Lake Como holidays

When you want to explore further, simply take a boat trip on one of the ferries that regularly shuttles up and down the lake. Follow the many hiking trails that lead upwards through the woods towards summits that offer heart-stopping views of the lake and mountains.

When is the cheapest time to visit?

Lake Como in the winter can be a romantic place to visit, when snow blankets the mountains and prices are low. Even though it’s a touristy area, the ferries that connect the main towns run all year round, even if some of the tourist boat excursions don’t run out of season.

When to go for the best of both

May and June are pleasant, with temperatures around 20C, but there can be quite a few rainy days. September has similarly mild days, with marginally less rainfall throughout the month. These shoulder season months can be the most practical for couples if you want to avoid the crowds and hiked-up prices.

Where Lake Como forks southwards, that’s where you’ll find Bellagio on a little promontory, with majestic mountains rising behind it. Bellagio’s tree-shaded promenade is the stuff of romance, with pastel-coloured grand hotels leading to the colourful botanical gardens of Villa Melzi. When you’re not wandering through the charming maze of cobbled lanes and steep alleyways of the village centre, go for a swim either at the art deco lido or off the pontoon created for the public beach.

Villa Carlotta

Take the ferry to Tremezzo if you want to get the finest first impression of Villa Carlotta. This enchanting pink and white villa was built in 1690 for a Prussian princess – and, suitably, it’s in a fairytale location right on the waterfront. Step inside and you’ll find yourself in the 18th and 19th centuries as you explore the large collection of period furnishings and works of art. Surrounding Villa Carlotta are 14 acres of gorgeous, landscaped gardens bursting with colour.

Como

Even though it’s right at the most south-westerly point of the lake, the city of Como has so much to see and do – and it’s easy to reach other lakeside towns by ferry. Start with the Duomo, a fabulous blend of gothic, Renaissance and baroque architecture, before wandering through the waterside Tempio Voltiano gardens. Take the funicular from Piazza Cavour to the hilltop village of Brunate for wonderful views and hikes. From here, carry on to Faro Voltiano for even more outstanding views from the lighthouse.

Villa del Balbianello

If you’re a fan of James Bond or Star Wars, you’ll want to take the boat from the village of Lenno to the Villa del Balbianello and soak up the glamour of this 18th-century villa. Stealing the scene in both 2006’s Casino Royale and Star Wars: Episode II: Attack of the Clones, this opulent villa uses its position on a steep headland to dramatic effect. It features not only an impressive art collection but also beautifully landscaped gardens with amazing views out over the lake.

The Greenway

If the thought of tackling the 125km (77-mile) Via dei Monti Lariani long-distance footpath is too much, go for the gentler option of the Greenway. This scenic trail meanders for 10km (6 miles) mostly along the waterfront, starting in Colonno (about 5km south of Villa del Balbianello) and finishing in Cadenabbia past Tremezzo. Now and again the path takes you inland past tranquil villages for a change of scenery. To avoid a 22km (13 miles) round trip, you can take the ferry from Cadenabbia back to Colonno.

Varenna has more of a laidback atmosphere, as it’s not as well known as some of the other lakeside towns. Como has beaches as well as a lido and expansive public parks.

For travellers on a budget

Bellano is slightly off the tourist radar, which means accommodation and eating out will be cheaper than in hotspots such as Bellagio. It’s a short train ride to Varenna, where you can make boat trips to other lakeside towns.

Menaggio is also good for holidaymakers on a budget, with campsites and family-run B&Bs to choose from. If you carry on south along Lake Como’s less-visited eastern “fork”, you reach Mandello del Lario, where you can choose from campsites and well-priced B&Bs, small hotels and apartment rentals.

For food and drink

Lake Como’s generally upmarket atmosphere translates into an impressive choice of high-quality restaurants, many of which are in beautiful positions with terraces overlooking the lake. Bellagio, with its high-end hotels as well as classy waterside restaurants, is an obvious choice for food lovers.

Tremezzo too has some fine-dining restaurants in scenic locations, as does Menaggio. For sheer variety of good restaurants for all budgets, Como is hard to beat.

For nightlife

Lake Como is too genteel to have a reputation for raucous nightlife, although summertime heralds the return of beachfront outdoor discos. Between Tremezzo and Lenno, you can join the party at the open-air beach clubs and discos that pop up during the summer. Menaggio also has a lively beachfront scene that hots up in the summer.

For the widest choice of cocktail bars, cafés and late-night bars, you’re better off in Como, which also isn’t as tied to the seasons as other lakeside towns.

For culture

Tremezzo is a convenient base for visiting Lake Como’s renowned villas, including Villa Carlotta and Villa del Balbianello slightly south of the town. It’s also handy for boat trips to Lake Como’s only island, the minuscule Isola Comacina. Here you can visit ancient Roman ruins as well as a medieval basilica.

Culture and history lovers will want to base themselves in Como, where you can explore the magnificent Duomo as well as the Paolo Giovio Archaeological Museum. Overlooking the lake is the vast neoclassical Villa Olmo, which has temporary art exhibitions.