Lake Como Travel Guide: Como, Bellagio and Villa Carlotta

By Blaise Jaeger · Updated October 14, 2026

Lake Como, in Lombardy, is a long lake shaped like an upside-down Y, set between the Alps and the Prealps, about 50 km north of Milan. Its shores are lined with fishing villages, Renaissance and neoclassical villas, terraced gardens and small ports linked by ferries. Como sits at the southern tip, Bellagio at the meeting point of the three branches, and Tremezzo, Menaggio and Varenna face each other in the centre.

I have been to Lake Como several times, from a first stop in Como in 2013 to a stay in March 2026 combined with Milan. This guide brings together what I saw on each trip: the northern shore around Gravedona, Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo, Como and the Brunate funicular, and Bellagio.

Wooden mooring posts and the mountains of Lake Como seen from Bellagio — Lake Como from Bellagio, March 3, 2026

Lake Como at a Glance

Where: in Lombardy, northern Italy, between Milan and the Swiss border.
Main towns: Como at the southern tip, Bellagio in the centre, Tremezzo, Menaggio and Varenna on the central shores, Gravedona and Domaso to the north.
Must-see: Bellagio, Villa Carlotta, the Brunate funicular, Como Cathedral and a ferry ride on the lake.
How long: a day trip from Milan for Como and Bellagio, two or three days to explore the central lake.
Getting around: by ferry between the villages, or by car on the narrow lakeside roads.
Best time: from April to October; in spring, the gardens of the villas are in bloom.

My Lake Como Itinerary

March 2026: Como, Brunate and Bellagio

In March 2026, I drove into Italy from the French Alps, where I had spent a few days in Saint-Gervais, through the Mont Blanc Tunnel, in a car rented in Paris. After Milan and a stop in Pavia, I reached Lake Como and stayed at the Palace Hotel Lake Como, on the waterfront in Como, a few minutes’ walk from the cathedral and the ferry piers.

On the afternoon of March 2, under a grey sky, we took the ferry from the Como waterfront to Cernobbio, along the first branch of the lake, past the villages clinging to the hillside. Cernobbio, known for Villa d’Este, has a lakeside square with a fountain and a bell tower, and quiet shopping streets behind it.

A Navigazione Laghi ferry moored at the Cernobbio pier on Lake Como — The ferry at Cernobbio, March 2, 2026

The lakeside square of Cernobbio with its fountain and bell tower — Cernobbio, March 2, 2026

On the morning of March 3, under a blue sky, we took the Brunate funicular, which has been climbing from the Como waterfront to the village of Brunate since 1894. From the top, the view takes in the whole first branch of the lake, the city of Como and, on clear days, the Alps.

View of the city of Como and the lake from Brunate — Como and the lake from Brunate, March 3, 2026

Back down in town, we visited Como Cathedral, built in marble between the 14th and 18th centuries, with a Gothic facade and a Baroque dome. It stands next to the Broletto, the old town hall with its striped arcades.

The marble facade and green dome of Como Cathedral — Como Cathedral, March 3, 2026

The Como lakefront promenade with the hill of Brunate behind it — The Como waterfront and the hill of Brunate

At 12:15 PM, we took the speed boat from Como to Bellagio, which takes about 40 minutes; in March 2026, a one-way ticket cost €14.80. Bellagio sits at the point where the lake divides into its branches. The village climbs up from the lakefront in narrow stepped lanes, the salite, lined with shops and small restaurants. We had a spritz on a terrace and visited the Romanesque basilica of San Giacomo, before walking along the lakeshore.

The lakefront promenade of Bellagio with its hotels and pollarded trees — The Bellagio lakefront, March 3, 2026

A narrow stepped lane with shops in the village of Bellagio — A stepped lane in Bellagio

A lawn and the mountains of Lake Como seen from Bellagio — Bellagio, March 3, 2026

May 2015: Gravedona and Villa Carlotta

My earlier trip, on May 2, 2015, started on the northern shore, at Gravedona, early in the morning: the lake was still, with the snowy peaks of the Alps at the end of it. Gravedona is a quiet village with the Renaissance Palazzo Gallio and the Romanesque church of Santa Maria del Tiglio.

The village of Gravedona and Palazzo Gallio on the northern shore of Lake Como — Gravedona, May 2, 2015

The northern end of Lake Como with snow-capped mountains seen from Gravedona — The northern lake from Gravedona

We then went down to Tremezzo, on the western shore, to visit Villa Carlotta. The 17th-century villa houses a museum with sculptures and paintings, but its main attraction is the botanical garden on terraces above the lake: at the beginning of May, the azaleas and rhododendrons were in full bloom. Just next door is the Grand Hotel Tremezzo, one of the historic hotels of the lake.

The terraced gardens of Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo above Lake Como — The gardens of Villa Carlotta, May 2, 2015

Where to Stay on Lake Como

In Como, we stayed at the Palace Hotel Lake Como, on the lakefront, which is practical for the ferries, the funicular and the old town. Bellagio, Tremezzo and Varenna are more romantic bases for the central lake, but more expensive and harder to reach without a boat.

See all the hotels on Lake Como.

Getting to and around Lake Como

From Milan: trains run from Milano Centrale and Milano Cadorna to Como in under an hour. See my Milan travel guide.
By car: the easiest way to combine Como, the northern villages and the countryside; parking is limited in the villages. We came from France through the Mont Blanc Tunnel with a car rented in Paris; you can compare rentals in Paris on Discover Cars.
By ferry: public boats and faster speed boats (rapido) link Como, Bellagio, Tremezzo, Menaggio and Varenna; in March 2026, the speed boat from Como to Bellagio cost €14.80 one way. The timetables are shorter in winter.
Brunate funicular: departs from the Como waterfront, near the main ferry pier.

Practical Tips for Lake Como

Season: many villa gardens and some ferry lines run reduced hours from November to March; check before you go.
Spring: late April and May are the best time for the gardens of Villa Carlotta.
Roads: the lakeside roads are narrow and busy in summer; the ferry is often faster.
Weather: it can be grey on one day and bright the next, so keep a flexible day for the viewpoints.

Italy travel guide: my trips and itineraries in Italy.
Milan travel guide: the city to combine with Lake Como.
Cinque Terre in one day: the five villages by train.
Florence itinerary: two days in the cradle of the Renaissance.

Lake Como FAQ

Can you visit Lake Como as a day trip from Milan?

Yes. Como is under an hour from Milan by train, and the speed boat from Como reaches Bellagio in about 40 minutes.

Which is the best town to stay on Lake Como?

Como is the most practical, with trains to Milan and the ferry piers. Bellagio, Tremezzo and Varenna are quieter and more scenic for exploring the central lake.

Do you need a car on Lake Como?

No, the ferries link the main villages. A car is useful for the northern shore and the countryside, but parking is limited.

When are the gardens of Villa Carlotta in bloom?

From late April to May, when the azaleas and rhododendrons flower.

How do you get to Brunate?

By the funicular from the Como waterfront, which climbs to the village of Brunate in a few minutes.