Travelling around Lake Como

However you choose to travel to Lake Como there are plenty of ways to get around once you arrive.

By Boat

There really is no better way to take in the magnificent scenery and explore the larger towns around Como than by boat. Como’s fantastic boat service runs daily from dawn to dusk and with a frequency that changes from season to season. You have a choice of slow boats, fast boats and hydrofoils. All are reasonably priced and are easily accessed by all.

By Car

Whether you travel by car or hire one on your arrival in Italy, you will find that driving here is a bit of an adventure with the winding narrow roads in and around Lake Como. However, you quickly adapt to driving here and really, it is easy enough to do and parking is also relatively easy. The advantage of having a car allows you to explore some of the more remote parts of the region with spectacular vistas, so don’t forget your camera.

By Foot

We love walking and exploring. The “Greenways” walk gives you clear routes (denoted by beautiful green granite slabs and steel markers) for some of the best walks around the lake. A more challenging walk is up to the San Martino church above Griante, but there is a trail path all the way and there are picnic benches at the top for you to sit down and have a rest once you get there (the views from here are stunning). As you might expect from this mountainous region, there are many steep pathways for the more energetic, but you will also find plenty of opportunity to meander about the old streets, walkways and promenades that line the shores along of Lake Como. You can easily walk from Menaggio all the way to Tremezzo if you like (part of this walk has not path but only a small section of road). Most of the larger villages and towns are pedestrianised, therefore be sure to pack comfortable shoes.

By Bus

The local bus service is both frequent and cheap. It has plenty of stops and the clean and modern buses (you can’t miss them, they’re bright blue) are very comfortable and of a good standard. Tickets and passes can be bought at newsagents and cafes around the lake. You can even take the bus from Menaggio to Lugano if you wish (don’t forget your passport though).

For the most fun you can have on a public bus, try the route along the via panoramica – it really is a jaw-droppingly beautiful trip and you will see a side to the lake that you will never forget.