Where to Stay on Lake Como: Varenna, Bellagio, Menaggio or Como?

Choosing where to stay on Lake Como comes down to one question: how will you move around? The lake is long, and its shore roads are narrow. As a result, the ferries shape your days far more than the map does.

This guide compares the five bases most visitors choose, by train access, boat links and evenings. It also covers the fall timetable that cuts the late boats, and how the tourist tax works in the lake towns.

Last updated: October 6, 2026

Lake Como towns at a glance

Train times are from Trenord, the regional rail operator, checked in September 2026. For every route and fare, see our guide to getting from Milan to Lake Como.

Where to stay on Lake Como by what you will do

• Arriving by train from Milan with no car? Stay in Varenna, a short walk from the station.
• Booking a Lake Como boat tour or a private boat tour? Bellagio or Varenna keep you in the middle of the lake.
• Visiting Villa del Balbianello and Villa Carlotta? Tremezzina puts both within a short walk or boat ride.
• Walking the Greenway on the western shore? Menaggio or Tremezzina are the natural bases.
• Spending one night before a flight or a cooking class in Como? Choose Como town.

Varenna

Varenna is the small, quiet village on the east shore. Above all, it has a station on the direct train line to Milan. Its colorful lakefront empties in the evening, so it suits couples and first-timers without a car. However, hotels are few, so book early for summer.

Bellagio

Bellagio sits at the tip of the peninsula, where the three arms of the lake meet. In practice, it has the most restaurants and the most boat links. It is busy by day in high season, but the evenings are lovely once the day-trippers leave. In addition, Villa Melzi’s gardens are a short walk along the shore.

Menaggio

Menaggio is a small town on the west shore with a broad lakefront. It has no train station, so you arrive by ferry or by road. On the other hand, it is close to Villa Carlotta and to the Greenway, an easy walking path along the western shore.

Tremezzina: Tremezzo, Cadenabbia and Lenno

These villages on the western shore are the base for the two best-known villas. Villa Carlotta sits between Tremezzo and Cadenabbia. Meanwhile, Villa del Balbianello cannot be reached by car, according to the FAI visitor page (checked September 2026), so you walk up from Lenno or take a taxi boat. Choose Tremezzina for quiet evenings rather than nightlife.

Como town

Como is a real city at the southern tip of the lake, with a cathedral, a lively old town and the funicular up to Brunate. Trains reach Milan in about 40 minutes. Therefore, it works well for a short stay or a last night before flying home. Still, the mid-lake villages are a long boat ride away.

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The ferry rule: choose your base around the last boat

The public boats are run by Navigazione Laghi. Its timetable page lists a ferry route that links Bellagio, Cadenabbia, Varenna and Menaggio (checked September 2026). So if you sleep in one of these four, the other three are a short crossing away.

However, the last boat matters more than the first. The official page showed the summer timetable ending on October 4, 2026, and an autumn timetable running from October 5 to November 1. Fewer boats run after that. As a result, in fall and winter a base with a train station, such as Varenna or Como town, is the safer choice.

In addition, fast boats carry a supplement, and only runs marked as car ferries take vehicles. For a full day-by-day plan around the boats, see our Lake Como itinerary.

Do you need a car on Lake Como?

Usually not. The shore roads are narrow and parking in the ferry towns is limited. In fact, the boats link the central villages and the best-known villas. If you still want to drive, choose a hotel with parking and read our guides to driving in Italy and car rental in Italy first.

Lake Como’s tourist tax

Each lake town sets its own tourist tax, charged per person, per night and usually paid at the property. For example, Bellagio applies it for up to 7 consecutive nights and exempts children up to age 11, according to the town’s official tax portal (checked October 2026). In Como town, a 4-star hotel adds €5.00 per person per night for up to 4 nights, with children under 14 exempt (checked September 2026 on the city’s official pages). Since rates differ between towns and types of stay, ask your hotel for the exact amount. Our Italy tourist tax guide explains how the tax works across the country.

Planning more than one stop? Our guide to where to stay in Italy compares every base. Next on most northern routes, see our northern Italy itinerary and the guide to the lakes in Italy.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best town to stay in on Lake Como without a car?

Varenna, because it has a direct train to Milan and ferries to Bellagio and Menaggio. Bellagio is the alternative if you want more restaurants and boat links.

Is it better to stay in Bellagio or Varenna?

Bellagio has more restaurants and boat connections, while Varenna is quieter and has a train station. For a first trip without a car, Varenna is usually the easier base.

Is Como town a good base for Lake Como?

Yes for a short stay or a last night before Milan, since trains take about 40 minutes. For the villas and villages in the middle of the lake, a mid-lake base saves long boat rides.

When do Lake Como ferries reduce service?

In 2026 the summer timetable ended on October 4, and an autumn timetable ran from October 5 to November 1, with fewer boats after that. Check the official timetable before you book a base without a train station.