One Week on Lake Como: The Complete Itinerary

Day 1 — Como town: your first step on the lake

Start gently in the town that gives the lake its name. The historic core sits inside the old Roman walls: a grid of pedestrian streets that leads to Piazza del Duomo, where the Gothic-and-Renaissance cathedral is well worth stepping inside. From there, walk down to the lakefront, admire the Tempio Voltiano dedicated to Alessandro Volta — a Como native — and the promenade out to the war memorial. Como is also a city of silk: it’s worth seeking out a boutique or a small museum to understand that tradition.

For lunch, the old town is full of trattorias and modern wine bars: look for a place with fresh pasta or lake fish on the menu, and glance at recent reviews for the most reliable spots. In the evening, give yourself over to the ritual of aperitivo in Como: pick a table facing the lake as the sun goes down.

Day 2 — Up high: the funicular to Brunate

On day two, you look at the lake from above. The Como–Brunate funicular, running since 1894, climbs in a few minutes to Brunate’s natural balcony, at around 700 metres. From up there the view sweeps across the first basin of the lake and, on clear days, the Alps. Stronger walkers can carry on by foot to the Volta Lighthouse at San Maurizio, reached up a flight of steps: the view rewards the effort.

It’s a half-day that pairs nicely with a walk or a picnic. For families, we’ve also included it among the things to do in Como with kids. Check the funicular times, which vary by season, before you head up.

Day 3 — Bellagio, the pearl of the lake

Bellagio stands on the headland that splits the two southern branches of the lake, and has long been nicknamed “the pearl of the Lario”. You can reach it easily by boat from Como: the trip itself, past villas and lakeside villages, is half the experience. Once ashore, lose yourself in the cobbled stepped lanes lined with shops and glimpses of the water, and visit the gardens of Villa Melzi, right on the lake.

Give Bellagio a full, unhurried day. For the practical details — how to get around, where to stop for lunch and what to see — we have a dedicated guide to a day in Bellagio from Como. Check the return boat times so you’re not stranded in the evening.

Day 4 — The cooking class (or rainy-day plan B)

Mid-week is a good moment to slow down and make something with your hands. Our cooking class runs for about 3 hours, costs €150 per person and takes place in small groups of up to 12, a short walk from Como’s historic centre. You learn to roll the sfoglia by hand with the resident chef, trained at Rina Poletti’s Accademia della Sfoglia; there’s a spritz lesson where you build your own Aperol or Campari spritz and enjoy it as your aperitivo; then you eat the pasta you made, with wine, and finish with gelato topped with a few drops of Traditional Balsamic of Modena DOP.

It’s the perfect anchor for the week: an unforgettable evening when the weather is fine, and the ideal plan B when it rains. We speak English and French and ask for no upfront online payment: we confirm the date, then arrange payment together. See how it works or choose now from the four masterclasses.

• Tagliatelle Masterclass – Fresh Tomato — the summer classic.
• Tagliatelle Masterclass – Ragù Bolognese — for lovers of deep, rich flavour.
• Ravioloni Verdi Masterclass – Ricotta — filled pasta made by hand.
• Farfalle e Garganelli Masterclass – Ragù — two shapes in one evening.

Day 5 — The Tremezzo branch: Villa Carlotta and Villa del Balbianello

Day five is devoted to the villas and gardens of the western shore. At Tremezzo you’ll find Villa Carlotta, famous for a botanical park that blazes with azaleas and rhododendrons in spring, with statues and art collections inside. A little further south, at Lenno, stands the dramatic Villa del Balbianello, on a headland surrounded by water, run by the FAI and known for its loggias and its film appearances. Check days and access on the official sites: for the Balbianello, arrival is often on foot or by taxi-boat.

The Menaggio area, further north, makes a good base on the western branch, with a lively lakefront where you can stop for lunch. Travel between villas by boat where you can: arriving from the water is the most beautiful way to see them.

Day 6 — Varenna and the eastern branch

On the opposite shore, Varenna is one of the most romantic villages on the Lario: pastel houses, a walkway right at the water’s edge, and the gardens of Villa Monastero and Villa Cipressi. From Bellagio or Menaggio it’s linked by the ferries that shuttle across the centre of the lake, where the three branches meet. It’s the right place for a slow day, between a coffee and a stroll, away from the pace of the town.

If you still have energy, Varenna is also a good starting point for short walks on the surrounding heights. As always, check the ferry and boat times: at the centre of the lake, connections matter.

Day 7 — Slow lake living: the art of doing nothing

On your last day, treat yourself to the dolce far niente. Drift back to Como, take a final walk along the lakefront, order an artisan gelato, and sit and watch the boats coming and going from the pier. This, in the end, is the real spirit of the lake: not a list to tick off, but the pleasure of simply being there. Food lovers can round off the trip by exploring things to do in Como for food lovers and carry home, along with the sfoglia recipe, a little piece of the lake.

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Plan your week

If you have less time, we also have a weekend in Como over 2 days. When you’re ready to slot the kitchen evening into your itinerary, take a look at the pasta school in Como and the FAQ. A class also makes a lovely gift: there’s the gift voucher with flexible dates.