Lake Como is a special place to behold and will take your breath away. It’s a welcome breath of fresh air and an outdoor lovers’ paradise. The natural surroundings, ambiance, and style of this part of Italy, are a nice counterbalance to the historic cities and villages of Italy. I often say, on the eighth day, God created Lake Como, but how do you decide where to stay in such a large destination? In this article, I will explain Lake Como’s top areas from my extensive experience!
Why Visit Lake Como? This is where Italy meets the Alps. It is a romantic area that is dotted with 19th-century villas and surrounded by majestic mountains. If you are there at the right time of year, you can be on the lake enjoying the sunshine while looking at the snow-capped Alps. Lake Como’s quick proximity to Milan or Malpensa Airport makes it an ideal location for me to end my trip when I fly home from there.
How long should you stay in Lake Como? I would suggest three to five nights. A long weekend is ideal. That gives you plenty of time to relax, enjoy your hotel, explore the region and soak in the outdoors.
Where to Stay in Lake Como
To make things more manageable, I’ve broken down Lake Como into a few regions that I love and are worth visiting. They are not in any order but the hotels listed below them are my top choices and I’ve personally have stayed in each one.
Como (Town)
Como is the biggest town on the Lake when you are approaching from Milan or Malpensa Airport. It has a good, traffic-free old town, an interesting Gothic/Renaissance cathedral, and a pleasant lakefront with a promenade. It’s an easy 10-minute downhill walk from the train station to the boat dock. Boats and ferries leave Como every year for different parts of the Lake.
Vista Palazzo Lago di Como
€€€€+ | 5 Star | Rooftop Restaurant | Very Posh
Photo thanks to Angel Castellanos
The recently renovated Vista Palazzo hotel is both grand and intimate. With only eighteen rooms it has a boutique feel. The positioning of the hotel is right on Piazza Cavour facing the lake, so many of the rooms have stunning lake views. The decor and service here is the best in Como town. They even have butlers available at your service. The hotel also has the only restaurant/bar terrace in Como. It’s located on the rooftop restaurant Sottovoce run by Chef Stefano Mattara. Don’t miss a chance for an aperitivo or dinner at this Michelin restaurant.
This is the big hotel in town and the very first hotel I ever stayed in Como. It’s very central just off Piazza Cavour on the waterfront. The rooms in both the annex and main building are comfortable. The frescoed breakfast room is stunning.
The Hotel Barchetta Excelsior is a no-frills business class hotel right in the center of Piazza Cavour facing the waterfront. The rooms are comfortable and clean. Breakfast on their terrace is great due to the location. Most travelers staying here are putting location, price, and convenience over romantic charm.
Tremezzo is on the west side of the Lake about a thirty-minute drive north of Como. It is almost the opposite of Bellagio, so you get stunning views of the Lake. The small village is a transportation hub for ferries and boats. It’s known for the 18th century historic Villa Carlotta with its famed gardens and Canova sculpture. It is also home to the most famous hotel in the region, The Grand Hotel Tremezzo.
The Grand Hotel Tremezzo
Photo thanks to Angel Castellanos
€€€€+ | 5 Star | Pools | Spa | Super Luxurious
The Grand Hotel Tremezzo was named the best hotel in Italy by Conde Nast. It has three pools, four restaurants and ninety rooms, an exquisite garden, and a beach, so there is plenty of space and privacy for their guests. The hotel is decorated in the belle époque style and some of the suites have historic furniture. Their spa is world-class and I recommend the heat treatment. Shoppers will lose their minds in their Sense of Lake boutique.
Bellagio is the pearl of the region and is geographically located in the middle of the upside-down Y-shaped lake. It oozes old-world elegance and a great place for shopping, strolling the lakeside arcades, or having a gelato. Bring your walking shoes if you decide to walk up the steep lanes from the waterfront.
Hotel du Lac
Photo thanks to Angel Castellanos
€€€ | 4 Star | Terrace | Lakeview | Incredible Value
Hotel du Lac is a family-owned lakeside property right in the heart of Bellagio. The lakeside property now has the third generation involved in the operations. Hotel du Lac a classic friendly property that has all of the modern comforts. Do not miss an opportunity to have drinks on the one and only best terrace in Bellagio.
The elegant Grand Hotel Villa Serbellioni is the grand dame of Bellagio and the only five-star hotel in the city. After over one hundred years and four generations later, this place still has not lost its classy touch. One of the best days of my life was spent lounging at their lake-facing pool and then followed by one of the best dinners ever in their restaurant.
Lezzeno in Como lake district. Italian traditional lake village. Italy, Europe.
Lezzeno is the last village on the east side of the Lake as you are headed to Bellagio. If Bellagio is not your style, then chill Lezzeno might be the answer. It’s a quite small village that I like to call home when I’m on the Lake. It has all of the amenities you need, transportation options, and just a fifteen-minute drive from Bellagio. Ten minutes if I’m driving!
Filario Hotel
Photo thanks to Bless Hotel
€€€€ | 5 Star | Pool | Beach | Modern
If you like clean lines and modern decor, then the Filario Hotel is the perfect place for you. It is the only property with it’s own “beach” and private infinity pool. With a combination of designer lakeview rooms or apartments in the annex, there is something here for everyone. I loved my stay there because of the combination of modern design with classic Como hospitality. The lakeside breakfasts are something I still think about to this day.
If you really want to do the whole “La Dolce Far Niente” thing (The Sweetness of Doing Nothing), then home base in Varenna. The town has about 1000 residents and it’s like a mini-Bellagio but without the hype or crowds. It has a waterfront, romantic promenade, and quiet lanes. Also, some killer gelato! Even though it’s a super sleepy little village, there are still plenty of transportation options. There is just something very sweet about little Varenna that I can’t help but love.
Albergo Milano
Photo thanks to Albergo Milano
€€€ | 3 Star | Epic Views | Budget Friendly
Albergo Milano is right in the heart of Varenna. It is small with only a handful of rooms and apartments. This hotel was recently renovated and there are lots of views of the lake from the property and rooms.
19th century poets described Lake Como as heaven on earth and Greta Garbo created in a few words the modern vacation by describing it as a “that happy sunny place”
From Milan, getting there is a quick 45 min drive or 1hr train. To or From Malpensa Airport is a 45 mins drive
Lake Como is known for relaxation, outdoor pursuits and luxury hotels. For luxury travelers, there are ten five star hotels to choose from.
Having a car on Lake Como makes things easier but I only recommend driving on the small narrow cliffside roads for experienced drivers. Distances also take a lot longer to reach than they appear. With that said, the drive from Como to Bellagio is one of my favorites in Italy.
There are plenty of ferries and boat options during the day to get around the Lake to explore small towns and historic villas.
The region is incredibly picturesque and has been featured in Hollywood films like Oceans Twelve, Casino Royal and Star Wars.
Angel Castellanos, www.AngelsTravelLounge.com , is a multi-media travel expert and travel journalist that has appeared on BBC News, Los Angeles Times, Fox News, ABC, NBC, CBS, Univision, Frommers Radio, USA Today. Angel is also an acclaimed speaker appearing as a featured travel expert with the Travel & Adventure Show and New York Times Travel Show. 80+ Countries, 5 Continents and counting. He's passionate about travel to Europe, especially to Italy & France, countries he's visited every year of his adult life.
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Comments (2)
Christine Dickenson
Hello Angel! We are staying at Nest on the Lake in Lezzeno. I see that you enjoy staying in Lezzeno when you are Como. My question is this – if we stay there, and we want to have dinner in Varenno, how would we ensure that we get back to Lezzeno via ferry? It doesn’t look like there are many ferries that go back to Lezzeno at dinner time. We could rent a car, but I’d hate to do that just for these types of instances. Thank you!
Other than Bellagio, it’s hard to go get around from Lezzeno without a car, past dinner. Ferries are great for the daytime but I’ve had a car the last couple of times I was there in 2021.
Hello Angel! We are staying at Nest on the Lake in Lezzeno. I see that you enjoy staying in Lezzeno when you are Como. My question is this – if we stay there, and we want to have dinner in Varenno, how would we ensure that we get back to Lezzeno via ferry? It doesn’t look like there are many ferries that go back to Lezzeno at dinner time. We could rent a car, but I’d hate to do that just for these types of instances. Thank you!
Other than Bellagio, it’s hard to go get around from Lezzeno without a car, past dinner. Ferries are great for the daytime but I’ve had a car the last couple of times I was there in 2021.