7 Best Places to Stay in Lake Como: Best Towns & Hotels

Lake Como is one of the most breathtaking areas in all of Italy, so if you’re planning a trip there, you’re in for a real treat. Whether you’re planning to spend a long weekend at Lake Como or you’re visiting as part of a bigger Northern Italy road trip, I’m sure you’ll have the most amazing time.

Lake Como is surrounded by many different villages and towns so it can be a daunting task to find the best places to stay in Lake Como at first sight. If you’re wondering where to stay in Lake Como, you’re in the right place!

This post will go over the seven best locations to stay in Lake Como so that you can easily find the town that’s perfect for your vacation. Plus, you will get advice on each of the towns’ top accommodations for different budgets to save yourself time researching.

*Disclosure: This post contains a few affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through my link.*

Overview of the Where to Stay in Lake Como

Lake Como is a beautiful destination nestled in the Italian Alps on Switzerland’s border that genuinely looks like something out of a fairytale. It’s filled with more than fifteen different villages, some of which are a lot more touristic and busy than others.

When choosing where to stay in Lake Como, you have to consider your own personal preferences. Do you want to be near the nightlife? Do you want a relaxing getaway? Maybe you want to have a vacation doused in luxury?

Regardless of your own interests with your Lake Como holiday, rest assured that there is a perfect village for you with accommodations within your budget.

Another thing to consider when choosing a town is the places you want to explore around Lake Como. The closer you stay to the destinations you want to visit during your vacation, the less time and money you’ll have to spend on transportation.

Below you can find an overview of the best towns to stay in Lake Como, ranging from destinations that are a bit more popular to lesser-known and tranquil villages.

AREA	BEST FOR	RECOMMENDED HOTEL	MORE HOTELS
Como	Nightlife and shopping	Hilton Lake Como	More hotels in Como
Bellagio	Sightseeing and exploring other villages	Hotel Belvedere	More hotels in Bellagio
Varenna	Relaxing and close proximity to the waterfront	Hotel Royal Victoria	More hotels in Varenna
Lecco	Luxury and fine dining	NH Lecco Pontevecchio	More hotels in Lecco
Cernobbio	Tranquility and Italian charm	Hotel Asnigo	More hotels in Cernobbio
Bellano	Culture and history	Hotel Meridiana	More hotels in Bellano
Menaggio	Watersports and hiking	Grand Hotel Menaggio	More hotels in Menaggio

Best Places to Stay in Lake Como

Lake Como is filled with tons of different places to stay, but below you can find the best locations to stay in Lake Como. Hopefully, this guide will help you choose the perfect town for your vacation and you’ll be able to easily plan your trip to the Lombardy region of Italy.

1. Como – The best place to stay for nightlife and shopping

Como is the central transportation hub in Lake Como, meaning that this will most likely be your arrival town, no matter where you choose to stay. The main train and bus stations are located here, so Como is one of the bigger cities in the area.

Within Como, there are tons of historical places to visit, like the Como Cathedral, and it also has its own funicular that both visitors and locals alike love to ride up to Brunate.

There is a decent amount of nightlife in Como compared to the other villages, and you’d never run out of things to do. However, Como is a bit further away from the other villages, so if you plan to explore, you might spend a lot of time and money on transportation.

While Como is the largest city in Lake Como, it’s often seen as an underrated place to stay! Many people just see it as an arrival point to Lake Como, but it does have its own charm that can’t be beaten by the other villages in the area.

Best places to stay in Como

2. Bellagio – The best place to stay for sightseeing and exploring other villages

Another one of the best places to stay in Lake Como is Bellagio. This is one of the most popular villages to visit, and it’s centrally located in the middle of the lake so you can easily travel to pretty much anywhere. While the town is small, it’s filled with tons of sightseeing opportunities.

Bellagio is consistently said to be one of the most beautiful towns in all of Europe, so if you want to stay in an Instagram-worthy location, this place is for you. There are also lots of great gardens and viewpoints throughout Bellagio, making it a worthy place to set as your home base for your trip to Lake Como.

Keep in mind that Bellagio is Lake Como’s most famous town, so you’ll want to book your accommodations well in advance to avoid them being fully booked out for your planned trip.

Best places to stay in Bellagio

3. Varenna – The best place to stay for relaxing and close proximity to the waterfront

Varenna is a quaint village near Bellagio that is also easily connected to Milan via transportation, like Como. It’s said to be the number one place to stay in Lake Como for a couple, so it’s perfect if you’re looking for a romantic weekend away with your significant other.

Varenna used to be a fishing village, so many of the buildings throughout Varenna resemble those in Cinque Terre. Plus, there’s a beautiful boardwalk along the waterfront which many of the other villages don’t have.

The village is extremely picturesque and is filled with historic architecture showcasing Italy’s history, making it one of the best places to stay in Lake Como.

The charming Varenna, however, is known to be a busy place to stay during the peak months in Lake Como, which might deter you from staying here in the summer months. However, there are tons of great things to do in Varenna that totally make up for the crowd.

Best places to stay in Varenna

4. Lecco – The best place to stay for luxury and fine dining

Lecco is one of the best places to stay in Lake Como if you want to stay in a larger and more commercial location. Similar to Como, you won’t run out of things to do in Lecco. It’s located on the southeastern part of the lake and is a bit more isolated.

Because of its isolation, it can be a bit harder to get to Lecco, but if you don’t plan on exploring the other villages a whole lot, that shouldn’t be a problem. Transportation to and from Lecco also occurs a lot more often during the summer months, which is something to keep in mind.

The places to stay in Lecco are quite luxurious, and there are tons of great places to eat here. It’s also right next to the Italian Alps, so there are breathtaking views no matter where you look.

Best places to stay in Lecco

5. Cernobbio – The best place to stay for tranquility and Italian charm

Next up is Cernobbio, which is said to be somewhat of a hidden gem accommodation location while visiting Lake Como. It’s not that far from the city of Como but is nowhere near as busy and overrun by tourists as Como. Many wealthier people initially set up their homes here, which is evident in the architecture and buildings throughout.

If you’re wondering about where to stay in Lake Como for a classic Italian charm, then you have to check out Cernobbio. Accommodation prices here are incredibly affordable, and you’ll find a decent amount of shops and restaurants throughout. Even George Clooney has a villa near Cernobbio!

One thing to keep in mind is that there isn’t as much to do in Cernobbio as there is in some of the other villages. However, the great prices and breathtaking views more than makeup for it!

Best places to stay in Cernobbio

6. Bellano – The best place to stay for culture and history

To truly experience Italy’s culture, you should stay in Bellano. It’s known for its amazing beaches and swimming areas as well as its top-notch hotels. Plus, there are tons of great places to eat and shop that have excellent views of Lake Como that you won’t be able to witness elsewhere.

Throughout Bellano, you’ll find bits and pieces of historic buildings. This village also holds an annual opera festival, so it comes alive at least once every year. Keep in mind that this village does get quite busy during its peak season, and it tends to be a bit pricier than its other village counterparts.

Bellano is near Varenna, so if you plan on visiting that village, it will be effortless to get to. It’s also a lot easier to get a lake-facing hotel room in Bellano compared to some of the other villages, despite being busy in peak seasons. 

Best places to stay in Bellano

7. Menaggio – The best place to stay for watersports and hiking

Last but not least on the list of the best places to stay in Lake Como is Menaggio. This village is located near the middle of the lake, so it’s well connected to the other villages when it comes to transportation.

You won’t have to worry about it being difficult to go out and visit other places around the lake. Plus, if you want to take a day trip to Switzerland, you can easily do it from Menaggio by taking a direct bus.

Unfortunately, many people say that Menaggio isn’t as romantic as the other villages, but that’s because it tends to be busy year-round. Despite that, you can find authentic Italian charm hidden throughout the tiny alleyways and buildings in Menaggio, so it’s still an excellent place to stay.

It’s also a lot cheaper than its counterpart Bellagio which it is closely located to. Menaggio is well-known for being a great spot to stay if you want to partake in any outdoor activities, including watersports or hiking.

Best places to stay in Menaggio

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