Best Day Trips from Lake Como

Being the birthplace of the rich and famous, there are many things you can do in this paradisiacal and somewhat hidden place, but your visit is also an opportunity to go on excursions to other cities and towns near the lake, to see other landscapes and incredible places.

Without a doubt, signing up for an excursion to visit some of the towns around the lake and its outskirts is one of the best things you can see and do in Como. In fact, from this region you can take the time to visit important cities such as Milan or even take a tour of Lugano, if you want a quieter plan.

The tour will be by speedboat and you will depart from Como to Bellagio, where you will stop for a guided walking tour and learn the most interesting facts about the old town. You will visit the interior of the Basilica of San Giacomo and Punta Spartivento. Then you will get to know Varenna.

In the middle of the experience you can visit and take pictures in places more than interesting and romantic as the spiral staircase and the famous Walk of Lovers, making it clear that this is undoubtedly one of the best excursions to do from Lake Como.

Interesting details

• Price: you can pay for this experience around 220 euros per person.
• Duration: it will take you about 8 hours and a half to finish this experience.
• Means of transport: the whole tour is done by boat, but you will have to get to the meeting point on your own.
• Advantages of this option: you will have a tour guide and all the necessary safety measures.
• Disadvantages of this option: transportation to and from your accommodation is not included. It is also not a suitable experience for travelers with heart conditions or other medical problems.

On this full day tour you are not only going to see the most beautiful spots of Lake Como, but also your tour guide is going to take you to see and learn about the ancient dry stone walls that were built as terraces for the grape bushes. You will go to see this place with a small group of people, so it is an almost personalized tour.

This which is one of the best Lake Como tours, also helps you to know how in this place the landscape of the Italian Alps blends together with the nuance of the Mediterranean climate. In addition, you will get to see the very picturesque villages that are scattered around the area.

Throughout the experience your guide will bring you up to date with all the historical details of Italy' s wine culture and how the dry stone walls became a World Heritage Site.

Details of interest

• Price: you will have to pay around 105 euros per person.
• Duration: the tour takes an average time of 11 to 12 hours.
• Means of transportation: you will board a bus and also complete the experience on foot.
• Advantages of this option: transportation to and from your accommodation is included. The English speaking guide is also included, although you can also request it in Spanish.
• Disadvantages of this option: meals and drinks are not included, so for lunch you will have to eat at a local restaurant, the price of which can vary between 30 and 40 euros per person. The price does not include tips. Children under 12 years old are not allowed to participate.

On this full day tour you will get to know not only the most beautiful villages of the Italian Alps, but also the villages of Switzerland, all from Lake Como. Lugano, Cadenabbia and Bellagio are some of the places you will be able to see in this experience, just before boarding the panoramic cruise on the lake.

The experience from Como to Lugano is completed by coach. Once there, you'll have free time to sample some Swiss chocolate and, of course, tour the city center. After strolling around Lugano, you will have the opportunity to walk through the village of Cadenabbia, famous because it was once a frequent haunt of Queen Victoria of England and Tsar Nicholas of Russia.

After learning some history of the region, you will take a boat ride on Lake Como, or rather, a scenic cruise that will take you to Bellagio, the next destination on your journey, where you will also have time to walk its streets and learn a bit about its culture and history.

Details of interest

• Price: you can find this experience for around 120 euros per person.
• Duration: it will take you about 8 hours to complete the whole experience.
• Means of transportation: the whole tour is completed by bus with all the comforts.
• Advantages of this option: air-conditioned bus transportation is included from and to the hotel or lodging site. Also included is the tour guide during your experience.
• Disadvantages of this option: it is not an adapted tour for wheelchair users.

This is undoubtedly one of the best bike tours in and around Lake Como, where you can enjoy the countryside around the lake. You will enjoy the rolling hills, pretty alpine villages and huge vineyards. A tour guide will take you on this stress-free ride.

On top of that, you'll have the chance to cross the border between Italy and Switzerland to see the most Instagrammable places in both countries. Something you will love about this tour is that your guide will give you an almost personalized treatment thanks to the fact that you will go with small groups.

Interesting details

• Price: this tour has an approximate price of about 120 euros per person.
• Duration: it will take you about 3 hours to complete the experience.
• Means of transportation: the whole tour is done by bike, but you will have to get to the meeting point on your own.
• Advantages of this option: it is an almost personalized experience involving around 8 participants. The tour guide is included.
• Disadvantages of this option: bike rental is not included in the price, so you will have to pay for it separately.

In this experience of at least seven hours on Lake Como, you are going to be able to clearly see the beautiful alpine and Mediterranean landscape that merge in this place. In this experience your guide will show you mainly the most incredible places to visit in this kind of Italian resort.

The tour will begin with a visit to the historic center of Como, and then go directly to the exit by the lake, from where you can board the panoramic cruise that will take you for two hours to enjoy the weather and the scenery until you reach the island of Bellagio. Without a doubt, this experience is one of the best things to do in Lake Como.

In addition, if you travel to Lago di Como during the winter, the excursion also offers the possibility to take the funicular in Bellagio to admire the views from the heights. The pictures you will take from there, you will surely remember for a lifetime.

Details of interest

• Price: to participate in this excursion you will have to pay around 65 euros per person.
• Duration: it is a full day tour and will take about 7 hours to complete.
• Means of transport: the tour is done by boat and on foot. You will have to get to the boat departure point on your own.
• Advantages of this option: the entrance to the funicular in winter season is included. The tour guide is also included during the whole experience and during the boat trip you will be accompanied by the crew and the captain.
• Disadvantages of this option: meals and drinks on board are not included, but you will have the possibility to buy them. Transfer to and from the accommodation is not included. Not suitable for people with reduced mobility.

Despite lasting an hour and a half on the water, this kayak tour from the beach of Pescallo di Bellagio will take you to admire the impressive Rockefeller cliffs and meet the Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni from the water. As this is an afternoon tour, you will return to the start of the excursion before sunset.

During this tour you will circle the Bellagio peninsula, then head north towards the Alps. In the middle of your ride you will see the coast of Varenna and the wooded and well-preserved park of the Rockefeller Foundation.

Details of interest

• Price: this kayaking experience is priced at approximately 125 euros per person.
• Duration: you will last about an hour and a half kayaking.
• Transportation: the whole tour is completed by kayak, but you will have to get to the embarkation point on your own, either by private car or public transportation.
• Advantages of this option: you will have a local guide who will tell you everything you need to know about the region. The use of a life jacket is also included.
• Disadvantages of this option: not recommended for people over 65 years old. transportation to and from the lodging place is not included. Meals and drinks are not included.

This is a private experience that takes you to St. Moritz in Switzerland aboard the Bernina Express for a day-long ride through these alpine landscapes. Your private guide will show you places like Valtellina and the Engadin Alps.

You will have the opportunity to take lots of pictures of the scenery and on the way back, you can visit a winery where you will learn more about the traditions that characterize Southern Europe.

This is a tour that you will love to include in your list of things to do in Lake Como in winter because you will be able to see incredible panoramas of the frozen lakes and the snow-capped Alps.

Details of interest

• Price: this experience costs approximately €660 per person.
• Duration: it can take between 8 and 10 hours to do the whole tour.
• Means of transportation: this experience is completed partly by car and partly by train.
• Advantages of this option: you can carry your tickets on mobile devices. In addition, wifi is offered on board the Bernina Express.
• Disadvantages of this option: the price does not include lunch, but you have the option to buy it on board.

On this tour you will challenge the trails and your guide will invite you to get on the funicular that will take you to Brunate and then take you back to Torno. You will be able to appreciate the beautiful views and have a traditional Italian lunch before continuing.

Some of the places you will visit along the way are Pietra Pendula and Massi Avelli, which are sites that are located along the route.

Details of interest

• Price: you will be able to enjoy this tour assuming an approximate price of 135 euros per person.
• Duration: this experience can last around 6 hours approximately.
• Means of transportation: this tour is completed by private transportation and funicular.
• Advantages of this option: the tour guide and transportation throughout the tour are included. Also included is the ascent in the funicular.
• Disadvantages of this option: transportation to and from the lodging site is not included. It is not a wheelchair friendly experience.

On this panoramic tour you will be able to see the most beautiful landscapes of two countries, and you will also have the opportunity to enjoy the views of two lakes. The tour is a full day excursion, so you will be delighted to enjoy the informative commentary of your guide throughout.

The tour is completed in a comfortable bus that will take you from Como to Lugano in no more than an hour. You'll have time available to walk around the city center and if you're going as a couple, I recommend a romantic stroll along the lake shore.

Details of interest

• Price: you will have to pay around 120 euros per person.
• Duration: the tour lasts between 8 and 9 hours approximately.
• Means of transportation: the whole experience is completed by bus.
• Advantages of this option: seats and child seats are provided. It also includes the company of the tour guide and the entrance to the places that require it.
• Disadvantages of this option: it is not a wheelchair friendly tour. Meals and drinks are not included, but you can find places to buy them.

This adventure is ideal for you if you love challenges and incredible experiences. It is a bike and kayak tour that will take you to explore the Natural Reserve of Pian di Spagna, from where you can get to know and admire the mountains of Valtellina and Valchiavenna.

You will love to stay and rest in the middle of a beach for lunch as a picnic, which you have to bring on your own. Before leaving you can visit the ancient temple of San Fedelino.

Details of interest

• Price: this experience has an approximate price of 250 euros per person.
• Duration: it will take you about 8 hours to complete the whole tour.
• Means of transport: the activity is completed by bicycle and kayak, and you will have to reach the meeting point on your own.
• Advantages of this option: the tour guide is included during the whole trip. Entrance to the places that require it is included.
• Disadvantages of this option: Tips are not included. Meals or drinks are not included either, you have to cover it on your own. Transfer to and from the lodging site is not included.

An excursion from Lake Como is recommended because you will have the opportunity to appreciate the scenery beyond the lake, see all the buildings that match the nature and marvel at the history and culture of this place.

In addition, you will be able to visit places beyond Italy, having the opportunity to get to know not only the Italian culture, but also the Swiss one in many cases. By doing these excursions in a guided way, you guarantee an experience in which you can get to know in depth the details of each of the places you will visit.