If you are planning to spend 2 days in Lake Como, you have come to the right place. Lake Como is one of the most picturesque destinations in the world, and the perfect place to visit on a weekend trip from Milan. With multiple villas to visit, colourful towns, extravagant houses, and fancy hotels, there is a lot that you can see and do in Lake Como. To make the most of your 2 days here, I have put together an itinerary covering the main sights so that you can leave your trip fulfilled. Whether you’re seeking relaxation, exploration, or a blend of both, you will get it all right here.
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How to get to Lake Como
It can be quite confusing to get to Lake Como as there are a couple different options.
✈️ First, fly into Milan. Whichever airport you fly into, you can take the train to Milan Central Station.
🚊 From Milan Central Station, you will need to change trains. From here you can get a train to Como or take a train directly to Varenna.
⛴️ If you are taking the train to Como, you will need to take a ferry from here to get to the other villages. For example, if you are staying in Bellagio, you will need to take the ferry whether you take the train to Varenna or Como. It is a 10 minute walk from the train station to the ferry stop.
🚌 Another way to get from Como to the towns is by bus. The C30 route connects Como with Nesso and Bellagio, but make sure to check the timetable as the buses are not very regular.
How to get around Lake Como
⛴️ Getting around Lake Como is mostly by ferry, as the ferries connect the different villages. There are three different types of ferries you can take – the slow ferry, the fast ferry and the car ferry, which also takes pedestrian passengers.
The slow ferry takes 1 hour 40 minutes and costs €10, the fast ferry takes 40 minutes and costs €14. You can buy your ferry tickets here.
TIP: You cannot pre-book the fast ferry. You can only book the slow one but if you want to take the fast ferry, you will usually have to wait in the ticket line. Also be aware that ferries tend to be quite busy and you may have to wait a while before getting on one.
🚗 You can also get around by car, but I would say a car is not necessary here. However. if you are travelling by car, there is a regular car ferry service you can take.
Best time to visit Lake Como
I visited Lake Como in the off peak season of May, but I still found it to be incredibly busy and full of tourists.
If you want to avoid crowds, the best time to visit is definitely April – June or September-October. Summer is peak season in Lake Como so I would definitely advise against visiting when the crowds are big.
The only downside of visiting in the off season is that you may not get very lucky with the weather. However, most of the time, the weather in this region is nice and sunny.
Is 2 days enough in Lake Como?
While 2 days in Lake Como may feel a little rushed, it is enough to get a taste of this stunning area of Italy, try local food and visit the charming villages. I found that I managed to see a lot in just 2 days, and with good planning, you can tick of most activities off your list in this short amount of time.
While the train from Milan makes it very easy to get here, a weekend in Lake Como is perfect especially if you want to combine it with a trip to Milan or if you only have a couple days to spare.
Where to stay in Lake Como
Lake Como is known for the extravagant and expensive hotels, but that does not mean that you cannot visit on a budget. However, it is important to keep in mind that availability is limited so try to plan well in advance and avoid going during peak season.
Budget
For a budget accommodation, Hotel Florence is a great option.
Starting at about £150 per night, the hotel looks and feels luxury, and is even located in the perfect central location in Bellagio. There is also a restaurant and a wellness area with a sauna, hammam and hot tub.
However, if you want to stay here, you need to make sure to book in advance as the dates get booked up very quickly.
Mid range
A great budget option in Bellagio is Hotel Excelsior Splendide, a 3 star hotel right in front of the Bellagio promenade and ferry station. Not only is the location of this hotel exceptional, but it also feels luxury and only costs about £250 a night.
The Excelsior Splendide offers a big hall, a well-decorated dining room, and a small outdoor swimming pool. There is also a lakeside café with terrace is on the beach across the road, where you can admire iconic views of the lake.
Luxury
If you are visiting Lake Como and looking to splurge on a luxury stay, look no further than the Grand Hotel Tremezzo. This incredible hotel is probably the most well known in all of Lake Como.
With panoramic views of the Lake, the hotel has a spa, a panoramic restaurant and three pools. This place has become a true symbol of luxury and Italian hospitality. Even if you are not planning on staying here, I would suggest visiting the hotel for lunch or for a drink.
The average price per night to stay here starts at around £1,000.
Lake Como 2 days itinerary
Day 1 – Morning
Visit Salita Serbelloni street
On your first day of your 2 days in Lake Como, grab a pastry from a nearby coffee shop and head early to the famous Instagrammable street in Bellagio, Salita Serbelloni. If you wan to take some pictures, this is the perfect opportunity as the street gets very busy later in the day as tourists arrive into Bellagio.
Lake Como boat tour
After that, I recommend booking a boat tour to explore Lake Como and get a good idea of what it looks like from the water. The boat tours here tend to be quite expensive but I found that it was worth it as it is a really unique experience.
It also completely depends on what you are looking for and the size of your group. It may be totally worth it to pay €400 if there is a lot of you and you are able to split the cost. However, there are plenty of options depending on your budget and you can choose the one that suits you best.
The experience feels like being in a James Bond film, and the tour guide will tell you a little bit about each building and point out the famous villas around. For example, he showed us George Clooney’s incredible villa which was amazing to see in person.
Day 1 – Afternoon
Villa Balbianello
If you do take the boat tour, you can ask them to drop you off at your next destination.
For us, this was Villa Balbianbello – a stunning 18th century villa famous for its breathtaking views. It is also known for appearing in films such as Casino Royale” (2006) and “Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones” (2002).
You will need about an hour to wander around the villa and take some pictures. The villa has some beautiful manicured gardens and a rich variety of plant life alongside amazing views you can admire.
The villa is located near a town called Lenno. There are a couple ways to get to this villa, the easiest being the public boat which comes every 20 minutes and costs €6. However, be aware that there is usually a queue and the boat is pretty small, so you might have to wait a while to get onto it.
Varenna
After visiting the villa, take a ferry to explore another town in the Lake Como, Varenna.
In my opinion, this is the prettiest town in the Lake Como and definitely not to be missed. Walk along the lake, enjoy the views, and get a gelato in one of the shops.
By the time you get here, it will be time for lunch so you can enjoy some local food at a nearby restaurant. If you want something simple but with a view, check out Nilus Bar – they serve pizzas and simple food but offer a stunning view of the colourful houses in the town. However, if you are looking for something more fancy Ristirante Visteria serves small but unique dishes with a twist. They also have amazing views of the lake and great service.
Villa Cipressi
After lunch, walk to Villa Cipressi. This 15th century villa is located in Varenna so it is perfect to see if you are already visiting the town.
The villa is known for its botanical gardens, where you will find a huge variety of plants and species of flowers. The villa has terraces gardens, offering beautiful views of Lake Como. This is also a working hotel and is very popular for weddings.
The entry here costs €8 and you can buy it on the spot.
Day 1 – Evening
Dinner in Bellagio
head back to Bellagio for dinner, as there are many good restaurants here.
We tried a restaurant caklled Antichi Sapori and it was amazing. I tried the special which was truffle pasta, but the best dish was definitely the tiramisu. We managed to get a table here without a reservation, but if you are travelling with a big group it might be harder to get a table without a booking.
Follow up your dinner by having an aperitivo at Aperitivo et Al, a lovely small winery on the Salita Serbelloni street. They have a wide range of wines available for all tastes.
Day 2 – Morning
Explore Bellagio
Start your second day of your 2 days in Lake Como by exploring Bellagio. There are also a couple villas to explore here. One of them is Villa Melzi Gardens, which is a villa and also botanical gardens. Take a peaceful stroll here to discover various species of plants, statues and some scenic walking paths.
You can also take a stroll to discover Bellagio’s Historic Centre. Here you will find some charming shops, boutiques and cafes. The narrow streets here are perfect for a leisurely stroll to start your day with.
Make sure to also take a walk along the promenade to see breathtaking views of the lake and the colourful architecture of Bellagio.
Villa Carlotta
Take an easy ferry across from Bellagio directly to Villa Carlotta. This is another grand villa worth visiting located near the town of Tremezzo.
Villa Carlotta also offers stunning views over Lake Como, and the botanical garden is known for a huge variety of plant species. Inside it, you will find period furniture and art decorating the space so it feels really grand.
Day 2 – Afternoon
Lunch at Grand Hotel Tremezzo
If you are not already staying here, Grand Hotel Tremezzo is an amazing hotel to see. You can book a lunch at one of their restaurants. The restaurants here are truly the best in the area and offer the best views over the lake.
On a nice warm day, you can sit outside on the terrace and enjoy a meal made by one of the restaurant’s top chefs.
Explore Menaggio
Explore this charming town, not far from Tremezzo and overlooking Bellagio. Take a stroll along the Piazza Garibaldi promenade, which is one of the longest in the region. This is the perfect spot to take some photos with Bellagio and Lake Como in the background.
Not far from Piazza Garibaldi, walk along Via Calvi to find craftsmen shops selling typical food, shoes, accessories and much more.
While you are here, you can also take the time to explore two of the churches in Mennagio: the Church of Santa Marta and Church of Santo Stefano.
Day 2 – Evening
Dinner in Menaggio
End your day by going for a nice dinner in Menaggio. If you are looking for a bistro, go for Bar Al Paladar De La Memoria Mennagio, serving delicious and fresh pasta dishes.
If you are looking for a place with a cosy and romantic atmosphere, go for Osteria II Pozzo.
Bear in mind that these restaurants will sometimes close in the middle of the day and reopen around 7 pm for dinner.
Overall, Lake Como is a beautiful region of Italy, offering stunning views, delicious food spots and lovely colourful towns. I hope that the above itinerary helps you plan the perfect 2 days in Lake Como.
Have you been to Lake Como? Let me know your thoughts on it below!
