Things to Do in Como with Friends: A Group Day on Lake Como

Why Como works so well for a group

Planning a day for a crowd usually means disappointing someone: one friend wants to walk, another wants to eat, a third just wants a nice spot to sit with a drink. Como solves this because it holds all of those things together within a few minutes’ stroll. The lakefront around Piazza Cavour is the natural meeting point: you gather there, glance at the boat timetable, and shape the day with no stress.

Short distances are the real secret. From the landing stage to the old town, from the piazzas to the aperitivo bars, from the lanes to our kitchen — everything is within walking distance. A group that doesn’t have to coordinate cars, car parks and scattered meeting points stays together and in good spirits — exactly what you want when there are ten or twelve of you.

Morning on the water: a boat to Bellagio

The loveliest way to launch a group day is to get on a boat. From Como’s landing stage, the scheduled line boats head up the western branch of the lake to the most famous villages, and the destination that keeps everyone happy is Bellagio — the “pearl of the lake”, with its stepped lanes, villa gardens and postcard views. It is the kind of place where simply wandering and taking photos becomes the perfect activity for a mixed group.

The crossing itself is half the fun: you settle on the deck, catch up, and watch the villas slide by. To plan the outing well — which boat to take, how long to stay, the last sailing back — our guide to a day in Bellagio from Como will come in handy. One tip for groups: always note the time of the last return to Como, so your evening stays free and worry-free.

Afternoon in the centre: an aperitivo crawl

Back in Como, the afternoon drifts naturally toward Italy’s favourite hour: aperitivo. For a group, the best approach isn’t to settle in one spot but to do a little crawl: a first drink on the lakefront with a view, then a stop in the old-town piazzas around San Fedele, perhaps finishing with a glass under the porticoes. Changing the scene keeps the energy up and gives everyone a reason to stretch their legs between rounds.

• On the lake — the bars facing the water are perfect for the first toast and a group photo at sunset.
• In the old town — the piazzas around the Basilica di San Fedele have a cosier feel, ideal for chatting.
• Under the porticoes — a quieter last stop before you move on to dinner.

What to order? The spritz is still king of the Italian aperitivo, but a Negroni or a glass of local wine works just as well. For the best zones and the timing of the ritual, we have a dedicated guide to the best aperitivo spots in Como. And if you want to really learn how it’s built, the spritz becomes a proper lesson at our class (more on that next).

The centrepiece: a group cooking class

This is where the day finds its heart. After the lake and the aperitivo, nothing pulls a group together like cooking together. Our group cooking class in Como is built for exactly this: you put on an apron, plunge your hands into the flour, and learn to roll pasta by hand side by side — laughing at the first attempts and admiring the last. Sessions take up to 12 guests, and for bigger crews we arrange larger private groups on request.

It isn’t a show to watch: it’s a hands-on experience where everyone does something. You start from the dough, roll out the sheet, shape the pasta — and then, of course, you eat what you made, all sitting down together. Leading the session is our resident chef, trained at the Accademia della Sfoglia of Rina Poletti, who turns a room of strangers (or old friends) into a tight little brigade.

There is an aperitivo moment too, but done our way: you learn to build your own spritz — Aperol or Campari — and drink it as your aperitivo while the pasta rests. You finish with dessert: a gelato finished with a few drops of Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena DOP — a final touch that always surprises the group. It is exactly the kind of shared experience people keep talking about for months.

Planning the day for a group

A few practical habits make everything smoother when there are lots of you. Book the class in advance: places per session are limited and groups fill them quickly. Keep the boat and the aperitivo in the first part of the day, so you arrive at the class relaxed and hungry. And agree on an easy meeting point — Como’s lakefront is ideal because everyone can find it.

• Lock in the class date first and build the rest of the day around it.
• Tell us if you’re more than 12: we arrange tailored private groups.
• Leave a buffer between the last boat and the class time, with no last-minute dashes.
• Think about the occasion: hen parties and team-building work beautifully in the kitchen (see our hen and team-building ideas on Lake Como).

If you want more ideas for the rest of the day, our overview of things to do in Como gathers walks, viewpoints and group-friendly activities.

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Ready to cook together?

A day in Como with friends deserves a finale that sticks — not just any restaurant, but an evening where you made something with your own hands. The group class is built for exactly that: informal, cheerful, made for togetherness. Pick the date, round up the crew, and let the lake do the rest. When you’re ready, you can book here.