The 12 must-do things at Lake Como

Bellagio sits on the tip of the promontory where Lake Como divides into its two southern arms, the Como branch to the south-west and the Lecco branch to the south-east, at the head of the Triangolo Lariano. That singular position earned it the nickname "Pearl of Lake Como".
The old town is climbed by seven medieval stone stairways (the salite) rising up the hillside between artisan shops and terraces. At the northern tip of the promontory, the park at Punta Spartivento gives an open view over both arms of the lake and the Alpine foothills. It is also the ferry junction linking Varenna, Menaggio and Tremezzo.

Villa del Balbianello is a late-18th-century historic villa set on a promontory on the western shore of Lake Como, at Lenno. It is famous for its terraced gardens, its loggia and its views over both arms of the lake. It has appeared in several films, including Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002) and James Bond: Casino Royale (2006). Today it is a sought-after wedding venue, managed by the FAI (Fondo Ambiente Italiano).

On the eastern shore of Lake Como, Varenna is a former fishing village founded around 769, its tight rows of coloured houses tumbling down to the water. Quieter than Bellagio, it suits a more relaxed visit.
You can walk the Passeggiata degli Innamorati (the "Lovers' Walk"), a path cantilevered over the water linking the ferry dock to the centre. Above the village, Vezio Castle (late 11th-early 12th century, open to the public) commands a 360° view over the lake. The Varenna-Esino station, on the Milan-Tirano line run by Trenord, puts the village about 1h05 from Milano Centrale.

Villa Carlotta is a historic villa in Tremezzo, on the western shore of Lake Como. The estate was established around 1690 by Giorgio Clerici and the villa was completed in 1745. It is famous for its botanical gardens — azaleas and rhododendrons are spectacular in spring — and its art collection, including works by the Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen. A top destination for lovers of art, history and gardens.

At the southern end of the lake's south-western arm, about 40 km from Milan, Como is the lake's principal town. A historic capital of silk, it has exported its fabrics worldwide; the Museo della Seta traces the whole chain, from silkworm to dyed thread.
Its medieval centre is built around the Duomo, "the last Gothic cathedral built in Italy" (under construction from 1396 to 1770), where Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque meet. Como is also the birthplace of Alessandro Volta, honoured by the Tempio Voltiano. Since 1894 the funicular has climbed in a few minutes up to the village of Brunate and its view over the lake and the Alps.

Villa Melzi is a neoclassical villa in Bellagio, on the promontory facing the Como arm, built between 1808 and 1810 for Francesco Melzi d'Eril, vice-president of the Napoleonic Italian Republic. Its English-style park runs down to the water, dotted with statues, a Japanese pond and a Moorish kiosk.
The villa itself is not open, but the gardens, open from spring to autumn, are one of the most popular botanical walks on the lake. They are a ten-minute lakeside walk from central Bellagio.

In Varenna, on the eastern shore, Villa Monastero takes its name from the former Cistercian monastery that stood here before it became a private residence. Today it is a house-museum whose period interiors can be visited, extended by a botanical garden stretching nearly two kilometres along the water.
The garden lines up exotic species, statues and lookouts facing the lake. It pairs easily with Vezio Castle above the village, or with the lakeside Lovers' Walk.

On the western shore, at the mouth of the river Senagra and roughly at the lake's midpoint, Menaggio faces Varenna, just north of Bellagio. Its position makes it a handy, family-friendly base for getting around.
The village marks the end of the Greenway del Lago di Como, a roughly 10.5 km walk along the ancient Roman Strada Regina, from Colonno to Griante. It is also a ferry node to Varenna and Bellagio (the lake's central triangle) and a departure point for buses to Lugano, in Switzerland, about 27 km away. Above it, the Rifugio Menaggio (1,400 m) on Monte Grona opens up hiking routes.

Isola Comacina is the only island on Lake Como, facing Sala Comacina on the western arm. An ally of Milan, it was razed by Como in 1169; from that turbulent history survive the ruins of the Basilica of Sant'Eufemia and its crypt, now in an archaeological park.
Every 24 June, the Sagra di San Giovanni is marked by an evening fireworks display over the lake that symbolically re-enacts the island's burning. The island is reached by a short shuttle boat from Sala Comacina; on it, a few ruins and a historic trattoria.

Getting on the water is the finest way to grasp Lake Como. Navigazione Lago di Como ferries and car-ferries run continuously between Bellagio, Varenna, Menaggio and Tremezzo, around Bellagio where the two southern arms meet. To go further, private excursions and licence-free boat rentals bring you close to the villas and coves the road can't reach. Weather shifts fast on the lake, so check the forecast before setting off.

Above the villages, the lake's alpine slopes are made for walking. From Como, the funicular climbs to Brunate, the trailhead for panoramic paths up to the Voltiano lighthouse. On the eastern shore, the Grigne massif and Monte San Primo offer more demanding routes with views over the lake and the Alps. Spring and autumn, mild and clear, are the best seasons; bring proper shoes and check the mountain forecast.

The lake's cuisine blends freshwater fish with alpine traditions. Look for perch risotto (risotto al pesce persico), missoltini (dried shad), polenta served with meats and alpine cheeses, and, from the neighbouring Valtellina, buckwheat pizzoccheri. Trattorias in Varenna, Bellagio and the west-shore villages serve the catch of the day; book ahead for dinner in high season and browse the markets for artisan produce.