Travel Tips for Lake Como, Italy

Cost: €€ (expensive)

Safety: 3/5 for solo female travellers

Lake Como is the third largest lake in Italy, is shaped like an upside down letter ‘Y’ and is located at the foot of the Alps. Along the perimiter of the lake are many small villages and towns, which contain expensive villas dating back to the 16th century, cobbled lanes, shops, restaurants and elegant buildings.

I travelled to Como, Bellagio and Menaggio in October 2022, and I stayed for 2 days. I spent most of my time in Bellagio, known as the ‘Pearl of Lake Como’.

While I felt safe exploring during the day, I would not recommend staying out too late at night. I would highly advise you to travel on this trip with friends or family, as it wasn’t my favourite solo trip to date.

How to get there

While you can’t fly directly to Como, you can fly to Milano-Malpensa Airport from Dublin, Cork, Shannon, Knock and Donegal (the airport will depend on the time of year and the flight length will vary as there may be stop-overs).

However, a direct flight to Milan from Dublin will take 2 hours 25 minutes. You will then need to get a train from Milan to Como (and a bus if you are staying in another village/town along the lake).

As I was already in Zürich, Switzerland, I travelled via train from Zürich Hbf to Como San Giovanni. This incredibly scenic journey usually takes 3 hours and 35 minutes, but there were disruptions with the train (more on this below). I then got the C30 bus to Bellagio.

Language, Currency & Weather

Italian is the main language spoken in the towns and villages along Lake Como, but the locals speak English quite well. The Euro is accepted, as this is the currency used in Italy.

The weather in Lake Como is hot in summer, with temperatures between 25 and 30 degrees Celsius. In winter, temperatures range between 3 and 8 degrees Celsius. The weather is usually dry in winter, and it’s possible to see the snow-peaked mountaintops of the Alps.

Public Transport

Towns along the western branch of Lake Como are served by bus and boat services only (for example Como, Bellagio and Menaggio). I travelled on the C30 bus which runs between Como and Bellagio via Nesso. Meanwhile, the C10 runs between Como and Colico, passing through Tremezzina and Menaggio.

Train, bus and boat services operate along the eastern branch, to towns like Varenna.

To pay for the transport, you can buy tickets in most tobacco shops or newsstands (prices will vary depending on the length of your journey). For most popular routes you can buy bus tickets through the Arriva My Pay app. You can also buy tickets on board, but only cash is accepted.

In my opinion, public transport in Lake Como is not as reliable or straight-forward as other places I have been. My trip between Zürich and Como was a disaster as the service stopped mid-journey and I was forced to arrange alternative transport. This was very difficult, and the staff were most unhelpful.

Where To Stay

Overall, I found accommodation in Lake Como to be expensive, so be prepared to spend some extra cash! If you are travelling with people, I would advise you to book one of the many holiday homes that are available in the towns/villages.

For a solo trip in Bellagio, I would recommend staying in Appartamenti Il Sogno, Bellagio lake flat or Nenè-Il Vicolo Apartments and Rooms.

In Como, I would advise you to book Albergo Firenze, The Convo Lake Como or Civico29 Rooms & Breakfast. If you’re on a budget, Ostello Bello Lake Como is a hostel located in Como.

In Menaggio, I would recommend staying in Hotel Du Lac or Agastache.

Where To Go & What To Do

In Como, I would recommend visiting Villa del Balbianello, Como Cathedral and Villa Olmo. A trip on the Como to Brunate funicular railway is a must, to witness some breathtaking views.

From Como, it is possible to book boat tours to Bellagio, Lugano and Varenna. You also have the option to go paragliding, kayaking or partake in other cool water sports.

While in luxurious Bellagio, I would advise you to wander the streets and explore the colourful buildings and shops. The town is small so you would have it seen in an hour. Pop by the Basilica of San Giacomo, Melzi Villa and Gardens and Punta Spartivento.

I travelled via boat from Bellagio to Menaggio (the journey is less than 30 minutes). I visited Piazza Garibaldi which is considered the heart of the town and has shops, restaurants and ice cream parlours. I also popped by the Church of Santa Marta and the Church of Santo Stefano. I then went for a walk along the lakefront Viale Benedetto Castelli, which was incredible.

What & Where To Eat

As most people already know, the food in Italy is some of the best in the world. From pasta to pizza to gelato, it is the country’s love language.

One of the highlights of my trip to Lake Como were the restaurants I dined in. My favourite place in Como was Ristorante InTeatro, as it served delicious pizza straight out of the oven.

For breakfast in Bellagio, I went to Bar Pasticceria Rossi for an omelette and Aperol Spritz. I stopped by Silvio for lunch and was offered delicious fresh seafood with even better wine.

For dinner, I tried Dispensa 63 which was incredible and although the menu is small, I must say it is well balanced. I also stopped by Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni for a drink and while it was crazy expensive, it was well worth it because of the views.

Enjoy Lake Como!