Best time to visit!
We absolutely loved exploring Lake Como. There are so many things to do that you can easily spend days and even weeks here. However, if you have only one day to spare and you are somewhere close to Lake Como, it’s totally fine. You still can taste the whole experience of being there.
Where to stay?
We absolutely loved exploring Lake Como. There are so many things to do that you can easily spend days and even weeks here. However, if you have only one day to spare and you are somewhere close to Lake Como, it’s totally fine. You still can taste the whole experience of being there.
Where to eat?
We absolutely loved exploring Lake Como. There are so many things to do that you can easily spend days and even weeks here. However, if you have only one day to spare and you are somewhere close to Lake Como, it’s totally fine. You still can taste the whole experience of being there.
What to do in Lake Como?
We absolutely loved exploring Lake Como. There are so many things to do that you can easily spend days and even weeks here. However, if you have only one day to spare and you are somewhere close to Lake Como, it’s totally fine. You still can taste the whole experience of being there.
Find a bonus track guide at the end (the best things to do in only one page)
Wander around the narrow streets in Bellagio
This is probably one of the most breathtaking villages I have ever seen. Around a 1.5 hour drive from Milan or 1 hour from the city of Como. If you travel by car, there are several parking areas in the village, including the free ones. Of course, closer to the center of the village, you will have fewer parking spots.
Once you’ve parked, make sure to go to the old town area. It’s fabulous. You will see a lot of sights: the 18th century terraced garden with lake views that is called “Villa Serbelloni Park”, “Parco Martiri Della Libertà” that will take you to the old times. There are so many cute little cafeterias that line the path. If you are into the Cathedrals then you definitely need to visit the Romanesque “Basilica of St. Giacomo”. Nearby there is the Tower of the Arts, a venue for exhibitions and performances. Also, make sure to take a leisure walk by the lake’s beautiful shoreline.
If you are hungry, go to the nearest cafe and enjoy the food and views.
Visit Varenna
This small village is easily reached by ferry from Bellagio. You can see a schedule and buy your ticket here.
I’m pretty sure you’ve seen the picturesque landscape of Varenna somewhere on Pinterest or even postcards. From the water, this town is colorful, full of flowers and fancy boats. The best thing to do is to stroll by the shoreline “Largo Enzo Venini”.
Take a funicular up to Brunate
Brunate is a small town in the province of Como in northern Italy and it overlooks Como showing its wonderful landscape.
If you go to the eastern part of the city of Como you can find a funicular station that is called “Percorso Funicolare Como-Brunate”.
The journey lasts 7 minutes but it’s totally worth it. A single ticket costs 3.10 Euros and the funicular departs every 30 mins. The return ticket is 5,70 Euros. If you are staying at a hotel in Brunate, the price per luggage is 1,20 Euros. Visit this website for more info. When you reach the top, the views are just breathtaking.
Visit Villa del Balbianello
Probably, the most picturesque and fairy-tale-like villa you could ever see. It was built in the 12th century. And it is well-beloved by the filmmakers as well. If you’ve ever watched James Bond or Star Wars you definitely saw this residence there.
You can reach this wonderful place by hiking through a beautiful woodland from the bay at Lenno. It is a perfect activity for those who enjoy outdoor life.
From this villa, the view of the lake is fabulous, you will see other villages across the lake as well.
Enjoy your dinner in Varenna
We dreamt of coming to Varenna because one year ago we drew a painting of Varenna and after that, it was a huge obsession and a quest of when to go there. So when we knew that we were traveling in the north of Italy we decided it‘s going to be our must-visit place.
In the beginning, we planned to come to Varenna just for a quick walk, to experience the magic of this town. But the second we stepped out of the ferry we fell in love. Everything looked so cute and romantic. We spent almost the whole day there and decided to stay for longer to have dinner. By far, one of the best dinners we’ve had during our Italian trip was by the lake, which added some charm to it. We went to the “Tutti Frutti Varenna”. We took a very Italian combo: one pizza and one portion of pasta. And it was absolutely delicious.
The most mind-blowing moment was when the ducks came to our table and started to communicate with us. It was such an unbelievable moment.
Take a boat trip to experience it from a different perspective
Probably one of the best ways to explore Lake Como is from water. If you are into water sports, you can windsurf or kitesurf. Moreover, there is a huge variety of boat tours that can provide the best experience ever. Or if you are tight on budget, just take a ferry from Bellagio to Varenna. No matter which type of ride you choose, you will definitely enjoy every second of it.
Go Hiking
Lake Como is surrounded by mountains. There is something charming in wearing trekking clothes, comfy sneakers, and exploring the surroundings. So if you are a hiking lover then it is a paradise for you. In terms of the peaks, the highest peak is the Legnone (2609m), the second is the Grigna (2410m), and the others are lower. So choose one and go ahead. Or if you prefer a more casual walk you can walk from the beach in one of the towns. One time we stayed in Onno and there is a beautiful shoreline. We ended up feeding ducks there and one swan (not sure if it is allowed though).
Taste Specialty Risotto
It is no surprise, but Italy in general and Lake Como have fish as a main ingredient in the menus. You can find meals with the sardines, mussels, but the specialty of Lake Como is definitely a risotto with perch. If you prefer pasta over rice, then feel free to have pasta with seafood. There is a huge variety of restaurants that serve these meals. You can come to the “La Fontana Bellagio dei F.lli Patroni”.
Watch a Sunset
Our favorite thing to do is to watch the sunset. There is something magical in this experience. And every place offers a different view, trust me. One time we sat down by the lake in Bellagio and we decided to slow down a bit and try to admire that unique moment that wouldn’t happen again. We watched how the sun was going down and the colorful houses were getting more pastel tones. We were eating ice cream, talking about life and how grateful we were for this opportunity to see other wonderful places in this world.
Dinner in the sky in Bellagio
All right, I guess with this list you already know that our beloved place on Lake Como is Bellagio? So there is a very interesting but extraordinary thing to do – dinner in the sky, literally. The concept is that you can have brunch, lunch, aperitif, or dinner at 50 meters high on a special platform. This whole experience lasts for around 1 hour and costs around 100 euros. The price will depend on the food option you choose. Dinner will be more expensive (around 135 euros). You can book it here.
Have a Guided Tour
We absolutely loved exploring this city. There are so many things to do that you can easily spend days and even weeks here. However, if you have only one or two days to spare we really encourage you, to have a guided tour.
What to carry?
Every city has something different, but in general you will need the same things to carry with you. It will only change depending on the season. You will carry more clothes during winter than summer. We really encorage you to check the things that we found in Amazon. They’re pretty cool and “weird” but useful for your trip. Click here to know them.
Bonus Track!
Check out our ultimate bucket list for the top things to do in Lake Como. Save it to your Pinterest for an upcoming trip or post it on your Instagram stories & check of the places you’ve been.
Do you have something else to add to the post? If you have any additional tips or info for our readers or questions please leave them in the comments below. Thanks a lot!
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Thanks for sharing this useful information