Luxury holidays in Lake Como

Pink and yellow houses dotted high up verdant hills, tanned legs stretched out on terraces, olive groves’ glistening silver in the breeze: there’s a distinctly Mediterranean feel to this corner of Lombardy, blessed with a balmy micro-climate, yet surprisingly close to the Swiss border. There’s much to explore here: hop on a ferry or follow the sinuous road hugging the shoreline to find ancient cliffside villas, cobblestoned markets, and wisteria-clad trattorias. The lake offers gliding, sailing, and windsurfing for the restless, but there is little point in resisting: Lake Como’s perfected the sort of charmed, idle summer living that’s attracted the famous and wealthy for centuries, and it’s bound to lure you in too.

When to go

High season stretches between Easter and October, with many hotels closed over the winter. Spring and autumn are bright and clear (look out for truffles on the markets before the chill settles in); in the summer, things heat up, but the Alpine breezes keep the lakes pleasant and mist-free. This is when crowds flock to Como for open-air festivals, alfresco dining and lakeside frolics, but there are plenty of peaceful retreats and tranquil hillside hideaways if it all gets a little too festive.

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Getting there

  • Planes

    The nearest airport is Milan Malpensa, an hour’s drive away, with good links to Europe and beyond. Milan Linate, a good alternative for domestic and international flights, is over an hour’s drive away, as is Bergamo airport for budget connections to the UK and Europe.
  • Boats

    Ferry services for both passengers and cars criss-cross the lake. Fast services user speedier hydrofoils, but for a taste of laid-back life on the water choose the slow boats that run to the mid-lake villages of Menaggio, Bellagio or Varenna.
  • Trains

    Como San Giovanni station has regular links to Milan and further afield. The Malpensa Express runs from the airport to Como Lago station, but you’ll need to transfer in Saronno (www.trenitalia.com).
  • Automobiles

    Lame Como is easily reached on the A8 and A9 highway from Milan (about an hour’s drive away), or on state highway 342 from Varese or 369 from Lecco. It’s best to hire a car to explore Lombardy’s quaint villages, baroque villas and meandering shorelines.