A long weekend on Lake Como: what to see in 3 days
It’s the third most visited city in Lombardy after Milan and Bergamo: we’re talking about our beloved Como! Every year millions of tourists, Italians and non-Italians, choose Como as their summer holiday destination or decide to spend a weekend out of town to discover the wonders of Lake Como.
Easter and the Italian Liberation Day on April 25 is an excellent opportunity to treat yourself to three days in Como and its surroundings, perhaos staying in a luxury villa on the shores of the Lario. If you’re planning to spend 72 hours on Lake Como, here are the destinations and attractions you absolutely must visit. The itinerary includes all of them: you can follow it or draw inspiration from it and organize your tailor-made trip!
1 – The City of Como
The starting point is, without doubt, the city of Como. For those arriving by car, Como offers several parking lots and garages also very close to the center. Como is also easily reachable by train thanks to direct connections with Milan by Ferrovie Nord (with destination Como Lago) and Ferrovie dello Stato (with destination Como San Giovanni). Both stations are within walking distance of the historic center.
Strolling thought the streets of Como you can discover some of the world famous spots. Alessandro Volta, the inventor of the battery, was born in Como and there are numerous places and monuments dedicated to him in the town, e.g. the Volta’s House (in Via Alessandro Volta 62, ehere he died in 1827), the Statue of Volta (in the square that carries his name) and the Volta Temple (directly on the lake, surrounded by gardens, exhibits documents and objects that belong to him).
The central square of Como is Piazza Cavour: from here you can discover the most important buildings in the city such as the Cathedral (white, in Gothic style, with some world famous frescoes and paintings), the Palazzo del Broletto, the Teatro Sociale and Porta Torre (one of the ancient access gates to the city which the ruins of the walls that protected its historic center are still connected).
2 – Brunate
The station of one of Como’s main attractions, the funicolar, is situated in Viale Geno – the lakefront promenade leading to Villa Geno. The funicolar connects Como with the village of Brunate, at 715m above sea level. Ascending you can enjoy a unique view of the first basin of Lake Como. Once arrived in Brunate, you can take a walk and admire the lake from different vantage points, and the more active can choose a sloping path leading to the Lighthouse of Brunate in approx. one hour. Despite its name, the lighthouse does not have an actual function for navigation. It was built in 1927 by an idea of the engineer Gabriele Giussani to pay homage to Alessandro Volta 100 years after his death, and the correct name of the lighthouse is in fact “Faro Voltiano / the Volta Lighthouse“. It is open every weekend from 10 to 19 and, on a particularly clear days, you can see the Madonnina of the Milan Cathedral from the top!
Returning from Brunate, you can continue your trip in Lake Como with a visit to some historic villas overlooking the lake. Villa Geno and Villa Olmo are the nearest, and also among the best known. Located opposite each other on the two main streets along the lake, they are easily reachable by foot in a few minutes from the historic center of Como. Villa Geno is mainly used as a location for luxury weddings on Lake Como and hosts a lovely Lido open all summer. Villa Olmo is surrounded by gardens that can be visited for free all year round and is home to numerous art exhibitions and events.
If you dream of living in a luxury residence in Como, here is our proposal: a luxurious Art Nouveau villa surrounded by a prestigious park not far from the center of Como. Discover it here!
3 – The Eastern Shore of the Lake: Orrido di Nesso and Bellagio
Lake Como is easily recognizable on maps due to its characteristic inverted Y shape. The city of Como, from which the lake’s name originates, is located at the bottom of the western branch of the Lario: in fact, from Como you will notice the two banks. The eastern bank is more than 30 km long, starts from Como and arrives in Bellagio passing through some characteristic villages such as Blevio, Torno, Nesso and Lezzeno.
Our advice for the second day on Lake Como, is to discover the eastern shore. Setting out from Como, you can travel by car or by one of the boats of the Navigazione Lago di Como (with frequent connections throughout the day). Whatever means of transport you choose, you will enjoy an unforgettable panorama!
The first stop is the Orrido di Nesso: a natural gorge located in the small and characteristic village of Nesso. Here the two streams, the Tuf and the Nosè, meet and create a wonderful and abundant waterfall throughout the year. If you arrive from the road and park your car at the Nesso belvedere viewpoint you will see from above the narrow and very deep gorge channeling the waters into the lake and hear the impressive sound of the water! Following the signs for “Ponte della Civera”, you take the downhill path consisting mainly of steps (over 340!) and in a few minutes you will arrive at Ponte della Civera. Here you can enjoy the view of the Orrido di Nesso and its natural waterfall in all its wonderful and mysterious beauty!
After the walk to the Orrido di Nesso, you can continue exploring the eastern shore of Lake Como towards Bellagio. Known as “the pearl of the lake”, Bellagio is considered one of the most beautiful and romantic towns of the Lario. Here the two branches of Como and Lecco meet offering incomparable views. Bellagio is unique thanks to its colorful shops and buildings, cobbled paths and stone stairways. Do not miss a visit to the gardens of Villa Melzi and the Serbelloni park. Punta Spartivento, a panoramic point offering a beautiful view of Lake Como, is also recommended.
Have you fallen in love with Bellagio and are you thinking of buying a luxury villa here? We propose Villa Adele: overlooking Bellagio, it boasts panoramic views over the three branches of Lake Como and offers tranquility and privacy.
4 – The Western Shore of the Lake: The Comacina Island, Tremezzo and Menaggio
How to start the last day visiting Lake Como? Visit the western bank! Also easily accessible both by car and via the lake, you can visit some renowned places such as Moltrasio, Laglio, Lenno, Ossuccio, Tremezzo and Menaggio.
The first stop not to be missed is the Comacina Island, the only island of the Lario, located in front of the village of Ossuccio. From April to September the boat service takes visitors to the Comacina Island in a few minutes. Several paths allow you to discover the island and immerse yourself in its unspoilt nature.
After the visit to the island, you can reach Tremezzo (elected one of the most beautiful villages in Italy) in less than 10 minutes by car. Tremezzo combines elegance and history and is characterized by ancient and famous villas such as Villa Carlotta (mentioned in this article) and the Grand Hotel Tremezzo (5-star hotel with a picturesque view of the Bellagio peninsula). Tremezzo enjoys a sunny position and is a good spot for a swim in the blue waters of Lake Como.
Menaggio is located a few kilometers north of Tremezzo. Menaggio is a characteristic town, a popular location for many films and TV series, and is famous for its beautiful buildings surrounding the main square at the lake and for its elegant shops and charming bars. Menaggio is the ideal starting point for exploring the surrounding area and for relax: a swim at the Lido, a mini golf game or a tasting of typical lake dishes.
If you dream of living in this area of the Lario, particularly in Tremezzina, we have what you need: an Art Nouveau villa with a panoramic view of Lake Como!
Visiting Lake Como in three days is an intense but truly rewarding experience!
Have you decided that Lario is the place to spend your holidays? Do not hesitate to contact us: we have several proposals for luxury apartments and villas for rent .
If you are planning to buy a villa on Lake Como, click here to discover some of our listings. We should be happy to assist you in finding the house of your dreams!