Discover fairytale villas and charming Italian villages at Lake Como
Italy has a number of beautiful lakes of which Lake Como is considered one of the most beautiful lakes in Italy. It is Italy's third largest lake with breathtaking scenery surrounding the lake characterized by mountains and picturesque villages. Lake Como is a popular destination among celebrities (for example, George Clooney has his own villa on the lake) and you may recognize the villas from the many TikTok videos of the most beautiful weddings. In fact, around the lake there are a huge variety of historic villas and gardens. Enjoy the natural beauty and luxury villas around Lake Como!
Visit the picturesque villages of Bellagio, Varenna and Menaggio
Bellagio, Varenna and Menaggio are the three most beautiful and touristic villages at Lake Como. Make sure your stay is reasonably close to one of these villages so you can easily and quickly visit the most charming towns. The three villages are easily reached by ferry. Tickets can be purchased at the ports in the respective villages.
We found Bellagio the most beautiful village. It is considered the jewel of Lake Como with a reason. Discover the beautiful streets of this picturesque village with colorful houses. An ideal place for a delicious lunch! The village also has phenomenal views of the lake and surrounding mountains. Varenna is located on the eastern shore of the lake and looks especially impressive from the lake. Varenna has a medieval center with narrow streets, colorful houses and a beautiful lakeside promenade. Menaggio is a quieter little town located on the western shore of Lake Como. Walk along the beautiful lakeside promenade or have a delicious cappuccino in the beautiful piazzas.
In terms of planning and time frame, it is quite duable to visit all three villages within one day. The ferry rides are short and the villages are not very big. Of course, it is also possible to rent a private boat with driver for a whole day and drop you off at all these beautiful places. Unfortunately, this was not within our budget.
Villa del Balbianello
Lake Como is known for its many beautiful villas with wonderful gardens situated in a delightful lakeside location. We decided to visit Villa del Balbianello, a historic villa located near Lenno (on the western shore). The villa offers spectacular views of the lake and mountains. Prepare for a considerable climb to the entrance of the villa. To visit the villa, you must purchase an entrance ticket. The cost depends on the season and the type of visit. To visit the gardens, you pay about €10 per person. To also visit the villa itself, you need to book a guided tour. This costs about €22 euros. We ourselves only visited the gardens and found this to be a really good option.
How do you get to Lake Como?
Lake Como was our first stop of our road trip through Italy. Lake Como is close to the Swiss border. Lake Como is also easily accessible from Milan by train or car for a multi-day or day trip to Como. From Como you can easily catch a ferry to Bellagio, Verenna or Menaggio.
Staying at
We stayed at a small typical Italian campsite on Lake Como. Not highly recommended, as the plumbing was very primitive. Because we booked late, we couldn't find another campsite at the lake. So be on time!
Not planning to camp? Then book a nice stay near one of the three popular villages of the lake or stay in Como. If you decide to stay further from these villages, it is recommended to have a car.
Continue your road trip
Continue your road trip towards La Spezia to visit the beautiful Cinque Terre. Do you have longer time in Italy? Then consider a visit to beautiful Como or visit Italy's fashion city: Milan!
