Top 10 Best Places To Visit In Lake Como, Italy

Lake Como, often referred to as one of the most romantic lakes in the world, is a gorgeous lake nestled at the foot of the Italian Alps, noted for its charming and beautiful small towns that line its banks.

The lake is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Italy, but because it is so large, it can be difficult to locate the ideal areas to visit, particularly for first-timers. In this essay, I’ll discuss some of the best spots to visit in Lake Como based on my personal experience.

Lake Como has something for everyone, whether you want to unwind or go on an exciting adventure. here are the 10 best places you should not miss when you are visiting Lake Como:

1. Varenna

Varenna is a small, lovely town on Lake Como’s eastern side. It is recognized for its gorgeous environment, which includes views of the lake and neighboring mountains. Varenna is connected by regular trains from Milan, making it an excellent starting point for your excursion around Lake Como.

The town has a long history dating back to Roman times, and it is home to several historical and cultural landmarks, including the Castello di Vezio, an imposing 12th-century villa with a stunning view of the lake, and the Villa Monastero, a waterfront villa with terraced gardens and an opulent 1800s mansion.

Aside from its history, Varenna boasts one of the most magnificent lakeside promenades in the world. One of the delights of Varenna is wandering along the lovely Greenway dei Patriarchi, a charming lakeside path that leads to Varenna’s beautiful old town.

Varenna is the finest site to begin your Lake Como adventure. It has all of the characteristics that make Lake Como towns so charming; it is small and readily walkable, and best of all, you can reach here in less than 2 hours by train from Milan, so don’t forget to visit Varenna while you’re here.

2. Bellagio

Bellagio, also known as the “Pearl of Lake Como,” is another lovely and charming tiny town nestled in the heart of the lake on a peninsula that grows into the lake, thereby producing the lake’s famous inverted y shape.

The town is famed for its picture-perfect background of the Alps as well as its colorful tiny alleys that are popular among influencers, crisscrossing the hillside and surrounded by gorgeous architecture, cafes, and restaurants where you can indulge.

3, Menaggio

Menaggio is another little charming town on Lake Como’s western shore, famed for its gorgeous narrow streets, hillside village, and picturesque promenade lined with excellent cafes and restaurants.

There is a nice walking trail in Menaggio that will take you from the town’s shore uphill through the charming hillside area along narrow colorful cobblestone streets until you reach Menaggio Castle, which dates back to the 11th century and is located on a hill overlooking town.

Other notable tourist attractions in Menaggio include the Lido di Menaggio, a popular summer swimming and sunbathing spot, St. Stephen’s Church, a beautiful church with architectural and historical significance, and Percorso salute Parco Val Sanagra, a beautiful park nestled against the Italian Alps.

Given its location on the lake’s western coast, the town is also close to other major landmarks such as Villa Carlotta and Villa del Balbianello, which we shall explore next, making it an ideal starting point for your excursion to the other side of the lake.

4. Domaso

Domaso, is a little lakeside town located on the northwestern side of the lake and has some of the best views of the Italian Alps.

The town itself is unremarkable, with only a few residences scattered throughout, but its beaches and proximity to the Italian Alps provide some of the best mountain vistas near Lake Como.

To get to Domaso, take bus #C10 from Menaggio and get out in Domaso. It should take approximately one hour to reach on the town’s street. From there, you can walk towards the water  and enjoy a stunning view of the lake and the surrounding mountains.

5. Orrido Di Bellano

Bellano, a little village only one rail station from Varenna, is well-known for its famed Orrido di Bellano, a deep, narrow, 15 million-year-old gorge with a series of waterfalls and footbridges anchored on the high walls above the gorge that you may walk around on.

The walking path takes about 20 minutes to complete and leads you through the narrow valley along the steep walls, eventually ending with a small waterfall that feeds into the lake.

To go to Orrido di Bellano, take a train from Varenna and get out in Bellano, then walk to the canyon. The entire journey should take no more than 20 minutes. The entrance fee is only 5 EUR per person which is very affordable compared to other tourist attractions in the area.

6. Villa Monastero

Villa Monastero, located near Bellagio, is another gorgeous Villa that was erected in the 12th century as part of a monastery before being converted into a Nordic-style palace in the 17th century.

The waterfront Villa is famed for its spectacular terraced gardens with crisscrossing walking routes along the lake’s coast, as well as the lavish 1800s decor within.

It’s a pleasant 30-minute walk through the garden from Bellagio to the property. The villa is accessible from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day except Sunday, and the entry cost is 13 EUR per person for access to both the garden and the museum within the villa.

7. Faro Voltiano

Faro Voltiano is a hilltop lighthouse in Brunate, a small mountain village perched on a hill overlooking Como. It is easily accessible via a funicular ride from Como’s city center and some trekking.

From Como, you may take a funicular ride from the funicular station to Brunate for about 5.5 EUR per person, which takes approximately 30 minutes. The queue to climb up the funicular can be rather long, so set aside around 30 minutes each way if you need to take the funicular, or get up early and catch the morning train up. The funicular runs from 6 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. every day.

When you arrive at Brunate, you will have an incredible view of Como and its surrounding.

8. Duomo Di Como

The Duomo di Como, often known as the Como Cathedral, is a cathedral in Como, Italy’s largest city and the region’s capital.

The cathedral was built in the Romanesque style in the eleventh and twelfth century. It features a lovely façade with a huge rose window and three doors, and it is embellished with sculptures and reliefs.

The cathedral’s interior features a huge nave and two aisles, flanked by a variety of chapels and altars. The cathedral also includes a lovely bell tower that was built later, in the fourteenth century.

The cathedral is a key landmark in Como and may be found right in the city center. The interior blew me away, and it made the trip to Como on the lake’s southern shore all the more worthwhile. If you want to go away of the little towns surrounding Lake Como and discover what life is truly like, come to Como and visit magnificent cathedral.

9. Villa Del Balbianello

Villa del Balbianello is perhaps one of Lake Como’s most popular tourist attractions. This mansion is where they shot parts of the Naboo scenes in the prequel Star Wars films, Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones and 007: Casino Royale.

Villa del Balbianello is an 18th-century villa that has served as a monastery, hospital, and private residence. It is now owned by the National Trust of Italy and is open to the public for visits, as well as wedding photographers and film teams on occasion.

Getting to this villa needs some walking. To get here, take the bus to Lenno, the nearest town to the villa, and then walk down the shoreline for around 30 minutes until you reach the entrance.

One of the villa’s outstanding characteristics is its terraced gardens, which are home to a variety of plants, including rare and exotic species such as Holm Oak and Umbrella trees.

There are various roads and walkways throughout the gardens, as well as fountains, statues, and other decorative features in an Italian and classical style that you can admire.

You could easily spend two hours visiting the grounds alone. The villa is open every day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the exception of Monday and Wednesday, which are random. If you want to go inside Villa del Balbianello, organize your visit properly. The entrance charge is 22 euros per person. Definitely one of the best spots to see on Lake Como.

10. Villa Carlotta

Villa Carlotta, a historic Villa built in the late 17th century, is located near Menaggio and is recognized for its exquisite garden design, spectacular view of the lake, and being one of the most artistically adorned mansions in the area.

The garden at Villa Carlotta is magnificent. It is located directly at the villa’s entrance and must be walked through before entering. The garden has a broad range of plants, flowers, and sculptures that will make you feel like you’re wandering through a medieval castle rather than a mansion.

Inside the villa, you will find a museum dedicated to preserving the villa’s heritage, as well as exquisite art collections and exhibitions to enjoy. Inside, you can look over the villa’s balconies and see Villa Carlotta’s magnificent garden against the backdrop of the lake and the Italian Alps.

Depending on the path you take to the garden, you can spend anywhere from 1 to 2 hours at Villa Carlotta. The villa is open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., with an entrance fee of 15 EUR per person. Off-season visits can be booked online here.