Lake Como, the classic and the new

Grand hotels, old and new

Lake Como has been a stage for society since the 19th century. Villa d’Este, built as a noble residence in the 16th century, has hosted the world since 1873, in its own words; the Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni holds the tip of Bellagio, and the Grand Hotel Tremezzo’s Art Nouveau façade faces it across the water. Passalacqua, at Moltrasio, was created in the 18th century as a place for friends, love and leisure.

A newer lake has grown up beside them. On the eastern shore, Patricia Urquiola designed Il Sereno at Torno, whose Al Lago holds One MICHELIN Star in 2026; Mandarin Oriental has made a resort around the neoclassical Villa Roccabruna at Blevio, with a pool floating on the lake; and The Lake Como EDITION has opened in a 19th-century palazzo at Cadenabbia.

The villas and their gardens

The lake is lined with villas, and some of the finest are open to visitors. The FAI’s Villa del Balbianello stands on its own peninsula at Lenno, with Cardinal Durini’s loggia and the explorer Guido Monzino’s collections. Along the shore at Tremezzo, the Villa Carlotta holds Canova, Hayez and Thorvaldsen in a botanical garden; at Bellagio the gardens of Villa Melzi follow the shore to Loppia; and across the water at Varenna the garden of the Villa Monastero runs for nearly two kilometres along the lake.

The villas and sights →   The gardens →

Silk, wooden boats and the seasons

Como is the silk capital of Europe: UNESCO, which named it a Creative City for Crafts and Folk Art in 2021, says about 70% of European silk is produced in the Como district. The Museo della Seta tells the story, and Frey, silk-makers since 1899, sell their foulards in Cernobbio and Bellagio. At Laglio, the Cantiere Ernesto Riva has built and restored boats on the lake since 1771, by its own account.

The lake keeps its own calendar. Spring brings the camellias and azaleas of the villa gardens; summer, the busiest season, the full timetable of boats; autumn, soft light and the harvest in Valtellina. In winter most villas and many hotels close, the boats run on a winter timetable, and Como lights up its walled town for Christmas.

At the table: the lake and the mountains

The lake’s signature dish is risotto with perch, the fillets fried golden in butter; the old way of keeping the summer’s catch, sun-dried and salted missoltini, is still served with polenta. From Valtellina come pizzoccheri, buckwheat ribbons with potato, cabbage and cheese, bresaola and the Sfursat, a wine of dried Nebbiolo grapes.

At the top of the lake’s cooking, four restaurants hold One MICHELIN Star in the 2026 guide: Kitchen in Como, Materia in Cernobbio, Il Sereno Al Lago at Torno and Il Cantuccio at Albavilla. La Veranda at Villa d’Este and Mistral at the Villa Serbelloni are in the guide too.

Lake Como Cuisine →   The best restaurants on Lake Como →

Life on the water

Lake Como is best seen from the water. Navigazione Laghi’s boats run the length of the lake from Como to Colico, and its car ferry links Bellagio, Cadenabbia, Varenna and Menaggio. For something grander, Como Classic Boats takes out Riva Aquaramas and Aquarivas with a driver from Laglio, Villa d’Este has its own Aquarama, and from Como seaplanes have flown off the lake since 1913, in the words of the Aero Club Como.

Boats, Riva charters and seaplanes →   Lake Como by boat and train →

The music of the lake

Como’s Teatro Sociale has been an opera house since 1813, with a summer festival, Como Città della Musica, in its Arena; the LakeComo International Music Festival brings concerts to the lake each season.

Milan an hour away

Trenord’s trains reach Varenna-Esino from Milano Centrale in about 64 minutes, and Como from Milan’s Cadorna and Centrale stations, which makes the lake a day from Milan and Milan a day from the lake. From Milan, the high-speed lines run on to Venice, Florence and Rome.

Milan from Lake Como →   ULTIMATE Milan →   ULTIMATE Venice →   ULTIMATE Rail Journeys →

The films that made the lake famous

The Villa del Balbianello has been one of the cinema’s favourite villas: Italy’s official tourism site records it in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, where Anakin and Padmé share their first kiss, and in Casino Royale, where Bond recovers after his torture, with the final scene at the Villa La Gaeta. Ocean’s Twelve is set partly on the lake, and A Month by the Lake was filmed here too. See our page Lake Como on film for the official trailers.

Lake Como on film →

Questions and answers