Things to Do in Lake Como: A Practical Guide

Lake Como is easy to enjoy badly. Too many stops turn a calm trip into a race for the next ferry. The best things to do in Lake Como fit a simple shape: choose one base, pair town time with nature, then leave room for a long meal. This guide helps you plan that day by day.

Table of Contents

• Step 1: Choose Your Base and Plan the Shape of Your Day
• Step 2: Start in Como and Brunate
• Step 3: Use the Ferries to Visit Lake Como Villages
• Step 4: Add a Historic Villa, Garden, or Cultural Visit
• Step 5: Plan Time for Walking, Food, and a Slower Evening
• FAQ: Planning Things to Do in Lake Como
• Conclusion

Step 1: Choose Your Base and Plan the Shape of Your Day

Your base controls the pace of your things to do in Lake Como. Start by deciding if you want lakefront access, a hill village, or a private estate above Lake Como.

Como works well for a first stay. It has a city feel, a historic center, and a direct link to Brunate by funicular. The central lake villages suit travelers who want ferry trips to shape most days. Brunate suits guests who want quiet after the crowds fade.

We are based in Brunate at Villino Rubini, an Art Nouveau estate built in 1892. The house has ten rooms across the Villa, Dependance, and Orangerie. It can host up to nineteen guests, with eleven bathrooms across the estate.

The grounds cover about four acres. A heated pool, spa, sauna, gym, and studio give you reasons to keep one afternoon free. We also include breakfast, daily housekeeping, and a private shuttle to the Como-Brunate funicular.

Give each day one main aim. A ferry day should not also include three villa visits and a mountain hike. Keep a spare half-day for weather, shopping, or simply staying in.

For a private stay above Lake Como, Villino Rubini’s historic estate in Brunate fits guests who prefer a house to a hotel. It works especially well for families, small retreats, and couples who want both access and stillness.

Key Takeaway: Pick the base first, then limit each day to one main area and one unhurried meal.

Step 2: Start in Como and Brunate

Como and Brunate make a useful first day because they give you both town energy and hillside calm. Begin in Como before the streets grow busy, then take the funicular up to Brunate.

Walk through Como’s historic center without trying to see every corner. Set aside time for a coffee, a small shop, or a quiet square. The point is to get your bearings. Save the lakefront for a later stroll rather than rushing through it at the start.

The Como-Brunate funicular has run since 1894. It links the city with the hillside village in a short, memorable ride. Check the current operating times before you set out, since seasonal schedules can change.

Once you reach Brunate, slow down. Walk through the village lanes and continue toward the hillside paths if your shoes are suited to uneven ground. Brunate is a better place for a short walk than a packed list of sights.

At Villino Rubini, we are close to the funicular and a short distance above Como. The private shuttle helps guests reach the historic station without turning the start of the day into a logistics task. It is a small detail, but it leaves more energy for the walk itself.

Use this simple order:

• Start with coffee and a town walk in Como.
• Take the funicular up to Brunate.
• Walk through the village or take a hillside path.
• Return for an afternoon rest or continue into Como.

Do not plan a long ferry trip on this first day. Como and Brunate already give you two distinct settings. That contrast is enough.

Step 3: Use the Ferries to Visit Lake Como Villages

Ferries turn several things to do in Lake Como into one clear travel day. They let you move between villages without changing your base, but only if you read the timetable before leaving.

Choose one side of the lake or one connected route. Bellagio, Varenna, Menaggio, Tremezzo, and Lenno are among the names most visitors place on their plans. You do not need to visit all of them in one day.

Start early when you can. The first useful service may give you more time on foot before the main rush. Keep a screenshot or saved copy of the return schedule. Do not assume the next boat will arrive soon.

Build the day around one anchor stop. In Bellagio, that may mean wandering the lanes and taking a long lunch. In Varenna, you may prefer a shorter walk followed by time near the water. Menaggio can work as a less hurried base for a village day. Treat Tremezzo and Lenno as separate choices rather than automatic add-ons.

Ferry routes change with season and weather. Check the official timetable on the day of travel. If you are traveling with children, older guests, or a larger group, allow extra time at each landing.

A ferry is part of the experience, not only a transfer. Lake Como is a lake in the geographic sense, meaning a body of water enclosed by land and separate from the ocean. Wikipedia’s definition of a lake explains that basic distinction, but your travel plan needs a more useful rule: fewer crossings create a better day.

Pack water, sun cover, and shoes that can handle steps. Ferry piers and village lanes are not always level. Keep lunch flexible, since a delayed boat can shift the whole plan.

Pro Tip: Pick your return crossing before lunch. That one check prevents most ferry-day stress.

If your base is Brunate, return to the house before dinner when possible. A quiet evening in the gardens can feel better than one more crowded stop.

Step 4: Add a Historic Villa, Garden, or Cultural Visit

Historic villas give your list of things to do in Lake Como a sense of place. Choose one main cultural visit, then leave enough time to notice the details.

Common planning choices include Villa del Balbianello, Villa Carlotta, Castello Dvetzio, and Villa Cypress. Treat opening dates, entry rules, and garden access as changeable. Confirm the details before you build a full day around one site.

Villa visits work best after a ferry stop or as the day’s main purpose. Do not stack two large estates with a long lunch and several crossings. The result is usually a list of photographs rather than a memory of the place.

Look for the parts that slow you down. Notice the plan of the garden. Study the age of the trees. Give the house time before moving on. The value of a historic visit often sits in small things, such as a stair, a painted ceiling, or the line of a terrace.

Villino Rubini gives guests a cultural experience without leaving the house. The estate keeps its original ceiling mouldings, floors, and period details after a recent restoration. The Art Nouveau character remains part of daily life, not a display behind glass.

For a group, private hire makes the day easier. Guests can return to the same rooms, use the pool or spa, and meet for dinner under a tent in the gardens. Outdoor dinners can seat about one hundred people. Indoor meals suit smaller groups.

If you are planning a wedding or celebration, the Lake Como wedding setting at Villino Rubini keeps the gathering within the estate grounds. It is a fit for hosts who want rooms on site and a historic house rather than a large hotel setting.

Make one cultural visit the center of the day. The rest can be simple.

Step 5: Plan Time for Walking, Food, and a Slower Evening

The most lasting things to do in Lake Como often cost little. Walk a village lane, follow a hillside path, or sit down for a meal without checking the next departure.

For an easy active day, choose a short walk near your base. Brunate gives hikers access to paths above the village, while Como gives you a flatter town route. Ask locally about ground conditions before choosing a longer trail. A good pair of shoes matters more than an ambitious plan.

Water sports can also fill a half-day. Paddleboarding, kayaking, and wakeboarding appear in many Lake Como travel plans, but availability depends on the season and local operators. Check safety rules and weather conditions before entering the water. Keep a land-based plan ready if conditions shift.

Food deserves its own space. Plan lunch as a real pause rather than fuel between stops. Look for local dishes, pizza, seafood, or a sunset dinner that suits your base. Ask about reservations before the evening, especially for a larger group.

At Villino Rubini, breakfast is included with room stays. Guests who choose the estate can spend the late afternoon by the heated pool, in the spa, or on the grounds. A studio and gym suit guests who want movement without leaving the hillside.

Wellness retreats need the same balance. A morning practice can sit beside a walk, while the sauna or spa gives the group a quiet close to the day. If you are arranging a retreat, keep the schedule light enough for people to rest. A packed timetable defeats the purpose.

Corporate groups face a similar choice. Use the house for focused work, then give people time apart. An estate with ten rooms and space for up to nineteen guests can suit a small team that needs privacy. It will not suit a large conference.

End with a meal and no further plan. That is often the smartest item on the list.

Key Takeaway: Leave one evening open. The calmest part of the trip may happen after the sightseeing is done.

FAQ: Planning Things to Do in Lake Como

How many days do you need in Lake Como?

Three days gives you enough time for Como, one ferry day, and one villa or walking day. A longer stay lets you separate the villages instead of rushing through them. For a slower visit, plan five days. That leaves room for weather, meals, rest, and a second walk above the lake.

What is the best base for Lake Como?

The best base depends on your pace. Como suits first-time visitors who want city access and the Brunate funicular. A central village suits guests focused on ferries. Brunate suits travelers who want hillside quiet while staying close to Como. Villino Rubini is designed for guests who prefer a private estate with breakfast and grounds.

Can you visit Lake Como without a car?

Yes, you can plan many things to do in Lake Como without a car. Use trains for arrival, ferries for village trips, and the funicular for Como to Brunate. Check each route before departure. A private shuttle can also help guests reach the funicular when staying at Villino Rubini.

What are the best villages to visit on Lake Como?

Bellagio, Varenna, Menaggio, Tremezzo, and Lenno are common choices for a first itinerary. Pick two or three based on one ferry route. The best village is the one you can enjoy without watching the clock. Add a meal or walk instead of forcing in another stop.

What should you do in Lake Como when it rains?

Rainy-day plans can include Como’s historic center, a longer meal, a cultural visit, or time at your accommodation. At Villino Rubini, guests can use the spa, sauna, gym, and studio. Keep one indoor option ready each day, since ferry and outdoor plans may change.

Conclusion

Choose one base, plan one main outing per day, and protect your meal times. For a quiet stay above Lake Como, consider the usable guide to the Brunate funicular before arranging your route. Then check ferry times and reserve the one visit you care about most.