Luxury holidays in Lake Como

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.

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.