Are you traveling to Italy and wondering where to stay at Lake Como ? After our visit to Lake Como, I wrote this accommodation guide to help you find the best village to stay in depending on your budget and your itinerary. As the lake is quite large, it’s important to choose your accommodation location based on the length of your stay and your means of transport (car or boat). In terms of budget, you’ll find everything from simple campsites to luxury 5-star hotels !
What is the best place ? Which area is the cheapest ? Where should you sleep to be close to all the main sights ? I explain everything in this blog article.
Where to stay at Lake Como : the map
On the map below, I’ve marked the villages and areas where I recommend to stay in Lake Como. These tips come from a real stay on site (we spent 3 days there in June). As always, all the recommendations you’ll find on the blog are 100% tested in real conditions. I don’t say this for websites that publish guides without ever having set foot there 🙂
To sum it up, the 3 main villages to visit (with their villas and gardens) are located in the triangle Menaggio – Varenna – Bellagio (including nearby Tremezzo and Lenno). This is where most of the must-see attractions are found. As you can imagine, it’s also the most touristy area and the one with the highest prices. Travelers on a tight budget will benefit from staying outside this zone to find cheap accommodation in Lake Como.
One last tip before diving into this accommodation guide : if you don’t have a car and plan to use boats to get around the lake, choose accommodation close to a ferry dock. For all information on how to get to the lake, how to get around, and all the things to do, I refer you to my article what to do in Lake Como.
Staying in Lake Como : one or several accommodations ?
If you’re staying less than 3 days at Lake Como, I recommend choosing just one accommodation. Unless you enjoy unpacking and repacking every day or sleeping in a different hotel or apartment each night, there’s no real benefit in changing places daily. The villages, villas, and gardens to visit are relatively close to one another, and everything can be done from a single base.
With more time, and if you’re planning a 1-week road trip around the lake to discover each small village, you can change accommodations regularly. This will help you avoid backtracking. In that case, and traveling clockwise, I would do Como – Menaggio – Domaso or Gravedona – Varenna – Bellagio – Nesso – Lecco.
Como, the largest city
The city of Como is the largest town on the shores of Lake Como. If you arrive by train from Milan, there’s a good chance you’ll pass through here (unless you take the direct line to Varenna). On paper, Como can be a good base for exploring the region. The old town is quite pretty, there are several monuments to see (especially the Duomo), and you’ll find all the services of a large city. Organized excursions depart from Como, which is convenient if you have very little time.
But in my opinion, Como is not the best option for staying in Lake Como. Why ? The city is located at the southern end of the lake, and the first major site to visit—Villa Balbianello in Lenno, is 2 hours away by boat (32 minutes by fast ferry, but there are few of them) and 45 minutes by car. You’ll spend a lot of time going back and forth and lose valuable time in transportation. I recommend staying in Como only if you have just one day to discover the region or if you’re on a road trip.
- 106 € : Molly’s Home, one of the cheapest place in the city, and it also receives excellent traveler reviews. The 40 m² studio is located right next to Porta Torre, marking the entrance to the old town..
- 106 € : AcquaTerraFuoco – City apartments, offering studios or apartments for 1 to 6 people. Ideal for large families or trips with friends. Well located, 400 meters from the center.
- 122 € : Magnolia Lake Como city center, a beautiful modern apartment with mountain views, located 600 meters from Como Borghi train station. It offers free parking, convenient if you’re arriving by car and want to stay one night at Lake Como.
- 262 € : Posta Design Hotel, among the hotels in Como, this is the most affordable (and it’s already a significant budget). Very well located, 3 minutes on foot from the lake and 10 minutes from San Giovanni station and the cathedral.
Where to stay in Lake Como : Lenno
Lenno is located on the eastern shore of the lake, 28 km north of Como. The village is small and quite charming (don’t miss a walk along its lovely promenade) and is best known for hosting the famous Villa Balbianello, featured in several films. Lenno has a ferry dock in its center, and you can reach the villages of the Golden Triangle in less than an hour. Lenno is fairly quiet compared to Menaggio, Varenna, and Bellagio. If you enjoy tranquility, you’ll like it here.
- 83 € : Balbianino, one of the cheapest options with good reviews for staying in Lenno. Some rooms offer lake views and breakfast is included. Very well located, 2 minutes walk from the lake and 500 meters from the ferry dock.
- 90 € : La Tana Rooms lenno, located 700 meters from Villa Balbianello and close to everything, this bed and breakfast offers modern rooms with breakfast included. If you’re arriving by car, private parking is available for €5 per day.
- 122 € : Apartment Alessandra, this 50 m² apartment features a private kitchen and a balcony with lake views. It offers a seasonal outdoor pool and free private parking.
Menaggio : best value
Menaggio is one of the three tourist villages, along with Varenna and Bellagio, that form the Golden Triangle. So if you’re unsure where to stay at Lake Como, choosing Menaggio is a safe option. You’ll be close to all the must-see sights (Varenna and Bellagio are just 15 minutes away by boat). Menaggio has the advantage of offering many accommodation options in the village and surrounding area. If you have a car, you can head up into the hills toward Lake Lugano for peace, quiet, and cooler countryside air (which is what we did).
- 85 € : Albergo Il Vapore, very well located in the village, offering rooms with lake views and breakfast (extra charge). One of the cheapest places to stay in Menaggio.
- 107 € : Balcone Fiorito, its hillside location offers lovely lake views. Ideal if you’re arriving by car, with free private parking (5 minutes from the village). Breakfast included.
- 119 € : Agriturismo Nona Emma, this is where we stayed at Lake Como. Located in the village of Bene Lario on the road toward Lake Lugano, it offers mountain views in a peaceful village setting. Everything is new and modern, and the owners are very friendly. Highly recommended !
- 128 € : Apartment Menaggino, this well-equipped 45 m² apartment is designed for 3 people. Ideal for couples traveling with one child. Very well located, just a 5-minute walk from the lake.
Accommodation at Lake Como in Varenna
Varenna is our favorite village on Lake Como. It’s stunning, with its old houses along the water and its historic village streets, and it doesn’t have the overly chic atmosphere found in Bellagio. The village is just as touristy, however, and due to its small size, accommodation prices are high. But if you have the budget, I highly recommend it. Here too, you’ll be close to all the main attractions.
- 133 € : Hotel Montecodeno, this well-located 3-star hotel offers rooms at a reasonable price for Varenna. Décor isn’t its strong point, but breakfast is included. Triple rooms also available.
- 148 € : Varennahouse, one of the cheapest accomodation to stay in the center of Varenna. Perfect location close to everything. Private parking available for an additional fee.
- 149 € : Fiò & Giò, almost the same price as the previous option but with breakfast included (served in a bar 20 meters away). The lake is just a 1-minute walk. Good place to stay in Lake Como at Varenna.
- 180 € : Hotel Olivedo, if you arrive in Varenna by boat, you can’t miss this hotel with its yellow façade just behind the ferry dock. Attic rooms or lake-view rooms with breakfast included.
Staying in the most beautiful village of Lake Como : Bellagio
According to travelers, Bellagio is the most beautiful village on Lake Como and we agree (see my guide what to do in Bellagio). But it’s also the most upscale place, with many high-end hotels. Prices reflect the fame of the location and are therefore quite high. We even encountered many American tourists here, something that rarely happens in Italy. Plan a healthy budget to stay in the village, but the setting is magnificent, so why not enjoy it ! By heading up into the hills, you can find more reasonably priced accommodations, though you’ll need to walk or have a car.
- 94 € : Studio Casta, this apartment with kitchen on the heights of Bellagio is one of the cheapest place. Located 1.2 km from the Villa Melzi gardens and 1.6 km from the ferry terminal. At this price, décor is a bit vintage, but there is free parking.
- 112 € : Residence Il Borgo, this 24 m² studio is located in the heart of the village near restaurants. It has a kitchenette, convenient if you plan to cook (supermarket 800 meters away). Also available an apartment for 4 people.
- 133 € : Locanda Barchetta, this room for rent, located 100 meters from the lakeside promenade, offers city views. Very well located, with two restaurants on site. Breakfast available at extra cost.
- 155 € : Residence la Limonera, located 100 meters from the lake, this residence offers well-equipped apartments for 2 to 4 people. It features a large garden and a sunny terrace.
- 177 € : Hotel Bellagio, the most affordable hotel in Bellagio, and includes breakfast at this price. It offers all hotel comforts and has its own private parking (extra charge).
Where can you find the cheapest accommodation ?
There isn’t one specific village dedicated to budget accommodation in Lake Como. In most cases, you’ll need to move away from the lakeshore and head up into the hills, or choose a lakeside campsite. If you have a car, this is a good solution for small budgets. You can then reach a ferry dock (often with free parking nearby) to travel to the tourist villages by boat. Here’s a list of affordable accommodation places in Lake Como.
- 42 € : EderaRooms, offering modern, well-equipped double to quadruple rooms with mountain views. Located in Cerano d’Intelvi, 15 km from Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo.
- 46 € : Lake Como Beach Hostel, located in Domaso (photo above), with its own private beach on the lake. A bus stop serving Menaggio is 300 meters away. Also offers rooms for 3 to 6 people and dormitory beds.
- 69 € : Cantina antica, this 16 m² studio with traditional village-house charm includes a kitchenette. Located in Colonno, 4 km south of Lenno and its famous villa (free parking and ferry dock in the village).
- 79 € : Appartamenti Il Castellaccio, offering apartments for 2 to 6 people with terrace or garden views. Located in San Siro, a 10-minute drive north of Menaggio.
The most beautiful hotels in Lake Como
To treat yourself, celebrate an anniversary, or mark a special occasion, you’ll find several luxury hotels in Lake Como. These palaces and 5-star hotels, housed in prestigious buildings, will make your stay unforgettable. There’s no need to detail the services, as they are all high-end. The best thing is simply to look at the photos and dream (or book !).
- 583 € : Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni, this magnificent 5-star hotel is located in the village of Bellagio. Its restaurant has one Michelin star.
- 833 € : Grand Hotel Tremezzo, located in the village of the same name (right next to Villa Carlotta), featuring an outstanding wellness center.
- 927 € : Grand Hotel Victoria, this stunning Art Nouveau-style 5-star hotel with gardens and pools is located in Menaggio.
This accommodation guide should help you decide where to stay in Lake Como. If you have any questions or would like to recommend a particular place, feel free to use the blog comments section.
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