Lake Como Tours &
Things to Do
Discover the best Lake Como tours on Italy’s most glamorous lake: glide across the shimmering water on a classic wooden boat to the elegant villages of Bellagio and Varenna, tour the romantic gardens of Villa del Balbianello, stroll the lakeside city of Como and ride the funicular to Brunate, savour a hands-on Italian cooking class, and sip prosecco at sunset. Compare top-rated experiences and plan your perfect lake escape.
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Explore Lake Como by interest
Whatever brings you to Lake Como — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Top attractions in Lake Como
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Bellagio
Pearl of the lake.
Varenna
Romantic village.
Boat Cruise
Classic wooden boats.
Villa Balbianello
Cinematic gardens.
Como & Brunate
City & funicular.
Sunset Cruise
Prosecco & views.
From Milan
Easy day trips.
Lugano
Swiss lake town.
Lake Como in 2 days
- 1Day 1: villages & boat
- 2Day 2: villas
- 3Cooking class
- 4Como & funicular
Lake Como in 3 days
- 1Day 1: villages
- 2Day 2: villas & food
- 3Day 3: Lugano
- 4Bernina Express
Lake Como with kids
- 1Boat cruise
- 2Como funicular
- 3Villa gardens
- 4Gelato by the lake
By boat awayBellagio
Pearl of the lake.
1–4 hrs awayBoat Cruise
Classic wooden boats.
By boat awayVilla Balbianello
Cinematic gardens.
In Como awayComo & Brunate
City & funicular.
Day trip awayLugano
Swiss lake town.
1 hr awayFrom Milan
Easy day trips.
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Lake Como visitor asks before booking.
The sweet-spot months
May–June and September bring warm, sunny weather, blooming or golden gardens, and fewer crowds than peak summer.
Summer (Jul–Aug)
Warm and lively with all boats and villas open, but the busiest and priciest time — book ahead.
Spring (Apr–Jun)
Mild with the villa gardens in bloom, ideal for sightseeing and boat trips.
Autumn (Sep–Oct)
Warm early on with golden colours and a relaxed atmosphere — a beautiful, quieter time.
Winter (Nov–Mar)
Quiet and cool, with some villas and boat services reduced; atmospheric but limited.
Boat season
Boat cruises run most frequently from spring to autumn, the best time for the lake.
One day
A boat cruise to Bellagio and Varenna.
Two days
Add the villas and a cooking class.
Three days
Add a Lugano and Switzerland trip.
Boat lovers
Add private cruises and self-drive boats.
Garden lovers
Add time for several villa gardens.
With kids
Mix boat rides, the funicular and gardens.
Ferries & boats
Public ferries and private boats are the best way to hop between Como, Bellagio, Varenna and the villas.
Tours & transfers
Guided tours and transfers, often from Milan, include transport and a boat cruise with pickup.
Funicular & trains
The Como–Brunate funicular and regional trains from Milan to Como and Varenna make access easy.
Driving
A car gives flexibility, though lakeside roads are narrow and parking in villages is limited.
In the villages
Bellagio, Varenna and Como’s old town are compact and best explored on foot.
Getting there
Lake Como is about an hour from Milan by train or car, with Milan’s airports the main gateways.
Euros
Italy uses the euro; cards are widely accepted, so you need little cash beyond small purchases and tips.
Book boats early
Popular cruises and private boat tours sell out in summer — reserve ahead.
Check villa opening
Villa del Balbianello and other villas have set opening days and times — plan around them.
Passport for Switzerland
Bring your passport for Lugano and Bernina Express day trips across the border.
Visit in shoulder season
May–June and September offer great weather with fewer crowds than peak summer.
Comfortable shoes
Bellagio and Varenna have steep, cobbled lanes and steps — wear comfortable footwear.
Boat cruises
Popular shared and private cruises sell out in summer — book ahead.
Villa visits
Villa del Balbianello has limited entry — reserve early.
Cooking classes
Small-group classes have limited places — book ahead.
Switzerland trips
Lugano and Bernina Express tours are popular — reserve early.
Day trips from Milan
Top Milan day tours fill up — book ahead.
Summer peak
July–August is very busy — plan ahead.
Shared boat cruise
Around €25–60 for a shared cruise with stops or prosecco.
Private boat tour
About €150–400 per boat for a private wooden-boat charter.
Villa visit tour
Roughly €40–80 for a villa and gardens tour by boat.
Cooking class
Around €70–120 for a hands-on class with a meal.
Day trip from Milan
About €80–150 for a guided day trip with boat cruise.
How to save
Join shared cruises and group day trips to cut the per-person cost.
Lake Como through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
- Best for
- Gardens in bloom.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Lovely, mild.
- Best for
- Boats & villas open.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Busy; book ahead.
- Best for
- Golden, relaxed.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Great value.
- Best for
- Quiet, atmospheric.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Some closures.