How to Spend a Long Weekend in Menaggio, Lake Como
Lake Como is worth the hype. George Clooney, I get it. I would happily live in one of those villas for the rest of my life. I don’t know why I go to cities when amazing places like this exist.
Combined with the beautiful Italian architecture and with the Mediterranean feel it just doesn’t get any better.
We drove south from Stuttgart, Germany, through Switzerland, and into Italy. It’s always impressive how much the scenery changes. Going from farmlands and an Alpine climate to humidity and warmer air with palm trees and a completely different landscape. It’s surreal.
If you have the chance to drive to Lake Como and take in some of the scenery, I highly recommend it.
TIP: If you ever are traveling through Switzerland just know that there is a 40 CHF decal you must buy for your car. Also, unlike Germany, speeding tickets are not cheap so be sure to watch those speed limits.
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Why Stay in Menaggio?
When I travel, I do a lot of research on the places I plan on visiting. If I am spending my precious leave and money then I want to make sure I am happy with my choices. So when looking at Lake Como, I found it pretty daunting just how many towns and options there were for our upcoming stay.
There were two necessary criteria that really helped me choose Menaggio over other towns.
Menaggio is Centrally Located
When I get somewhere I like to park my car and be free to roam on foot, and in Lake Como, I wanted to easily be able to catch a ferry to other areas. If you want to check out the most beautiful towns and do some exploring, you’ll want to stay in Menaggio, Bellagio, or Varenna.
I have since stayed in the town of Como which is at the southern end of the lake. It’s also a good choice (but relatively far from the main three by ferry). Como could be a great option for people flying into Milan or wanting a larger town with more options and nightlife.
Costs are Reasonable
Bellagio and Varenna are also great choices and are larger than Menaggio. I found Menaggio to have better prices and a more local feel. The views from this side of the lake are also spectacular. Since we were traveling in the off-season, we were able to snag a lakefront property at this hotel with a massive balcony for about $130 per night, which is a steal.
Overall Thoughts on Menaggio
Overall, if you’re looking for a small and quiet town that is centrally located, Menaggio is a great pick. It has a square and there are many restaurant options to choose from. Since it’s centrally located on the lake, it is relatively easy to catch a ferry to neighboring Bellagio, Menaggio, or the other towns in the area.
If you’re still trying to decide which town is best, I have another article that goes in-depth on the other main towns around the lake. Read the article here.
Top Tours in Lake Como
Weather
Lake Como experiences mostly mild weather year-round, but winters can be chilly and sometimes even get snow. I prefer the shoulder seasons for a few reasons, but mostly because the weather is pleasant (not too hot, not too cold – Alaska girl here!), there aren’t many tourists, and prices are much better than summer.
Shoulder season is around March to early May, and September to October.
Summers are the height of tourism and prices tend to be higher. The weather is warmer though, so if you prefer the heat this might be the right time for you.
We went in late April and were met with sunny skies and warmer weather. It still was chilly on the ferries and at night, but overall the weather was such a pleasant change from gloomy Germany. If you are wanting sundresses and warmer weather, you will want to wait a few weeks.
Getting Around The Lake
Ferry System
Menaggio, Bellagio, and Varenna form a triangle at the center of the lake and have the most ferries running during the day. Although Lake Como is a wildly popular tourist destination, the ferry schedule is limited. The ferry system starts around 7:30am and stops before 8pm so you need to do some planning if you want to see more of the lake.
Fees range from just a few Euro to hop from one town to the next (which is the case between the three main towns) or up to 29 Euro for a day pass.
During high tourist season ferry tickets are booked in advance and it’s possible to be left stranded at the end of the day or stuck on a 3 hour slow boat on the way back. For this reason I recommend booking ahead and getting an out and return ticket so you are guaranteed a spot.
If you purchase a day pass or multi-day pass, be sure to have a plan b in case you can’t catch a ferry. For many ferries, you’ll want to be waiting at the platform at least an hour ahead of schedule to get your spot in line (well, the Italian version of a line anyway).
Here’s the official website to view more information.
Private Boat Tour
A private boat tour is a great way to enjoy all there is at Lake Como. These can be private organized tours, personal tours, or you can even rent a boat for a reasonable price. We rented a boat for 3 hours for around 150 Euro one time and brought paninis with us. We stopped at a quiet spot and caught a swim while enjoying our lunch. It was definitely a highlight of that trip. Oh and there’s no license required to drive a boat here!
There are also many private tours available including a kayaking trip or a sailing cruise.
Bus
There is a large bus network to get around the lake. It may be useful if you want to head to lake Lugano for the day or get a different view of the lake. Here’s a link to the lines and timetables (use Google translate to view in English).
Where to Stay in Menaggio
There are quite a few hotels in town, and there are many apartments and homes for rent in the area. Menaggio is much more affordable than its counterparts across the way, and is one of the reasons I chose Menaggio over Varenna or Bellagio.
The main square and town are relatively flat, but quickly get steep and hilly once you head out of town. This means that there are plenty of places with lake views, but it also means that you will need to walk uphill if you stay outside of the main area.
We stayed at Hotel Bellavista and had a large balcony overlooking the expansive lake views and mountains. If you’re in Lake Como, spend the extra money to stay on the lake. The view is absolutely worth it. We were able to snag this place for 120EUR a night in the April off-season.
Best on a Budget: $120 avg/night. This 2 bedroom apartment (sleeps 5!) has great views and is just a short walk up the hill from town.
Center of Town: Hotel Garni Corona is a top-rated hotel in the heart of Menaggio and 100 feet from the lake. The rooms are well equipped and completely updated, making for a hassle-free trip.
A Touch of Luxury: The Grand Hotel Victoria concept & spa, by R Collection Hotels is a beautiful hotel with art nouveau design. There are grand suites that overlook Lake Como and guests get a discount at the 18 hole golf course just 1.2 miles away.
Things to do in Menaggio
Menaggio itself is quite small and can be walked relatively quickly. Morning could be spent exploring the cafes and stopping to grab lunch at a restaurant in the square. There is a promenade along the water that makes for a nice walk.
The Parco Val Senegra is just outside of town. There’s a pretty walking bridge outside of town with the Senagra stream running below it. I would recommend doing the walking tour with Slow Lake Como to see this site and learn about its history.
If golfing is your thing, there is an 18 hole golf course nearby.
I enjoyed having Menaggio as a launching point to visit areas nearby. Here are some fun things to do on and around the lake.
Day Trips from Menaggio
Take the Ferry to Varenna
I see why Rick Steve’s recommended Varenna as the place to stay at Lake Como. The town is pedestrian-only with hilly narrow cobblestone streets lined with shops and restaurants. The feel of the town is serene and peaceful. I am telling you I could stay here forever. Give me mountains and a lake and I’m in heaven.
Visit Villa Monastero
We visited a villa in Varenna called Villa Monastero. This was the first and only villa I’ve visited so I have no idea how it compares, although from a boat trip we did I think there are other, more glamorous villas at other areas around the lake.
However, I think this one still is worth a visit. It has a large botanical gardens area and a house museum as well. If you want to enjoy it all I’d say give yourself at least 90 minutes (not including walking to or from the villa from Varenna). The villa is in Varenna and located at the top of the hill or town past the main square. If you visit Varenna I would add this to the list of must-see places. It was inexpensive and conveniently located as well.
Check out Bellagio
Bellagio, or the Pearl of Lake Como, is also fantastic. In Bellagio, there are a lot of cute shops and local artwork. Villa Melzi d’Eril is one of the most popular attractions near Bellagio.
This town is hilly with mostly pedestrian streets in the main town and can be walked in a few hours.
Explore the Gorge of Orrido
Bellano is a small town on the ferry system, northeast of Menaggio across the lake. There’s a small beach, a few restaurants, and a massive gorge tucked away in the center of town.
We stayed here when I was pregnant and were shocked that you could visit a beautiful gorge a few minutes from our apartment. Sadly I don’t have any photos (pregnant and walking was a feat in itself), but we loved it so much we visited twice.
It’s a very short walk just past the main square, just up a few steps. There is an entry fee, and once inside you enter a massive natural cave system with waterfalls and long boardwalks winding high above the floor.
Here is the link with more information about the gorge.
Rent a Boat and Cruise Around
We were happy to find that you can easily rent a boat in Lake Como. They rent by the hour, and the one we chose was $60 per hour at the time, which we thought was reasonable. We grabbed some panini’s and headed down to the boat launch.
With our US driver’s license, a signature, and a quick explanation of the boat, we were off! We drove out to the center of the lake, swam around, and enjoyed lunch.
Hike to Castello Di Vezio
One of the best ways to see the region in which you are traveling is on foot. There is nothing quite like seeing and experiencing a place by hiking through it. Perched above Varenna, hiking to this castle is an excellent way to see Lake Como from a new angle, while also getting a workout and spending time outdoors.
It’s a quick 30-minute hike that starts at the cemetery.
Overall Thoughts
Truly, whether you decide to stay in Bellagio, Varenna, or Menaggio, you can’t go wrong. Since our trip to Menaggio, I’ve stayed in Bellano and Como and I’ve loved them all for different reasons. For your first trip, I would recommend sticking to the Menaggio, Varenna, and Bellagio triangle. The ferries run most often from these towns making them a great place to stay and explore.
Ciao for now Italy. I will be thinking fondly of you often and dreaming of the next time I will be back.
