Lake Como Travel Guide
Our time in Lake Como was short, but sweet (and a bit rain-filled). I’m so excited to kick off our 4 month European travel plans with the first blog post of many to come: our Lake Como Travel Guide.
Though I know we could have explored SO much more, this trip was actually work-related so we were a bit limited on free time. Nonetheless, I wanted to put together a post with some important information we learned by trial-and-error, and some things I would recommend based on our time on the lake.
GETTING THERE
I recommend flying into Milan (either airport works, I’d look for the best rate that you can find), and renting a car to have throughout your duration of the trip. I’m not always pro-car rental, especially when it comes to exploring Europe because public transit is so accessible, but for Lake Como, you’re going to want as much accessibility as possible for exploring.
It’s also worth noting here that a day trip to Lake Como from Milan is absolutely doable! Don’t think you have to stay on the lake to take advantage of all it has to offer.
WHERE TO STAY
First and foremost, let me iterate that Lake Como is MASSIVE — we stayed in a small, extremely quiet town called Careno, which is located right below the well-known town of Nesso (the one with the waterfall). This town on the same side of the lake as the better-known Bellagio, but it’s still about a 25 min drive away.
What we quickly learned was that everything else you’ll probably want to do is on the other side of Lake Como.
Quick disclaimer though: if you want a more local experience, it doesn’t get much more local than Careno. The streets are small and cobblestone adorned at every angle. You may or may not see a local or two here and there, and for the most part you’ll feel as if you’ve got the entire town to yourself.
There is only one restaurant in Careno, right on the water, and it’s a set menu only. It is the best spot to taste the traditional local cuisine caught right from the lake, and it does get surprisingly full around 8:30pm. It was really magical to watch the locals come in by boat, scooter, foot — from all directions — and fill the isolated restaurant with conversation and laughter.
Como, the town, is at the bottom center of the lake — it feels like a very fair middle-ground area if you have the desire to explore both sides of the lake by car or scooter. Which, I highly recommend as taxis are not the easiest thing to come by once the sun goes down. We had a fine time riding the busses up and down the lake, and there is a water taxi that makes getting from side to side more accessible — but keep in mind they stop fairly early if you plan to be out at dinner each evening.
Especially if there is rain. We kept hearing from locals that rain wasn’t very common, but when it rains…it pours — literally. One evening our driver had to take us an hour out of this way (essentially just from one side of the lake to the other) because he couldn’t find us a taxi; even stopping at the Sheraton was no help because taxis just weren’t running anymore due to the rain. It was wild. It even hailed at one point lol. You can see footage of this in the vlog; it’s a quick clip but it’s basically me carefully hustling down the winding hallways of Careno, desperate to reach our Airbnb and seek refuge from the torrential downpour. Wild.
AIRBNB OR HOTEL?
There are plenty of Airbnb’s available at amazing price points, and some really stunning hotels. Depending on what kind of experience you’re after, there are more than enough accommodations to fit your needs & budget. We opted for an Airbnb for the kitchen + washer amenities, but next time we go to Lake Como I’ll definitely be going the hotel route!
Our airbnb was really special — it was an old artist’s studio and had so much history. I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s a must-stay airbnb, but it was very unique and I thought the vibes were really cool.
If I could stay anywhere on the lake, I’d probably have to go with Grand Hotel Tremezzo. It was Lake Como’s first hotel, and the lakeside pool is iconic. Hotel du Lac is another iconic Lake Como hotel worth mentioning
You also have the option to go against the grain and choose to explore & stay in Lecco, which is the right side of the inverted Y that makes up the two massive lakes. Casa Sull’Albero, a boutique hotel in Lecco, caught my eye immediately with its modern and minimal design.
WHAT TO DO ON LAKE COMO
Due to the rain and our busy bocce schedule, we didn’t do too much exploring. Our favorite memory of Lake Como was our boat exploration day.
Seeing the lake ON the lake is an absolute must. You get an entirely different perspective, and learning about the history of the lake is mind blowing. It’s so amazing to picture what life used to be like so many years ago. The lake was full of war stories, romantic relations, affairs, deceit, and even tales of a cursed island that to this day carries on the rituals to right-the-wrongs of those who ignored the warnings from generations before.
Not to mention it’s pretty cool to get an up-front-and-personal view of Gianni Versace’s old mansion, and George Clooney’s coveted summer home, to name a few.
HOW TO SPEND YOUR TIME
Specific activities that would be a great way to spend your days would be getting lost exploring Bellagio, Como or Tremezzina.
Wander the extensive gardens of Villa Melzi, Villa Carlotta, and Villa Balbianelo.
Like I mentioned, there is no better way to see the lake than by a private boat tour, complete with a Michelin lunch included if you book that tour!
For a unique immersive experience, go Mushroom + Truffle hunting or take a cooking class in Bellagio so that you can take a little bit of the Italian culture home with you to share with your friends and family at home for years to come.
There are also some stunning pools right along the lake, so lounging around and spending time in the sun would be an ideal way to take in lake life.
Other than those, I recommend jumping on a scooter or local bus, and just exploring the towns up and down the lake. Peruse the local shops, grab gelato, research the history of whichever town you land in, pop into bookstores…live out the essence of la dolce vita <3
If you enjoyed this Lake Como Travel guide, comment below! And if you’ve been to Lake Como and have suggestions, please let us know what you think is a must-see or do. We’ll be heading back next summer for our friends’ wedding, and would love your suggestions 🙂
Going to other parts of Italy? Check out my travel guide from our trip to Florence, Rome, Montepulciano, and Venice!
FAQs
What is a MUST during my trip?
- Boat trip! You cannot miss this. It’s the best way to see the lake; regardless of what tour you choose, they will all be amazing!
- Lakeside glass of wine or Aperol spritz
- A visit to Bellagio
- Tour through one of the many gardens
- Boat by George Clooney’s house + Gianni Versace’s mansion 🙂
Where to stay?
I think it’s safe to say anywhere on the left side of Lake Como is the most exciting area to stay. That’s where the majority of the hotels, restaurants, and attractions are. If you do choose to stay on the right side of the lake (we stayed on the right in Careno), then I’d recommend looking in Bellagio since this town has the most to do! You also have access to the ferry to get across the lake quickly, which we did not have access to in our town.
Can you walk around Lake Como?
I saw this answered differently on other blogs, but I personally wouldn’t say Lake Como itself is walkable. It is MASSIVE — which we didn’t realize until we were trying to meet up with our group, who was staying in Menaggio, everyday. It was quite the task to get down to Como for them to pick us up, especially when there was traffic — it was an hour drive from Menaggio down to the city of Como. For reference, one night from Menaggio to Careno, it was an hour and a half drive around the lake. SO, don’t underestimate Como! There are ways to get around quickly, like the ferry from side to side for example, but you have to keep in mind they have set schedules and stop running at night.
Once you’re in the part of town you want to explore, then yes of course it’s walkable 😉 and walking around the lake is a beautiful way to see it, but it will take you quite a long time. If you are not in a hurry, this is an excellent way to spend the day! I just don’t want you thinking you’ll be doing laps around the lake, knocking everything off your wish list by foot – that’s all!
I hope this Lake Como Travel Guide helps you plan out the perfect trip! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to send me an email or comment below!
If you want to watch our Lake Como Vlog, you can get a BTS look at our expereince!
