3 Days Lake Como Itinerary For Those Without A Car

3 Days Backpacking Lake Como Itinerary

Varenna and Bellano (Day 1)

Our journey begins in Varenna, a small beautiful town located on the eastern shore of Lake Como. It is known for its picturesque setting, with views of the lake, and the surrounding mountains. Due to the town's access to a train station, Varenna is connected via daily trains from Milan, which makes it a great base for you to explore Lake Como.

Looking for a complete travel guide to Milan? Check out:16 Best Things to Do in Milan

For the first day at Lake Como, I highly recommend you spend the first day exploring the beautiful crisscrossing streets of Varenna, go for a walk along the shore, and check out some of its stunning landmarks like Chiesa San Giorgio located in the town square not too far from the main road.

The town has a rich history dating back to Roman times, and is home to several historical and cultural landmarks, such as the Castello di Vezio, an imposing 12th Century villa with a beautiful view over the lake, and the Villa Monastero, a waterfront villa featuring terraced gardens and a mansion with opulent 1800s decor.

The Italian sun can be scorching even in a high-altitude area, so if you want to visit these attractions, be sure to start your day early and make your way to these places before it gets too hot. The castle is open from 10 AM to 7 PM on weekdays and 8 PM on weekends. The price is 5 EUR per person. The villa is open daily from 9:30 AM to 8 PM and costs about 13 EUR per person.

Spend the first half of the day and explore these tourist attractions before we head over to Bellano, a town only one train station away from Varenna, known for its natural beauty and its historical and cultural landmarks, making it the perfect place for a half-day trip from Varenna.

One of the notable attractions in Bellano is the Orrido di Bellano, a deep, narrow, 15 million-year-old gorge with a series of waterfalls and footbridges anchored on the high walls overlooking the gorge you can stroll around on. The entrance fee is only 5 EUR per person, and it will take you to a small waterfall located further upstream.

Other notable attractions in Bellano include the Chiesa Prepositurale Santi Nazaro e Celso, a medieval church with beautiful ceiling frescoes, and its beautiful narrow streets in the town center.

Once you are done in Bellano, you can take the train back to Varenna and spend your evening, strolling along the beautiful Greenway dei Patriarchi, a romantic lakeside walk that will take you to Varenna's beautiful old town. During sunset, you will feel like you are in a fairy tale as you are surrounded by colorful flowers, a glistering blue lake set against the Italian Alps, and the beautiful golden hour showering all over you.

There are also several great cafes and restaurants along the shore, which makes for a nice place to hang out over a drink or two in the evening when all the day trippers have left.

The small, colorful, narrow streets in Varenna are also worth exploring. There are so many beautiful pockets of hidden gems in Varenna it is hard to list them all. You will also find Spiaggia, a small but pretty beach you can hang out and spend the rest of the evening sunbathing before you retreat for the day.

Menaggio and Bellagio (Day 2)

On your second day, we are going to take the early morning ferry from Varenna from the ferry terminal to the western shore of Lake Como and explore Menaggio.

Menaggio is another small charming town located on the western shore of Lake Como, and it is known for its beautiful narrow streets, hillside town, and beautiful promenade full of lovely cafes and restaurants.

There is a nice walking trail in Menaggio you can take that will take you from the shore of the town uphill through the charming hillside area along narrow colorful cobblestone streets until you reach Chiesa di San Carlo.

The signs are everywhere in town, and once you reach the church, it will loop back to the shore again. It is a nice little walk that will allow you to see the whole town in 30 minutes, which I think was pretty awesome.

Once you are done exploring Menaggio, you can then take bus #C10 from the bus terminal and get off at Tremezzo where you will find Villa Carlotta, one of the most popular attractions in Lake Como. The ride should take around 15 minutes before you arrive in front of the villa's gate.

Overlooking the shores of Lake Como, Villa Carlotta is a historic villa built in the late 17th century. The villa is known for its elaborate gardens, which feature a wide variety of plants, flowers, and sculptures that you can explore.

Inside the villa, you will also find a museum dedicated to preserving the villa's history, beautiful art collections, and exhibitions you can enjoy. Inside, you will also have a chance to glance over the balconies of the villa and see the beautiful garden of Villa Carlotta set against the backdrop of the lake and the Italian Alps.

You can spend 1 - 2 hours at Villa Carlotta, depending on which route you want to take to the garden. The villa is open from 10 AM to 7 PM daily, and the entrance fee is 15 EUR per person. To visit off-season, you can book your visit online here.

Once you are done with Villa Carlotta, catch the C10 bus again from Tremezzo and get off at this Lenno bus stop to visit another beautiful villa called Villa del Balbianello, the very place where they shot some of the Naboo scenes in the prequel Star Wars movies, Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones. If you are a Star Wars fan, you will love this place.

Once you arrive in Lenno, you will have to walk along the shoreline for around 30 minutes until you arrive at the gate of Villa del Balbianello. This 18th-century villa has been used for various purposes, including as a monastery, a hospital, and a private residence.

It is now owned by the National Trust of Italy and is open to the public for tours and occasionally for wedding photographers and film crews to shoot scenes. Apparently, Casino Royale was also shot here. I really have to rewatch that movie!

One of the best features of this villa is its terraced gardens that feature a variety of plants, including rare and exotic species like Holm Oak or the Umbrella tree.

There are several paths and walkways throughout the gardens, as well as fountains, statues, and other decorative features with a mix of Italian and classical styles that you can check out.

You can easily spend 2 hours exploring just the gardens alone. The villa is open from 10 AM to 6 PM every day EXCEPT Monday and Wednesday, which is rather random. Be sure to plan your visit accordingly if you want to go inside Villa del Balbianello. The entrance fee is 22 EUR per person.

Once you are done with the villas, you can then catch the ferry straight from Lenno terminal and cross the lake to Bellagio, another cute charming little town that is known for its the picture perfect backdrop of the Alps as well as its colorful streets that are popular among influencers.

Notable attractions in Bellagio include Villa Melzi D'Eril, a picturesque botanical garden and beautiful lakeside paths, Castello di Bellagio, a hilltop castle with a great view, Punta Spartivento, a beautiful observational promenade with a great view of the lake, and Basilica of St. Giacomo, a beautiful church located in the town's center.

Personally, I found Bellagio to be very nice, BUT it is too crowded for my liking. The streets in the town center are definitely beautiful as you will find yourself surrounded by colorful houses but having to wade through people to get to places is definitely not fun.

I also found the restaurants here to be extremely crowded, overpriced, and not very intriguing. If you have better luck with the crowds, you might enjoy it more than I did.

Once you are done exploring Bellagio, you can take the ferry back to Varenna and retreat for the day. That is it for the second day in Lake Como. Next up, we are going to explore Como itself.

Como (Day 3)

Como where the lake got its name, is the largest and the capital city of the province of Como. It is located on the southwestern shore of the lake, which is not the prettiest part, but the city is surprisingly jam-packed with awesome things for us to do that those small lakeside towns can not offer.

Many people often recommend skipping Como when visiting Lake Como, but personally, I found it to be almost as interesting as the small charming towns further up the lake. To get to Como from Varenna, you can catch the early ferry to Menaggio and catch bus #C10 to Como, which should take about 1.5 hours.

Como is definitely beautiful in its own way although not in the charming fairy-tale-like way like Menaggio and Bellagio, and it has a ton more things to do like the impressive Duomo di Como, Tempio Voltiano, and my favorite viewpoint in all of Lake Como, Faro Voltiano, a hilltop lighthouse in Brunate which can be reached by a funicular ride from Como and a bit of hiking.

Straight from Como, you can catch a funicular ride from the funicular station for about 5.5 EUR per person and it will take around 30 minutes to reach Brunate. The queue to get up the funicular can be very long, so be sure to spare about 30 minutes each way for when you have to take the funicular, or you can get up early and catch the morning ride up. The funicular operates from 6 AM to 10:30 PM every day.

Once you arrive in Brunate, you will have an incredible view of Como and its surrounding. However, for a better vantage point, I highly recommend you continue to hike to Faro Voltiano, which takes about 30 minutes to go uphill. Once you arrive at the lighthouse, you can pay the clerk there 2 EUR to get access to the top of the lighthouse.

From up there, you have an incredible panoramic view of Lake Como and its mountainous surroundings. Out of all the viewpoints I saw in Lake Como, this is hands down the best one and will really allow you to realize the true scale of Lake Como.

Heck, you can even see the inverted y shape of the lake from up here! If you are looking for the best view over the lake without flying a drone, Faro Voltiano lighthouse is the best place to be.

You can spend the entire day exploring Como, or you can either travel back the same way (bus + ferry) or you can take the ferry straight to Varenna and spend the rest of the evening enjoying the sceneries of Lake Como one last time before you retreat for the day and head back to Milan the next day to fly home.

When to Visit Lake Como?

The best time to visit Lake Como is from June - September when the weather is nice and warm, perfect for all the summer outdoor activities you can do here. You can hike in some of the mountains in Como, go for a swim in Menaggio, or simply relax by the beach in Varenna.

Like most places in Europe, Lake Como does get overwhelmingly crowded in the summer months. I guarantee it will get extremely hectic here, especially in popular towns like Bellagio and Varenna. If you want to steer away from this and don't mind a little cooler weather, you can also visit Lake Como during the shoulder seasons, from March to May or September to October.

There will still be a lot of tourists since Lake Como is extremely popular, but there won't be as many as, say, in June or July. Keep in mind that the accommodation at Lake Como is limited, especially the affordable ones, and they can get booked out months in advance so be sure to reserve a hotel/hostel before your arrival.

How to Get to Lake Como?

The best way to get to Lake Como is to first, fly into Milan, one of the most popular travel hubs in Northern Italy, and from there, you can catch a 2-hour train to one of the towns at Lake Como.

From the US, there are many direct flights from JFK that will take you straight to Milan in about 11 hours via Emirates, Delta, and American Airlines. You can browse through great direct flights from here.

From Europe, you have quite a lot more options here. You can either fly directly to Milan from places like the UK via Wizz Air, take a train from all the major train stations around Europe, or catch one of the many buses to Milan. Flixbus is highly recommended when it comes to bus travel in Europe.

From Asia, there are also many direct flights operated by local carriers from cities like Singapore, Seoul, or Tokyo, or you can go with connecting flights, which are often a bit cheaper. There are many flights from Asia that connect via middle east countries like Emirates via Dubai or Etihad via Abu Dhabi. The journey should take approximately 12 hours direct.

To find a cheap flight to Italy, I would recommend you use Skyscanner or Expedia to look for the cheapest route and schedule so you can compare and pick the best one.

From Milan to Lake Como

Once you arrive in Milan, you can travel to Milan Centrale and catch one of the many trains to Varenna, a town where we will base ourselves while we explore Lake Como. The trains run between 6:20 AM and 9:20 PM every day. The journey should take about 1 hour and cost around 8 EUR. You can book the train ticket here.

Want to visit Lake Como as a day trip from Milan? Check out:One-Day Lake Como Itinerary from Milan

How to Get Around Lake Como?

You can use several modes of transportation at Lake Como depending on which sides of the lake you want to explore. Trains are only available on the eastern side of the lake, whereas buses are available on the western side. You can also travel between central towns via ferry. Here is a breakdown of ways you can get around Lake Como:

By trains: The trains run only on the eastern side of the lake, which means you are going to be relying on them to get from places like Milan to Varenna and Bellano, etc. The trains here are fast and reliable, and I have no complaints about them at all. You can buy a train ticket from here.

By Bus: For buses, you can use it to traverse the western side of the lake, which means for this itinerary, you are going to have to rely on it to get from Menaggio to Como and vice versa.

Unfortunately, when it comes to reliability, I can't say the same for buses. Due to the narrow roads around the lake, the traffic can get extremely jammed throughout the day, especially on the weekends, so if you are planning to travel by bus, be very patient and spare some time for when the bus comes late, which is a common occurrence.

You can buy the bus ticket from the bus station in Menaggio and Como. The price varies depending on the length of your journey, but expect to pay at least 2.60 EUR, or you can also purchase a 24-hour bus pass from the bus station in Menaggio or Como at around 10.50 EUR.

If you are planning to travel to other small towns, there might not be a bus station you can buy the ticket from, so be sure to grab enough tickets at the bus stations before you take the bus.

To avoid traffic and not having seats on the bus, I highly recommend you start your day early. I started every morning at 7 AM, and the buses were never late or crowded. Unfortunately, everything snowballed from 9 AM all the way to 7 PM.

By Ferry: For traveling between smaller towns around the central part of the lake, like Menaggio, Bellagio, and Varenna, you can cut your trip short and take the ferry instead of traveling by land. You will also get to see some of these beautiful towns from the lake set against the backdrop of the mountains, which is quite a sight to behold.

The trip should take less than 30 minutes to travel between these towns and cost around 4.60 EUR per person. The price varies the further you travel. You can also take the ferry to other further away places like Menaggio to Como, but it doesn't run as often, takes longer, and is more expensive than simply catching a bus.

If you wish to rely on only ferries, you can also purchase the day pass, which is around 23.30 EUR per person, and you can hop on and off ferries for free as many times as you like for 24 hours.

Keep in mind that the ferries get even more crowded than buses due to their limited schedules, and it isn't as fast and comfortable as it sounds. For this itinerary, I recommend not relying on only one mode of transportation and mixing them up to avoid getting stuck somewhere due to traffic/queues.

For the latest ferry schedule and online ticket, you can check the official website here. During the day, in popular towns like Menaggio and Bellagio, the queues in front of ticket booths can be extremely long, so if you do not want to wait, I highly recommend you get your ticket online before your journey.

By Rental Cars: Renting a car and driving yourself is also not as great of an idea as it sounds. Highlighted in the bus section, the traffic can be terrible throughout the day due to narrow roads around towns in Lake Como, especially on the weekends.

You might be stuck in traffic for many hours before you arrive at your destination, and even then, you still have to compete for a parking space, which is extremely lagging in most places. I've seen many people looping around parking lots for hours before they found a place to park their cars.

That is definitely not something I would enjoy doing. But if you remain firm about renting a car, I highly recommend you start your day early and plan your visit when fewer tourists are around, like visiting during the shoulder or off seasons. To Rent a car, hit the link below:

Rent a Car in Italy

How Much Money Do I Need for 3 days in Lake Como?

From this 3-day itinerary, we can calculate approximately how much money you will be spending here as follows:

Accommodation: For 3 days in Lake Como, you can expect to pay around 198 EUR for accommodation minimum, considering you are staying in hostels.

Food: For 3 days, 3 meals a day in Lake Como, you can expect to pay around 144 EUR for food, considering you eat out every meal. It will be cheaper if you cook it yourself.

Transportation: For this itinerary, you can expect to pay around 44.60 EUR for transportation, with around 20 EUR for ferry rides, 10.50 EUR for buses, 8 EUR for trains, and 6.10 EUR for funicular rides in Como.

Activities: Depending on how much you want to follow my itinerary, you can expect to pay around 57 EUR for activities, including Villa del Balbianello, Villa Carlotta, and more.

Total Budget for 3 days in Lake Como: 443.60 EUR

Is it Safe in Lake Como?

Lake Como is totally safe, although it is always a good idea to keep your wits about when you are in crowded areas. Keep your belongings with you at all times, be aware of your surroundings, and trust your guts, and you should be fine here.

Which tourist SIM card is best for Lake Como?

There are 4 major carriers in Italy, TIM, Vodafone, W3m, and Iliad, that offer prepaid sim cards tourists can buy while they are traveling in Italy. Unfortunately, with the rise of esims, having to be in the country to buy a sim card at a store is quite inconvenient and not ideal.

If you have a smartphone that supports esims, I highly recommend you take a look at this esim. They have a variety of data packages, price points, and durations for you to choose from, ranging from 1 GB for 7 days, costing only 5 USD, to 10 GB for 30 days, costing 22.5 USD.

The setup is fast and instant, and you can buy it before your trip, so you don't have to scramble to get one at the airport after a long flight. The data speed is also equivalent to that of a local SIM card with 4G speeds nationwide.

Or if you are traveling to Italy as part of a bigger Europe trip, I highly recommend you get the regional Eurolink esim which will give you access to data from over 39 countries across Europe. I have personally used this esim on my 3-month trip around Europe, and it has worked wonders.

For more information on esims in Italy, click here: Check Italy's Available eSim.

What to Pack for Lake Como?

As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Lake Como, Italy:

• Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.
• Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.
• Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi's jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.
• Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It's lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.
• Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker's towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.
• Swim Suits: A swim trunk is a must-pack item if you are planning to visit Lake Como, Italy in the summer, just in case there is a body of water you can jump in.
• Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.
• Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.
• Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It's a total game-changer.
• Universal Adapter: You'll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.
• Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.
• Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It's large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it's stylish as hell!
• Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can't go wrong with Osprey.

For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.

Further Reading for Northern Italy

I hope you found this Italian travel guide useful. If you want to read more about Italy, here is a selection of articles you might like:

• First time visiting Italy? Here are the 15 Best Places to Visit in Italy.
• Want to see the highlights of Italy in 2 weeks? Be sure to check out our 2-Weeks Backpacking Italy Itinerary.
• Want to travel around Italy for one month, from the Dolomites in the north to Sicily in the south? You are going to love this backpacking itinerary packed with information: One Month Backpacking Italy Itinerary
• Looking for a complete itinerary for Northern Italy? Check out: 2 Weeks Backpacking Northern Italy Itinerary.
• Every trip to Northern Italy starts in Milan. If you are a first-timer, here are the 16 best things to do in Milan.
• Have a day to spare in Milan? Why not spend it in the hilltop fortress of Bergamo. Here are the 11 best things to do in Bergamo.
• Ah... Venice, the city of art, culture, and the birthplace of the Renaissance. You just can't visit Italy without seeing it with your own eyes. To help you plan a trip there, here are the 15 best things to do in Venice.
• Planning a trip to Lake Como but not sure where to begin? Check out the 10 Best Places to Visit in Lake Como.
• Want to visit Lake Como as a day trip from Milan? Check out: One-Day Lake Como Itinerary from Milan.
• For an off-the-beaten-path place to visit in Northern Italy, you can't go wrong with Bologna. For a complete travel guide, check out the 10 Best Things to Do in Bologna.
• Want to explore the Dolomites but not sure where to begin? Check out the 10 Best Places to Visit in the Dolomites.
• For a complete backpacking itinerary for the Dolomites, check out: the 7 Days Dolomites Itinerary For Those Without A Car.
• At the heart of sunny Tuscany lies Florence, one of the most beautiful cities to visit in Italy. If you are planning to visit Florence, check out: 16 Best Things to Do in Florence.
• Cinque Terre, known for its picturesque stacked houses on cliffs and coastlines, is the perfect destination for those looking to escape the bustling city life in Northern Italy. To start planning, be sure to check out: A Complete Guide to Backpacking Cinque Terre.
• Planning to visit Pisa and the Leaning Tower? Check out: 10 Best Things to do in Pisa.
• Siena, a medieval town in Tuscany, will transport you back to the Middle Ages the moment you step in it. If you want to visit Siena, here are the 10 Best Things to do in Siena.
• For a complete 7-day backpacking itinerary in Central Italy that will take you from Rome to Pompeii to the Amalfi Coast, be sure to check out: 7 Days Backpacking Central Italy Itinerary.
• Not convinced by my words? Here are 125 photos that will inspire you to visit Europe.
• To see all the articles about Italy, visit the Italy Travel Guide page.
• Traveling in Europe can be cheap, really cheap. These are the 12 Cheap European Countries to Visit.
• Looking for more travel guides for Europe? You can find more on my Europe Travel Guide page.
• Or if you want something more specific to the region, visit our Southern Europe Travel Guide, Western Europe Travel Guide, or Central Europe Travel Guide pages.
• For more of my travel guides like this, visit my Destinations page.