Lake Como is the superstar of Lombard tourism: in 2025 it recorded 86.3% international guests, the highest share in the region, with summer almost sold out. It is the lake of historic villas and gardens — Villa del Balbianello was voted Lombardy’s most-loved attraction — of villages perched over the water and of a glamorous charm that draws travellers from all over the world, celebrities included. Its inverted “Y” shape creates three branches and as many souls: the Como branch, the Lecco branch and the western shore, meeting at the so-called mid-lake.
The lake’s signature is its historic villas and their gardens: besides the Balbianello, on the Lenno peninsula and beloved by cinema, there are Villa Carlotta in Tremezzina, with its botanical park, the gardens of Villa Melzi in Bellagio and the spectacular Villa d’Este in Cernobbio. It is these residences, together with the colourful villages and the mountains plunging into the water, that give Como the romantic, cinematic charm that made it world-famous.
The good news is that the lake is best explored by ferry: the Navigazione boats connect the mid-lake villages — Bellagio, Varenna and Menaggio — in a few minutes, and let you sleep in one place and visit many others by water, without the stress of traffic and parking, which in summer are a real problem. Here are the best areas to stay, each with its own atmosphere and recommended hotels.
Como town: convenient and close to Milan
Como town is the most practical base, especially for those arriving by train from Milan (under an hour) or staying only a few days. It has a lovely old town with the Duomo, the lakefront, museums and the funicular to Brunate, which offers a view over the first basin from above. It’s a real city, alive even off-season and in winter, with restaurants, shops and its silk-making history: a good compromise between convenience and lakeside atmosphere.
Ferries to the whole lake depart from here, so it’s a smart base even without a car. In return, it lacks the charm of the smaller villages and can be busy in high season. Perfect for a first stay or for those wanting to combine lake and city.
SantAgata bed&breakfast
A well-kept, very welcoming place in central Como, handy for the lakefront and the ferries. The long line of loyal guests speaks of warm, reliable hospitality: it’s the ideal choice for those wanting a practical base in town, well connected to Milan and the whole lake.
Il Sogno
A welcoming, well-maintained B&B a step from the centre of Como, with excellent value. Attentive management and a walkable location make it a safe choice for exploring the town and boarding a ferry to the lake’s villages, with no need for a car.
Bellagio and the mid-lake: the glamorous heart
Bellagio is Lake Como’s icon village: the “pearl of the Lario”, with its flowered stairways, boutiques, the gardens of Villa Melzi and its scenic position on the tip that divides the two branches. It’s the heart of the mid-lake, the most glamorous and photographed spot, from which ferries reach Varenna and Menaggio in minutes. The atmosphere is elegant and international, and precisely for this reason it’s crowded and expensive in high season.
Staying here, or in the nearby villages of the Larian Triangle, means having the postcard outside your door and the lake as your means of transport. Ideal for couples and for those seeking Como’s most iconic charm, bearing in mind high prices and big crowds in peak months.
Bellagio Il Crotto
A self-contained holiday home in Bellagio, with a garden, a panoramic lake terrace and private parking — a rare luxury in a village where the car is a problem. Ideal for those who want the postcard location and the independence of their own space, away from the lakefront crowds.
Aqua&Co Bellagio – B&B with love
A welcoming, well-kept B&B in the heart of Bellagio, with a warm hospitality that many guests recall fondly. The bed & breakfast formula lets you experience the lake’s most iconic village on a tighter budget than the big hotels, staying a step from the ferry pier.
Varenna and the Lecco branch: the most romantic village
Varenna, on the eastern shore, is perhaps the most romantic village on the lake: pastel houses, the famous lovers’ walk over the water, the gardens of Villa Monastero and an atmosphere more intimate and compact than Bellagio. It’s perfectly linked by ferry to the mid-lake and by train to Milan and Lecco, which makes it a surprisingly convenient base as well as a beautiful one.
It’s the choice of those seeking the lake’s poetry without the crush of the more fashionable spots. Further south, the Lecco branch, among the Manzonian mountains of the Grigne, offers a more authentic face and gentler prices — a theme we explore in the guide on where to stay in Lecco.
I Tre Oleandri Varenna
A self-contained holiday home in Varenna with a garden, terrace and free parking, a step from the ferry. Perfect for couples who want to use Varenna as a quiet base and reach Bellagio and Menaggio in a few minutes by boat, with the independence of their own space.
Casa Contrada Bella
In the historic heart of Varenna, a step from the lake, a small, well-kept and charming address. Sleeping in the village’s lanes lets you experience it early in the morning and in the evening, when the day-trippers leave and only the magic of the houses over the water remains.
Menaggio, Cernobbio and the western shore
On the western shore, Menaggio is the third corner of the mid-lake: a lively town with a fine lakefront, excellent ferry links and the convenience of sitting on the road to Switzerland and the Menaggio valley. Further south, towards Como, you find the most famous villas — Villa Carlotta in Tremezzina and the spectacular Villa d’Este in Cernobbio — and the glamorous villages where the lake shows off its charm at its best, celebrities included.
It’s an area that combines convenient connections with the beauty of gardens and historic residences, with a good choice of houses and apartments over the water. Ideal for those wanting to explore Como’s most elegant and green side.
La Collina D’Oro
A holiday home in Cernobbio with views of lake and mountains, a panoramic terrace and well-kept spaces. It’s the ideal base for those who want proximity to Como and the western-shore villas with the quiet of a hillside, enjoying the sunset panorama far from the lakefront crush.
Upper Lake: Colico, Dervio and the quiet spots
The top of the lake — the Upper Lario, between Colico, Dervio and Gravedona — is the quietest and cheapest, loved by families and water-sports fans: here the steady wind makes Dervio and Colico two capitals of windsurfing and kitesurfing. The beaches are wider, prices lower and the atmosphere genuine, far from the glamour of the mid-lake.
It’s the right choice for an active, relaxed stay, perhaps in a holiday home with a garden, with the convenience of reaching the more famous villages by train or ferry on a day trip. A great way to experience Lake Como while spending less.
Casa Angela
A beachfront holiday home in Dervio, with an outdoor pool and direct lake access. It’s the perfect base for an active family holiday on the Upper Lake, between windsurfing, swimming and boat trips, with plenty of space and a quiet setting at a more affordable price than the mid-lake.
This guide is part of our tour of the region: discover all the areas in Where to stay in Lombardy. Como pairs beautifully with Milan, less than an hour away by train, and with the Lecco branch.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the questions we are asked most often about where to stay on Lake Como.
What is the best area to stay on Lake Como?
It depends on your travel style. For a first stay and easy connections, Como town is the most practical choice; for the most iconic, glamorous charm, Bellagio and the mid-lake; for poetry and quiet, Varenna; for the villas and the elegant shore, Menaggio and Cernobbio; to spend less and do water sports, the Upper Lake. Thanks to the ferries you can sleep in one spot and visit many others, so the choice depends mainly on atmosphere and budget.
Bellagio or Varenna?
They are two souls of the mid-lake, connected by a few minutes’ ferry. Bellagio is more fashionable, elegant and scenic, with gardens and shops, but also more crowded and expensive. Varenna is smaller, intimate and romantic, with its walk over the water, and is excellently linked by train to Milan. For a glamorous trip choose Bellagio, for a quieter romantic escape Varenna. In both cases it’s best to book well in advance in high season.
Do you need a car to visit Lake Como?
No — in fact a car is often a problem: the lakeside roads are narrow and parking is scarce and expensive in high season. The best way to get around is by ferry: the Navigazione boats connect the mid-lake villages and the two shores, and the train links Como, Varenna and Lecco to Milan. It’s best to choose a base well served by the ferry piers or the station and use the water transport for excursions.
When should you go to Lake Como?
The season runs roughly from April to October, when villas and gardens are open and the ferries run a full service. Summer is the busiest and most expensive period, with many properties fully booked; spring and especially September are ideal, with mild weather, beautiful colours and fewer people. In winter the lake is quieter and some attractions close, but Como town stays alive all year. For high season, book well in advance.
What is there to see on Lake Como?
Lake Como is a succession of villas and gardens: the famous Villa del Balbianello at Lenno, Villa Carlotta in Tremezzina, the gardens of Villa Melzi in Bellagio and Villa d’Este in Cernobbio. To these are added the postcard villages — Bellagio, Varenna, Menaggio — the funicular from Como to Brunate for the view from above, Como’s Duomo and the boat cruises, the best way to admire the residences over the water. For active travellers, the Upper Lake offers hiking, cycle paths and water sports.
Where to stay on Lake Como on a budget?
To keep costs down it’s best to move away from the more glamorous mid-lake: the Upper Lario, with Colico, Dervio and Gravedona, offers holiday homes and apartments at lower prices, wide beaches and water sports. The Lecco branch and Como town itself, outside the most iconic villages, are also more affordable. Thanks to trains and ferries you can still reach Bellagio and Varenna on a day trip, enjoying the lake’s most famous side without paying its highest rates.
