One day 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

      Arrive by water taxi from Lenno for the classic view of the villa from the lake, then walk back along the path. Allow 1.5–2 hours.

   2. Late morning

      Villa Carlotta

      Visit in April or early May for the azalea and rhododendron displays, and allow at least an hour for the garden alone. Allow 2–3 hours.

   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

      Take the shuttle boat from Sala Comacina and allow an hour to wander the ruins. Allow 1–2 hours.

   5. Late afternoon

      Greenway del Lago di Como

      Walk it north to south in the morning and catch a ferry back from Tremezzo or Cadenabbia. Allow 3–4 hours.

   6. Evening

      Sunset on the Passeggiata degli Innamorati

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

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 8–11 hours of visiting over one day, 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

• 2 days in Lake Como
• 3 days in Lake Como
• 5 days in Lake Como

Questions travellers ask