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Lake Como Towns: A Local’s Guide to Every Village

Lake Como towns each have a completely different personality, and after living here since 2018, I’ve come to know some of them pretty well. Como City is where most trips start, Bellagio is the postcard everyone imagines, Brunate gives you the view from above, and Cernobbio is where things get quietly glamorous.

Below, you’ll find things to do in each Lake Como town I’ve written a full guide for, plus a quick look at the rest of the lake so you know where to head next.

Not sure which town to actually stay in? This page is about what to see and do in each place — for hotel picks and choosing your base, head to my full Where to Stay in Lake Como guide.

Quick Picker

  • First time on the lake, want convenience? → Como City
  • Couples trip, chasing the postcard view? → Bellagio
  • Want the best panoramic photo on the lake? → Brunate
  • Craving quiet elegance and villa views? → Cernobbio
  • Quiet lakeside escape, romance over crowds? → Varenna
  • Chasing the lake’s most famous villas? → Tremezzo
  • Into forts, watersports, and outdoor adventure? → Colico

Como City

The gateway to the lake, and the best base for first-time visitors.

Quick clarification since it trips a lot of people up: yes, Como is a real city, not just another name for the lake. It’s a genuine city of around 85,000 people at the southwestern tip of Lake Como, and the official capital of the wider Province of Como. So when people talk about “Lake Como towns,” Como City is one specific town among them, not the lake itself.

Como City is where nearly every Lake Como trip begins — trains from Milan arrive right into the historic center, and from here you can reach almost anywhere else on the lake by ferry, bus, or funicular. Beyond the transport links, the walled old town (“Città Murata”) is genuinely worth a slow afternoon: a striking Duomo, quiet piazzas, and lakefront promenades that get far less crowded than Bellagio’s.

👉 Full guide: What to See in Como — 10 Amazing Things in the Old Town

A few things to pair with your visit to Como:

Bellagio

The “Pearl of Lake Como” — and the town most people picture when they dream about this trip.

Bellagio sits right where the lake splits into its Y-shape, and it earns its reputation: colorful buildings stacked above the water, cobbled staircase-streets, and some of the most photographed corners on the lake. It’s busiest in peak season, but even a couple of hours here — timed right — is worth it.

Where to stay in Lake Como, Bellagio is a good option

👉 Full guide: What to See in Bellagio — Secrets, Scenery & Lakeside Beauty

Planning around Bellagio:

Brunate

The lake’s best view — and most people never make it up here.

Perched above Como and reached by a short, scenic funicular ride, Brunate trades lakefront bustle for sweeping panoramic views over the whole basin. It’s one of my favorite “locals know this” recommendations — a lighthouse, quiet hiking trails, and some genuinely good food, all with a fraction of Bellagio’s crowds.

Lake Como Towns: Brunate gives you this amazing view of Como Italy in 2026.
The view from the streets of Brunate

👉 Full guide: What to See in Brunate — Best Views, Food & Local Tips

Getting up there:

Cernobbio

Old-money elegance, 10 minutes from Como.

Cernobbio is best known as the home of the legendary Villa d’Este, but the town itself deserves its own visit — a relaxed lakefront piazza, authentic trattorias, and some of the best villa-viewing on this stretch of the lake, without Bellagio-level crowds.

Cernobbio is another Lake Como Town that has amazing views. Here is the waterfront ferry terminal and ticket office in Cernobbio, Lake Como, Italy, on a sunny spring day.
The historic Cernobbio ferry terminal is the main gateway for exploring Lake Como without a car. It offers direct connections to Como City, Moltrasio, and the mid-lake triangle.

👉 Full guide: What to See in Cernobbio — Villas, Views & Local Secrets

Nearby and worth combining:

Varenna

Lake Como’s quietest postcard, and my personal favorite for an overnight stay.

Varenna sits on the calmer eastern shore, with pastel houses climbing the hillside above the water and a slower pace that feels a world away from Bellagio’s crowds. The Passeggiata degli Innamorati, a narrow waterfront path carved into the cliffside, is reason enough on its own to make the trip.

Narrow street in the village of Varenna

👉 Full guide: What to See in Varenna — Lake Como’s Quietest Postcard

Planning around Varenna:

Tremezzo

Home to Villa Carlotta and Villa del Balbianello — the lake’s most photographed stretch.

Two of the most famous villas on Lake Como sit within walking distance of each other in Tremezzo, alongside the neighboring hamlet of Lenno. It’s the easiest place on the lake to see a lot without much travel time in between.

View of Lake Como from Villa del Balbianello in Tremezzo

👉 Full guide: What to See in Tremezzo — Where Lake Como’s Villas Live

Already planning your villa visits? Start here:

Colico

Lake Como’s northern gateway — forts, an ancient abbey, and some of the best wind-sports on the lake.

Colico sits at the very top of the lake, flatter and more outdoorsy than the towns further south. It’s less about postcard streets and more about WWI history, a genuinely peaceful abbey, and watersports, plus it’s the natural jumping-off point if you want to detour into Valtellina or Valchiavenna.

Original WWI cannons at Forte Montecchio Nord in Colico, Lake Como

👉 Full guide: What to See in Colico — Lake Como’s Northern Gateway

Planning around Colico:

More Lake Como Towns to Explore

I’m working on full “what to see” guides for these towns next — for now, here’s a quick taste of each, plus hotel picks in my Where to Stay guide:

  • Menaggio — laid-back and family-friendly, with hiking trails right behind the town.
  • Lecco — the lake’s hidden, budget-friendly gem, with a more authentic, local feel.
  • Dongo — a small, history-rich town on the quieter northwestern shore.

More From This Lake Como Towns Guide