4 days, 3 nights · Best for first-time Como visitors seeking elegance and easy access
A Taste of Lake Como Tour | Vacation Packages for 2025, 2026
Experience Lake Como, Bellagio and Tremezzo as elegant villas, lush gardens and lakeside towns create a luxurious Italian lakes escape.
Your Adventure Starts Here
This is a starting point. Change the nights, choose the style of hotel, add the experiences you want. Your planner takes it from there.
Stop 1Lake Como, Lombardy
Lake Como
Villas, ferries and silk on Alpine shores
We base you on the western shore of Lake Como, within reach of the grand villas that line the water and the villages that ferry passengers have threaded together for centuries. You ride the public ferry to Bellagio, where the lake divides into its Como and Lecco branches, and walk through gardens designed when neoclassical taste met Alpine light. Villa Carlotta holds Canova sculptures and azaleas that bloom against the mountains. Villa Melzi, one of Italy's first English-style gardens, runs along the waterfront in ordered terraces. In Bellagio's lanes, silk scarves and lakeview cafés occupy buildings painted in fading ochre and rose.
We arrange a guided walk through Como, the elegant town that has manufactured silk since the fifteenth century and still supplies the fashion houses of Milan. The Cathedral, begun in 1396, combines Gothic and Renaissance elements in white Carrara marble. A day trip into Switzerland takes you to Lugano, where the border is fifteen minutes north and the lakeside promenade runs between Alpine peaks and Ticinese piazzas. On your first evening, a small restaurant in Moltrasio serves Lombard dishes, risotto with perch or polenta with braised meat, within sight of the water.
Arranged for you: Three nights premium four-star lakeside hotel, breakfast daily, ferry to Bellagio, walking tour of Como with local guide, welcome dinner in Moltrasio
Your hotel
Styles, not names. We name the property once we know your dates and your party.
Interests in Lake Como
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Private boat tour to hidden villas Day Trips · Half day
A local captain pilots your party along the western shore, stopping at villa landings closed to the public ferry and narrating the history of Como's grand estates.
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Cooking class in a lakeview kitchen Day Trips · Half day
A home cook in Cernobbio teaches you to make fresh pasta and risotto alla comasca, then you sit down to eat what you have prepared with local wine.
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Guided hike above Bellagio Day Trips · Full day
A mountain guide leads you on footpaths through chestnut forests to viewpoints over both branches of the lake, then descends to a village trattoria for lunch.
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Silk workshop visit and scarf-making Day Trips · Half day
Tour a family workshop in Como that still prints silk by hand using wooden blocks, then work with an artisan to design and print your own scarf to take home.
Day by day in Lake Como
Arrive on the shores of Lake Como and check into your hotel, surrounded by one of Italy’s most iconic lake landscapes. In the afternoon, we suggest heading to Tremezzo to visit Villa Carlotta, one of Lake Como’s most beautiful historic villas, renowned for its magnificent botanical gardens, sculptures, and panoramic terraces overlooking the water. After your visit, continue to Moltrasio, a charming lakeside village near Como, and enjoy a welcome dinner in a small local restaurant where you can sample traditional Lombard cuisine. Return to your hotel for an overnight stay on Lake Como.
Lakeside Villages and Villa Dreams Begin
After breakfast, board a ferry that will take you across Lake Como to Bellagio in less than an hour. Known as the “Pearl of Lake Como,” Bellagio occupies a spectacular position on the promontory where the lake divides into its Como and Lecco branches. Wander through its elegant lanes, boutiques, and waterfront promenade. We recommend visiting the park of Villa Serbelloni, a historic 14th-century villa now operating as a luxury hotel, and the neoclassical Villa Melzi, whose beautifully landscaped grounds include one of Italy’s first English-style gardens. In the afternoon, return to Como by ferry, enjoying postcard-perfect views of the lake, mountains, and grand villas along the shoreline (keep an eye out for George Clooney’s villa). Head back to your hotel, then enjoy dinner on your own and an overnight stay.
Enjoy breakfast, then we suggest crossing the nearby border into Switzerland for a day trip to Lugano (passport required). Drive on your own to this romantic Swiss town, beautifully set between Lake Lugano and the surrounding Alps. Stroll along the lakeside promenade, explore the historic center, and enjoy lunch on your own, perhaps sampling local dishes like cheese fondue or rösti. In the afternoon, you’ll have more time at leisure for sightseeing or shopping. On the way back toward Como, fashion lovers may want to stop at the Foxtown outlet in Mendrisio, home to numerous Italian and international designer brands. Return to your hotel in the Moltrasio/Como area for an evening at leisure, dinner on your own, and overnight stay.
After breakfast, check out of your hotel and transfer to Como, the elegant town that gives the lake its name. Meet your local guide for a walking tour of the historic center, including the impressive Cathedral of Como and other key monuments. Stroll along the pedestrian streets lined with boutiques, this is the perfect place to shop for Como silk, which has been produced here for centuries. Take time to enjoy a light lunch or cappuccino at a café overlooking the lake. The end of your walking tour in Como marks the conclusion of your Lake Como and Lugano getaway.
Day 4
Departure
A private transfer to the airport. We stay on the line until you are home.
Why plan with Trips 2 Italy?
Designed around you by Italian-born planners
Guides, drivers and boats for your party alone
Hand-selected hotels in every destination
Local English-speaking guides who know their city
Met at the airport, private transfers throughout
Testimonials
Hear from travelers who have planned Italy with us
They took the time to understand our preferences and designed an itinerary that was comfortable, personalized, and enjoyable. They offered thoughtful recommendations while never being pushy.
We missed our connecting flight in Munich. I had just got through customs and was looking up the number to call when Trips 2 Italy called me. They told me exactly what to do and they already knew what flight we had been rebooked on.
Ready to make it yours?
Send us this adventure with your changes. An Italian-born planner builds the first full draft and calls you to walk through it.
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Questions travelers ask
Which places are included in this vacation package?
Over 4 days this journey brings you to Como, and Lake Como. Each stop is woven into the itinerary with time for the landmarks, the views, and the local flavor that make it special.
Is transportation arranged for us?
Transportation is arranged as part of the itinerary, with comfortable train segments between the cities and vehicle transfers where they serve you best. Every connection is planned for you, so you can focus on the scenery instead of the logistics.
Who is this trip designed for?
It suits independent travelers who love the freedom of the open road with the security of arranged hotels and routing.
Can the itinerary or hotels be adjusted?
Yes. Nothing here is fixed. Your travel consultant can add nights, change hotel categories, or swap experiences so the trip matches your wishes and your budget of time. A minimum of 2 travelers applies.
What time of year should we plan this vacation?
It is available all year around on request. May through September shows the lakes at their sunniest, with gardens in bloom and ferries running full schedules, while spring and fall bring softer light and thinner crowds.