Luca Casartelli, CC BY-SA 2.0
Lake Como
Lake Como is a glacial lake in Lombardy, northern Italy, shaped like an inverted Y, with lakeside towns such as Como, Bellagio, Varenna and Menaggio.
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Where to stay, by what matters to you
- Places to stay within 10 minutes' walk of the beach in Lake Como
- Places to stay with a level walk to the beach in Lake Como
- Places to stay in Lake Como that work without a car
- Quiet places to stay in Lake Como: few bars nearby
- Within 30 minutes by car of Villa del Balbianello
- Within 30 minutes by car of Cernobbio
- Within 30 minutes by car of Villa Olmo
- Within 30 minutes by car of Lecco
- Within 30 minutes by car of Como Cathedral
- Within 20 minutes of Bellagio and Villa Melzi
- Within 20 minutes of Tremezzo and Villa Carlotta
Best things to do in Lake Como
The one thing not to miss
Villa del Balbianello sits on a wooded peninsula at Lenno and is famous for its terraced gardens. The FAI runs it, and tickets are sold online.
Villa del Balbianello1. Villa del Balbianello
A villa on the tip of the wooded Dosso d'Avedo peninsula at Lenno, famous for its terraced gardens. Left to the FAI by Guido Monzino in 1988, it holds a museum of his expeditions and a library.
The FAI sells tickets online. Check opening days before you go, as we have not confirmed them.
5,132 readers a month
2. Lecco
A city of about 46,800 people at the end of the south-eastern arm of the lake, 50 km north of Milan. It is the setting of Alessandro Manzoni's novel The Betrothed, and mountains rise behind it.
3,531 readers a month
Sources
3. Bellagio and Villa Melzi
A town at the tip of the promontory where the lake's two southern arms divide, long noted for its views across to the Alps. The neoclassical Villa Melzi stands on the shore here.
We have not confirmed opening hours or entry arrangements; check locally before you go.
3,316 readers a month
4. Varenna, Villa Monastero and Castello di Vezio
A village founded by fishermen in AD 769, with the Villa Monastero museum and botanical garden on the shore and the small Castello di Vezio above it. The railway from Lecco stops at Varenna.
We have not confirmed opening hours or entry arrangements; check locally before you go.
3,126 readers a month
5. Tremezzo and Villa Carlotta
A lakeside resort village on the west shore. Villa Carlotta, completed in 1745, is now a museum and botanical garden with works by sculptors including Antonio Canova.
Check opening times and ticket details with the villa before you go.
1,805 readers a month
Swiss79, Public domain 6. Brunate and the Como funicular
The Como to Brunate funicular has run since 1894 and links the lakeside city with the village of Brunate, about 500 m above it. Brunate looks down on Como and the lake.
Check timetable and fares with the operator.
1,500 readers a month
7. Menaggio
A town on the western shore at the mouth of the river Senagra.
1,147 readers a month
Sources
8. Como Cathedral
The cathedral of the city of Como, dedicated to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
1,144 readers a month
Sources
9. Cernobbio
A town about 2 km north-west of Como on the Swiss border, which received the title of city in 2005. Its highest point is Monte Bisbino, 1,325 m.
1,144 readers a month
Sources
10. Villa Olmo
A neoclassical villa in Como, built for Marquis Innocenzo Odescalchi and completed in 1812. The lakeside gardens, with about 800 tree varieties, are free to enter in daytime, while the villa itself opens only during exhibitions.
The villa opens only for exhibitions; the gardens are open in the daytime.
962 readers a month
Sources
Just missed the list: Isola Comacina (11th; the lake's only island, near Lenno); Bellano (12th by readers; a lakeside town on the eastern shore)
How we ranked these
By how many people read about each place on English Wikipedia in a typical month, measured October 2026. It is a popularity measure, not our opinion. Villa del Balbianello leads with about 5,132 readers a month. Photos come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences; the author and licence are on each photo.
Research required. Area notes for this destination are not written yet. The top 10 above is sourced; the rest of this page is an outline.
Affiliate disclosure: Booking links on this site are partner links. Once our partnership is active we earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you. It does not change what we recommend. How this works.