Bellagio, Varenna, Menaggio or Como: Where to Stay on Lake Como

Lake Como is shaped like an upside-down Y, and where you stay changes your whole trip. Some guests want to step out of the door into a lively town; others want nothing but the sound of the water. Here is how we help guests choose.

Como

The city on the lake

Como sits at the southern tip of the lake, a short train ride from Milan. It is the only true city on the lake, with a beautiful old town, the Duomo, designer shopping, excellent restaurants and the funicular up to Brunate.

Best for: first-time visitors, couples who love a city break, families who want everything nearby, and anyone arriving by train. It is also the best base in winter, when the smaller villages are quieter.

Getting around: trains from Milan reach Como in under an hour, and ferries and hydrofoils leave from Piazza Cavour for every town on the lake.

Our homes: The Royal Lakeview Penthouse on Piazza Cavour, The Royal Duomo Residence and The Junior Duomo Residence beside the cathedral, plus The Golden Loft, The Old Town Apartment and The Golden Studio in the old town.

Visiting in December? Read our Christmas and New Year guide to Lake Como.

Bellagio

The pearl of the lake

Set on the point where the lake's three branches meet, Bellagio is the most famous village on Lake Como: cobbled stairways, silk shops, grand hotels and the gardens of Villa Melzi and Villa Serbelloni.

Best for: a classic, romantic stay and easy hops by ferry across the central lake.

Keep in mind: Bellagio is very busy in high summer, with day-trippers arriving from late morning. Early mornings and evenings are when it is at its most magical.

Varenna

Small and romantic

On the eastern shore, Varenna is a cluster of pastel houses tumbling down to the water, with a lakeside walkway, the gardens of Villa Monastero and Villa Cipressi, and the ruins of Castello di Vezio above the village.

Best for: couples and travellers coming by train: Varenna-Esino station has direct trains from Milano Centrale in about an hour.

Keep in mind: it is a small village with a quiet nightlife, which is exactly why many people love it.

Wherever you stay, our guide to where to eat on Lake Como covers the best tables in every town.

Menaggio

Relaxed and central

On the western shore, Menaggio has a lively piazza, a lakefront promenade and a lido for swimming in summer. It is a good base for walkers, with trails into the hills and the Greenway del Lago di Como to the south.

Best for: families, active travellers and anyone who wants space and calm while staying central.

Our home: Villa Melody, a three-bedroom villa on the water near Menaggio, with its own boat dock, canoes and views from every room.

The central triangle: Bellagio, Varenna and Menaggio are each roughly 15 minutes apart by car ferry or passenger boat, so wherever you stay in the centre, the other two are an easy trip.

Tremezzo and Lenno

The great villas

On the western shore opposite Bellagio, Tremezzo and Lenno are home to two of the lake's most famous estates: Villa Carlotta, with its gardens and art collection, and Villa del Balbianello, best reached by boat. The Greenway del Lago di Como walking trail runs through the villages here.

Best for: villa and garden lovers, and anyone who wants to wake up in the heart of the central lake.

Cernobbio, Carate Urio and Blevio

The southern lake

Close to Como, the southern lake is lined with grand villas and luxury hotels. Cernobbio is elegant and calm, with Villa Erba and a lakeside lido. Across the water, Blevio is wonderfully private, yet only about ten minutes from Como by boat. You get privacy and views, with the city close by.

Best for: privacy, big groups and anyone who wants a villa on the water with Como close by.

Our homes: Villa del Sole, an eight-bedroom lakefront villa for up to 16 guests, and The Lakeview Townhouse in Carate Urio, with lake views from every room.

Travelling as a big group? Villa del Sole in Blevio sleeps up to 16 across eight bedrooms, right on the water and about ten minutes from Como by boat. Check dates or WhatsApp our concierge.

At a glance

Which corner of the lake suits you

• Como: city breaks, winter stays and families. Lively and elegant, under an hour by train from Milan.

• Bellagio: romance and classic Lake Como. Busy in summer; reach it by ferry or car.

• Varenna: couples and train travellers. Small and quiet, about an hour by direct train from Milan.

• Menaggio: families and walkers. Relaxed and central; reach it by car or ferry.

• Tremezzo and Lenno: villa and garden lovers. Calm and central; reach them by car or ferry.

• Cernobbio and Blevio: privacy, big groups and villas. Peaceful, about 10 to 15 minutes from Como.

Not sure where to stay?

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