WHAT TO DO AT LAKE COMO IN 2 DAYS
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Are you planning your Lake Como itinerary and wondering about the best things to do in Lake Como in 2 days?
Well, if so, you have found the perfect post as this quick guide will help you find out what to do in Lake Como – the most beautiful places to visit and fun things to do. Also, you will find some travel tips for your Lake Como itinerary.
Disclaimer: This post might contain affiliate links, which means I might earn a small commission if you buy a product or service via my link (at no extra cost).
TRAVEL TIPS FOR YOUR LAKE COMO ITINERARY
Before heading to the Lake Como itinerary, here is some information for your Lake Como trip.
Lake Como Facts
Lake Como, located conveniently close to the Swiss and Austrian borders, has become a popular spot for travelers and tourists worldwide.
Lake Como is in Northern Italy – more precisely, it is located in the region of Lombardy. It is easily reachable from places like Milan or Bergamo. It takes about 50 minutes from Milan to Como by train.
Lago di Como has an area of 146 square kilometers, so it is the third-largest lake in Italy just after Lake Garda and Lake Maggiore.
With a maximum depth of approximately 410 meters, it is also one of the deepest lakes in Europe.
Lake Como has been a popular destination for aristocrats and wealthy people since Roman times, and now for people from all around the world (the high prices here might scare many people away!).
Where to Stay in Lake Como For 2 Days
After spending some time in Switzerland, I was still surprised to see that Como’s prices aren’t that different from Switzerland. Especially hotels are costly.
If you are looking for a hotel in Como, you will pay way more than if you opt for a hotel in one of the areas close by. I have visited Lake Como twice – once I stayed in Como directly and once in an eco-hotel near Como.
However, if I visited Lake Como again, I would book a room in the town of Bellagio because it is prettier and slightly cheaper.
Here are some of the best places to stay around Lake Como:
WHERE TO STAY IN COMO:
- One of the most luxurious hotels in Como is this 4-star property: Click here to find the best rates for Villa Flori.
- If you want something more budget-friendly and decide to stay in Como, why not check out this affordable but very well-rated hotel, where you get good value for money.
WHERE TO STAY IN BELLAGIO:
- If you stay in Bellagio and want to splurge, then check out one of the most luxurious hotels in the area. Click here to get the best rates for Hotel Grand Villa Serbelloni.
- For a more budget-friendly accommodation in Bellagio, you might want to check out a 2-star hotel which is simple but comes with fantastic views. Click here to get the best rates for Il Perlo Panorama.
Find out more about an eco-hotel I stayed at, or check out my accommodation guide for Lake Como – the best areas to stay and best hotels for all budgets.
What to Pack for your Lake Como Itinerary
The region can become extremely hot in the summer, so do not forget to pack some sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, and many spare tops to change clothes for a hot summer day.
Italy is a country of beautiful and very stylish while still classy people. While I think you should dress as you wish, Italy – and Lake Como in particular – is the place to dress up. Click here for my full packing list.
How to Get Around Lake Como in 2 Days
Getting around Lake Como by car is probably the most convenient way. BUT it is also possible to get around by public transportation like buses or trains.
Some boats get you around as well. So, whether you have a car or not, getting around Lake Como is, in general, quite easy.
On the other hand, parking can be difficult and pricey in many areas (like Como). So, if you don’t depend on your car, I suggest using public transportation.
Best Time to Visit Lake Como
The best time to visit Lake Como is in the warm months. However, it depends on HOW warm you like it.
I visited Lake Como both times in summer (July) and it was wayyyyyy too hot. July and August are the warmest months, but it is also very humid and – honestly – very unpleasant. However, if you want to swim or love the heat then July or August are the best months to visit.
If I visited Lake Como again, I would go for a trip in May, June, or September. Prices for accommodation will drop, tourists are mostly gone, and the temperature should also drop while it is still warm.
P.S. I know, in Central Europe we can never rely on the weather, so you might experience coldish and rainy days in the summer and warmer days in winter.
Booking Tours in Lake Como
Many activities mentioned here can be done without any tour guide. Most are even free or do not cost a lot.
If you plan to do guided tours, I recommend GetYourGuide. I have become a fan of GetYourGuide, and so I started booking my own tours and activities mostly via them. So if you do not know them yet, try them out.
You can book many activities all over the world via them. They allow you (most of the time) to cancel tours for free (let´s face it, sometimes things just come in between).
I have added a few tours for you, so click on the links if you are interested in the tours.
THINGS TO DO IN LAKE COMO IN 2 DAYS
Here is how my perfect Lake Como itinerary looks like, and this is what to do in two days in Lake Como.
Lake Como comprises, among others, of Como and Bellagio. There are many villages and towns along the shores of Lake Como but with only 2 days in the area, I had to focus on some places. However, there are one or two more places mentioned on this than these two famous towns.
I recommended starting with exploring Como, and here are the best things to do in Como.
DAY 1 OF 2 DAYS IN LAKE COMO
Okay, one of the must-see places is Como itself.
Como
You should plan half a day to one full day for visiting the more prominent town (actually it is a city), Como. It is located on the southern tip of Lake Como in Northern Italy.
Como Old Town
You can start with Como’s cute old town. It is home to a beautiful cathedral – the Como Cathedral – and it is pleasant to get lost in the streets of Como.
Small cafes invite you to have a drink and take a rest while watching people strolling through the streets. I could spend hours getting lost in the narrow streets and checking out the smaller shops.
However, though Como is lovely, I admit that it is not mind-blowing, and it is also pretty expensive. For me, spending half a day in Como itself is enough.
- Tip: If you are into Italian food, why not do a Como Food Tour? Click here to find out more about food tours in Lake Como.
Definitely put the market square with the promenade in Como on your list. It is one of the main tourist attractions in Como – where a lot of cafes and restaurants allow you to overlook the gorgeous lake. Again, the market square is nice but not the most beautiful one I have been to in that region.
The promenade is beautiful for (long) walks – depending on your preferences, you could spend a few minutes to several hours here.
Boat Tour
The most prominent resident of Como is George Clooney. If you want to see his house (or better, the villa of George Clooney), you can do a boat tour and see his and many more beautiful villas lined up at Lake Como (boat tour is my must-do if in Como).
Since it can get really hot and humid, this is the best chance to have a fresh breeze and see those million-dollar houses at the lake. If you prefer it a bit calmer, you could do a Dinner Cruise Tour on Lake Como.
I admit that I cannot find a tour offering the exact tour I did. I checked out different online sites – without success. So, my tip is to ask in Como about different boat tours.
After exploring Como for more than half a day, it is time to visit this cute uphill town.
Brunate
Besides the boat tour, I enjoyed my trip to Brunate the most. Brunate is a small village on the mountain. It is situated approximately 700 meters above sea level (Lake Como is located about 200 meters above sea level) – offering you great views. You should also walk around that cute village.
It has about 1,800 residents, but in the summer months, it gets much busier when tourists rent houses and apartments.
You can use a funicular to get up to Brunate. The funicular station is located quite centrally in Como, just next to the market square.
Return tickets are around €6 and the funicular ride takes less than 10 minutes.
You hike up to Brunate, but I did not try that out due to laziness. Plan in about an hour for 4 km. If you are more into real hikes, you can find some ideas for hikes in the Lake Como area here.
End your day with a cooking course (there is probably no need to talk the Italian cuisine up to anyone) or dine at the Lake Como promenade.
Tip: If you want to skip one of the above activities and are looking for an alternative, you can check out the following ideas:
- Cooking course in Lake Como with a local
- Sail Boat experience
- Food tour in Como
- Walking tour in Como
DAY 2 OF 2 DAYS IN LAKE COMO
For day 2, I have the following suggestions for you. You can with an excursion to Lake Pusiano.
Lake Pusiano
If you are interested in visiting quieter places, I recommend Lake Pusiano, a hidden gem in the region of Como.
Lake Pusiano is the only one of the Brianza lakes that has an island: Isola dei Cipressi (Island of Cypresses). It is a natural hill, and it is one of those little pieces on earth where time is standing still. Lake Pusiano is also well-known for its flat water: no wind, no currents beneath the lake surface. So, it could not be more tranquil and peaceful.
The island boasts an ancient history, dating back as far as the Neolithic period, approximately 10,000 years B.C.
Also, only a few (eco-friendly) boats are allowed on that lake – starting from Bosisio Parini or Pusiano.
This is a good place to have a picnic or have lunch in one of the restaurants along the shores of Lake Pusiano.
Bellagio
Okay, time to visit my favorite area here, which is Bellagio.
Old Town
The old town of Bellagio is the best place to add to your Lake Como itinerary – if you ask me. It is charming, and though it is smaller than Como, it is more colorful, and I would say, more beautiful.
Promenade
The stunning promenade of Bellagio is another place to visit.
Let´s face it: Bellagio is more picturesque than Como.
Madonna del Ghisallo
Depending on how fast/slow you have traveled, you could add this to your Lake Como itinerary – Madonna del Ghisallo.
Cycling fans will enjoy a visit to the museum “Madonna del Ghisallo“. If you are not into cycling, then you will at least enjoy another great view of Lake Como.
Dine at Trattoria Baita Belvedere
For day 2 at Lako Como, I recommend having dinner at “Trattoria Baita Belvedere“. It seriously is the best place to visit in Bellagio to eat (I guess since I have not tried all restaurants there).
It has one of the most beautiful views for dining in Bellagio or probably the whole region, and the prices are affordable (organic and regional food).
Make sure to call them ahead and reserve a table – the seats with a view were quite limited!
Varenna
Alternatively, you can also visit this beautiful village: Varenna. With only 2 days in Lake Como, you have to prioritize which places to add to your itinerary and skip probably one of the other places mentioned here.
Varenna has fantastic villas (especially Villa Monastero is worth a visit), beaches, a charming promenade, a cute old town with historic buildings, and lovely restaurants.
Also, you can easily reach it from towns such as Bellagio (15 minutes away by ferry).
CONCLUSION: HOW TO CREATE A FUN LAKE COMO ITINERARY
As you can see, this Lake Como itinerary is quite busy if you only stay there for 48 hours but it is possible.
You could take more time and do these things in 3 or 4 days – but again, 2 days are enough to see the above-mentioned places. If you stay longer than 2 days in Lake Como, you can even do some fun day trips to Bergamo, Milan, or Lugano.
As mentioned at the beginning, Como is pretty but did not blow me away – Bellagio did, however. While there are more tourist attractions, the above-mentioned places should definitely be part of your 2-day Lake Como itinerary.
- Are you looking for day trips from Lake Como? Here is my idea for a day trip.
- Cannot get enough of Northern Italy? Then find out more about a perfect 10-day itinerary.
- I believe that Italy is a dream destination with many great places to see: Find out about the 25 most beautiful places in Italy.
- Heading to Cinque Terre? Read Christine´s post to find out why to visit this part of Italy.
- Here is an itinerary for charming Lake Garda.
