How to Explore Lake Como in a Day
Lake Como is one of the prettiest and most enchanting places I’ve ever been. Walking through the maze of orange, yellow and terracotta-coloured palaces that sit along the glistening turquoise waters of Lake Como, I felt like all my Italian travel dreams were coming to life.
Visiting the villages dotted along the shores of Lake Como, I started to truly feel the Italian way of life, Le Dolce Vita. Sipping on an Italian cappuccino, next to my incredible husband, looking out over the lake, all I could think to myself was, “Bellissima!”.
We all dream of a romantic Italian summer getaway, but huge amounts of summer tourists and crowded Instagram hotspots can take away from the charm. Lake Como is breath-taking, and can definitely be explored in one day, but you have to plan your time here carefully, to fully enjoy the beauty of this Italian gem.
The Best Lake Como One Day Itinerary
Lake Como is quite big, and there are many beautiful towns to explore along the shores, but the main areas to focus on for this itinerary are Como, the main city on the lake, as well as the three popular mid-lake towns of Varenna, Bellagio and Menaggio. Menaggio was my personal favourite, with more of an authentic Italian lakeside feel!
The best way to make your way around the lake for this one-day itinerary, is to use a combination of train, bus and ferry.
Varenna
Once you’ve arrived and parked your car in either Lecco, or Como, take the bus, or a fast ferry to the first dreamy Lake Como destination of this itinerary, Varenna. This romantic village is laid-back and packed with charm.
The Riva Grande is the main waterfront area of Varenna, and is most likely where you will step off from the ferry. Make your way up to the main part of town by climbing up old, cobble-stone stairways that will take you up to the beautiful main square, called Piazza San Giorgio.
Here you’ll see the 14th century parish church, Chiesa di San Giorgio, as well as some relaxed bistros to enjoy a light brunch. After brunch, have a gentle stroll and wander around the quaint village, taking in the splendour and glamour of the gorgeous architecture. Head back to the ferry terminal, so you can take the ferry to the next beautiful Lake Como village, Menaggio
Menaggio
Menaggio is a beautiful small town that hugs the azure waters of Lake Como, with huge villas scattered around the village that feel straight out of a James Bond film.
I would definitely recommend stopping to enjoy a coffee at The Grand Hotel Menaggio, which has overlooked the shores of Lake Como for more than 100 years. This glamorous hotel is filled with gorgeous spots to take photos and enjoy sweeping views over the lake.
After you’ve enjoyed your coffee, take a stroll along the main street to a promenade that flows along the lake. The walk along the water near the ferry port is lined with blooming summer flowers and comfortable benches to sit down and unwind. We found a lush, plant-covered nook along the promenade, for awesome photos with the lake in the background.
No trip to lake Como is complete without visiting and exploring one of the many luxurious villas that line the lake. For this itinerary, I chose Villa Carlotta, which is a 5-minute ferry ride from Menaggio. This gorgeous villa was built between 1690 and 1745, and the classic Baroque architecture is made even more glamourous by the stunning botanic gardens surrounding the property. Walking through the villa leaves you in awe of the elegance and luxury that fills the rooms, plus the views of Lake Como through the huge villa windows are incredible! Entrance to Villa Carlotta is 17.50 Euro per person and the tour will take around 45 minutes to an hour.
Bellagio
Bellagio is known as the Pearl of Lake Como and sits in the centre of the lake. Bellagio is famous for its steep, cobble-stone staircases and historic lake-side luxury. You can make your way to Bellagio from Menaggio on a quick, 20-minute ferry, where you’ll be treated to views across the lake and a unique perspective of Bellagio as you approach the ferry terminal.
If you’re looking for unique, local souvenirs to take home to family, Bellagio is the place for this. Lovely boutiques selling hand-made, local good line the historic streets and there are lots of hidden gems tucked away up the many steep staircases of the town.
Many of the luxurious villas in Bellagio have been made into restaurants that line the lake-front. I would recommend stopping at one of them for a late afternoon lunch, but be prepared for prices on the higher side. Lunch with Lake Como views does come at a price.
After your late afternoon lunch, take a bus from Bellagio back to Como, where you can enjoy an early evening stroll along the lake, and through the old architecture of the city, before making your way back to your accommodation for the night.
How to Get to Lake Como from Milan or Lake Garda
If you’re thinking about spending a day around Lake Como, you’ll probably plan to come here from Milan, like we did, or from Lake Garda, like a lot of our friends have done. Milan is the most accessible of the two, but Lake Garda is a beautiful and tranquil destination that’s becoming popular with a lot of travellers, so I’ll break down how to get to Lake Como from both places.
-From Milan:
Milan is a short 40-minute train journey to the main city of Como, where you can get a bus to any of the other lake towns, like Menaggio and Varenna. However, because of the intense traffic on the narrow roads that run around the lake, I would recommend taking a train from Milan Centrale straight to Varenna instead. Plus, the train ride is absolutely stunning. The track runs along Lake Como for quite a while, so you’ll get a glimpse of what lies ahead for the rest of the day. Use the Trenitalia app to book any trains in Italy. The app can be used in English and shows you the available trains and different cost options for your journey.
-From Lake Garda
If you’re visiting Lake Como from Lake Garda, the best option would be to hire a car for the day and then drive to either Como or Lecco, park the car and then take a bus or ferry to other areas around the lake. Check out Discover Cars to find the best deals on rental cars in the area. You can use the site to compare prices and find what suits you best. It’s also important to keep road toll costs in mind, too, if you’re driving between the two lakes.
Como has large, multi-story parking available, but can get very congested and has strict restricted traffic zones. Lecco offers cheaper, bigger parking spaces, but you’d have to take a bus or train from there to get to Varenna, and then a ferry from Varenna to get to other lake-side towns.
I would avoid driving around the lake at all costs, because the traffic is extremely heavy and parking availability is very limited in areas other than Como and Lecco.
If you’re unable to drive and need to take a train, the journey to Varenna from Garda will take between three to four hours, so an overnight stay may be best for this option.
These accommodation options in Lake Como are highly rated:
- Agriturismo Il Colle in Bellagio
- Albergo Firenze in Como
- Delago 1685 in Malgrate
Lake Como is exactly what all of us dream about when we think about the perfect Italian vacation, but staying in this gorgeous destination for more than a day comes at a high cost. This one-day itinerary is the perfect way to experience Lake Como on a budget, while still being able to truly experience the glamour and beauty of the region.
Lake Como, and the luxurious lake-side villas that surround it, will always have a special place in my heart. This gorgeous destination is world-famous for a reason and walking through the extravagant villas overlooking the deep blue water of the lake, I truly felt like all my Italian vacation dreams were coming true.
