet of Loveno
- Val Sanagra and Rifugio Menaggio
- The hamlets of Nobiallo and Croce
Main public transportation services
- Bus lines: C10
- Ferry: Menaggio’s pier is located in Via IV Novembre 89.
Information for people with walking difficulties
The village is mostly flat and is therefore suitable for people with walking difficulties.
Places to stay & Experiences
Literally split in half by its famous gorge, Nesso is a picturesque village sitting on the banks of Lake Como. Nesso is smaller than the nearby Bellagio, but it’s a real heaven for those who seek peace and all the regenerating aspects of slow-living.
NESSO | Quick info
Main attractions
- The town center with its stone houses and ancient vestiges
- Nesso Gorge and Ponte della Civera
- Strada Regia and Valle di Nosée
- The hamlet of Careno
Main public transportation services
- Bus lines: C30
- Ferry: Nesso has two piers, the main one is in the oldest part of the village (Borgovecchio), while the other is in the hamlet of Careno.
Information for people with walking difficulties
The village is characterized by the presence of numerous steps and sloping streets.
Places to stay & Experiences
Located on the tip of the southeastern branch of the lake, Lecco is commonly referred as ‘that branch of Lake Como‘ because of The Betrothed, the renowned Italian historical novel by Alessandro Manzoni.
LECCO | Quick info
Main attractions
- The historic town center, where medieval age meets modern and neoclassical-style architectures
- The long and charming lakeside promenade
- Palazzo delle Paure, a neo-medieval eclectic style palace that hosts contemporary art exhibitions
- The Manzonian places
Main public transportation services
- Bus lines: D10
- Ferry: Lecco’s main pier is located in Via Lungolario Isonzo.
Information for people with walking difficulties
The city is mostly flat and is therefore suitable for people with walking difficulties.
Places to stay & Experiences
Argegno is a quaint village that overlooks Lake Como in the area of greatest depth. It is crossed by the Telo stream that divides the historic core of the town into two parts connected by an ancient stone bridge that is its distinguishing feature.
ARGEGNO | Quick info
Main attractions
- The town center with its Roman bridge and the beautiful harbor
- The ancient churches
- The Argegno-Pigra cable car
- Val d'Intelvi
Main public transportation services
- Bus lines: C10
- Ferry: Argegno’s pier is located in Piazza Testi, a few steps away from the central Piazza Roma
Information for people with walking difficulties
The village is quite accessible, but it should be noted that the alleys in the old town are full of steps.
Places to stay & Experiences
Cernobbio is a small city located northwest of Como, nestled between Mount Bisbino and the calm waters of the lake. Home to some of the most famous villas, it is an ideal place to stay away from the crowds that fill the main tourist resorts.
CERNOBBIO | Quick info
Main attractions
- The town center with its charming lakefront
- The villas: Villa Pizzo, Villa Bernasconi, Villa Erba and Villa d'Este
- Giardino della Valle
- Sentee de Sort and Via dei Monti Lariani
Main public transportation services
- Bus lines: C10
- Ferry: Cernobbio’s pier is located in Piazza Risorgimento.
Information for people with walking difficulties
The city is mostly flat and is therefore suitable for people with walking difficulties.
Places to stay & Experiences
Located on the north-western banks of Lake Como, Gravedona ed Uniti is the perfect destination for all who seek peacefulness. While walking in the streets of Gravedona, you can’t help but notice how its buildings and churches evoke the charm of its past.
GRAVEDONA | Quick info
Main attractions
- Church of Santa Maria del Tiglio
- The town center with its views on Lake Como and Alessandro Volta's house
- Palazzo Gallio
- The ancient churches
Main public transportation services
- Bus lines: C10
- Ferry: Gravedona’s main pier is located in Viale Umberto I.
Information for people with walking difficulties
The village is quite accessible, but it should be noted that some alleys in the old town are full of steps.
Places to stay & Experiences
Map of the best Lake Como’s towns
If you are planning your trip to Lake Como, I advise you to choose the place to stay depending on the duration of your visit, your needs and the budget you have available. Here are some options.
Multi-day vacation
If you plan to visit Lake Como for 3-4 days and have no walking problems, virtually any town will do. In fact, local public services will enable you to reach all other destinations.
Clearly, the central area of the lake is where most of the tourist attractions are concentrated, and therefore it is the one that tends to be most crowded in high season (this is why I also recommend planning your vacation at different times, such as April or October, when the weather is very good and the area is less crowded).
My advice, therefore, is to first figure out which towns or attractions you do not want to miss and, from there, locate the place that allows you to reach them all most conveniently.
Consider that the towns in the center of the lake are all about 15-30 minutes by boat from each other, while to go from Como to Bellagio, for example, you have to consider about 1 - 2 hours.
One-day trip
If you only want to devote one day to Lake Como, for example because you are coming from Milan, I would choose a town that you can easily reach by train, such as Como, Varenna or Lecco (and their surroundings).
If you plan your travels carefully, you can also visit more than one town in a single day.
For example, you can reach Varenna from Milan and, from there, take the ferry that will take you to Bellagio or Menaggio in 15 minutes. Or you can reach Como from Milan and visit Cernobbio, also a 15-minute boat ride from the city.
Do you prefer flatter towns?
The alleys found in the historic centers of many cities are full of stairs.
Obviously there is the possibility of visiting these cities and their attractions without any particular difficulty, but if you still prefer the flatter cities to make the most of your experience I recommend visiting the larger cities such as Como, Lecco, and Menaggio.
Take some time to read my guides on the Lake Como’s towns that I love the most, and start planning your trip!
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Want to see more hotels, apartments or villas?
Check out my entire selection of the best places to stay in Lake Como!
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This Post Has 10 Comments
I will be visiting Lake Como during April or May 2023, would like to receive information. Probably will stay 3 days/2 nights. Would love to hear suggestions.
Good morning Marie! Lake Como has a lot to offer depending on what you like: historic villas to visit, boat tours, hiking, water sports, etc. Unfortunately, I do not currently offer tailor-made consultations (although it is a service I am working on), but I invite you to explore this website and possibly contact me via email for more specific information.
What is the hike along water & sometimes in the hills on Lake Como but opposite of Bellagio.
There is an olive oil plant in a small town-Do you know.
Thanks
Hi Pat, I bet it is this one: https://lakecomotravel.com/greenway-del-lago-di-como/
Ciao Alessandro!!
I will be in Como the week of November 13th. The ferry schedule only goes to the 5th of November. Do you know how late the ferry runs in off season? Thanks!!
Hi Karen, generally the boats do not operate beyond sunset for safety reasons.
What a fabulous manual for the best towns around Lake Como! Your depictions and proposals are right on target. I as of late visited Varenna, and it was genuinely an unlikely treasure. The beguiling roads, lakeside promenade, and the Estate Monastero cultivates left me in amazement. Subsequent to understanding this, I can hardly hold on to investigate Bellagio and Menaggio sometime later.
Thanks 🙂 You will not be disappointed!
Hi, you done wonderful job. I considering your suggestion train from Milan to Varenna-Esino and ferry to Bellagio. from Bellagio to Como and Milan by train. Do you have any info about Varenna ferry\tickets on line. Appreciated your advice. Mark
Hello Mark and thank you very much! You can find all the information about Lake Como ferry service here. If there is anything else I can help you with, write to me from the contact page!