3 Nights in Lake Como, Italy: A Last-Minute Stop
Lake Como was never part of our original plan—which made the decision even better.
After an incredible 5-week Europe trip through Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Norway, Tomorrowland, and the Dolomites, we found ourselves with three open nights before flying home out of Milan. Instead of overplanning, we left it open…and landed on Lake Como.
And wow—what a way to end a trip.
It was beautiful, lively, scenic, and yes… extremely hot and crowded in August, but still worth it.
Getting to Lake Como (Bellagio)
If you’re planning a similar route, here’s exactly how to get there:
- From the Dolomites (what we did):
- ~4.5 hour drive to Bellagio
- Closest Airports:
- Milan Malpensa (MXP): ~1 to 1.5 hour drive
- Milan Linate (LIN): ~1 to 1.5 hour drive
- Bergamo (BGY): ~1 to 1.5 hour drive
Transportation Options:
- Rent a car: Best for flexibility (what we did)
- Train from Milan + Varenna ferry:
- Milan Centrale → Varenna-Esino → ferry to Bellagio
- Train from Milan to Como Town:
- Then take bus, ferry, or taxi to your final destination
Where to Stay in Lake Como
We stayed in Bellagio, and I’d absolutely recommend it—especially for a first visit.
Best Towns to Stay:
- Bellagio (our pick):
- Central location
- Lively with shops and restaurants
- Varenna:
- More laid-back, romantic, and charming
- Direct train access from Milan
- Menaggio:
- More spacious and family-friendly
- Flat terrain
- Tremezzo:
- Upscale, quieter, and stunning views of Bellagio
Real talk: We booked super last minute and got lucky with an Airbnb cancellation—options go FAST in peak season so book early!
Lake Como Ferry Tips You NEED to Know
Getting between towns is part of the experience—but also requires some strategy:
- Fast ferries (15–20 mins):
- Tickets can be bought in person or online
- Tickets pre-purchased online do not guarantee you a seat, it is first come first serve
- Pre-purchased online tickets can be used at anytime for the day you selected. So if the ferry you are in line for fills up you can still use that online ticket for the next ferry
- Lines can be 30–45 minutes in summer
- For the central area route the ferries operate between: Bellagio, Varenna and Menaggio
- Prices are usually around €5 to €7 per one-way trip
- For online tickets and more information: Navigazionelaghi.it
- Scenic ferries (~2 hours):
- Can be pre-booked online or purchased directly on board the ferry
- More for sightseeing than convenience
- Important tips:
- Ticket offices open around 7–7:30 AM
- There are 2 types of ferries: car ferries and passenger ferries
- Car ferries (traghetto) are larger and slower then the passenger only ferries (battello/aliscafo)
- Our experience:
- We used the passenger ferry from Bellagio to Varenna and back
- We used the car ferry from Bellagio to Tremezzo and then the car ferry from Mennagio to Bellagio for the return trip
- We bought our tickets in person at the dockside ticket booths for both days
- Lines were pretty long at times but it was never longer than a 40 minute wait
Lake Como Highlights
- Bellagio: Lively town with shops and restaurants and a beach club
- Varenna: Villa Monastero and Villa Cipressi
- Tremezzo: Villa Carlotta
- Mennagio: Piazza Girabaldi and lakefront promenade
When to Visit Lake Como
- Summer (June–August):
- Peak season, hottest, busiest
- Best for swimming + boat days
- Spring (April–May):
- Blooming flowers, fewer crowds
- Fall (Sept–Oct):
- Best balance of weather + crowds
- Winter (Nov–March):
- Quiet, cheaper, but many places closed
- Our experience (Aug 7–10):
Beautiful, but very hot and very crowded—especially with all the walking.
What to Pack for Lake Como in Summer
Keep it simple and practical:
- Sneakers (you’ll walk a LOT)
- Lightweight clothes (shorts, tanks, dresses)
- Sunscreen, sunglasses, hat
- Small day backpack
Our 3-Night Lake Como Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival + Slow Evening
- Drove from the Dolomites into Bellagio
- Checked into our Bellagio Airbnb (views were unreal)
- Got hit with rain, so we leaned into it:
- Opened a bottle of Italian wine
- Relaxed and reset
- Drove and got take out from La Bellagina Ristorante Pizzeria
Perfect way to ease into the final stop.
Day 2: Bellagio + Varenna
- Morning exploring Bellagio:
- Wandering narrow streets
- Shopping (we shipped Italian wine home—highly recommend)
- Took a fast ferry to Varenna
- Immediately fell in love—so colorful and charming
- Highlights:
- Villa Monastero
- 12th century villa and museum with lake side views
- Botanical gardens that spans 2 km
- House museum
- Price: €15 per adult for the botanical gardens + museum
- can be purchased online or in person
- Villa Cipressi Botanical Gardens (Il Giardino Botanico)
- There is another garden adjacent to Villa Monastero but you cant buy these tickets online, you have to purchase them in person
- Price for just the Villa Cipressi gardens is ~ €10 to €13 per adult
- Combined tickets to visit Villa Monastero + House Museum and Villa Cipressi is ~ €19 to €22 per adult
- Walking along the waterfront
- Drinks + food at a lakeside spot
- Villa Monastero
- Bought ferry tickets back to Bellagio
Day 3: Tremezzo + Menaggio
- Took our car on the ferry from Bellagio to Tremezzo
- Explored Villa Carlotta
- Beautiful 17th century villa
- Botanical garden
- Lake side views
- Price ~ €15 per adult
- Can buy tickets online or in person
- Drove ~10 minutes to Menaggio
- More relaxed vibe
- Great spot to grab food and drinks in the Piazza Girabaldi square
- Walked the lakefront promenade
- Took an 8pm car ferry from Mennagio back to Bellagio
- Dinner at Ristorante Mistral located inside the Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni in Bellagio to end the night
- Nice Italian restaurant with beautiful Lake Como views
Day 4: Lido di Bellagio Beach Club + Milan
- Relaxed morning at Lido di Bellagio Beach Club
- Rented a couple lounge chairs
- Swam in the lake
- Soaked up the last views
- Drove 1 hour and 20 minutes to Milan:
- Quick stop to see the Milan Cathedral
- A bird flew right in for my cathedral picture
- Stayed the night near the airport for an easy departure
Was 3 Nights in Lake Como Enough?
Honestly—yes, but barely.
- 3 nights = enough to see the main towns
- 4 nights = ideal pace
By the end, we were:
- Tired from the heat
- Done with walking all day
So 3 nights worked perfectly for us, especially as the final stop of a long trip.
Lake Como Overall
Lake Como wasn’t planned—but it ended up being the perfect end to our 5 week trip.
Between the colorful towns, ferry rides, lake views, and slow evenings with wine, it felt like the perfect mix of adventure and relaxation.
Would I go back?
Yes—but next time… not in peak August heat
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