2 days in Lake Como

Day by day

1. Day 1: Villa del Balbianello and Villa Carlotta

   Villa del Balbianello, Villa Carlotta, Isola Comacina and Greenway del Lago di Como, then Sunset on the Passeggiata degli Innamorati in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Villa del Balbianello

      It is owned by FAI, the Italian National Trust, and was used as a filming location for Star Wars: Episode II and the 2006 Casino Royale. Access is on foot along a path from Lenno or by water taxi from the Lenno shore.

   2. Late morning

      Villa Carlotta

      Its rhododendrons and azaleas flower from about April to May, and the garden also has a bamboo grove, a fern valley and lake terraces looking across to Bellagio.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Risotto with perch

      Lakeside trattorias around Bellagio, Varenna and Menaggio; check the menu for 'pesce di lago' rather than imported fish.

   4. Afternoon

      Isola Comacina

      Small boats shuttle across in a few minutes in season, and the island's single restaurant serves a long-running fixed menu.

   5. Late afternoon

      Greenway del Lago di Como

      It is mostly gentle and links Villa del Balbianello and Villa Carlotta, with ferry and bus stops along the way if you want to shorten it.

   6. Evening

      Sunset on the Passeggiata degli Innamorati

      Varenna's walkway over the water catches the evening light on Bellagio across the lake.

2. Day 2: Bellagio old town and Punta Spartivento and Villa Melzi gardens

   Bellagio old town and Punta Spartivento, Villa Melzi gardens, Varenna and the Passeggiata degli Innamorati and Central-lake ferry triangle, then Private boat tour in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Bellagio old town and Punta Spartivento

      At the northern tip, Punta Spartivento looks straight up the lake where the Como and Lecco arms divide, with the Alps on the horizon.

   2. Late morning

      Villa Melzi gardens

      The villa itself is private, but the grounds make an easy, flat walk from the ferry pier.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Missoltini

      Traditional trattorias on the central and upper lake, especially around Tremezzina and the eastern shore.

   4. Afternoon

      Varenna and the Passeggiata degli Innamorati

      Narrow staircases lead up from the waterfront to the church of San Giorgio and Piazza San Giorgio.

   5. Late afternoon

      Central-lake ferry triangle

      Slower boats run the length of the Como arm, while faster hydrofoils cut journey times between Como and the central lake.

   6. Evening

      Private boat tour

      A water taxi or wooden motorboat with a driver can loop past Villa del Balbianello, Villa Carlotta and Bellagio's lakefront at golden hour.

Before you go

• Villa del Balbianello: Guided tours of the villa interior have limited places and sell out on summer weekends; book through FAI in advance.

If it rains

• Swap in Como Cathedral (Como): Look up at the Broletto, the striped medieval town hall right next to the cathedral façade.
• Swap in Tempio Voltiano (Como): Pair it with the lakeside walk to Villa Olmo, about 15 minutes away along the shore.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 15–21 hours of visiting over 2 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 8.7 hours in December to 15.7 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

Getting between stops: Ferry. Navigazione Laghi runs slow ferries, car ferries on the central lake and faster hydrofoils.

More or fewer days

• One day in Lake Como
• 3 days in Lake Como
• 5 days in Lake Como

Questions travellers ask