5 Amazing Day Trips from Lake Como
The Italian Lakes region is one of the most beautiful areas of northern Italy. Using gorgeous Lake Como as your center point, you can explore this stunning area with ease. From here you can head north into Switzerland and Lake Lugano. Or perhaps west through Lombardy to Lakes Maggiore and Orta. East will take you to medieval Bergamo.
There are numerous delightful day trip destinations to explore using Como as your base. Let us help you craft your ideal Lakes Region itinerary. We offer a five-day Lake Como Tour which could be a great starting point for your travels through the region. We also offer a more extensive nine-day Italian Lakes and Swiss Mountains Tour that covers the best of the Lakes Region with its wonderful scenery and charming villages.
Here are five amazing day trips from Lake Como that you can take:
Enchanting Lugano and Lake Lugano Villages
The city of Lugano is located on the picturesque shores of Lake Lugano. It is embraced by surrounding mountains, and only half an hour away from Lake Como by train or car. Here you are in the Swiss province of Ticino, where Italian is spoken. The Italian influences are also seen in the architecture, food, and style of life.
Views of Lake Lugano from the chairlift
Walk along the beautiful lakeside promenades. Seek out the Old Town with its squares, churches, historic palazzos, restaurants, and shopping on arcaded Via Nassa. The Old Town is centered around the Piazza Riforma. Stop to visit the ornate San Lorenzo Cathedral, and the church of Santa Maria of the Angels. It has a wonderful 16th century Renaissance fresco by Bernardo Luini worth seeing. Art lovers can visit the Swiss Italian Art Museum
Spend part of your day on a mountain adventure by ascending either Monte San Salvatore or Monte Brè by funicular. This will give you spectacular views of the city, lake, and Alps. Monte Brè offers the option of stopping off at the picturesque Brè Village, perched on the mountain’s slopes, on the way up or down.
Or perhaps you’d like to take one of the paddlewheel steamers for an enjoyable Lake excursion with great scenery. There are several beautiful villages worth a stop to explore the charming setting. These include Morcote with its Scherrer Gardens and Church of Santa Maria del Sasso. You can also walk the colorful streets, lanes, courtyards, and staircases carved from the slopes in Gandria.
The Church of Santa Maria del Sasso in Ticino
Exploring Italy’s Lake Maggiore: Stresa
Stresa lies on the western shores of Lake Maggiore. It offers an interesting array of sights as a day trip destination. And it’s just over an hour’s drive from Como. The top destination is the Borromean Islands, with their ornate palaces and magnificent gardens. Take a boat trip to explore Isola Bella’s spectacular palace and tiered gardens with statuary and fountains. Stop at Isola Madre and discover its villa and English-style garden. And finally, opt for the quieter Isola Pescatori (Fishermen’s Island) with its fishing villages, restaurants, and peaceful walking paths. Another boat trip destination is across the Lake from Stresa, the Hermitage of St. Catherine. It is home to a Roman Catholic monastery built onto a narrow terrace on the cliff.
Lake Maggiore’s Isola Bella
Other Stresa sights include Villa Pallavicino with its spectacular lakeside setting, botanical garden and zoo, and the English-landscape style garden park of Villa Taranto. You could also choose a mountain excursion above Stresa. Take the cable car up Monte Mottarone for sweeping views of the Alps and surrounding lakes.
Exploring Switzerland’s Lake Maggiore: Locarno and Ascona
The Swiss section of Lake Maggiore beckons with the attractive city of Locarno and charming nearby town of Ascona. It is located just over an hour’s drive from Como. Here you are in the Ticino region of Switzerland where Italian is the local language. Locarno enjoys a sunny, Mediterranean climate, a beautiful lakeside promenade and a historic old town to explore. The Old Town centers around the attractive Piazza Grande, delighting visitors with its cobblestone alleys and colourful houses.
View over Lake Maggiore
Other highlights include a stroll through Camellia Park, a visit to the Visconteo Castle, a Renaissance fortification built by Leonardo da Vinci in the 16th century, and a funicular ride to see the Sanctuary of Madonna del Sasso and the gorgeous views over Locarno and the Lake. Summer visitors can enjoy one of Locarno’s festivals, the Moon and Stars Music Festival in July and the Film Festival in August.
Locarno’s Visconteo Castle
The small village of Ascona is just south of Locarno. It is a perfect destination for relaxing lakeside at one of its charming restaurants and taking an easy stroll through the village’s cobblestoned alleyways. You can also take a boat from here to visit the Brissago Islands botanical gardens.
Historic Bergamo
Bergamo is a picturesque medieval town full of art and architecture. It is just over an hour’s drive east of Como. The town is divided into upper and lower sections, and the old town in the upper section is surrounded by 16th century Venetian walls from when it was ruled by Venice. A funicular brings you to the scenic upper town.
Sunrise over Bergamo, Italy
The old town centers around the Piazza Vecchia with its Contarini fountain decorated with sculpted lions. Churches of note to visit include the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, the Cathedral of Sant’Alessandro with its beautiful Baroque choir stalls, the Colleoni Chapel, with its ornate façade and interior ceiling paintings by Tiepolo, and the octagonally shaped Baptistery.
Art lovers will want to spend some time in the lower town at the Accademia Carrara Art Gallery. It is revered to be one of Italy’s best art museums. Host to a large collection of great works by such artists as Botticelli, Durer, Van Dyck, Tiepolo, and Mantegna.
Charming Lake Orta
Though lesser known, beautiful Lake Orta is a worthy day trip destination unto itself. And is only an hour’s drive west from Como to the captivating town of Orta San Giulio. In the middle of the Lake is San Giulio Island with the medieval Basilica of San Giulio to explore.
View to the Isola San Giulio or San Giulio Island
Orta San Giulio has a delightful atmosphere and setting. Spend time strolling the beautiful village built on Lake Orta’s steep wooded shores. Piazza Motta is the centerpiece of the town, directly overlooking the lake. It is from here that you can take a short ferry ride to the island. The Basilica is part of a Benedictine Abbey on the island, and features frescoes and a beautifully carved marble pulpit.
Starting from Lake Como as your base, there are numerous beautifully scenic areas within close range that make for great day trip destinations. Lugano, Locarno and Ascona are enticing Swiss destinations along Lakes Lugano and Maggiore. While Stresa and Orta San Giulio are scenic stops in Italy along Lakes Maggiore and Orta. Bergamo offers a trip back in time to a medieval fortified city.
