Luxury Villas on Lake Como
Lake Como is the third largest lake in Italy, measuring approximately 46 kilometres in length. It can also lay claim to being the fifth deepest lake in Europe, with a striking Y shape that makes it instantly recognisable. It has been popular amongst the Europe upper classes for centuries. It was often the first stopping point on the European Grand Tour in the early 18th century, before visitors continued their journeys to Milan, Florence, Venice and Rome. However, these days it’s arguably more popular than ever.
At one end of the lake, the city of Como is the perfect starting point to explore the lake. However, there are a host of smaller towns and villages on Lake Como well worth visiting too. Bellagio is arguable the lake’s most famous village but others just as worthy of a visit include Varenna, Cernobbio, Bellano, Menaggio and others. It’s also famous not for its picturesque lakeside towns but also for its stunning villas and gardens. Villa Carlotta, Villa Bernasconi, Villa d’Este, Villa Erba and Villa del Balbianello are the most impressive. The landscape is stunning and it’s not surprising that it has been frequently referred to as the most beautiful lake in the world.
At the moment, Bookings For You don’t have any villas on Lake Como. We are actively searching to find Lake Como villas to share with you. Please do check back in soon. In the meantime, why not take a look at our villas on Lake Maggiore instead.
Refine and personalise your results
About Lake Como
Lake Como has been a popular tourist destination for centuries. Back in the 18th and 19th centuries, the lake attracted numerous poets, authors and composers such as Byron, Shelley, Stendhal and Verdi to its shores as part of the Grand Tour. More recently, it has attracted numerous celebrities, the most famous of which is arguably George Clooney. He purchased Villa Oleandra – a 22 room mansion overlooking the lake. It has also served as the backdrop for a number of films from the 007 Bond film Casino Royale to Star Wars and from The Bold and the Beautiful to A Month by the Lake.
Towns and villages of Lake Como
Lake Como’s principal city is the aptly named Como. Sitting at the southern tip of the lake, it has a long history dating all the way back to Roman times. More recently, it had a thriving wool and silk industry. And whilst both these industries have long since been overtaken by tourism, it’s still a great place to shop for silk products. The city has a number of notable buildings worth admiring, not least its Duomo – the Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta – as well as a number of excellent museums.
Whilst Como may be the lake’s largest town, arguably Lake Como’s most famous town is Bellagio. Certainly, it deserves its reputation – it is incredibly charming with picturesque cobbled streets and narrow alleyways where balconies are festooned with flowers. However, if you want to escape the crowds, head instead to its neighbour Varenna. Here, colourful houses line the Riva Grande lakeside promenade, whilst charming cafes line Varenna’s main piazza.
Other towns and villages we would recommend you visit include Argegno, Laglio, Bellano, Cernobbio, Torno, Lenno, Tremezzo, Menaggio and Lecco. You can find out more about these and discover all the other smaller towns and villages on Lake Como in our A to Z guide to Lake Como.
What to see and do on Lake Como
Of course, no holiday on Lake Como would be complete without exploring all these charming lakeside towns and villages. The best way to do so is by using the excellent public boat system. This makes its way back and forth across the lake all day long allowing you to easily explore without the need for a car.
Lake Como is probably most famous for being home to a number of beautiful historic villas and gardens. These include the beautiful Villa Melzi and Villa Carlotta. Here you will discover stunning botanic gardens, home to an abundance of rare plant species whilst inside the villa visitors are treated to a rare art collection. Also not to be missed is Villa del Balbianello. The latter is famous for its intricate terraced gardens. It has also served as the backdrop for numerous films including Star Wars: Attack of the Clones and Casino Royale.
Unlike the other Italian Lakes – Lake Garda and Lake Maggiore – Lake Como has just one small island. However, this is worth a visit. The island may be small but it’s a pleasant place to spend a couple of hours enjoying a stroll and admiring the Romanesque church and ruins.
With so much to see and do outdoors, Lake Como is an ideal Italian holiday destination for those who love to spend time outside. If you’re after a slow and sedate pace of life on holiday, then you may want to spend time at one of Lake Como’s beaches and lidos. Whilst it isn’t always easy to access the lake waters, it’s worth finding one of the areas where you can. For the easiest access, there are lidos at Lenno, Menaggio, Cadenabbia Tremezzo, Bellagio, Argegno and Cernobbio as well as one in Como itself. Some of these have swimming pools as well as lake access. With water temperatures in July and August peaking between 21 and 26 degrees, in our opinion, it would be crazy not to enjoy at least one dip in lake during the Summer months!
But for those that like to be active, there is plenty to offer. Water sports are most readily available. There are larger water sports centres in the north of the lake in Dongo and Gera Lario, which offer windsurfing, kitesurfing, sailing, water skiing and wakeboarding. Or for water skiing and wakeboarding, there is also a water sports centre further south in Blevio.
Back on land, there are an incredible amount of wonderful hiking routes around Lake Como. Many are on the mountains that surround the lake and provide opportunities to take in the incredible views. For some of the most awe-inspiring viewpoints, take the funivia from Argegno to Pigra or opt to take a ride on the Brunate – Como funicular.
But there are other sports to be enjoyed on land too. Cycling is equally popular (both road cycling and mountain biking). And there are a number of golf courses on Lake Como too. Our favourites are the Golf Club Menaggio & Cadenabbia and the Villa d’Este golf course in Montorfano.
And in the Winter, there is still plenty to keep you entertained. Many visit Lake Como in the Winter to visit the ski resorts that you will find in the mountains around the lake. Monte Sighignola can be reached in just 20 minutes by car from the lakeside town of Argegno. With just 4km of pistes, it’s small but it’s a great option for beginners and families. Alternatively, there is a larger ski resort 1700 metres above sea level at Piani di Bobbio which boasts over 35 km of skiing.
Discover more days out on Lake Como in our complete guide to the top 60 things to do on Lake Como.
When to visit Lake Como
There is no bad time to visit Lake Como! In the Winter months, you can enjoy skiing, hiking and sightseeing. And whilst some businesses may be shut in the smaller towns such as Bellagio that cater more to tourists, in larger towns such as Como most remain open all year round. In fact, Como is a great place to visit in the run up to Christmas. Throughout December, there is a fabulous Christmas market in the Piazza Cavour and the surrounding streets. Not only that. There is also an ice rink in the centre of Como too, along with light projections and beautiful Christmas decorations, adding to the festive spirit.
Spring and early Summer is when we think Lake Como is at is most colourful. This is when the flowers are in full bloom. With so many stunning historic gardens to discover on Lake Como, this is when you will see them at their best. However the Autumn colours can be just as splendid thanks to the changing colours of the leaves. In both seasons, you should usually find the days still pleasantly warm as well.
Of course, if you’re planning to spend time on the beaches topping up your tan, your safest bet is in the Summer months. Just be aware that July and August will see peak crowds visiting Lake Como. You will need to be organised and book activities in advance to avoid disappointment.
