Here are the most beautiful villages on Lake Como:
1. Varenna
While most guides would probably start with another town at #1, I think Varenna deserves the top spot. In my opinion, this is the most charming town to see on Lake Como. It’s definitely our favorite.
Situated in the centre of the eastern shore of Lake Como, Varenna is not only one of the easiest towns to reach, but it is also immersed in one of the most spectacular landscapes. Perched between steep hills and the lake, this colourful town is extremely picturesque .
If you have time to visit only one town on Lake Como, you can’t go wrong with Varenna.
What to see and do: One of the best things to do in Varenna is to simply explore the old town area on the shores of the lake. Also, don’t miss Villa Monastero and its beautiful gardens. There are many lovely villas you can visit on Lake Como , and this one is right in the top 5 of that list.
If you’re fit, make a little effort to walk up to the hilltop castle Castello di Vezzio . The castle is fun to visit, but the main reason to come here is for the spectacular panoramic views.
Getting there: Varenna can be reached by train from Milan, by car or by boat from many other towns and villages on Lake Como. Some of the most popular day trips on Lake Como include Varenna in their itineraries.
How much time do you need: While you can simply wander around the town in an hour or two, we recommend planning at least 3-4 hours for Varenna. But if you want to visit the villa and castle, have lunch, and explore the town more at your own pace, you can easily spend most of a day in Varenna.
2. Bellagio
Probably the most popular destination on Lake Como, Bellagio is another lovely town that you absolutely cannot miss when visiting the area. Situated right in the middle of the lake, Bellagio has the most unique setting that sets it apart from any other town on Lake Como.
Known as the Pearl of Lake Como , Bellagio is the place to be for the rich and famous. Lined with boutiques, it feels like a more upscale destination where people come to shop, dine, see and be seen. Accommodation and restaurant prices are generally higher than the surrounding towns on Lake Como, although there are also many exceptions.
The great thing about Bellagio is that despite its more luxurious appeal, it has something for everyone. There are nice, more local areas where you can escape the crowds of the main town center, and you can find restaurants and shops to suit all budgets.
What to see and do: Also in Bellagio, one of the best things to do is simply walk around and explore the labyrinth of streets in the old town. If you take the time to wander off the main streets a bit, you will discover a completely different side to this beautiful but very touristy town.
Don’t miss Villa Melzi with its large gardens with spectacular views of the lake. You can also take a walk to Punta Spartivento , the northernmost panoramic point of Bellagio. You can also take a tourist train that allows you to hop on and off at different points. This way, you can easily visit the charming Lake Como villages of Pescalo and San Giovanni . And in the summer, you can also go for a swim at one of the beaches in this area.
Good to know: In all the major towns on Lake Como, you will find local companies offering boat rental services/ private boat tours . If you want to do this, plan enough time. Also, keep in mind that all boats may be booked during peak hours, so if you want to be sure to do so, book in advance.
Getting there: Bellagio is accessible by car, but by far the easiest way to get there is by boat. If traveling from Milan, take a train to Varenna followed by a 15-20 minute ferry ride to Bellagio. Car ferries from Varenna or Cadennabia also stop in Bellagio.
How much time do you need: You can visit the town center in just an hour, but if you also want to visit the villa and explore a little further, allow 3-4 hours. With a full day in Bellagio, take a tourist train and get off at each stop. It’s a great way to see all aspects of Bellagio, beyond the main tourist areas.
Good to know: Thanks to its central location and excellent boat connections, Bellagio is one of the best places to stay to explore Lake Como. In high season, you can visit most of the most beautiful towns on Lake Como by taking a ferry from here in 10-30 minutes. Only the towns at the southern end of the lake (Como, Lecco, Cernobbio) are further away, but even there you can easily take a boat to see them.
3. Come
The city of Como is another must-see when visiting Lake Como. And it’s not just because of its name or the fact that it’s the largest city on Lake Como. The origins of the city of Como date back several centuries BC, so it’s no surprise that this city has a rich history. Today, it’s a lively place with a charming atmosphere.
While many smaller towns on Lake Como close down partially in the off-season, Como remains lively all year round . So if you’re visiting in the off-season, Como is a really nice town to stay in, with lots of shops, restaurants, and a welcoming atmosphere.
Despite being a fairly large city, Como’s city centre is compact and really beautiful. It’s also relatively flat and the streets are wider than in the smaller towns and villages on Lake Como, so it’s easy to navigate. And because Como has good transport links via rail, motorways and ferries, it’s a popular base for exploring the rest of Lake Como.
Como is also known worldwide for its centuries-old silk industry . Famous designers and fashion brands order their silk from here. It is also home to the National Silk Institute , with large laboratories, workshops and many shops selling all kinds of beautiful silk products throughout the city. It is really hard to resist and the prices are quite reasonable.
What to see and do: Explore Como’s historic center on foot , visit the Cathedral and some churches (e.g. the Basilica of Sant’Abbondio), and pass through Porta Torre , a rather unique 12th- century city gate . You really can’t miss Piazza Cavour , a beautiful lakeside square. Take a walk along the waterfront (the most beautiful in the entire Lake Como area). You can also visit the Tempio Voltiano , a museum dedicated to Volta, the inventor of the electric battery.
If you’re interested in museums (or if the weather is bad and you’re looking for things to do indoors), you might want to check out the Pinacoteca Civica and/or the Museo Archeologico di Palazzo Giovio.
Don’t forget to take the funicular up to the hilltop village of Brunate for some great views of the city and lake. It’s a must-do in Como!
Next to the lake, just outside the city, you will find Villa Olmo . This is one of the most beautiful villas along the shores of Lake Como, and the best to visit in this area (you can also walk there from the city center in about 20 minutes).
And finally, one of the best things to do when visiting Como is to take a boat tour . If you are short on time and can only explore the lake from the city of Como, consider a boat tour: it is a great way to see the most beautiful landscapes and some of the best villas from the water.
How to get there: Como can be easily visited by car or train from Milan. It also has excellent boat connections to all the other major cities on Lake Como.
How much time do you need: For a quick first visit, 2-3 hours are enough for the city center and a short ride on the Brunate funicular. If you also want to visit Villa Olmo, have a relaxing lunch or do some shopping, you can easily spend a whole day here.
4. Tremezzo
Tremezzo is one of the many small villages on the western shore of Lake Como. It is difficult to say where one town ends and the other begins.
Tremezzo is much smaller and has a very different layout than the other towns on Lake Como. It is quite narrow and everything is concentrated along one main road next to the lake.
The town is nestled between the lake and a hill and the main street is lined with restaurants, cafes and a few hotels. The luxurious Grand Hotel Tremezzo is the most impressive of all. Even if you aren’t staying there, it’s worth stopping by just to see it. They also have a lovely lakeside restaurant/bar, a great spot for lunch, aperitif or dinner.
But the main reason to visit Tremezzo is its famous Villa Carlotta , a splendid villa on the lake with an immense and wonderful botanical garden.
What to see and do: The main attraction of Tremezzo is Villa Carlotta and its botanical gardens. This villa can also be visited inside and it is really impressive to see the richly decorated rooms of its previous owners.
In the town of Tremezzo, be sure to visit the Parco Civico Teresio Olivelli . This is a small public park right on the lake. Here you will find an impressive staircase, a beautiful fountain, and some nice old trees. There is also an area where we saw locals playing beach volleyball and even swimming in the lake. Right near the park, you will also find a small church, Chiesa San Lorenzo .
TIP: If you’re looking for something different to do in the area, consider hiking the Greenway del Lago di Como . This is a 10-kilometer scenic route that takes you to some of the most beautiful spots between Colonno and Cadennabia/Griante. You can also hike just part of the trail, which sometimes follows the main road and sometimes takes you to a hillier area just above the villages. The entire trail, not including time to visit the villas, should take about 3-4 hours to hike.
Here too, you can take a private boat tour to see the most beautiful places on the lake. The advantage of doing it from Tremezzo is that you are really close to all the most impressive villas and the most beautiful towns on Lake Como. So you can see a lot in less time and the whole trip will be very scenic.
Getting there: Tremezzo can be reached by car or bus. But by far the best way to get there is by boat. You can get off at Villa Carlotta or in the center of Tremezzo; it’s just a short walk between the two ports.
How much time do you need: Allow at least 2 hours for a visit to Tremezzo: 1-1.5 hours for the villa and gardens, and some time to walk along the lake shore. If you also plan to have lunch here, you will find several nice restaurants and cafes. In that case, you will probably need at least 3 hours.
5. Lenno
The town of Lenno may not sound familiar to you, but it is a place you will definitely want to visit. This village is home to the most famous villa on Lake Como: Villa Balbianello . Even this name may not ring a bell, but you have probably already seen this beautiful villa in one or another movie.
Its location is so panoramic that it is no surprise that Villa Balbianello has been used as a film set for Hollywood blockbusters such as Star Wars or James Bond.
But Lenno is not just a villa, so don’t leave too soon.
What to see and do: Lenno’s main attraction is definitely Villa Balbianello , located on the lake, just outside the city center. You can reach the villa on foot or with a short boat ride and visit its beautiful gardens.
In the town of Lenno, don’t miss the Church of Santo Stefano and the adjacent Baptistery . The interior of the church is truly impressive and worth a few minutes of your time. Also, don’t miss the underground crypt . It is one of the hidden gems of Lake Como.
You can also walk along the waterfront area , grab a gelato, or sit down for a drink or lunch. There are also some hiking trails nearby. Lenno is also one of the towns that the previously mentioned Greenway of Lake Como passes through.
Getting there: Lenno can be reached by bus or car, but parking is very limited here. We drove and all I can say is that it is not a good idea. Unless you can get there by 9am, don’t even think about it in the summer. The best way to visit is by boat from Bellagio, Varenna or the nearby towns in the Tremezzo – Menaggio areas.
How much time do you need: Plan on at least 1.5 hours for a visit to the gardens of Villa Balbianello (including time to walk/boat there and back). If you also visit the inside of the villa, you will probably need at least 2 hours. All in all, I would say to allow about 2-3 hours for a visit to Lenno.
6. Menaggio
Menaggio is one of the most picturesque towns on Lake Como. It doesn’t have any famous villas or gardens that you absolutely must see, so you really come here for the charming lakeside village itself.
For us, Menaggio seemed like one of the more laid-back places in the Lake Como area. It has more of a lakeside resort feel, a place to enjoy a longer vacation. Day visitors come here just to walk around, enjoy the beautiful views, wander through the (rather small) old town, and people-watch from one of the many restaurant terraces.
You won’t see any tourist groups here, and most of the tourists seem to be from Europe. I guess this is because many foreign visitors simply don’t have time and only focus on the main villas and the most famous towns on Lake Como, while Europeans probably come to Lake Como for a longer vacation and have more time to explore.
In any case, if you have an hour or two to spare, I think Menaggio is worth a visit.