Lago di Como: A Curated Guide to Must-See Sights

Discover seven unmissable Lake Como sights near Lago di Como, Bellagio, Brunate, Villa del Balbianello, Varenna, and more. Book now.

Lake Como rewards the unhurried traveler: mornings that begin in glass-calm light, afternoons of villa gardens and boat hops, evenings of aperitivo haze. From your base at Lago di Como in Blevio, many of the lake’s headline experiences are an easy cruise or scenic drive away. Here’s a curated loop of six–seven highlights that stack beautifully into a two- or three-day itinerary.

Como Old Town & Duomo

Start in nearby Como, a compact warren of medieval lanes that opens onto an exuberant Gothic-Renaissance Duomo. Slip into cafés for a brioche and macchiato, browse silk boutiques (a nod to the city’s textile heritage), then stroll the lakefront promenade to see seaplanes skimming the water. Tip: time a late-day wander—golden light flatters the cathedral’s marble façade and the harbor glows.

Funicular to Brunate & the Lighthouse

From the lakeside station, the Funicolare Como–Brunate climbs pine-scented slopes to the hilltop village of Brunate in about seven minutes. Walk to Faro Voltiano, a lighthouse dedicated to Alessandro Volta, for widescreen views: the city, the first basin of the lake, and on clear days the Alps. Pack light layers—the air is crisper up here—and reward the walk with a terrace Spritz before gliding back down.

Bellagio: The Pearl of the Lake

At the fork where the lake splits, Bellagio layers neoclassical villas, cobbled stairways, and shopfronts perfumed with lemon and leather. Wander the salite (stepped lanes), pause in Giardini di Villa Melzi for sculpted lawns and camellias, then circle to Punta Spartivento to watch boats stitch the water. Bellagio can be busy; arriving by boat mid-morning or just before sunset keeps the experience serene.

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Villa del Balbianello (Lenno)

Possibly Lake Como’s most cinematic address, Villa del Balbianello sits on a wooded promontory above Lenno. Reach it by lake taxi or a gentle path through oaks and bays. The loggia frames a heart-stopping sweep of blue; inside, explorer-collector rooms mix maps, artifacts, and travel trophies. Gardens spill in terraces down to the water—linger, then dip into Lenno for gelato on the quay.

Villa Carlotta & Tremezzo Promenade

Across the water in Tremezzo, Villa Carlotta is famed for botanical theater: azaleas, rhododendrons, and a bamboo grove stitched with shaded paths. Inside, neoclassical salons hold Canova sculptures. After the visit, walk the waterfront promenade; when the breeze lifts, palms rustle and ferries draw silvery lines toward Bellagio. It’s an easy pairing with Balbianello or a stop en route to Menaggio.

Varenna & Villa Monastero

Stone houses in Varenna tumble to small harbors, cafés curve along the Passeggiata degli Innamorati (“Lovers’ Walk”), and the air smells faintly of rosemary. The star is Villa Monastero, a lakeside garden that unspools for almost two kilometers: cypress, citrus, pergolas, and postcard arches. Climb to the ruins of Castello di Vezio if you crave one more panorama before catching the ferry back.

Isola Comacina & the Greenway del Lago

For a quieter interlude, head to Isola Comacina, the lake’s only island, with archaeological traces and olive-strewn paths. Combine it with a section of the Greenway del Lago, a relaxed 10-km trail linking Colonno to Griante through hamlets, chapels, and stone bridges. Do a bite-size segment—say, Sala Comacina to Ossuccio—and reward yourself with a long lunch.

Book Your Stay at Mandarin Oriental, Lago di Como

Anchor your itinerary with a lakefront base where jetties, gardens, and boat pick-ups are steps away. We’ll secure the right room or private villa, arrange water transfers, villa entries, and chef-table dinners, then thread spa time between excursions.

Book now via VIP Tables Mykonos