If you're working out where to stay in Lake Como for a first visit, book Varenna.
It has a direct train from Milan, a ferry landing in the middle of town, and hotels that score well from hundreds of Booking.com reviewers.
On Lake Como, Bellagio is the prettier postcard and Como is the easy city base, but neither beats Varenna for getting around without a car. Updated 1 November 2026.
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We haven't stayed in these hotels.
This guide is researched: we compared the top-ranking guides and Google's own area summary, then checked every hotel on Booking.com on 1 November 2026 for its score, review count and street address.
Our standard is simple. Every hotel here scores 8.5 or higher on Booking.com from at least 300 reviews, and sits inside the town it's filed under.
A few famous names, including Grand Hotel Tremezzo (9.4 from 134 reviews), Grand Hotel Victoria in Menaggio (9.6 from 206), Belvedere in Bellagio (9.5 from 250) and Villa Cipressi in Varenna (8.5 from 147), fall under the 300-review bar, so we haven't listed them.
Short on time? Here's where to stay in Lake Como
Our three picks for Lake Como, then a table of every town.
Best overall: Hotel Olivedo in Varenna. A 3-star on Piazza Martiri, 9.2 from 1,605 reviews, the most-reviewed hotel in our Varenna list.
Splurge: Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni in Bellagio. A 5-star on Via Roma, 9.4 from 444 reviews.
Value pick: Hotel La Perla in Tremezzo. A 3-star scoring 9.5 from 829 reviews, tied for the highest score of any 3-star on this page. We didn't verify nightly rates, so check the price for your dates.
| Town | Best for | Vibe | Price level | Top hotel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Varenna | First-timers, trains from Milan | Pastel lanes, ferry square | €€–€€€ | Hotel Olivedo |
| Bellagio | Couples, the classic view | Polished, busy by day | €€–€€€€ | Hotel Du Lac & SPA |
| Menaggio | Ferry hopping, a base with a bus | Practical lakefront town | €€ | Hotel Garni Corona |
| Tremezzo and Lenno | Villa gardens, quiet evenings | Slow, garden-lined road | €€–€€€ | Hotel La Perla |
| Como | Short stays, rainy days, late trains | A real city on the water | €–€€€ | Villa Flori |
How to choose where to stay in Lake Como
Lake Como is a Y-shaped lake, and the towns that matter sit on its three shores. Lake Como's shape drives every hotel decision. Varenna is on the eastern arm. Bellagio sits on the point where the arms meet.
Menaggio and Tremezzo face them from the western shore, and Como city waits at the bottom of the western arm. Getting between them is the real decision.
Ferries link the middle of Lake Como in 10 to 15 minutes. Roads around it are narrow and slow.
So your choice comes down to how you arrive, how many days you've got, and whether you want to sleep where the boats stop.
Most first-timers on Lake Como do best in one town for three nights, then ferry out to the others as day trips. We cover the sights in our things to do in Lake Como list and the planning basics in the Lake Como travel guide.
This page is only about your bed.
If you're searching Lake Como holidays and wondering which shore to pick, start with the train line. Varenna and Como have stations on Lake Como.
The other towns rely on ferries and buses.
1. Varenna: best for first-timers and train arrivals on Lake Como
Best for: first visits, couples, no-car trips. Skip it if: you want a long beach day or a big choice of restaurants after 10 p.m.
Varenna is the one town on Lake Como you can reach from Milan by direct train. The Trenord line from Milano Centrale to Varenna-Esino takes about 64 minutes, runs roughly hourly, and the first train leaves Centrale at 06:20 and the last at 21:20.
From the station you walk down to the water.
The ferry square, Piazza San Giorgio, is the hub: boats cross to Bellagio and to Menaggio in about 15 minutes.
The honest downside is size.
Varenna is small, its lanes are steep and stepped, and in summer the day-trippers fill it by late morning. Book a room with a short, level route from the station if you're hauling big bags, and ask the hotel about vehicle access before you drive in, because traffic is restricted in the old village.
Pros: direct Milan train; ferries to Bellagio and Menaggio; compact and walkable. Cons: steps and steep lanes; crowded at midday in summer; few big hotels.
Getting there from the airport: take the Malpensa Express to Milano Centrale (51 minutes, €15 single), then the Varenna train. More options in our Milan airport guide.
Best hotels in Varenna, Lake Como
Mid-range: Hotel Olivedo – 3-star on Piazza Martiri 14. 9.2 on Booking.com from 1,605 reviews, the biggest sample in this town. Choose it if you want the safest all-round pick for a first night in Varenna.
→ Check availability and prices for Hotel Olivedo
Upscale: Hotel Royal Victoria – 4-star on Piazza San Giorgio 2, the ferry square. 9.0 from 340 reviews. Choose it if you want to step off the boat and be at reception in a minute.
→ Check availability and prices for Hotel Royal Victoria
Value: Albergo Del Sole – 3-star on Piazza San Giorgio 17. 8.6 from 774 reviews, the lowest score in this town and still above our bar. Choose it if location matters more than polish.
→ Check availability and prices for Albergo Del Sole
Apartment: Divina Vita Apartments – Contrada Guasta 1/4, no star rating on Booking. 9.8 from 610 reviews, the highest score in our list. Choose it if you want space and a kitchen, and ask about the walk and any stairs before you book.
2. Bellagio: best for couples and the classic view
Best for: couples, honeymoons, a splurge. Skip it if: you hate crowds or you're arriving by train.
Bellagio sits on the point between the two arms of Lake Como, and it's the town most people picture. Cobbled lanes run up from the waterfront, and the ferries to Varenna and Menaggio each take about 15 minutes.
It has no station.
You reach Bellagio by boat or by road. A bus, line C130, runs from Como, but it's the slow way.
Most no-car visitors arrive by ferry from Varenna, Menaggio or Como, and we'd suggest sleeping here only if you're happy to plan around the timetable.
By day, the lanes are busy with visitors. At night the town goes quiet, which is the best reason to stay rather than visit.
For more on the town itself, see our Bellagio travel guide.
Pros: Lake Como's best-known setting; frequent crossings to Varenna and Menaggio; a good spread from 5-star to budget. Cons: no train; crowded by day; fewer budget options (our cheapest pick is outside the centre).
Getting there from the airport: Milano Centrale to Varenna by train, then the ferry across, about 15 minutes. Or pre-book a car, which we cover in the logistics section below.
Best hotels in Bellagio, Lake Como
Luxury: Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni – 5-star on Via Roma 1, Bellagio. 9.4 from 444 reviews. We didn't verify rates, so expect 5-star pricing. Choose it if this is the one splurge night of the trip.
→ Check availability and prices for Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni
Mid-range: Hotel Du Lac & SPA – 3-star on Piazza Mazzini 32, the waterfront square where the ferries call. 9.5 from 1,186 reviews, the best-reviewed hotel in Bellagio. Choose it if you want the ferry landing on your doorstep.
→ Check availability and prices for Hotel Du Lac & SPA
Mid-range: Hotel Florence – 3-star on Piazza Mazzini 46. 9.1 from 1,066 reviews. Its Booking page URL says Menaggio, but the address is Piazza Mazzini in Bellagio. Choose it if you want to stay beside the ferry piazza but price a second option.
→ Check availability and prices for Hotel Florence
Mid-range: Seta Hotel – 3-star on Via Teresio Olivelli 23. 9.4 from 497 reviews. Choose it if you want a high score and a base slightly away from the main piazza. Check the map for your walk to the ferry.
→ Check availability and prices for Seta Hotel
Budget: Miralago B&B and Apartments – 2-star on Via Pescallo 19, in the small harbour hamlet of Pescallo outside the centre. 8.5 from 619 reviews, right on our minimum. Choose it if you'd trade a walk into town for a lower price.
→ Check availability and prices for Miralago B&B and Apartments
3. Menaggio: best for ferry hopping with a bus link
Best for: boat-hoppers, hikers, longer stays. Skip it if: you want a pretty historic centre first and a practical one second.
Menaggio is the working lakefront town on the western shore of Lake Como. Ferries cross to Varenna in about 15 minutes, and a car ferry runs here too. A bus, line C110, links it with Como in about an hour and ten minutes and carries on to Colico.
Line C112 runs towards Lugano.
That makes it the best-connected base on the west side.
It's less photogenic than Varenna or Bellagio, and that's the trade. You get shops, services and a lakefront promenade without the premium.
From here, Varenna, Bellagio and the villas along the shore are all a short boat ride away.
Pros: buses to Como; ferries across the lake; a proper town with everyday services. Cons: plainer than Bellagio; no train; bus times are slow for a day trip to Milan.
Getting there from the airport: Milan to Como by train, then the C110 bus, or go to Varenna and take the ferry across.
Best hotels in Menaggio, Lake Como
Mid-range: Hotel Garni Corona – 3-star on Largo Cavour 3. 9.2 from 758 reviews. Choose it if you want a central base on a good score.
→ Check availability and prices for Hotel Garni Corona
Suites: Suites Menaggio – Piazza Garibaldi 1, no star rating on Booking. 9.3 from 625 reviews. Choose it if you want more space than a standard room.
→ Check availability and prices for Suites Menaggio
Mid-range: Hotel Adler – 3-star on Via Cadorna 91. 9.0 from 834 reviews. Choose it if you want a steady, well-reviewed option and don't mind checking the walk to the ferry.
→ Check availability and prices for Hotel Adler
Value: Hotel Bellavista – 3-star on Via 4 Novembre 27. 8.6 from 1,213 reviews. Choose it if a big review count matters more than the top score.
4. Tremezzo and Lenno: best for villa gardens and quiet evenings
Best for: garden lovers, slow trips, couples who'd rather not be in a crowd. Skip it if: you're relying on trains or want nightlife.
This stretch of the western shore, called Tremezzina, is where Lake Como's grand villas and gardens sit. Villa Carlotta is in Tremezzo, and Villa del Balbianello is a short way along the shore near Lenno.
Our Villa del Balbianello guide covers the second.
It's the quietest of our five.
Evenings here are slow. Expect a lakeside walk and a few restaurants rather than a busy scene, which is what you came for. Boats stop at the villages, and you can take the ferry across to Bellagio.
We couldn't confirm bus stops or exact crossing times from Tremezzo, so check them before you commit.
You can buy a timed ticket for Villa Carlotta in advance.
Pros: villas and gardens on the doorstep; calm evenings; good scores from reviewers. Cons: no train; fewer shops and restaurants than Menaggio; transport details to check.
Getting there from the airport: train to Varenna or Como, then a ferry or the bus. Allow a long half-day, and ask your hotel about the best route on the day.
Best hotels in Tremezzo and Lenno, Lake Como
Mid-range: Hotel La Perla – 3-star on Via Avv. Romolo Quaglino 7, Tremezzo, Lake Como. 9.5 from 829 reviews. Choose it if you want the highest score in the area on a 3-star budget.
→ Check availability and prices for Hotel La Perla
Upscale: Hotel Lenno – 4-star on Via Lomazzi 23, Lenno. 9.0 from 1,409 reviews. Choose it if you want 4-star comfort and a larger review sample behind the score.
→ Check availability and prices for Hotel Lenno
Boutique: La Darsena Boutique Hotel – 3-star on Via Regina 3, Tremezzo. 9.1 from 805 reviews. Choose it if you'd rather have a small hotel than a big one.
→ Check availability and prices for La Darsena Boutique Hotel
Value: Albergo Rusall – 3-star on Via San Martino 2. 9.2 from 476 reviews. Choose it if you want a quieter spot with a strong score and a lower review count.
5. Como: best for short stays, rainy days and late arrivals
Best for: one or two nights, rainy weather, early flights. Skip it if: you want a lakeside village with the water at the end of every lane.
Como is the one proper city on Lake Como: a walled old town, a cathedral, a funicular and a lakefront promenade. It's also the easiest town to reach.
The Trenord train from Milano Centrale to Como San Giovanni takes about 40 minutes, and from Milano Cadorna to Como Lago it's about 60 minutes. Boats leave from the lakefront, and the ferry to Bellagio costs €12.00 one way on the tariff in force since 1 April 2026.
It is not a quiet village.
You get restaurants, shops and an evening scene, which suits a bad-weather night or a late arrival. You give up the scenic mid-lake feel. Most guests pair Como with a night or two further up Lake Como.
See our Milan to Lake Como guide for the transfer.
Pros: about 40 minutes from Milano Centrale; the most hotels and restaurants on Lake Como; ferries and buses start here. Cons: a city, not a village; the ferry to Bellagio costs more than the hops across the middle (€12.00 against €5.50).
Getting there from the airport: Malpensa Express to Milano Centrale (51 minutes, €15 single), then a train to Como San Giovanni.
Best hotels in Como, Lake Como
Upscale: Hotel Villa Flori – 4-star on Via Cernobbio 12. 9.2 from 964 reviews. Choose it if you want the best-scoring 4-star among our Como picks, a little out from the old town.
→ Check availability and prices for Hotel Villa Flori
Boutique: DBH Boutique Hotel Lake Como – 4-star on Via Maestri Comacini 2, in the old centre near the Duomo. 9.0 from 645 reviews. Choose it if you want to walk out into the old town.
→ Check availability and prices for DBH Boutique Hotel Lake Como
Mid-range: Albergo Terminus – 4-star on the lakefront promenade, Lungo Lario Trieste 14. 8.6 from 632 reviews, the lowest score among our Como picks. Choose it if you want the water outside the window.
→ Check availability and prices for Albergo Terminus
Hostel: Ostello Bello Lake Como – Viale Fratelli Rosselli 9. 9.0 from 2,197 reviews, the biggest sample in this guide. Choose it if you're on a tight budget. Check the map for the walk from Como San Giovanni.
Also consider: three quieter bases on Lake Como
Each of these Lake Como bases suits a second stay or a longer trip rather than a first night on the lake.
Cernobbio and Moltrasio. Two lakeside villages a short way north of Como on the western shore. Hotel La Vignetta is a 3-star in Cernobbio (Via Monte Grappa 32, 9.1 from 946 reviews). Hotel Posta is a 3-star in Moltrasio (Piazza San Rocco 5, 8.9 from 437 reviews). Choose them if you want to be near Como without sleeping in it.
Lezzeno. A quiet village on the lake south of Bellagio. Filario Hotel & Residences is a 4-star on the SP583 (8.9 from 352 reviews). Choose it if you have a car and want quiet. It's the lowest review count on this page, so we've kept it to one line.
Bellano and Lecco. On the eastern shore, away from the crowds. Hotel Meridiana is a 3-star in Bellano (Via Carlo Alberto 19, 9.2 from 781 reviews), and the Varenna–Bellano ferry is €3.00 one way. NH Lecco Pontevecchio is a 4-star in Lecco (Via Azzone Visconti 84, 8.6 from 1,994 reviews). Choose them if you want a base with rail links and fewer visitors.
Where not to stay on Lake Como
On Lake Como the answer is mostly about logistics, not about places being bad.
Don't book anywhere on Lake Como that needs a car if you haven't got one. Hotels set high on the hillside and villages away from a ferry stop or bus line add taxis and long waits to every day.
Don't stay in Como city if Lake Como's views are the point. It's a city first.
Take it for a night, not a week.
And don't pick a small, car-free village like Varenna if you want a lot of dining choice after dark.
You'll be eating where the few kitchens are open.
Finally, don't book a Lake Como hotel that you haven't checked for your arrival route. Bellagio and Varenna both have traffic restrictions in their old centres, as far as we could confirm, so ask the hotel about parking and access before you drive in.
Lake Como logistics: trains, boats and arriving without a car
You can do a whole Lake Como trip without driving.
Here's how the pieces fit.
Trains. Milano Centrale to Varenna-Esino takes about 64 minutes direct. Centrale to Como San Giovanni is about 40 minutes, and Cadorna to Como Lago about 60. For rail tickets in Italy, our trains in Italy guide explains the options, and you can compare Milan to Varenna tickets on Omio.
Ferries. Navigazione Laghi sets Lake Como fares by zone. On the tariff in force from 1 April 2026, a single between Bellagio and Varenna, Menaggio or Cadenabbia costs €5.50, and a one-day pass for that zone is €17.50. Buying on board adds €1.00. Como to Bellagio is €12.00 single. Our Lake Como ferry guide will cover timetables in more detail. The winter timetable runs from 2 November 2026 to 14 March 2027, so check crossings if you visit in the low season.
Car ferry. A car with its driver costs about €10 on the Bellagio, Varenna, Menaggio and Cadenabbia crossings. If you're also planning a longer drive, read our driving in Italy guide.
Arriving late or with big bags. A pre-booked driver saves the wait for a taxi.
If your flight lands in Milan and you'd like a night there first, see our where to stay in Milan and best hotels in Milan guides, and the day trips from Milan list. If you're short of time, a small-group day trip from Milan to Lake Como covers Bellagio and Varenna in one go.
Booking tips for Lake Como
Tourist tax. Each town sets its own, per person per night. In Como it's €4 for a 3-star, €5 for a 4- or 5-star, €3 for a B&B and €2 for a hostel, for a maximum of four nights, and children under 14 are exempt. You pay at the hotel. Varenna's published star rates are similar: about €3 for a 3-star and €4 for a 4-star. Bellagio, Menaggio, Tremezzina and Cernobbio set their own and we couldn't confirm them from official sources, so ask your hotel for the figure.
When to book. For Lake Como summers and weekends, book your first choice early, because these are small towns with few rooms. For winter, check opening dates: some hotels may close for part of the low season, and the ferry timetable changes.
Hotel or apartment. If you're staying three nights on Lake Como or fewer, we'd book a hotel. A reception that can sort out ferry tickets, luggage and arrival directions is worth more than a kitchen. For a week, apartments like Divina Vita in Varenna or Suites Menaggio make more sense.
When to go. Our best time to visit Lake Como guide covers the months.
Which Lake Como town for which traveller
First-timers: Hotel Olivedo in Varenna.
Couples and honeymoons: Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni in Bellagio, or Hotel Du Lac & SPA for less. See also our Italy honeymoon ideas.
No car, shortest transfer: Hotel Villa Flori in Como.
Villas and gardens: Hotel Lenno in Lenno.
Hikers and boat-hoppers: Hotel Garni Corona in Menaggio.
Budget: Ostello Bello Lake Como or Miralago B&B and Apartments.
If you're comparing lakes, read Lake Como vs Lake Garda and our Lake Garda travel guide. For a wider route through the north, see the Italian lakes page and our northern Italy itinerary.
Where to stay in Lake Como: your questions answered
Where is the best place to stay in Lake Como for a first visit?
Varenna. It's the only Lake Como town with a direct Milan train, about 64 minutes from Centrale, and ferries cross to Bellagio and Menaggio in about 15 minutes. That means you can see the middle of the lake without a car.
Choose Bellagio instead if the classic view matters more than the transport.
Is it better to stay in Bellagio or Como?
Bellagio, if you want a mid-lake setting on Lake Como and you're happy to arrive by boat. Como, if you want the easiest arrival, the most restaurants and a city to fall back on in the rain. Como is about 40 minutes from Milano Centrale.
Bellagio has no station, so you'll plan around ferries.
Can you do Lake Como without a car?
Yes. Take the train to Varenna or Como and use the ferries for the rest. A one-day ferry pass for the Bellagio–Varenna–Menaggio zone costs €17.50 on the tariff in force since 1 April 2026.
Skip villages without a ferry stop or bus line, because taxis add up quickly.
How many days do you need on Lake Como?
Three nights is our minimum for a first visit to Lake Como. That gives you one travel day, one full day on the water and one for a villa or a walk. Add a fourth if you want to see both shores without rushing.
A single day trip from Milan shows you Lake Como, but you won't see it at its best.
Which side of Lake Como is nicer?
Neither shore of Lake Como wins outright. The eastern shore has Varenna and the train. The western shore has Menaggio, Tremezzo and the gardens, but you'll rely on ferries and buses.
Pick the side that matches how you're arriving, then cross by boat for the rest.
How much is the tourist tax on Lake Como?
It depends on the town and the star rating. In Como it's €4 per person per night for a 3-star and €5 for a 4-star, up to four nights, with under-14s exempt.
Other towns set their own rates, so ask your hotel before you arrive.
How do you get to Lake Como from Milan?
By train. Milano Centrale to Varenna-Esino takes about 64 minutes, Centrale to Como San Giovanni about 40 minutes and Cadorna to Como Lago about 60.
Our Milan to Lake Como guide has the full comparison.
Plan your trip
Eat, see and book the rest of your Lake Como trip. Our things to do in Milan list helps if you land there first, and a small-group boat tour of the Como villas is an easy way to see the shoreline from the water.
See our Lake Como tours roundup for more.
Get data before you land on Lake Como with a Yesim eSIM, and read our Italy eSIM guide first if you're comparing options. Cover your Lake Como trip with Visitors Coverage travel insurance.
For the full hotel list, see our best hotels in Lake Como guide, and for the wider Italian lakes, our Lake Como travel guide is the place to start.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to stay in Lake Como for a first visit?
Varenna. It's the only Lake Como town with a direct Milan train, about 64 minutes from Centrale, and ferries cross to Bellagio and Menaggio in about 15 minutes. That means you can see the middle of the lake without a car. Choose Bellagio instead if the classic view matters more than the transport.
Is it better to stay in Bellagio or Como?
Bellagio, if you want a mid-lake setting on Lake Como and you're happy to arrive by boat. Como, if you want the easiest arrival, the most restaurants and a city to fall back on in the rain. Como is about 40 minutes from Milano Centrale. Bellagio has no station, so you'll plan around ferries.
Can you do Lake Como without a car?
Yes. Take the train to Varenna or Como and use the ferries for the rest. A one-day ferry pass for the Bellagio–Varenna–Menaggio zone costs €17.50 on the tariff in force since 1 April 2026. Skip villages without a ferry stop or bus line, because taxis add up quickly.
How many days do you need on Lake Como?
Three nights is our minimum for a first visit to Lake Como. That gives you one travel day, one full day on the water and one for a villa or a walk. Add a fourth if you want to see both shores without rushing. A single day trip from Milan shows you Lake Como, but you won't see it at its best.
Which side of Lake Como is nicer?
Neither shore of Lake Como wins outright. The eastern shore has Varenna and the train. The western shore has Menaggio, Tremezzo and the gardens, but you'll rely on ferries and buses. Pick the side that matches how you're arriving, then cross by boat for the rest.
How much is the tourist tax on Lake Como?
It depends on the town and the star rating. In Como it's €4 per person per night for a 3-star and €5 for a 4-star, up to four nights, with under-14s exempt. Other towns set their own rates, so ask your hotel before you arrive.
How do you get to Lake Como from Milan?
By train. Milano Centrale to Varenna-Esino takes about 64 minutes, Centrale to Como San Giovanni about 40 minutes and Cadorna to Como Lago about 60. Our Milan to Lake Como guide has the full comparison.
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