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Stories from Lake Como, Italy

Every story, long read and guide in the ULTIMATE Lake Como Guide, in one place.

Areas

Lake Como by area

From the walled town of Como to the upper lake, each shore has its own guide: the silk town, the grand villas of the first basin, Tremezzina’s gardens, Bellagio on its point, Varenna, Menaggio, Lecco under its mountains and the wide northern lake.

The carved marble façade and rose window of Como CathedralArea guideComoThe silk townThe fountain on the lakeside Piazza Risorgimento in Cernobbio, with the eastern shore beyondArea guideCernobbio, Blevio & TornoThe first basinThe Villa del Balbianello on its wooded peninsula, with its loggia, terraced gardens and the lake around itArea guideTremezzinaVillas and gardensThe Bellagio waterfront, with its grand hotels, the ferry landing and a lake boat moored in the sunArea guideBellagioOn the pointVarenna’s pastel houses and bell tower on the shore of Lake Como, seen from the ferryArea guideVarennaThe eastern shore

By boat

Choose a base near a ferry stop: the boats are the best way to move between the lake towns, and the car ferry links Bellagio, Cadenabbia, Varenna and Menaggio.

  1. Area guideMenaggio & CadenabbiaThe car ferry shore
  2. Area guideLeccoManzoni and the mountains
  3. Area guideThe upper lakeGravedona, Domaso and Colico

Practical

Plan your trip

The practical things to know before you go: the boats and the trains, the airports of Milan, the seasons of the villas and hotels, and itineraries for a first visit.

The carved marble façade and rose window of Como CathedralBefore you goLake Como essentialsSeasons, the airports, the boats and the villasA Navigazione Laghi car ferry crossing the centre of Lake Como towards VarennaGetting aroundBy boat and trainThe boats, the car ferry and TrenordThe red and yellow car of the Como–Brunate funicular climbing through the gardens, with Como and the lake belowItineraryThree days on Lake ComoThe classic first visitThe Grand Hotel Tremezzo above its floating pool and lakeside terrace, with a wooden launch passingLuxury guideLUX LivingThe finest addressesVilla d’Este on the shore at Cernobbio from the air, with its gardens, landing stage and pool on the lakeItineraryThe Gold weekendVilla d’Este, a Riva and Materia
  1. ItineraryThe Platinum weekendIl Sereno, a seaplane and the T Spa

Our advice

Arrive by train, travel by boat

Trenord runs from Milano Centrale to Varenna-Esino in about an hour, and from Milan to Como; from there, Navigazione Laghi’s boats and car ferry link the lake towns. Check both timetables on the day. Lake Como essentials

Day trips

Beyond the lake

Milan, Bergamo, Lugano, Valtellina and Lake Maggiore, all within reach for the day: the great city, a walled upper town, Switzerland’s Italian lakes, terraced vineyards and baroque islands.

The Duomo di Milano and the arch of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II on the Piazza del DuomoBeyond the lakeMilanThe Duomo and the Last SupperThe Piazza Vecchia in Bergamo’s Città Alta, with the Palazzo della Ragione and the CampanoneBeyond the lakeBergamoThe upper townLugano and its lake seen from the mountains above, with the Alps beyondBeyond the lakeLugano & TicinoSwitzerland’s Italian lakesA dish of pizzoccheri della Valtellina: buckwheat pasta with potatoes, cabbage and melted cheeseBeyond the lakeValtellinaTerraced vineyards and pizzoccheriLake Maggiore and the Isola Superiore seen from Isola Bella, with a boat at the landingBeyond the lakeLake MaggioreThe Borromean Islands

Our advice

See the villas early or late

The Villa del Balbianello, the Villa Carlotta and the gardens of Villa Melzi are at their best in the soft light of morning and late afternoon, before and after the day boats. The villas and sights

In depth

In depth: Lake Como, its villas, silk and steamers

Lake Como cuisine, the villas, silk and music, eating, the grand hotels, film, the boats and where to buy: the stories behind the lake.

Spaghetti alle vongole, with clams, cherry tomatoes and parsleyPiazza Duomo, ComoChristmas on Lake ComoLight projections on the walls of the old townThe marble group of Mars and Venus in the museum of the Villa CarlottaIn depth: nature & wildlifeNature on Lake ComoGardens, shores and mountainsEatLake Como CuisinePerch, missoltini, pizzoccheri and the Sfursat

In season

Most villas and many lakeside hotels close in winter: check each one’s season on its own website before you plan.

  1. FeatureLake Como, the classic and the newGrandeur, villas, the table and the water
  2. FeatureLake Como on filmCasino Royale, Star Wars and Ocean’s Twelve
  3. The back storySilk and musicThe UNESCO craft city and the opera house
  4. The back storyEating on Lake ComoThe starred tables and the terraces
  5. The back storyThe grand hotelsFrom Villa d’Este to the EDITION

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