Best Villages Near Lago di Como in Italy

As well as being an extremely beautiful natural setting, the shores of Lake Como are home to some of Italy's most beautiful villages. Famous for their imposing villas and picture-postcard streets and buildings, the villages of the area are also set in an incomparable lakeside setting, backed by the mountains of the Alps. It is therefore a perfect visit for those who have already seen all that Milan has to offer.

The list of villages worth visiting is very extensive and so in this post I have listed the ten that, in my opinion and in the opinion of many, are the most beautiful in the area. If you want to know more about how to visit, here you can read about the best excursions to Lake Como from Milan and in this article, how to get to the area from the city.

The first village on this list is one of the most important on Lago Di Como and one of the must-see towns on any trip to the lake.

This is due to its privileged geographical location. The lake is shaped like an inverted "y" and Bellagio sits right at the intersection of the three "legs" in the centre of the lake, making it the focal point for visitors to the region.

Its steep streets, stately homes, villas and historic centre also contribute to making it the most famous tourist town on the lake.

To make the most of your visit to this town you will need at least half a day to explore its streets, the beautiful "Lungolago Europa" promenade that runs along part of the shores of the lake or the Spartivento point located in the northernmost part of Bellagio and which offers one of the best panoramic views of Lake Como. In summer you can also enjoy some of the artificial beaches in the surrounding area.

Varenna is a small fishing village just north of Bellagio. Many people point to this village as the most beautiful of all those on Lake Como and although this is subjective, it has more than enough merits to be considered as such.

It is a very picturesque village thanks to the colours of its streets and houses and its abundant floral decoration. In fact, it is a very romantic destination and one of its main attractions is the Paseo del Amor, or in Italian "Passeggiata Degli Innamorati". A pedestrian walkway covered with vegetation and a beautiful view of the lake that connects the dock with the historic centre of the town.

The centre is one of its attractions with the Church of San Giorgio and San Giovanni Battista as emblems, as well as the Villa Monastero famous for its botanical gardens and the Castle of Vezio from which you get one of the best views of the entire lake. A must-see destination without a doubt.

Just on the opposite shore to Varenna is the village of Menaggio. It is a small town of about 3000 inhabitants but full of charming corners.

It ispart of the most touristic nucleus of Lago Di Como together with the two previous towns in this list. The centre of Menaggio is divided into two parts. The upper part, where you can find several churches that are worth a visit, such as the Church of Santo Stefano or the Church of Santa Marta. This is the most historical part and the other is the promenade by the lake.

The area closest to the shore is perfect for pleasant strolls or relaxing with a gelato while enjoying the view of the lake. Along the promenade next to the luxurious hotels, it is also common to find stalls selling handicrafts or lavender.

In summer there is also a beach for a refreshing swim. An ideal town for a relaxing visit and one of the best places to stay if you are looking for accommodation for several days.

As a curiosity, Tremezzo is a very new locality that was born in 2014 from the union of several communities from the towns of Lenno, Ossuccio, Tremezzo and Mezzegra.

Despite its recent history and small size, Tremezzo has several places worth visiting to discover. Perhaps the most popular is the Hotel Tremezzo, a building that is easily recognisable as the largest and most prominent in the town and famous throughout the lake for its luxury and for its floating swimming pools in summer.

Just outside Tremezzo, but close by, is Villa Carlota. A villa that does justice to the fame of the palaces of Lago Di Como, it dates back to the 17th century with several works of art from the same period inside and its gardens are a popular attraction for visitors.

Tremezzo is also a good destination for hikers as it lies at the foot of the Tremezzo mountain which offers several beautiful but demanding routes which reward you with spectacular views.

Brienno is an almost hidden village situated on the western shore of the lake in front of the village of Nesso. And I say almost hidden because it is one of the smallest, in fact its population is only about 500 inhabitants. But it is a highly recommended destination especially for art lovers. The origin of the village is medieval and its jewels are its churches of Romanesque origin.

The two most important are the churches of Saints Nazarius and Celso. Both of Romanesque origin, but restored to have a baroque appearance, inside you can admire some beautiful painted stained glass windows from the XIV century and frescoes from the sixteenth century by G.P. Recchi.

Another church is that of S. Vittore of which only its bell tower, almost sunk into the lake, remains. If you have the opportunity, visit Brienno at night, as the whole town illuminates its buildings in different colours and gives us a postcard worthy of remembering.

Following the road that runs along the eastern shore out of the city of Como you will reach the beautiful town of Torno after only 20 minutes.

This town was once one of the most important in the area of Lago di Como thanks to the textile trade, which is reflected in its buildings. Or rather in the remains of its great buildings, as it was almost destroyed by the Spanish in 1522.

But the remains of its military buildings contribute to the charm of the town, with the remains of the castle wall as its main symbol. Torno is also one of the best gastronomic destinations in the region thanks to its numerous restaurants. Many of them have beautiful terraces overlooking the lake.

If the most striking thing about Lago Di Como is its luxurious and imposing villas, Cernobbio is the best village to visit.

Originally a humble fishing village, Cernobbio underwent a major change that turned it into one of Europe's most popular luxury tourist destinations for the wealthy.

The best example of this is the Villa del Este. A neoclassical palace from 1568, today it is one of the most luxurious hotels in Europe and has been recognised on several occasions as the best hotel in the world.

Although this hotel is not suitable for most people's pockets, Cernobbio has many other charms to offer. The town has a beautiful historic centre known as "La Riva" and an equally beautiful lakeside promenade.

Cernobbio is also right next to the town of Como, which is the main access point to the lake, and visiting it is extremely convenient.

With so many villages to see, it is easy for some of them to be forgotten. This is the case of Nesso, but it should not be underestimated, since this small village is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful and has one of the most special corners of Lake Como.

This corner is known as the Ponte della Civera, a small medieval bridge that crosses a very narrow canyon where two streams flow into the lake with a beautiful waterfall.

Besides this magical little corner, the village is very picturesque thanks to its colourful facades, some of them covered with vegetation. The great advantage of being less touristy is that you can discover Nesso without the usual crowds of other more touristy villages. It is not for nothing that it is considered the hidden jewel of Lago Di Como.

A little further north of Cernobbio is Moltrasio. This is one of the most "natural" villages of the lake and I say natural because this locality has many green areas and even from the lake it seems to be lost in a forest.

It is also a source of resources such as the so-called grey stone, which has been used to build everything from the lake's roads to some works of art.

Moltrasio is famous for its market of regional products and the villa Passalacqua. The latter is one of the best villas that can be visited on Lake Como for an entrance fee. The lakeside villa can be visited almost everywhere, from its beautiful gardens to the spectacular rooms inside.

Water recreation is also common in Moltrasio and there are many companies offering boat trips and water sports. A mix that makes it a very interesting destination on Lago Di Como.

Last on this list, but no less relevant or beautiful, are the villages of Ossuccio and Lenno. I include them together as these two neighbouring towns have practically merged into one due to the growth of both.

In these two villages there are cinema sites. And I say "cinematic" because one of them has been the setting for such famous films as Star Wars or James Bond. This place is the village of Balbianello at the tip of a small peninsula in the middle of the two villages.

This film location can be visited and although the entrance fee is somewhat expensive at around 20 euros, it is well worth the visit as there are few places where you will see more beautiful gardens and a more beautiful villa than this one.

The other great attraction of these villages, in this case linked to Ossuccio, is the Sacro Monte di Ossuccio. This sanctuary is located on a crag on the mountain that shelters both villages and is part of the group known as Sacred Mounts of Piedmont and Lombardy, which was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco.

Aside from these two spots, the villages of Ossuccio and Lenno, like all those on this list, are charming enough to take the time to stroll through their streets, especially along the quays and promenades on the shores of Lake Como.