Lake Como TRAVEL GUIDE AND DEALS

Lake Como is situated in Lombardy, Northern Italy. It is part of the Italian Lake District. Popular with visitors for well over 100 years for it's combination of fresh air, water, mountains and good weather, it's still worth a visit.

Understand

The Lake is shaped rather like an inverted 'Y', with two 'legs' starting at Como in the South-West and Lecco in the South-East, which join together half way up and the lake continues up to Colico in the North. The first few kilometres of the 'legs' at the southern end of the lake are relatively flat, but Lake Como becomes more mountainous as you head northwards into the Alps.

The area around Lake Como, or "Lago di Como" in Italian, is pretty characteristic. It has a kind of flair and sense of history that tends to impress its visitors in a sense deeper than only from a touristic point of view. It has been appreciated for its beauty and uniqueness for ages, and even as early as the Roman Times. Its atmosphere and natural surroundings have been the inspiration for an important part of the creation of Naboo, in the Star Wars movies. (In the same way as the atmosphere in Tozeur and Matmata have been recreated in Episode IV, "A New Hope")

Cities

• Como - At the southern end of the lake, the lake's main town is a good base and although not as attractive as some of the other towns, it remains an elegant resort.
• Menaggio - The main town on the Western Shore, it's an attractive town and note as touristy as Bellagio and Varenna opposite. It has a Youth Hostel (but it's often full at weekends).
• Bellagio - Very attractive town at the junction of the two 'legs' of the lake. Can be expensive.
• Varenna - Another attractive town on the Eastern shore opposite Mennagio and Bellagio. Worth visiting for the attractive and relaxing gardens of Villa Cipresi.
• Colico - nice views at the top of the lake, but the town's not that attractive.
• Lecco - a less attractive town at the end of the south-eastern 'leg' of the lake.

Other destinations

• Isola Comacina

Talk

I am trying to find out if ADSL/Broadband is available in Musso.

Good internet connection is at the hotel barchelleta Excelsior.

Get in

The main access to the lake is from Milan and Bergamo.

By Train

Regular trains run from Milan to Como (beware it has 2 stations). Trains also run from Milan and Bergamo up the Eastern Shore from Lecco to Varenna and Colico and then on to Sondrio and St. Moritz.

By Bus

Get around

By Bus

Frequent buses run up the Western Shore from Como to Menaggio. A few then continue on to Colico.

By Boat

Several boats and hydrofoils a day travel all the way up the lake from Como to Colico stopping at most of the towns en-route.

There are also frequent service between the 'triangle' of towns in the centre of the lake - Menaggio, Bellagio & Varenna.

Less frequent boat/hydrofoils travel down the Eastern Leg to and from Lecco.

Timetables are available at tourist information offices, at the quayside or online.

By Train

Fairly regular train run up and down the Eastern Shore from Lecco to Varenna and Colico

See

• Isola Comacina

• Villa Monestero in Varenna

Do

• Take at least one Boat Trip

• Go up the funiculare (hillside trolley) to Brunate and see the view, or hike over to the Volta Lighthouse

• Try a round of golf or tennis at the Villa D'Este or Monticello golf clubs, or some water sports on the Lake

Eat

• Locanda dell'Isola Comacina on Isola Comacina

Sleep

MId-range

Get out

From Wikitravel