Amanda Virrey
9 Fantastic Things to Do at Lake Como
If you could only dedicate an overnight stay or two full days at Lake Como because you only have less than a month to explore Italy, here is an itinerary that may help you maximize your holiday at this picturesque lakeside city.
Firstly, take the train bound for San Giovanni station to get to Lake Como by public transport. You could purchase your tickets online or through the station ticketing machine. On arriving at San Giovanni station, you will find taxi cabs to drive you to your hotel and buses to take you around. Get on the C30 bus. If you want to go straight to the lake.
Walk on the lakeside.
Touring the lakeside of Como on foot will give you a closer look at the city’s picturesque coastline, including the shops and restaurants along the boulevard in its beautiful architectural designs, the city’s treasured landscape, as well as its picturesque fauna of swans, ducks, and pigeons. This way, you will not only have a better feel on what to do first, but you will also get to work your body off before your rewarding Italian meal and a double-flavored gelato.
Take a break at the Alessandro Volta Monument.
Walk along Diga Foranea Piero Caldirola, the 300-meter dam that stretches from the
main boulevard into the round tip where The Life Electric is placed. Like the breakwater walkway, the 16-meter tall steel monument dedicated to local physicist Alessandro Volta gives an authentic background of Lake Como’s rich scenery and heritage.
Eat seafood at a lakeside restaurant.
After getting a first glimpse of Lake Como’s breathtaking panorama on foot, you would already be craving Como’s delicacy. As a place centered on a vast body of water, Como yields an abundance of seafood, from fresh caught to freshly transported at its port. So, why not make the most of your stay and have a satisfying seafood dish of Como’s specialties, such as Riso al Pesce Persico (freshwater fish), Cozze (Muscles), Polenta, and Missoltini dried fish at a lakeside restaurant of your fancy.
Ride the Funicolare
With your hearty lunch meal, you will already have more energy to resume your tour on the Como-Brunate Funicolare. This seven-minute cable car ride, approximately 500 meters up to the hilltop town of Brunate, offers a spectacular view of Lake Como that will elevate your senses.
Visit the hilltop town of Brunate.
At the top landing of the Funicolare is an alluring hilltop town called Brunate. This quaint community exhibits the 14th-century Chiesa di Sant’ Andrea Apostolo church and ornate heritage houses amid towering pine trees and the encompassing panorama of Como and the Italian Alps. It bears a labyrinth of narrow roads that will take you to majestic villas and beautiful gardens, plus a main road that leads to a viewing point where you can have a wider panorama of Como, perfect for relaxing and taking photos.
Enjoy a cone of gelato by the lake.
Have a taste of Italian’s prized ice cream by the lake. Locally known as gelato, this refreshing delight renders the full flavor of its respective flavors at its true creaminess. Sample Italian’s notable flavors, such as Pistacchio, Stracciatella (chocolate chip), Limone, Nocciola (hazelnut), Amarena (black cherry), and Liquorice.
Hop on the boat
Hop on a passenger boat at the Como’s main docking area, Lungo Lario Trento, and take a trip up north to the city’s captivating villages, Bellagio and Varenna, either on a public or private boat tour. When you’re satisfied exploring for a few hours, simply buy a ticket and enjoy another boat ride back to Como.
Explore Bellagio and Varenna
Bellagio and Varenna are two of the most sought-after villages in Como due to its romantic villas, beautiful gardens, historic town centers and fantastic landscapes. You may start at the “Pearl of Lake Como”, which is what Bellagio is known for, and explore the vast gardens of Villa Serbelloni and the classic Villa Melzi. Moving further, go to Varenna, by boat, taxi or on foot, and mesmerize in the gardens and rich interiors of Villa Monastero, as well as in the medieval Castello di Vezio, Fiumelatte (milky river) and Sentiero del Viandante for a memorable nature trek.
Stay at a mountain lodge overlooking the lake.
While touring around Como already puts you amidst a crowd of tourists, it would then be idyllic to stay at a mountain lodge where you can immerse in tranquility and have a private view of the lake. Most of these lodges are hosted by their owners, giving you personal service and an exclusive feel of the city.
If you feel that two full days of this itinerary at Lake Como is not enough, extend for another night and live in the sweetness of doing nothing, or as Italians would say, Il dolce far niente.
If you want more travel updates, Follow the #TeamOutofTown, on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Bloglovin, and Pinterest for more tourism stories.
Read:
- Top 8 Best Things to do in Como, Italy
- Top Ten Places In Angono You Need To Visit Now
- Five Best Beach Resorts Miami has to offer
- 7 Best Tourist Attractions in Las Vegas for Cheap or Free
- 6 Fun Things to do and See in Las Vegas
