Lake Como, located in northern Italy, is definitely a beautiful destination with its beautiful towns, charming villages, and famous villas. But, sometimes you want to explore nearby places, especially if you’ve been staying in Lake Como for a while.
If you are looking for the best places to visit after Lake Como, you don’t have to look far. Milan, Bergamo, and even Switzerland are just 1 to 2 hours away from Lake Como and are possible to visit for a day trip.
If you’ve spent time visiting Lake Como towns such as Bellagio, Varenna, or Menaggio, a change of scenery might do you good. In this article, we will talk about 3 best places near Lake Como that you can visit. So, if you are ready to experience Lake Como and other nearby places, make sure to read until the end!
Lake Como
Lake Como, Italy is the third-largest lake after Lake Garda and Lake Maggiore. It has been a popular destination among wealthy people ever since the Roman times and continues to be one of the popular tourist attractions among Europeans and tourists alike.
There are many things to do and places to see when you visit Lake Como. Among its many charming towns, Bellagio, Varenna, Menaggio, Como, Bellano, Tremezzo, and Lecco are some of the most beautiful towns in Lake Como. Taking boat tours of Lake Como will also let you experience the natural beauty of Lake Como as well as catch a glimpse of its surrounding mountains. You can also book a boat tour to Villa del Balbianello which is known for its beautiful architecture and picturesque gardens.
Spending a couple of days in Lake Como will give you the opportunity to see these beautiful towns. Once you’ve had your fill of these wonderful villages, there are other places near Lake Como that you can visit.
Best Places To Visit After Lake Como
If you want a change of scenery from Lake Como, there are other places that you can visit nearby. These places are great for day trips if your accommodation is in one of the towns or villages in Lake Como.
Here are some of the possible day trips that you can do from Lake Como.
Milan
Milan is the closest city to Lake Como and if you haven’t already spent a day or two in this Italian city, you definitely should do at least a day trip. The travel time from Lake Como to Milan is just about an hour and there are many things to do in Milan in one day.
If you can only do one thing in Milan, it is to visit the Duomo di Milano, especially if you are into Gothic architecture. It is one of the famous landmarks in Milan. Going inside the Duomo is free but you have to pay a fee to enter the Museum or the cathedral’s rooftop.
You can also visit the Galleria Vittorio, especially if you like shopping. It is Italy’s oldest shopping mall and is just next to the Duomo so you wouldn’t have to spend more time traveling. There are several cafés and restaurants in this shopping mall and you’ll find some of the most expensive brands like Louis Vuitton.
Lugano, Switzerland
You don’t have to stay in Italian cities near Lake Como if you want a change of scenery.
From Lake Como, the travel time to Lake Lugano in Switzerland is only about 45 minutes to an hour. You can either take a bus or a train to get to Lugano from Lake Como.
Like Lake Como, Lake Lugano has beautiful towns and villages that line its shores. Once in Lugano, you can explore its vibrant city that offers a view of the stunning lake and beautiful mountains. You can also follow the hiking trails along Monte Brè or Monte San Salvatore. These destinations are a must, especially if you are a nature lover.
There are several day trip tours from Lake Como to Lugano if you like to have a planned itinerary instead of visiting Lugano on your own. If you’ve already had your fill of lakes, you can also take the Bernina Express for a scenic journey to Switzerland. The journey will end in St. Moritz, Switzerland and you can explore the old town before going back to Lake Como.
Bergamo
If you are a history buff, Bergamo is just about 2 hours away from Lake Como by train. Bergamo is a small city in Lombardy that can easily be explored on foot.
For history lovers, this city has a rich history and was said to have been a Roman municipality in 49 BC. It is also home to the Venetian walls enclosing Bergamo Alta and these defensive walls are also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can also head on to the San Giacomo Gate made of white marble and this leads to the Upper town of Bergamo. There are also organized tours in Bergamo that will take you around the city. These tours will take you to monuments and museums to learn about the city’s culture.
Wrap Up
Lake Como is a beautiful destination in Italy and it has a lot of charming towns and villages that you can visit. After a couple of days in Lake Como, you can take day trips to nearby places if you want a change in scenery. You can plan your trip and look at possible public transportation schedules and routes via Google Maps or any other app for Italian transportation. Smartphone applications such as these are convenient, especially if you don’t know your way around a place.
In this article, we talked about some of the places you can visit after spending time in Lake Como. These places are about 1 to 2 hours away from Lake Como and are all possible as day trips. If you have any other questions, let us know how we can help! Happy travels!
