Where is Lake Como?

Lake Como is located in northern Italy, in Lombardy, about 40 km north of Milan. It is nestled between the Lombard Prealps, on the border between the provinces of Como and Lecco, and extends north to Colico, almost touching the border with Switzerland.

Its shape is unmistakable: an inverted Y, with two branches that diverge from the center of the lake towards the south. The western branch reaches the city of Como, the capital of the eponymous province, while the eastern branch goes as far as Lecco. At the center of this bifurcation lies the famous village of Bellagio, one of the most photographed and visited in Italy.

With an area of about 146 km² and a length of 46 km, Lake Como is the third largest lake in Italy by surface area, after Lake Garda and Lake Maggiore. Its privileged location, surrounded by mountains that reach nearly 2,000 meters, creates a mild and temperate microclimate that has made the area a sought-after vacation destination since Roman times.

How to get there? From Milan, it is very convenient: by car, you can take the A9 motorway to Como in about 40 minutes. By train, the direct line from Milan Centrale to Como San Giovanni takes just over an hour. For those arriving from Malpensa Airport, there are bus and shuttle connections directly to the lakeside.

Once on the lake, the boats and ferries operated by Navigazione Laghi connect all the main villages: Cernobbio, Tremezzo, Varenna, Menaggio, Bellagio, and many others. However, renting a private boat remains the most exclusive way to explore the lake's waters at your own pace, discovering historic villas, hidden gardens, and views that are impossible to reach by land.