🏞️ Lombardy, Italy
Things to do in Lake Como
Villa gardens, pastel villages and a ferry between them
A favourite for honeymoons
Lake Como is the most glamorous of the Italian lakes — a Y-shaped ribbon of deep blue water ringed by mountains, grand villas and cypress gardens, with pretty villages you hop between by ferry. It’s the classic day trip or overnight from Milan, under an hour away by train, and one of Europe’s great honeymoon spots.
Grand lakeside villas, cypress gardens and slow ferry rides between pastel villages — northern Italy’s most romantic escape.
Time needed
1–2 days
Best time
April–October, when the villa gardens are open and ferries run frequently — May–June and September are the sweet spots for weather and lighter crowds
Region
Lombardy, Italy
Don’t miss
Ferry-hop the lakeside villages
The lake is best seen from the water: take the ferries between Bellagio, Varenna and Menaggio — the central “golden triangle” — gliding past villas and gardens. A passenger ferry pass lets you village-hop all day; a private speedboat tour is the splurge.
Check availability on GetYourGuideTop things to do in Lake Como
- Bellagio — the “pearl of the lake”, with stepped lanes, gardens and the best views.Find tours
- Villa del Balbianello — the cinematic terraced gardens above Lenno (Star Wars and Bond filmed here).Find tours
- Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo — a botanical garden of azaleas and rhododendrons.Find tours
- A private or shared speedboat cruise past the celebrity villas around Laglio.Find tours
- Como town and the Brunate funicular up for a panorama over the lake.Find tours
Book Lake Como tours & tickets
Skip-the-line tickets, guided tours and the big-ticket experiences — compare and book ahead so they don’t sell out.
See all Lake Como experiences on GetYourGuideWhere to stay near Lake Como
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How to get to Lake Como
Direct trains run from Milan to Como (about 40 minutes from Milano Cadorna or Centrale) and to Varenna (about an hour from Centrale) — Varenna drops you straight onto the central-lake ferries. Day-trip tours from Milan are also plentiful if you’d rather not plan the logistics.
Hire a car in Milan
Compare rental deals — handy for reaching Lake Como at your own pace
Best time to visit
April–October, when the villa gardens are open and ferries run frequently — May–June and September are the sweet spots for weather and lighter crowds. Many gardens and some boats wind down over winter.
Lake Como tips
- Base on the central lake (Bellagio, Varenna or Menaggio) — the ferries between them run all day and link the best villas.
- Buy a central-lake ferry day pass rather than single tickets if you plan to village-hop.
- Varenna is the easiest village to reach by train from Milan and the least hectic to stay in.
Fit Lake Como into a real trip — free
Wavvia builds a day-by-day plan around Lake Como and Milan — tuned to your dates, pace and how you travel, with real places and safety built in.
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More places to explore
Opening hours, prices, transport and entry rules change — always verify before you go, and check your government’s current travel advice. Some links are affiliate links; Wavvia may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.