The Ultimate guide for Lake Como including tips on what to see/do and where to eat/drink + a mini 3-4 day itinerary

 Lake Como

I've been Lucky enough to explore Lake Como over four times, and a lot of the time, I've chosen Menaggio as my base. Why? Because Menaggio is simply the perfect hub for your Lake Como getaway. It's small, offers a range of restaurants and supermarktets, and serves as the ideal Launchpad for day trips to the must see villages. These are the accomodations I've stayed at: 

During my backpacking trip we booked an Airbnb which also had a very good Location in Menaggio and it was called Appartement casa la Sunta. This is the link to the accommodation: https://www.airbnb.com/trips/v1/010c9008-f242-4fd4-93dc-ee6760a4cb89/ro/RESERVATION2_CHECKIN/HMK5A5DSCE 

Now that we have found a place to stay, we can have a look on what to do  and see in Lake Como!

you can also go shopping in Menaggio since there are a lot of cute boutique shops, and if the temperature is not too hot you can go hiking.

If you have time to visit more villages these are my recommendations:

you can easily go to these villages by taking the ferry:

Morning: the first day you will probably arrive in Como, so take this oppurtunity to explore the city. Tip: If you have any luggage you can drop them at a Nannybag location. 

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Enjoy lunch at a lakeside cafe in Como and savor Italian dishes.

Afternoon: Visit Como Cathedral (Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta) and take a walk along the charming old town streets. And then take the ferry to Menaggio or wherever your accommodation is based. There will be ferries that will take 2 hours or ferries that take only 30 mins. I personally took the ferry from 2 hours since you will get a 'tour' of whole Lake Como and it's really beautiful. 

Evening: enjoy diner in the place you are headed and relax.

morning: If you are staying in Menaggio you can start by exploring the town for a bit and have breakfast at one of my recommended places. Don't miss a visit to Menaggio's Old Town, with its charming streets and historic buildings.

afternoon: if it's warm enough you can go to the Lido in Menaggio and go for a swim and relax by the lake. Otherwise you can take the ferry to Bellagio. You can buy tickets at the ticket office located near the ferry departures. I recommend going earlier because there can be a line in high season. When you arrive in Bellagio you can have lunch at one of my recommended restaurants mentioned above or take a ice-cream and walk along the beautiful promenade to enjoy the views of the lake. After lunch you can go shopping in Bellagio or go for a swim. If you have time left you can also  Visit Villa Melzi and its beautiful gardens.

Hotel du Lac

Grand Hotel Cadenabbia

Grand Hotel Tremezzo

Bellagio

Villa Melzi D'Eril

Punta Spartivento

Bar Ristorante Vecchio Borgo

Bar Sanremo

Da Franco Piadineria e Panetteria

La Lanterna Bellagio

Trattoria San Giacomo

Hotel Florence

Caffè Centrale - Menaggio (co)

Lake Como

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