The Ultimate Guide to Where to Stay in Lake Como

Why Does It Matter Where to Stay in Lake Como?

The Big Three (The Mid-Lake Hubs)

There are many options for where to stay in Como, but if ease of logistics is a deciding factor, you’ll want to check out the big three in the center of it all–Bellagio, Varenna, & Menaggio.

Bellagio: The Glamorous (and Crowded) Fairytale Town

The Vibe: 

Probably what you are envisioning for Lake Como. But trust me, there will be way too many people there to get one good gram pic. Here you’ll find high-end boutiques, photo-worthy cobblestone staircases and unadulterated views of the sea. And people. Lots and lots of people..

If you hate crowds, skip it. If you hate blown-out tourist pricing, skip it. However, if you are dead set on enjoying the beauty of Bellagio (because it is GORGEOUS), wake up early to beat the crowds.

We were there during the middle of the day and were elbowing people (by accident! Mostly.) to get through. We did find a great wine bar to wait out some rain, though. Check out Wine Bar Aperitivo Et Al.

Splurgers, luxury seekers, IG influencers, and anyone who doesn’t mind a steep hill or a hefty price tag. Who are we kidding? Everything in Lake Como has a hefty price tag.

Inside Villa Carlotta, an unworldly “garden” with plants collected from all over the world.

Varenna, Lake Como

The Vibe: 

Cosy and quaint but full of color and character. This is where you’ll find the Passeggiata degli Innamorati, a reason in and of itself to stay here. Plus, this town is simply better than Bellagio 😉 with the same ease of getting around. It has cute bars, trattorias, and boutiques.

If you’re a public transit user like moi, this is a fantastic option for you. Varenna is connected to Milan and Lecco, making it much easier to get around than its neighbors. I secretly wish we had stayed here instead of Tremezzo.

First-timers, train travelers, and couples looking for romantic scenery without the sheer insanity of Bellagio’s crowds.

Menaggio, Lake Como

The Vibe: 

If you are living your Brady Bunch dreams and honorably traveling to Lake Como with some kiddos, Menaggio will be your strongest contender for your vacation headquarters. You still have great lakeside views and promenades, but without the hills of Bellagio or Varenna. Plus you can pretend you’re a real Italian, strolling the piazza at night with gelato. 

Menaggio is laid back and far less commercialized. There are fewer crowds than Varenna and Bellagio. Keep in mind, being one of the big three villages to stay in still makes it a hot spot for tourists. Also, the plethora of ferries make island hopping easy but remember they don’t run 24/7!

Active travelers, families, and anyone looking for a calmer, slightly more budget-friendly base in the central lake area.

The Major Cities

If you want a real supermarket and a proper pharmacy within a 5-minute walk (could’ve used that when I had the stomach flu here!), then these might be a better option. Como and Lecco offer a bit of a local scene that isn’t catering 100% to tourism.

Como: The Urban Hub

The Vibe: 

This is your city amongst the fairytale. It’s cute and busy and reminds me a bit of a mini Milan. You’ll be amidst locals shoving you for a place on the bus and children sprinting by on their way home from school. The city is filled with high-end shops, cafes, and an incredible historical center. 

Ironically, Como City isn’t what you’re thinking of when you think of Como. Here, you’ll only be able to see a small portion of the lake. Plus, it’s a long, predictable 1-to-2-hour ferry ride away from the postcard villas you’re dreaming of, and the ferry schedule back to Como at night can be notoriously unreliable.

Foodies who want a vibrant restaurant scene, winter travelers, and anyone who prefers a modern apartment vibe over an old-school village. This is also a great option when the weather is not going to plan. There will be a lot more to do here than in the quiet villages if it’s pouring rain. 

Varenna, Lake Como

The Vibe: 

Industrial-turned-scenic city on the southeastern branch, backed by massive, dramatic limestone mountains. This is where my hiker friends should look in to. 

Lecco is potentially the only budget option there is in Como and yet somehow missed out on by the masses. It hasn’t had its day in the limelight by Condé Nast or National Geographic.

The logistics are also decent here! You can use the local train line to zip up the eastern shore to Varenna, Bellagio, or Mandello del Lario. How are people not talking about Lecco??

Budget travelers, hikers, and anyone looking to escape the standard American tourist bubble completely.

The Elegant & Quiet Western Shore

Simply, the luxe of luxury.

Cernobbio: The Elite Hideaway

The Vibe: 

Home to the mega-famous Villa d’Este, Cernobbio is the place of mega-exclusive luxury. This will not be your budget area. 

You’re going to need to be rolling in dough to afford lounging here. This is the spot to rub elbows with celebrities and ogle at the most pristine views of Lake Como. Let’s be real, Cernobbio is for the *ummm* “comfortable”. But I’d suggest checking it out if you have the time because it is breathtakingly perfect. However, be prepared to have it feel a bit exclusionary to the average Joe. 

High-end luxury travelers. Flat out. Also, it’s walking distance to the town of Como in case that’s of importance to you!

Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo

The Vibe: 

There are so many villas to visit here! Obviously, the first being Villa Carlotta, which has an incredible botanical “garden”. I say “garden” because this isn’t your mother’s hydrangea garden. It’s a botanist’s dream. Also, Tremezzo has some fancy a** hotels, including the Grand Hotel Tremezzo. You may not be able to afford a night here (babe, same), but splurge on lunch because it was the best meal we had. 

This is a great place, granted the weather cooperates. Staying here places you perfectly on the western greenway path. Which is a great village studded trail you should enjoy on a beautiful sunny day. The rest of Tremezzo is peaceful, beautiful, and heavily centered around relaxing walkability.

It was pouring the whole time we were there. So the relaxing walkability turned into a daily nightmare of pelting water in my face and soaked socks. And dining was underwhelming and expensive (except the worthwhile meal at Grand Hotel Tremezzo).

Garden enthusiasts, history buffs, and travelers looking for a slow-paced holiday. Also best for roadside alcoholic slushies. Can’t forget about those.

Lenno, Lake Como

The Vibe: 

A quiet, sunny horseshoe-shaped bay that is home to the jaw dropping Villa del Balbianello (movie buffs, this is where Star Wars and James Bond were filmed). This is easier along the greenway del lago so don’t be surprised to see some hikers walking about the relaxed town. 

Lenno often gets overlooked for not being as popular as the big three in the golden triangle. That’s a shame because it’s perfect for a peaceful, low-key retreat. And you can’t ignore the adorable weekly market held on Tuesdays. You can get some da** good cheese and make yourself the perfect italian picnic for lunch

Slow travelers, families, and low key couples. This is a good place for a truer local feel.

The Hidden Gems

If your dream Lake Como vacation includes listening to quiet rain hit the terracotta rooftops at night, these smaller villages will be interesting to you.

Nesso: The Photographer’s Dream

The Vibe: 

A photographer’s paradise and an urban hiker’s dream. Nesso is famous for its many vertical, red roofed houses stacked one after another from the mountain to the lake. It’s beautiful, but there are a lot of stairs. You will be out of breath. 

It’s also famous for Orrido di Nesso—a dramatic hidden gorge and waterfall splitting the town right down the middle under an ancient stone bridge.

This is a better stopover than a place to stay. The stairs are not messing around here. It’s steep and there aren’t elevators available to move your 3 suitcases up to your accommodation. If you are still set on being an instagram influencer in Nesso, keep it mind there aren’t very many restaurants and the public transit will make you want to pull your hair out. I truly just recommend coming for the afternoon. 

Backpackers and anyone wanting to escape the tourism traps. Also good for anyone training leg day.

Gorge in Bellano, Lake Como

The Vibe: 

 A great budget friendly(er) location where you can enjoy sipping your coffee with the locals. This is a working town so there are far fewer tourists but it’s beautiful and worth a visit. The massive natural canyon, the Orrido di Bellano gives this place a mystical vibe. 

The waiters and waitresses won’t be speaking English here because these locals are not trying to impress any tourists. That being said, this is a positive thing. Bellano is a cheaper and more accessible neighborhood to stay in Lake Como. Also it’s extremely easy to navigate here from Milan with the Bellano-Tartavalle Terme train station. It’s a direct 1 hour and 9 minute train ride from Milan to Bellano!

Travelers looking for a neighborhood that hasn’t been overrun by tourist-friendly options. And anyone looking for a quick trip from Milan. (Trains run hourly for around euros).

Final Thoughts & Travel Tips for Where to Stay in Lake Como

1. Ditch the Car:

You are not going to want to navigate the tiny streets in a car, no matter how tiny that car is.

There are a lot of things people won’t tell you about Lake Como, but paying attention to the ferry terminal is highly vocal. Always check the time of the last ferry. Taxis are not as available as the internet makes them seem. And the buses won’t stop if they are full.

I kid you not, the first night we were in Lake Como we got dropped off at a restaurant at 8:00 PM for dinner. Post dinner, it was maybe 10:00 PM and we spent 30 minutes trying to call a taxi because the buses didn’t run anymore. They were closing the restaurant and it was pouring outside. The waiter felt so bad he gave us a lift home. So thumbs up for friendly locals. Thumbs down for transportation. 

Even better–when we arrived back to our hotel, the gate was closed and the person who works the front desk wasn’t answering (probably because they went home). We, (my sister and I) scaled the gate and had to somehow get our 70 year old mother OVER SAID GATE. We did it thank you very much. Only to then learn the gate was not locked. Nobody actually checked. But makes for a decent story.

First off, so Italian am I right? Second, it will be far easier for you to zip around the car and all the tourists without having a panic attack. 

Next time I’m back in Lake Como, I am totally renting a motorbike.