If you’re looking for relaxation you should travel to Lake Como! It’s an ideal getaway with a mix of nature, quaint villages and sunset views over the lake!
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Lake Como left me with me incredible travel memories. It was love at first sight. At least for me, it was. Within seconds of arriving in Lake Como, I felt relaxed and in awe of its beauty.
The first thing you’ll want to do on Lake Como is taking a boat ride!
Nothing sets the mood when you travel to Lake Como like being on a boat! I stayed at the Sheraton Lake Como Hotel and it’s just a 10-minute boat ride to Como.
Along the way, you’ll pass the village of Brunate, pictured below on top of the mountain. Later, you’ll be taking the funicular to the first mountain on the right, then walking through the village to the next mountain on the left where there’s a lighthouse.
You’ll also notice some rather impressive villas. It’s short, but the very scenic boat ride to Como is not to be missed! Take a look and you’ll see what I mean:
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What to See and Do in Como
Unlike most of its neighbouring villages, Como is a city with ~85,000 inhabitants. Without a doubt, my favourite part of Como was a leisurely stroll through the 12th century Citta Muratta – Historical Center. It has much more of a village feel than a city feel.
The most important building in Como is the Duomo, the Como Cathedral. Construction on it started in 1396 and there are also some impressive adjacent buildings in the Piazza Duomo. It’s a must-see when you travel to Lake Como.
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You’ll also want to check out one of the gelaterias, cafes and restaurants. Confession? The very first thing I did as soon as I stepped off the boat was head straight to a gelateria! Then I walked around a bit and stopped at a cafe.
Como is a place to be savoured and enjoyed at leisure while walking. It’s the type of place where you could easily have a 2 or 3-hour lunch.
Because in our hectic lives, enjoying a moment to relax, is one of the most precious gifts you can give yourself. And the historical centre of Como is a picture-perfect place to do so!
Another highlight of Como was seeing the remains of the city wall that dates back to the 12th century. Today it separates the historic city centre.
That’s where you’ll want to spend the majority, if not all of your time. You can’t beat its village-like feeling.
You’ll also want to walk around the shoreline where you can enjoy the views of Lake Como and check out several beautiful villas, imagining how fabulous your lives would be if you were lucky enough to own one.
And no George Clooney doesn’t live in any of them – he is well hidden, off the pedestrian path!
Take the Funicular to the Village of Brunate
Ideally, you want to plan this later in the day, say an hour before sunset so that you can catch it from the top with incredible views over Lake Como.
If you’re feeling ambitious, you could also hike up to Brunate (6.4 km). It would be a steep climb, but a very doable climb if you’re wearing running shoes or hiking boots. I was short on time, so took the easy way – the funicular! It was one of my favourite things about my Lake Como travels.
Insider Travel Tip: If you’ve never taken a funicular before, I highly recommend it! Try to sit in the first car if possible for the best views.
Once you reach the top, either by funicular or by foot, it’s time for a romantic stroll through the village of Brunate. You’ll be walking uphill 2km for about 30-40 minutes to reach the Faro Voltiano Lighthouse.
Along the way, you’ll pass the Chiesea di Sant’Andrea, a small, but impressive-looking church. You’ll notice that Brunate is much quieter than Como, with just 1800 inhabitants.
It’s more of a place to experience and to enjoy the scenery, than a place where you check a bunch of items off your sightseeing list.
You’ll see signs leading you to the Faro Voltiano Lighthouse. You may also have the option to climb up to the top of the lighthouse for a small fee- if you still have energy.
Note: it will likely not be open if you’re there later in the day to catch the sunset.
Once you reach Faro Voltiano Lighthouse, there’s a platform with benches, where you can enjoy the sunset over Lake Como. The sunsets are a must-see when you travel to Lake Como.
Nearby, you’ll find La Polenteria (Via Giacomo Scalini 66). It’s a casual restaurant that specializes in polenta dishes – a traditional dish for the Como region.
Regardless of where you eat, you’ll need to make your walk back through Brunate and either hike down, or take the funicular down to Como.
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Practical Information for Visiting Lake Como:
- You’ll definitely want more than one day on Lake Como – a minimum of 3 days would be ideal, but you could easily spend a week or two exploring the villages that line the 50 km shoreline, engaging in water sports or hiking with guaranteed lake views!
- I stayed at the Sheraton Lake Como, just a 10-minute boat ride from Como and really enjoyed my stay.
- The boat ferries are part of the public transportation system of Lake Como. Tickets can be purchased at the boat landings.
- The Brunate Funicular runs every 30 minutes and is open from 8:00 am to 12:00 am during summer. It costs €3 one-way or €5.50 return.
- If you really want to get your heart racing, but perhaps not in the romantic sense, you can’t go wrong with ziplining. I LOVED this place near Como1
After an incredible day in Como and Brunate, spending quality time relaxing and enjoying the surrounding scenery, I recommend you travel to Lake Como.
Note: My trip to Lake Como was made possible via the #inLombardia365 project planned by iAmbassador and the Lombardia Tourism Board. As always, all opinions are my own.
