The Lake Como Blog

Start planning Lake Como

The essentials, in the order most first-time visitors need them.

• Guia de viagem do Lago ComoWhere 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.

• TransportFerries, trains and buses between towns.
• Weather & SeasonsWhat each month is actually like on the lake.
• Mobility & Car-Free PlanningGetting around comfortably without driving.
• Itinerary PlanningHow many days, and in what order.