Lake Como in 5 days: tips for your trip

Do you have a day or 5 to spend on magical Lake Como? Then you have no time to lose! There is simply so much to see and do here… Take a virtual trip to one of the most beautiful lakes in Italy.

In this article I share how we spent our 5 day trip to Lake Como in the fall.

Day 1: travel, arrival and eating out

However you travel, traveling is exhausting. And yet you immediately want a holiday feeling on that first day, because you only have time for it. In our case only 5 days.

We left the Netherlands very early in the morning by car, so that we had already passed Frankfurt before the crowds in Germany. We entered Italy over the Passo dello Spluga, where you have beautiful views over the Alpine landscape.

In the afternoon around 15.00 pm we were already at our destination in Gravedona, one of the most beautiful towns on Lake Como.

If you arrive on time in the afternoon, you have plenty of time to settle in and find a restaurant to eat out. If you get there early, you may also be able to do some shopping. Nice to have something in 'home' the next day.

At the beginning of the evening we discovered this beautiful town. It has one of the most atmospheric promenades on Lake Como and a few special buildings and churches.

Day 2: Menaggio & Lake Como Boat Tour

The next morning we drove to Menaggio on the western shore of Lake Como. It is located about halfway up the north-south line of the lake, making it a perfect base.

Menaggio has a relaxed atmosphere. At the end of October, the terraces here were still full of tourists (the weather was good). Menaggio offers plenty of entertainment for tourists with shops, cafes, restaurants, hotels, a castle and a beautiful promenade.

If you want to climb the steep stairs, you can admire the older part of the town and the castle.

After a good start with a cappuccino in the sun, we opted to take a private boat tour at the beginning of the afternoon along the luxury villas of, among others, heirs of HJ Heinz, the villa that forms the backdrop in House of gucci, Balbianello villa (known from James Bond and Star Wars, among others) and the villa of Richard Branson.

After the tour we enjoyed an aperitif with Aperol Spritz on a cozy terrace. Not a bad way to spend your fall break, right?

Day 3: Villa del Balbianello & Bellagio

We rose early this morning to travel to Lenno, just southwest of Tremezzo on the western shore of Lake Como.

From Lido di Lenno you can take the boat to Villa del Balbianello, but you can also park your car at the edge of the natural park behind the peninsula and then take a steep walk up.

You can visit both the villa and the gardens, but you can also buy a separate ticket for the gardens. More information about prices and entrance times can be found here.

From the garden with its classical statues you have a magical view of Lake Como. This is probably why the garden and villa were the setting for several films, including: A month by the lake (1995) Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002) in Casino Royale (2006).

After the visit to Villa del Balbianello near Grand Hotel Tremezzo we took the ferry to Bellagio. Bellagio is right in the middle of the inverted Y that forms Lake Como.

Do you like panoramic views and flower-lined streets? You will find plenty of them here, just like American tourists. It is the busiest and certainly not the cheapest place to stay, but one of those places where you can feel like a millionaire for a while.

Do you want more gardens? Then you can visit Villa Melzi or Villa Serbelloni here.

Day 4: Hiking in the hills around Lake Como

A visit to Lake Como is not complete without immersing yourself in the majestic hills surrounding the lake. After our walk on the Làvedo peninsula where you can find Villa del Balbianello, we decided to take a hike on our 4th day at the lake.

Around the lake there are countless opportunities for hiking in the mountains, from easy routes that you can walk with children to routes that really require a guide, good equipment and excellent fitness.

We chose an easy-to-walk route with beautiful views from our accommodation in Gravedona to a somewhat higher mountain village on the Alpe Motta.

Day 5: a day trip Colico – Milan

Is the weather a bit less good for a day? Then you can visit Como, the namesake of the lake. Or you travel a little further: to the metropolis of Milan. We chose the latter.

It is best if you take the train from Colico. It runs along the eastern shore of the lake directly to Milan Central Station. For an extra €2 you can upgrade your train ticket to a ticket that allows you to travel all over Lombardy by public transport for a day. For example, you can take the metro unlimited in Milan.

In Milan you will be amazed at any time of the year. From the Piazza del Duomo to the Castello Sforzesco and from the expensive shopping streets to the beautiful Galleria Vittoria Emanuele II.

Plenty to do on Lake Como!

As you can see, this is just a small sample of the activities around Lake Como. You can easily spend more than 5 days here.

Do you have more time or other interests? Then there are countless initiatives that you can develop on Lake Como.

Go out with a guide, admire the many old churches, rent a boat and spend a whole day on the water or go to some of the other special places on the lake!

Do you have any tips for Lake Como yourself? Then leave your comment below.