Looking for a place to stay during your stay Lake Como? Below we’ve listed our favorite villages for easy accommodation and sightseeing on Lake Como, as well as our best hotel addresses.
We’d also like to introduce you to the different villages we visited and the main things to do to discover the region.
The best villages to stay in on Lake Como? [carte]
To make the most of the various villages and activities around the lake, we recommend to choose several drop-off points. Finally, the distances between the most interesting villages are great, and the only road connecting them is the coastal road or a small trunk road, on which you won’t always be able to drive very fast.
If you’re staying 3 or 4 nights, we recommend choosing 2 places to sleep, for example Mennagio and Como or Como and Varenna or Bellagio.
We’ve listed below the villages on Lake Como that we think are the most interesting to visit and therefore the nicest places to stay.
In our opinion, the most beautiful part of the lake lies to the south and center of Lake Como. For accommodation, we recommend the villages of Como, Varenna, Menaggio and Bellagio.
List of our favourite villages to sleep in around Lake Como :
- Varenna ♥♥♥
- Menaggio ♥♥♥
- Como ♥♥
- Bellagio ♥♥
- Cernobbio ♥
1. Varenna: the most beautiful village on Lake Como
Varenna is an authentic village where you’ll feel right at home. In our opinion, it’s the most charming, and we fell in love with its suspended cornice, its authentic port and the incredible Villa Monastero with its tree-lined garden.
To fully enjoy the charming village of Varenna, we recommend staying in the center. As you’ll see, there’s very little well-placed accommodation in Varenna, so we advise you to book as far in advance as possible.
We’d like to suggest a second address if the first is unfortunately sold out.
Albergo Del Sole, the hotel is located right in the center of Varenna, on a lovely little square– it couldn’t be more authentic! You’ll be just a stone’s throw from the lake and the Villa Monastero. The restaurant is also very good. In short, you’re sure to enjoy your stay here!
Varenna Guest House: a pleasant, clean and bright apartment with a beautiful view, only a 5-minute walk from Varenna.
2. Menaggio: the ideal low-cost base
It’s a pleasant little village, and we like it above all for its location, which we think is ideal for visiting the south-western part of the lake.
Another interesting point is that it’s a little less touristy, so accommodation is less expensive (vs. Varenna and Bellagio), and you’ll also enjoy greater peace and quiet.
South of Menaggio, we recommend the authentic little village of Laglio and the sumptuous villas Carlotta and Balbianello (filming locations for Star Wars episode 2 and James Bond film Casino Royale).
Another important point is that from its port, you can take a direct boat to other towns on the lake, including Varenna and Bellagio, which are only 15 minutes away.
We advise you to choose accommodation in the center of town, close to the port. The range of accommodation is limited, so we recommend that you book your stay in advance.
Hotel in Menaggio: Suite Menaggio ideal location, right in the center of Menaggio with a beautiful view of the lake, tastefully decorated apartment, with a large comfortable bed and a fully equipped kitchen, practical for cooking a nice meal or preparing an aperitif, in short, go for it!
3. Como: a must-see
Como is the largest city around Lake Como. Located at the southern end of the lake, it’s usually the gateway to Lake Como. If you only have one day to spend on Lake Como, we definitely recommend staying in Como.
We spent 1 day and 1 evening there before heading to Milan airport. We were reluctant to stay, but we’ve been busy in Como and the historic center is very charming.
The other cool thing to do in Como is to climb up to the Voltiano faro (Volta lighthouse), for a panoramic view of the lake, even if access via a narrow, winding road gave us a few scares. This was the only elevated viewpoint we had during our stay.
Another interesting point is that Como is the departure point for many ferries to other towns on the lake, making it a very convenient base for exploring Lake Como.
Accommodation in Como: Albergo Frirenze the room was very pleasant and clean, ideally located near the port, everything within walking distance, with an incredible breakfast. Parking 10€ per day. In short, a good address with excellent value for money in Como.
Bello! Lake Como Suites in Como, the rooms are superb and tastefully decorated. The hotel is centrally located. The terrace with jacuzzi is sublime. In short, a beautiful hotel that we can’t wait to try out!
4. Bellagio: the most touristic
Bellagio is one of the most beautiful towns (some would say the most beautiful) around Lake Como. This village is even considered one of the most beautiful Italian villages (just that).
Of course, it’s a truly magnificent village that’s a must-see, and the number-one thing to do in Bellagio is to walk along the esplanade bordering the lake while enjoying an Italian gelato. We just found it a little too touristy for our taste.
This is a very touristy village, so accommodation prices may seem prohibitive. Accommodation in Bellagio is limited, so if you wish to stay in this village, we advise you to book as far in advance as possible.
Accommodation in Bellagio: Hotel Bellagio in the center of Bellagio, a comfortable, very clean hotel, with a lovely view of the lake from the hotel terrace and a hearty breakfast. One last point to make the most of your stay: the location is ideal, right in the center of town and a stone’s throw from the pier.
The staff will give you good advice. In short, we loved it! On-site parking is rare in Bellagio.
The grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni in Bellagio, a very chic address, with indoor and outdoor pools and direct access to the lake for swimming with pontoon and diving board.
5. Cernobbio: the place to indulge yourself
When we visit we love spotting beautiful hotels and then bookmarking them on Google (we have well-stocked maps) for a future stay or to get ideas for accommodation onspecial occasions !
We spotted this magnificent hotel with swimming pool and breathtaking views in Cernobbio, a village south of Lake Como, close to the city of Como.
Hotel Asnigo in Cernobbio, the great advantage of this hotel is its magnificent swimming pool overlooking the lake, one of the most beautiful in the region. The rooms are beautiful, clean and quiet. An ideal hotel for relaxing.
Hotel Asnigo in Cernobbio
Where to stay on a budget?
The most affordable village south of Lake Como is Menaggio.
To get even better rates, we recommend you move away from the tourist villages or opt for the camping option on Lake Como, in which case we advise you to bring your own vehicle.
Albergo Breglia is a good option, offering basic rooms a few kilometers north of Menaggio.
Our top 3 accommodations on Lake Como
We advise you to book your accommodation as far in advance as possible, so that you have the widest choice and the best hotels, as Lake Como is a very popular region in high season, and the supply of accommodation is limited. The lake is bordered by mountains, so the towns are not expandable.
1. Favorite ♥: Menaggio Suite, ideal location, right in the center of Menaggio with a beautiful view of the lake. Charming apartment with fully-equipped kitchen, so go for it.
2. Small price € : Albergo Frirenze, next to Como harbor, ideal for taking a boat around the lake, right in the city center, with parking nearby. Excellent value for money in Como.
3. With a view: Hotel Bellagio, right in the center of Bellagio, a comfortable hotel with an excellent, generous breakfast, served under a charming arbour with a view in the distance of the shore opposite with Villa Carlotta.
Top 3 unusual hotels to treat yourself
As explained above, when researching or traveling, we make a note of the addresses of beautiful hotels to get ideas for accommodation onspecial occasions ! Here are our top 3 finds from our stay in Lake Como.
Be warned: these are palaces offering top-of-the-range and unusual services (sublime swimming pools, private beaches…). You can still look at the photos and dream a little, or keep it in mind for a special occasion!
1. With Jacuzzi: Bello! Lake Como Suites in Como, the rooms are superb and tastefully decorated. The hotel is centrally located. The terrace with jacuzzi is sublime. In short, a beautiful hotel that we can’t wait to try out!
2. With swimming pool: Hotel Asnigo in Cernobbio, the great advantage of this hotel is its magnificent swimming pool overlooking the lake, one of the most beautiful in the region. The rooms are beautiful, clean and quiet. An ideal hotel for relaxing.
3. Private beach: The grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni in Bellagio, a chic address with indoor and outdoor pools and direct access to the lake for swimming with pontoon and diving board.
Hotel Asnigo in Cernobbio
We loved this little stay around Lake Como, we were enchanted by the beauty of this place. We loved wandering around the picturesque villages and enjoyed the Italian food.
You can also take full advantage of your stay in the region to enjoy the beautiful beaches of Lake Como and visit the city of Milan, including the Duomo, Milan Cathedral and its incredible museums.
We wish you an excellent trip! Don’t hesitate to leave us a quick note or 5 stars below, to tell us if you’re planning this trip, to ask any questions you may have, here or on Instagram, we’ll get back to you with great pleasure.
Don’t hesitate to leave us your good accommodation addresses in comments.
