Lake Como

The southern part of the district contains the northern part of the historic land of Brianza, which lies between this district and the Grande Milano district. This is a wealthy and mostly industrial and residential area.

Paderno D'Adda and its surroundings, with the old San Michele bridge and Leonardo's connections

Montevecchia and the Curone park, which offers great views on the entire Po Plain, and is therefore known as the Tetto della Brianza (Brianza's rooftop)

Regular trains run from Milan to Como (which has 2 stations: Como San Giovanni and Como Lago). Como San Giovanni Station is outside of the center, but there are buses that stop there. You can buy tickets at the tobacconist in the station for a few euros, or walk to the center of town.

Overnight sleeper trains run from Amsterdam via Duesseldorf, Cologne, Frankfurt and Basel stopping at Como San Giovanni on their way to Milan. Similar daytime trains also run.

Trains also run from Milan and Bergamo to Lecco, some of them also continue up to the Eastern Shore to Varenna and Colico and then to Sondrio and Tirano.

Frequent buses run up the Western Shore from Como to Menaggio. A few then continue on to Colico.

Several boats and hydrofoils a day travel all the way up the lake from Como to Colico stopping at most of the towns en route. The distances are long, so you shouldn't expect to visit more than 2-3 villages in a day. For example, the regular ferry takes around 2 hours to go from Como to Bellaggio. There are fast services that travel faster, stop at fewer places and cost more. Less frequent boat/hydrofoils travel down the eastern leg between Bellagio and Lecco.

There are additional frequent services between the 'triangle' of towns in the centre of the lake - Menaggio, Bellagio & Varenna. In season, there is a boat service for the mid-lake (Bellano, Lenno, Villa Carlotta and Tremezzo in addition to Menaggio, Varenna and Bellagio). It runs hourly 09:00 to 18:00.

Timetables are available at tourist information offices, at the quayside or online from Gestione Navigazione Laghi.

You can get a day pass that covers most of the lake for €25.80 (Sep 2019), and other passes that cover only part of the lake for less. With these passes, you must pay a supplement to use the faster hydrofoils. By comparison, a one-way ticket on the regular ferry from Como to Bellaggio (~2 hr) costs €10.40, while a return ticket on the hydrofoil (45 min) costs about €30 (Sep 2019).

If you want to discover Lake Como by yourself, you can rent a 40 hp motorboats to drive without any ship's license. If you stay in Menaggio, Bellagio, Tremezzo, Cadenabbia and Varenna you can contact AC Boat. Good rates and service and very nice boats.

On Lake Como a railway is available only on the eastern shore of the lake, with stations between Lecco and Colico. Regional trains stop in all stations; while direct trains only in few of them; the stations on Lake Como are: Lecco (also direct trains), Abbadia Lariana (some direct trains), Mandello, Lierna, Fiumelatte, Varenna (the name of the station is Varenna Esino at it is actually located in Perledo - also direct trains), Bellano (also direct trains), Dervio, Dorio, Piona, Colico (also direct trains). From south to north, the railway line connects Milan to Morbegno, Sondrio and Tirano (in Valtellina); in Colico another line allows to reach Chiavenna in Valchiavenna.

Direct trains depart from Milan central station; while regional trains from Milan Porta Garibaldi. In general there is a direct and regional train every two hours, which means that basically there is either train every hour; the service is more intense in the morning and evening (for commuters moving in the morning towards Lecco and Milan and in the evening from Lecco and Milan); it starts at around 06:00 from Milan and it finishes with the last train from Milan at 21:20. It is important to take attention to the different timelines during weekdays and weekends (there is also a winter and summer timeline); in general through trains are not a reliable mean of transport on the lake by night.

The railway on the eastern shore of the lake is a convenient mean of transport also to reach other destinations on the lake. Considering the fast direct trains from Milan to Varenna (the name of the station is Varenna Esino) take around 1 hour, from Varenna is the possible to connect by boat to other towns, such as Bellagio, Menaggio, Tremezzo with frequent boats and other towns with less frequent boats.

Roads run up and down most of the shores. On the Western Shore, road works are common and travel duration can vary greatly. You can expect to average 40–60 km/h. Despite the construction of new tunnels, the road on the Western Shore still crosses the centre of many villages. Avoid the road if you are not a keen driver and dislike small roads, hairpins, steep inclines, sharp bends, and heavy traffic. Fatal accidents, often involving motorcyclists, are common.

The Eastern Shore is served by the SS36 highway, a two-lane fast road that connects Milan and Lecco to Colico and the adjacent Valtellina region. Be aware that there are no exit other than Lecco, Bellano and Colico. The other villages are served by the old shoreline road, which offers good views to the lake but it's also a bit challenging, due to its small lanes, sharp bends and dark tunnels.

Parking in some areas can be problematic, especially if you have a big car. A small car can be much more convenient for both traveling and parking.

The entire lake area is popular with motorcyclists from all over Europe.

On Lake Como you can ride with rental bike shops available for easy biking itineraries and rental services without guide, bikes can be rent with special accessories and with free delivery at hotels and B&B.

• The Wayfarer's Path of Leonardo da Vinci
• Sentiero del Viandante (Lierna)

Take a boat trip. The most popular tourist towns seem to be Bellagio, Menaggio, and Varenna. Gravedona and Domaso (in the north) and Bellano, Lenno, and Argegno (mid-lake) are also worth a stop (no more than two hours required for each).

Take a flight over the lake. Aero Club Como offers flights in seaplanes.

The nearest skiing area is the Piani di Bobbio site. This is a quite basic resort, with easy and intermediate downhill ski slopes. This is the nearest ski area from Milan and a very good one for beginners (but not very thrilling for experts).

Hike in the mountains. There are various paths, from the easiest one to the most strenuous, and many mountain huts and resting points. Most paths offer spectacular views across the lake and sometimes it is even possible to see both Lake Lugana and Lake Como from the same place, such as Monte Grona. The tourist office in Menaggio has a wide selection of possibilities. Lecco is also a good base to start a hike, particularly because you can reach many starting points without a car. You can also find good sites for rock climbing.

Try a round of golf or tennis at the Villa D'Este or Monticello golf clubs. Menaggio e Cadenabbia Golf Club, just a few kilometers inland from Menaggio, is where George Clooney is said to be a member.

Do some water sports on the Lake. There are two locations that rent motor boats. Lower horsepowers do not require a boating license.

More water sports: in most of the lakeside towns, you will find opportunities to rent various kinds of boats. Many towns also have sailing and/or (kite) surfing schools. Water skiing is possible from some towns.

The Lake Como Greenway is an almost 6.4-km walkway on the west side on the lake. While some parts are not lake-front, it is mostly lake-front and its route near Bolvedro/Tremezzo goes through a very nice lake-front park. The best towns to join the green way are Lenno and Tremezzo.

• 🌍 Cablecar Argegno - Pigra (Bus C10 to Argegno, or ferry), ☏ +39 031 821344. Take a cable car then hike down to Colonno (~2 hr). (updated Sep 2015)

• Visit the Roman Stone and Strada Regia. Torno, one of the most picturesque villages perched on this lake shore , is the starting point for the itinerary to Piazzaga. Following the red arrows to the “strada regia” and the signs to Molina, Piazzaga/Massi avelli you will take the path along a mule track, along which you can find views on the lake, a Roman stone arch and a rich wildlife. You will then get to a stone bridge on a stream and by keeping your left you will head towards the “massi avelli”, erratic boulders where tombs have been graved. You then go ahead to Piazzaga, take a nice break and eat or drink some typical and traditional food in the Crotto and enjoy the impressive view on the whole lake.Then slowly go to Montepiatto and visit the "Pietra Pendula " and go back to Torno. 
• Beaches. Discover all the towns around Lake Como where you can spend a pleasant day on the lake with the possibility of swimming in the clear waters to enjoy a day of relax and fun. Lake Como is full of lidos and beaches, so a tan on Lake Como is guaranteed. 
• Mountain ranges. Lake Como is surrounded by some imposing peaks, which are reflected in its waters and render the landscape unique. The valleys surrounding Lake Como are some of the most beautiful areas in the Prealps, rich in vegetation and populated by numerous animal species. It is a homogeneous area from which many excursions start along old military roads and trails towards mountain pastures and refuges. The Grigna, Resegone and Legnone are important mountain ranges, but San Primo and the Pizzo di Gino, which encircle the lake, become especially atmospheric and unforgettable during long summer sunsets and in the warm autumn light that encircles their contours, in winter whiteness and in the spring freshness. The mountains and valleys include the whole local area around the lake, with hills and mountain ranges that rise from the plain and enclose countryside and villages, reliefs and woods: Valsassina, Valvarrone, Valle San Martino and Val d’Esino, Val d’Intelvi, Val Menaggio, Val Cavargna, Val Solda and the valleys of the Upper Western Lario. Lake Como’s mountain ranges offer endless opportunities for excursions and trekking 

Como has been for many years the most important center for silk production in the world, boasts a long tradition in this sector and holds the title of "world capital of silk". It is said that it all began thanks to Mr. Pietro Boldoni of Bellano and we are talking about 1510. He was the first to open a silk industry in Como. And to further testify to the importance of the sector for the Lake Como area, there are the Silk Museum (in Como) and the Civic Museum Setificio Monti (in Abbadia Lariana). Two must-see places if you are interested in getting to know this fascinating world up close. In any case, whether you buy a tie, a foulard, a scarf or a dress, if it is made of silk you will have bought the souvenir par excellence in these parts!

Yes, I think there is nothing more linked to its territory of origin than its food and wine products, that is, those products that the locals bring to their tables! Depending on the conformity of a place, the products available vary greatly. And since Lake Como is, first of all (and by definition) a lake, but certainly also a mountain, its typical products to put in the shopping cart are: cheeses (zincarlin, semuda, Lariano di capra, Lariano d'Alpeggio , ricotta ... just to name a few), fish (probably the most "famous", and also the easiest to transport on a possible return trip, is the missultin), oil, honey, local cured meats (head salami, mortadella di liver), flour for polenta and of course desserts (braschin, miascia, mataloc, resta…). For fans there is no shortage of craft beers and IGP wine.

Because even in this sector on Lake Como the artisan tradition is well rooted: in the past there were many carpenters, producers of more or less valuable furniture (the Cantù carpenters were very famous) or even cabinetmakers. Not to mention the renowned shipyards that, scattered (once many, today fewer) around the lake, have given and still give life to splendid boats, more or less elegant, maximum exaltation of craftsmanship. In short, the Larians know how to do it with wood! So, you can certainly overdo it and buy a piece of furniture or a boat made in these parts, but of course it will be fine to take home even just a model of Lucia (typical boat of Lake Como), plates, bowls, cutting boards or trays made of wood. , even better if olive.

A slightly unusual souvenir with a slightly retro taste, perhaps, but certainly linked to the traditions of these lands. If it meets your tastes, it may be another idea to consider. Also in this case the typical production area is Cantù (very famous, in fact, the Cantù lace), a town not far from Como, but there are also skilled women with bobbins on the Lario, capable of creating objects of extraordinary finesse!