Lake Como has long been a popular destination for the rich and famous. It’s beauty and dramatic landscapes are now just as popular as ever with tourists who flock to the area to visit villages such as Bellagio, Varenna and Menaggio and to admire the many palaces and villas that line the shores of Lago Como.

However with not just wonderful sights and scenery to enjoy on Lake Como, there is also plenty to keep the keen sports enthusiast entertained, a host of good shopping opportunities for the shopaholics, plenty of eating places for the food lovers and a whole host of museums and activities for the younger generation to enjoy. Lake Como really is a holiday destination to suit everyone.

Bookings For You have put together a Lake Como holiday guide with information on all the things to see and do on Lake Como. We recommend you take the time to read our Lake Como travel guide ahead of your stay. It will ensure that you make the most out of every single second of your holiday to this beautiful part of Italy.

Our Lake Como travel guide will tell you everything you need to know. Whether you’re curious to find out what things there are to do on Lake Como for children, or whether it’s a museum guide you’re after, look no further! Our Lake Como travel guide is packed with all this and more!

Activities for thrill-seekers on Lake Como

For those who enjoy an adrenalin rush during their holidays, there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy some extreme sports on Lake Como. Visitors to the area shouldn't miss the opportunity to take a seaplane flight. The Como Aero club offers full training courses to teach you how to fly a seaplane as well as giving you the opportunity to experience a test flight before enrolling. Free Air Adventure near Bellano is a great place to experience a different kind of flight and enjoy paragliding for the first time. The club specialises in tandem flights, allowing you to experience the exhilaration...

Currency

Looking to buy your holiday money in preparation for your trip to Italy or elsewhere in the world? Bookings For You recommend purchasing your holiday money in advance through either Travelex or Moneycorp. Guests will be able to access some of the best foreign exchange rates and can enjoy the convenience of collecting their holiday money at the airport or having it delivered to your door. Guests secure significantly a better rate of exchange by reserving their holiday money online. Please visit either the Moneycorp or Travelex website to get a competitive quote on the rate of exchange...

Cycling around Lake Como

There are plenty of opportunities for mountain biking around Lake Como. Biking on the main roads is less popular as they do tend to be very narrow in places and can get extremely busy in the peak months. If you're looking to hire bikes during your stay, then there are plenty of rental options. Some of these include the Tabo Surf Centres at Gera Laria and Sorico, the Windsurfing Centre in Domaso, Bici Sport 2000 in Lenno, Como Bike in Como and Son of a Beach in Colico. Rental shops will also be able to advise you on cycling routes and itineries. Keen mountain bikers should also check out...

Lake Como Beaches and Lidos

Lake Como certainly doesn't have the number of beaches that neighbouring Lake Maggiore has around its shoreline. As a result, for those with young children, it can sometimes feel a bit frustrating being so near to the lake without being able to actually access it. That said, beach access isn't impossible! You just have to know where to go! The best swimming spots are certainly in the north of the lake, where the water is much cleaner and there are some good sized beaches. The lake waters are wonderful for swimming in reaching a pleasant 20 to 22 degrees across July and August. Head to either...

Lake Como Family Holidays

In order to make the best of any holiday with children, whether they're babies, toddlers or teenagers, it's best to plan as much as you can ahead of your stay. Hopefully, this guide to holidays for families in Lake Como, will make that planning process that little bit easier! Lake Como family holidays are arguably not as good as those on neighbouring Lake Maggiore in catering for children's tastes. Whilst there are activities for them to enjoy, in the summer, most children want to spend hours on the beaches or in the lake and the options for this are much more limited. There are good...

Lake Como Golf Courses

There are a number of good golf courses to be enjoyed around Lake Como. The first is the famous Menaggio and Cadenabbia golf course. Originally founded by an English aristocrat in 1907, this very tight 18 hole course was completely redesigned in 1965 but still maintains a traditional British feel. It offers breathtaking views over Lake Como from its elevated position above the lakes western shore. The clubhouse features a magnificent library of golfing literature, said to be second only to that at St Andrews. This is a Par 70 of 5455 metres. Arguably more challenging still is the Villa...

Lake Como Museums

There are a number of museums around Lake Como. There should certainly be something to meet everyone's tastes and interests whether it's art, nature, sport, science, history or even transport. San Siro Museum, Milan Perfect for fans of football, the museum is dedicated to both Inter Milan and AC Milan and tells the story of the two clubs through various memorabilia from football strips to the cups and trophies and footballs. The entrance to the museum is from gate 14 of the San Siro stadium and it's possible to visit the museum as well as enjoy a tour of the stadium itself. It's open...

Lake Como Restaurants

There are a wealth of restaurants in Lake Como to choose from. You will find Lake Como restaurants to suit all tastes and budgets. It's worth heading to some of the back streets and old lakeside towns to find some of the less well known but excellent Italian cuisine on offer. Fish lovers can sample the variety of lake fish on offer in the restaurants in Lake Como. Not surprisingly, lake fish is the speciality of the area. Others can enjoy the local cheeses and wines whilst, of course, there is always plenty of pizza and pasta on offer too. And don't forget to sample the delicious gelato on offer...

Lake Como Shopping

There are several markets in the many villages along the lake. Almost every village will have a market at some point. Some of the larger ones are listed below. Market Days: Monday 8 - 1 Argegno         Tuesday 9 - 12.30 Como                  9 - 12     Domaso 1st and 3rd Tuesdays only Wednesday 8 - 1 Varenna                   ...

Lake Como skiing

Whilst Lake Como might not be the first place that comes to mind when you're planning a skiing holiday, it offers several options for both the serious skiier and novice. It also offers a low cost way of trying skiing for the first time or a way to experience a less intense ski holiday, combining days on the slopes with days spent visiting the towns and villages round the lakeside. The largest resort near the lake is at Mandesimo. This offers skiiers 60 km of fantastic downhill slopes and 20 km of cross country ski tracks. Skiiers can enjoy stunning views as they descend. With slopes to...

Lake Como Travel information

Lake Como is served by three main airports - Milan Malpensa, Milan Linate and Milan Bergamo.        Milan Malpensa    Milan Linate     Milan Bergamo     London Gatwick      Easyjet Easyjet                      Monarch                                 London Heathrow British...

Lake Como Watersports

For those considering hiring a boat during their stay, it's definitely worth doing. Cruising around the lake on your own allows you to explore the many elegant villas dotted along Lake Como's shoreline that aren't open to the public and wouldn't be visible from the road. There are boat rental companies hiring boats by the hour in Cernobbio, Dongo, Domaso, Gera Laria and Sorico. For those looking for something a bit more active, there are opportunities to enjoy several different watersports including windsurfing, kitesurfing, sailing and canoeing. Companies offer equipment rental for the...

Sightseeing on Lake Como

There are some wonderful gardens around Lake Como which shouldn't be missed during a visit to the area. Those open to the public include the botanic gardens at Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo. With over 8 hectares of gardens to stroll through, it's worth spending at least a couple of hours here to appreciate the endless number of rare plants and species within the grounds as well as the monumental azaleas and rhododendrons. www.villacarlotta.it. Other gardens worth visiting include those on the other side of the lake in Bellagio at Villa Melzi. With entry cost just between 4 and 6 euros, it's...

Walks in and around the lake como area

Bookings For You are working hard to provide information on walking and hiking around Lake Como. If you are looking for information now, please contact us directly and we will be happy to answer any questions you have.