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Lake Como Holidays
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Three lakes in one
The inverted-Y arms each feel distinct — the Como branch is the cultured side, the Lecco branch is rockier and quieter, and the upper lake above Menaggio is the calmest of all.
Reachable in an afternoon
With a flight of around two hours and Milan's three airports inside a 50–90 minute transfer, you can leave a UK morning and be at a lakeside table by evening.
Villas and gardens
Villa del Balbianello at Lenno, Villa Carlotta at Tremezzo, Villa Melzi at Bellagio, and Villa Monastero at Varenna are all open to the public, with terraced grounds dropping to the water.
The ferry does the work
The Navigazione Laghi network links every major town by scheduled boat and hydrofoil, so a hire car is optional rather than essential, and a day pass turns the lake itself into the day out.
Food from lake and mountain
Freshwater fish from the lake and hearty cooking from the Valtellina valleys give the region two separate culinary traditions in one place, backed by the red wines of the nearby hills.
A walking lake
The Greenway del Lago di Como runs roughly 10 km along the western shore, and the 1894 funicular from Como climbs to Brunate at 715 metres for the wider view over the southern basin.
Why Choose Lake Como
Dining & Local Hotspots
Perfect Holiday Destination
Travleodeal Travel Tips
Each part of the lake delivers a different kind of stay, and choosing the right base matters more here than which hotel you pick.
Como: The lakeside city at the southern tip has a part-Gothic, part-Renaissance cathedral begun in 1396, the silk-making heritage that still shapes its shops, a funicular up to the hill village of Brunate, and a direct train line to Milan in under an hour — a sensible best town to stay in Lake Como for first-timers who want transport links on the doorstep.
Bellagio: Sitting on the headland where the lake forks, with the gardens of Villa Melzi laid out in the early 1800s and the viewpoint at Punta Spartivento looking up both arms, Bellagio is the postcard image most people picture when they book a Lake Como holiday.
Varenna: A former fishing village on the eastern shore, home to the botanical garden at Villa Monastero and the waterside Passeggiata degli Innamorati, or Walk of Lovers, it's the choice for holidays Lake Como regulars who prefer quiet over crowds.
Menaggio: On the western shore, Menaggio has a lakeside lido, a golf course in the hills founded in 1907, and the easiest road and bus links for a day trip across the border into Switzerland and on to Lugano.
Tremezzo & Lenno: This western stretch is grand-villa country, with the spring gardens of Villa Carlotta, Villa del Balbianello on its wooded headland, and the western end of the Greenway walking path passing through each village.
There's more to fill a week here than gardens, though they're the obvious starting point on most Italy holidays built around the lake.
Villa del Balbianello: Set on a wooded headland reaching into the water at Lenno, its terraced gardens have stood in for film locations in Star Wars: Episode II and Casino Royale, and you reach it by boat from Lenno or on foot along a coastal path of about a kilometre.
Villa Carlotta: At Tremezzo, this 17th-century villa is best known for its botanical gardens, where the azaleas and rhododendrons reach their peak from late April into May, while inside there are marble sculptures and period rooms looking back across the lake.
Funicular to Brunate: Running since 1894, the Como–Brunate funicular climbs to 715 metres in about seven minutes, ending at a hilltop village with marked walking trails, a few cafés, and a wide view back over the southern lake and, on a clear day, towards the Alps.
Greenway del Lago di Como: This waymarked path of roughly 10 km links Colonno to Griante along the western shore, threading through old fishing hamlets, churchyards, cobbled lanes, and the grounds of several villas, and it breaks neatly into shorter sections if you don't want the whole route.
Boats and ferries: Scheduled Navigazione Laghi ferries and faster hydrofoils connect the towns through the day, while private wooden-boat hire from Como or Bellagio puts the quieter coves, swimming spots, and waterfront restaurants within easy reach.
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