Lake Como, or Lago di Como, is what the Riviera is to France: An area of the country that is so beautiful and serene it has attracted the rich and famous for centuries. (It is no secret that George Clooney has a swanky villa along the lake.) All these wealthy celebrities have managed to create a bubble of luxury around this magnificent part of northern Italy by building immense and luxurious villas along the lake’s shore, but if you’re a non-millionaire traveler who wants in on the action, worry not, there are ways to have a good and affordable time on the shore of Italy’s most famous lake.
Photo: Diego Bonacina/Shutterstock
Lake Como Is the Deepest Lake in Italy and Its Shore Is Dotted With Centuries-Old Villas
- Where is Lake Como?
- How far is Lake Como from Milan?
- How far is Lake Como from Venice?
- How far is Lake Como from Florence?
- How far is Lake Como from Rome?
- What is the nearest airport to Lake Como?
- What is the nearest train station to Lake Como?
- What is the best way to get around Lake Como?
- Can you swim in Lake Como?
- How deep is Lake Como?
- What to do in Lake Como?
- How many days do you need in Lake Como?
- Where to stay in Lake Como?
Where is Lake Como?
Lake Como is located in Lombardy, a region of northern Italy that borders Switzerland. The Lake is shaped like an upside-down Y and is surrounded by the Italian Alps.
How far is Lake Como from Milan?
Milan is only around 30 miles from the city of Como. The city of Como is located at the very south end of the western arm of the lake. You can easily travel from Milan to Como by train. The quickest, most direct, and cheapest train ride is between Milano Centrale station and Como S. Giovanni station which takes 37 minutes and costs $5.50 (5 €).
The city of Lecco, located on the eastern bank of the eastern arm of the lake, is 36.2 miles from Milan. You can reach Lecco by direct train from any train station in Milan. It takes between 40 minutes and one hour and 40 minutes, and costs as little as $5.50 (5 €).
How far is Lake Como from Venice?
Venice is around 193 miles from the city of Como (located at the very south end of the western arm of the lake). By car, the ride takes 3.5 hours and there are tolls along the way. You can travel from Venice (either S. Lucia station or Mestre station) to Como (S. Giovanni station) by train, but the journey involves at least one connection (in Milan) or two connections (in Verona and Milan). The one-connection train ride takes around 3.5 hours.
The city of Lecco (located on the eastern bank of the eastern arm of the lake) is 165 miles from Venice, i.e. a nearly three-hour car ride with tolls on the way. You can reach Lecco by train from any train station in Venice. All train journeys between Venice and Lecco require at least one connection (in Milan). The journey takes between three hours and 45 minutes and four hours and 15 minutes.
How far is Lake Como from Florence?
Florence is a four-hour, 225-mile drive from the city of Como (located at the very south end of the western arm of the lake), with tolls along the way. You can travel from Florence to Como by train. All the train journeys between Firenze S. M. Novella station and Como (S. Giovanni station) require at least one connection in Milan. The one-connection train journeys take between three and 3.5 hours.
Florence is 228 miles from the city of Lecco (located on the eastern bank of the eastern arm of the lake), i.e. a nearly four-hour drive (with tolls). You can travel from Florence to Lecco by train. All the train journeys between Firenze S. M. Novella station and Lecco require at least one connection in Milan. The one-connection train journeys take between three and four hours.
How far is Lake Como from Rome?
Rome is a 6.5-hour, 390-mile drive through Florence, Bologna, and Milan from the city of Como, and there are tolls along the way. The easiest way to travel between the Italian capital and the city of Como (located at the very south end of the western arm of the lake) is the take the train. The quickest train rides from Rome to Como (S. Giovanni station) require one connection in Milano Centrale station and take between four and 4.5 hours.
Rome is six hours and 40 minutes from Lecco (located on the eastern bank of the eastern arm of the lake) by car, i.e. a 387-mile journey. The quickest train rides from Rome to Lecco require one connection in Milano Centrale station and take between four and five hours.
What is the nearest airport to Lake Como?
There are three international airports near the lake:
- Milano Malpensa (MXP). There is a 55-minute shuttle (Malpensa Express) from Milano Malpensa to Milano Centrale station. From Milano Centrale station, you can take a direct train to the cities of Como (S. Giovanni station) or Lecco.
- Milano Linate (LIN). There is a 25-minute shuttle (LinateShuttle) from Milano Linate Airport to Milano Centrale station. From Milano Centrale station, you can take a direct train to the city of Como (S. Giovanni station) or Lecco.
- Bergamo Airport — Orio al Serio Airport Milan (BGY). There is a 50-minute non-stop shuttle (Orioshuttle) from Milano Bergamo Airport to Milano Centrale station. From Milano Centrale station, you can take a direct train to the city of Como (S. Giovanni station) or Lecco. Alternatively, you can take a shuttle bus from the airport to Bergamo’s train station and catch a train to Lecco from there.
What is the nearest train station to Lake Como?
The lake covers an area of 56 square miles with dozens of small cities and towns along its banks, many of which have train and bus stations. That said, the getaway to the lake from the rest of Italy is either the city of Como (located at the very south end of the western arm of the lake) or the city of Lecco (located on the eastern bank of the eastern arm of the lake), both of which have train stations with trains coming from Milan very frequently. From there you can travel north to many locations around the lake very easily by train with Trenord or TILO, or by bus with ASF.
What is the best way to get around Lake Como?
Photo: Marco Saracco/Shutterstock
If you don’t feel like renting a car, you can still see a lot of the towns along the banks of the lake by using public transport.
From the city of Como, the best way to get around the lake is by bus with ASF. From the city of Lecco, you can easily travel with train operators Trenord or TILO.
From both Como and Lecco, you can catch a boat to go further up the lake to the towns of Bellagio, Menaggio, Varenna, and more. Just walk to the dock and you’ll see various ferry, hydrofoil, or other boat companies offering affordable rides.
Can you swim in Lake Como?
You can certainly swim in the beautiful turquoise water of the lake, but don’t expect it to be warm. There are lovely beaches and lots of beach clubs (lidos) offering lounge chairs, umbrellas, and more along the lake. Some of the lidos even have outdoor pools for those who can’t deal with the low temperature of the water.
How deep is Lake Como?
At its deepest point, the lake is 1,394-foot deep, making it the deepest lake in all of Italy.
What to do in Lake Como?
Villa del Balbianello along the shore of Lake Como in Italy. Photo: essevu/Shutterstock
Lake Como is a destination for those who wish to relax. Unlike Rome or Venice where there are big ticket monuments and museums to visit, in Lake Como, you can spend your day wandering around the little towns on the banks of the lake or relaxing on the beach. For those who don’t know how to take a day off, visiting the many luxurious villas-turned-museums (and their gardens) built along the lake should do the trick. Villa del Balbianello (where scenes from Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones and Casino Royale where filmed) next to the town of Lenno; Villa Carlotta near the town of Tremezzo; the gardens of Villa Melzi in Bellagio; and Villa Monastero in the town of Varenna are some of the most popular. The Cathedral of Como, in the city of Como, is also worth a stop.
How many days do you need in Lake Como?
A minimum of two nights and three days is recommended to get a feel for the place, take a boat to get from one shore to the other, check out a villa or two, and sunbathe on the beach. There’s no limit to how long you should stay, however. Lake Como is magnificent and you could spend weeks enjoying yourself traveling around its small towns and visiting villas after villas.
Where to stay in Lake Como
For rentals around the lake, check out Matador’s selection of the best Airbnbs near Lake Como to live out your Italian dream.
We hope you love the spaces and stays we recommend! Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to book a stay.
Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni
The Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni is a five-star property located in the famous town of Bellagio, at the intersection of the three arms of the lake. Built as a private villa and completed in 1854, the property became the Grand Hotel Bellagio in 1873. The charm and decor of the 19th century are very intact today in this luxurious hotel that faces the water of the deepest lake in Italy. All the rooms and suites are decorated differently and with exquisite taste — and they are also all fitted with air conditioning, a flat-screen TV, minibar, and WiFi. Breakfast is included and there are two restaurants and bars on site. There is also a private beach, a tennis court, an outdoor pool, and an indoor pool. There is also a fitness center fully equipped with pilates reformers and weight-lifting machines.
Mandarin Oriental, Lago di Como
The Mandarin Oriental, Lago di Como is located in the small town of Blevio on the east shore of the western arm of the lake. The five-star property is a renovated 19th-century villa named Villa Roccabruna that sits on the bank of the lake. The property consists of 75 guestrooms, suites, and private villas, as well as two gourmet restaurants and one café. There is a full spa and a fitness center on site, as well as a heated pool that floats on the cold water of the lake.
Hilton Lake Como
The Hilton Lake Como is located only 16 minutes on foot from the S. Giovanni train station in Como (a seven-minute car ride). This affordable property is not a villa, but a modern structure with modern decor; it is also not facing the lake, but is a few minutes away from it on foot. The rooftop has a pool, a bar, and panoramic views of the lake. There is a restaurant, spa, and fitness center on site. 