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How many days at Lake Como? 4 days, by ferry around the three branches
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
Lake Como is shaped like an upside-down Y, 46 km long, and the three villages everyone wants, Bellagio, Varenna and Menaggio, face each other across its centre, 10-15 minutes apart by boat. Give it four days and base yourself in that central triangle, not in Como town at the southern tip. The rule that matters: the lake is a ferry destination, not a driving one. The western road is narrow, parking is scarce, and the boats are the view.
Short answer
Two days covers Bellagio, Varenna and one villa garden. Four lets you add Villa del Balbianello, the Greenway walk, Como town with the Brunate funicular and a slower evening in each village.
The 4-day plan, day by day
Day 1: Varenna and Villa Monastero
Morning. From Milano Centrale, the regional train to Varenna-Esino takes about 1 hour (about €7-8). Walk 10 minutes down to the lake through the village and leave your bags. Climb up to Castello di Vezio (about €8, 20-30 minutes uphill on foot) for the view over the three branches of the lake.
Afternoon. Visit the gardens of Villa Monastero (about €10 garden only), a former convent with citrus terraces and palms stretching 2 km along the shore. Then walk the Passerella, the walkway built on the water's edge in the heart of the village.
Evening. Have an aperitivo (Aperol spritz about €8-12) on the waterfront terrace near the ferry pier, then dinner in Varenna: lake fish risotto or polenta for €18-28 a main. The last ferries across the lake stop around 20:00-21:00, so check the timetable if staying across the water.
Buy a day pass for the central lake ferries (Bellagio, Varenna, Menaggio, Cadenabbia) at about €18-20 rather than single tickets of €5-7 each crossing if you plan three or more rides.
Day 2: Bellagio, the pearl of the lake
Morning. Take the 15-minute ferry to Bellagio, at the point of the peninsula between the Como and Lecco branches. Walk the steep cobbled lanes like Salita Serbelloni and visit the gardens of Villa Melzi (about €10), with Japanese maples, azaleas and lake-shore statues, open spring to October.
Afternoon. Walk 15 minutes to the tip of the peninsula, Punta Spartivento, for views up both branches. Then join a guided visit of the gardens of Villa Serbelloni (about €25, by tour only, owned by the Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni) on the hill above the village.
Evening. Stay for sunset when the day-trippers leave, around 18:00. Bellagio's restaurants are pricier: expect €25-40 for a main. Order missoltini, the sun-dried shad that is the lake's traditional dish.
Bellagio is the most crowded village in summer, especially at weekends when Milanese families arrive. Arrive before 10:00 or after 16:00.
Day 3: Villa Carlotta and Villa del Balbianello
Morning. Ferry to Tremezzo and visit Villa Carlotta (about €15-17), with Canova sculptures inside and 8 hectares of gardens, famous for rhododendrons and azaleas from April to May. Allow 1.5-2 hours.
Afternoon. Continue to Lenno and take a water taxi (about €10-15 return) or walk 1 km on the footpath to Villa del Balbianello (about €25 with the house tour), on its own promontory. Its gardens appeared in Star Wars and Casino Royale. It is usually closed on Mondays and Wednesdays, so check before you go.
Evening. Have dinner in Menaggio, on the western shore, with a larger choice of trattorias around Piazza Garibaldi. The last ferry back to your base leaves in the evening, so check the time.
Villa del Balbianello's house tour must be booked online in advance from April to October. The garden alone is cheaper but the walking path is often closed in bad weather.
Day 4: Como town and the Brunate funicular
Morning. Take the fast hydrofoil from the central lake to Como (about 45-60 minutes, roughly €15) and visit the Duomo, a Gothic and Renaissance cathedral begun in 1396. The Romanesque Basilica of Sant'Abbondio, from the 11th century, is 15 minutes' walk from the centre.
Afternoon. Ride the Funicolare Como-Brunate (about €6-7 return), every 15 minutes since 1894, up to the village of Brunate at 715 metres. Walk 20 minutes to the Faro Voltiano lighthouse for views of the Alps and Monte Rosa on a clear day.
Evening. Walk the lakeside Passeggiata Lino Gelpi to Villa Olmo, then take the train back to Milan (about 40 minutes from Como San Giovanni). Como is also known for its silk, with shops in the old town.
For a slow and quiet alternative, walk part of the Greenway del Lago di Como, a 10.5 km path from Colonno to Griante along the western shore with bus or ferry back.
Only have 2 days?
With 2 days, base yourself in Varenna, spend Day 1 in Varenna and Bellagio and Day 2 at Villa Carlotta and Villa del Balbianello. You lose Como town and the funicular.
Got extra days?
Extra days go to the northern lake: Gravedona and the abbey of Piona, or a walk on the Sentiero del Viandante, the old mule path above the eastern shore from Lierna to Varenna and beyond. You can also combine Como with Lake Lugano in Switzerland (about 30 minutes from Como) or Lake Maggiore's Borromean Islands.
Where to stay in Lake Como
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Como town / Lecco | Cheapest beds and good train links to Milan; ferry to the central lake. | €90-150 |
| Mid-range | Varenna | Railway station with direct trains from Milan and ferries in every direction. | €160-280 |
| Mid-range | Menaggio | Lively western-shore town with buses to Lugano and lots of restaurants. | €150-260 |
| Comfort | Bellagio / Tremezzo | Grand historic hotels on the water, like Villa Serbelloni and the Grand Hotel Tremezzo. | €400-1,200 |
Getting around
The ferries run by Navigazione Laghi are the transport system: slow boats, car ferries between Bellagio, Varenna, Menaggio and Cadenabbia, and fast hydrofoils to Como. The central crossing runs every 15-30 minutes in summer. Trains link Varenna and Lecco to Milano Centrale (about 1 hour), and Como San Giovanni to Milan (about 40 minutes) and Lugano. ASF buses (line C10) follow the western shore from Como to Menaggio. Driving is possible, but summer traffic on the SS340 is slow and parking costs €2-3 an hour, when you can find it.
What to eat in Lake Como
Lake Como cooking is mountain-and-lake food. Try risotto con pesce persico, perch fillets fried in butter and sage over rice, about €20-28, and missoltini, salted and dried shad, grilled and served with polenta. Polenta uncia from the hills above Bellagio is baked with butter, garlic and cheese. For a snack, have a slice of focaccia from a bakery for €2-4, and for dessert, miascia, a bread-and-fruit cake from Como. An aperitivo with snacks costs €8-12, and a meal in a lakeside trattoria with wine runs about €35-55 per person. Book dinner in Bellagio and Varenna in summer, as the best tables fill early.
Best time to visit
April to June and September to early October, with highs of 18-26°C, the villa gardens in flower in spring and fewer crowds after mid-September. July and August are hot (about 28-31°C), busy and expensive, with afternoon thunderstorms. From November to March many hotels and villas close, ferries run a reduced winter timetable and the mountains are often hidden in fog, though Como town stays open.
Month-by-month weather for Lake Como →
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | €55 | €110 | €300 |
| Food & drink | €30 | €60 | €120 |
| Sights & tickets | €15 | €35 | €60 |
| Local transport | €15 | €25 | €80 |
| Total per person, per day | about €115 | about €230 | about €560 |
Approximate 2026 prices in euros. Most lake towns charge a tourist tax (imposta di soggiorno) of about €1-5 per person per night, depending on the hotel's stars, payable at check-out.
Before you go
Common questions
Where should I stay on Lake Como: Bellagio, Varenna or Menaggio?
Varenna is the best base if you arrive by train, since it has a station with direct trains from Milan and ferries to everywhere. Bellagio has the most beautiful setting but is the most crowded and expensive. Menaggio is a real town with more restaurants and buses to Switzerland. Como town is cheapest but 45-60 minutes from the central lake by boat.
Can I visit Lake Como as a day trip from Milan?
Yes, but choose one or two villages. The fastest plan is the train to Varenna (about 1 hour), a ferry to Bellagio, and back the same way. You can also take the train to Como (40 minutes) and ride the Brunate funicular. A day trip misses the evenings, when the villages empty out and the light on the mountains is best.
Do I need a car at Lake Como?
No. Ferries, trains and buses cover all the main villages and villas, and a car is more of a problem than a help: the shore roads are narrow, traffic is slow in summer and parking is scarce and expensive. A car only makes sense if you want to explore the mountains above the lake or combine it with other lakes in one trip.
Which villa should I visit if I only have time for one?
Villa del Balbianello for the setting: its gardens on a wooded point, with the lake on three sides, are the most photographed on the lake, though it is closed on some weekdays. Villa Carlotta has the best gardens and an art collection and is easy to reach by ferry. Villa Melzi in Bellagio is the quickest, an easy walk from the ferry pier.
How this guide was made
Compiled by TonyPlan from official tourism, transport and attraction sources and on-the-ground travel knowledge. Prices are approximate for 2026 and change with season; anything we could not confirm is marked as approximate.
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