Cadenabbia: A Quiet Grand-Tour Corner of Lake Como
Cadenabbia on Lake Como: the historic Anglican church, the San Martino viewpoint, Villa Carlotta next door, the Greenway and the car ferry to Bellagio.
The Lake Como Blog
Everything below is organised the way people actually plan a trip here: start with the essentials, pick what interests you, then browse the villages or dig into the latest articles further down.
Start planning Lake Como
The essentials, in the order most first-time visitors need them.
- Lake Como Travel GuideWhere to start if this is your first trip.
- Ferry GuideTimetables, routes and how tickets actually work.
- From Milan & AirportsMalpensa, Linate and Bergamo to the lake.
- Where to StayWhich town to base yourself in, and why.
- Best Time to VisitSeason by season, what to expect.
- Parking GuideDriving in, ZTLs and where to leave the car.
Choose what interests you
Jump straight to the kind of trip you’re planning.
- Villages & TownsAll 50, mapped and filterable.
- Villas & LandmarksThe grand houses and gardens worth the detour.
- Walking & HikingTrails, viewpoints and how strenuous they really are.
- FamiliesFerries, strollers, heat and what actually works with kids.
- Solo TravelIndependent planning without overplanning.
- Rainy-Day PlanningA practical backup plan when the weather turns.
- Film LocationsStar Wars, Casino Royale and other screen sites.
- Culture & FoodHistory, tradition and the character behind the postcard.
Explore the villages
A small selection to start with — the full map covers all 50.
- ComoFirst-time visitors and day-trippers from Milan wanting a city base with shops, restaurants and transport.
- CernobbioVilla and garden lovers after old-world glamour on the western shore, without the crowds.
- VarennaCouples and garden lovers wanting a calmer base than Bellagio once the day boats leave.
- NessoPhotographers and walkers hunting the quieter, dramatic side of the eastern shore.
- GravedonaRomanesque architecture and open-water swimming on the upper lake, without the crowds.
- LeccoA genuine Italian city over a resort — literature, mountains and lower prices.
Practical planning
Transport, timing and getting around without stress.
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Sala Comacina, Lake Como: The Village Facing the Lake’s Only Island
A warm, practical guide to Sala Comacina on Lake Como’s western shore, facing Isola Comacina — the lake’s only island, with ruins, art and June fireworks.
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Argegno: The Quiet Western-Shore Village Where Lake Como Meets the Mountains
A warm, practical guide to Argegno on Lake Como’s western shore — the Pigra cable car, the medieval Telo bridge, the harbour, and the Val d’Intelvi.
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Moltrasio, Lake Como: A Quiet Village of Stone and Water
A short guide to Moltrasio on Lake Como: the Vallombrosa waterfall, Romanesque Sant’Agata, grey Moltrasio stone, Bellini’s villas and a quiet stone harbour.
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Torno, Lake Como: A Guide to the Quiet Village on the Eastern Shore
Torno is one of Lake Como’s quietest corners: a medieval village of steep lanes, a Holy Nail relic, two lakeside churches and Villa Pliniana. Here’s how to visit.
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Nesso, Lake Como: The Waterfall Village That Falls Into the Lake
Discover Nesso, the waterfall village on Lake Como’s eastern shore. See the Orrido gorge, the old Civera bridge and the steep steps to its hidden harbour.
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Lecco, Lake Como: The Literary City Beneath the Mountains
A guide to Lecco on Lake Como — Manzoni’s home, the Basilica di San Nicolò, the medieval Ponte Vecchio, the old centre and the mountains that ring it all.
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Cernobbio, Lake Como: Villas, Elegance and Monte Bisbino
Discover Cernobbio on Lake Como’s western shore — grand Villa d’Este, Art Nouveau Villa Bernasconi, an elegant lakefront piazza and the road up Monte Bisbino.
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Lenno, Lake Como: The Quiet Bay Beneath Balbianello
Discover Lenno on Lake Como: the sheltered Zoca de l’Oli bay, Villa del Balbianello, the lakeside Greenway, and an 11th-century baptistery in the Tremezzina.
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Tremezzo, Lake Como: A Guide to the Garden Riviera
Tremezzo sits on Lake Como’s western shore, facing Bellagio across the water. See Villa Carlotta’s gardens, the lakefront Greenway, and how to plan a visit.
