Lake Como Trails

Lake Como in Italy’s Lombardy region is the most stylish of the Italian Lakes, filled with elegant villas and formal gardens, and surrounded by a fantastic network of lakeside paths and mountain trails.

Arriving at Como train station (just a 1hr train ride from Milan or 3h30 from Venice), you can jump on a ferry or fast boat (15 mins), or take the bus (30 mins) to Cernobbio (payable locally).

Overnight Cernobbio

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Hotel Centrale | 3 Star | Hotel

Hotel Centrale was built in 1906 and is only 50m from the lake. There are 33 modern rooms, and you will stay in a 'classic' room in the two-story 19th century villa. Rooms have all the essential amenities: free WiFi, air con, satellite TV, minibar and hairdryer.

Hotel Terzo Crotto | 3 Star | Hotel

Housed in a farmhouse surrounded by a garden and located in the center of Cernobbio, just 400 meters from the shores of Lake Como. The rooms here are tastefully decorated and all have marble floors, a fan, TV and a private bathroom with hairdryer and amenities. The restaurant specialises in traditional Italian dishes and the Lake Como area, and offers an extensive list of local and international wines.

Hotel Asnigo | 4 Star | Hotel

Set in a panoramic position 800 meters from Lake Como, Cernobbio's Hotel Asnigo offers swimming pool an onsite restaurant and a beautiful panoramic view. All the rooms offer a satellite TV. Free WiFi is available in the lobby.

Each room is well-furnished and equipped with air conditioning. Some rooms also have a balcony and some offer lake views.

Today’s easy walk starts with a transfer high into the mountains of the Intelvi Valley, to Monte Bisbino at 1325m. Revel in the outstanding views over Lake Como before you set off on a high-level track which takes in Monte San Bernado (1351m), and Monte di Binate (1279m). Descend to reach your charming agriturismo, a farm-stay deep in the mountains where you can relax and recharge your batteries.

Satisfy your appetite with such delights as local goats cheese served with honey and mountain berries or the meaty local ’salametto’.

Overnight Schignano Area

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Agriturismo Al Marnich | Farm

Al-Marnich is a delightful farmstay ‘agriturismo’, with a restaurant where you will taste authentic dishes and food specialities of the Lombardy region. Accommodation includes double and family rooms, with some, boasting an original fireplace or a terrace/balcony. The property is surrounded by lush greenery, with a panoramic hiking trail and a small gym.

Your farm-stay is the perfect spot from which to explore the mountains above Lake Como. With a network of trails on your doorstep, discover the ‘Prealpi Luganesi’, and walk towards Monte Generoso in the east, which at 1700m towers over neighbouring Lake Lugano.

Overnight Schignano Area

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Agriturismo Al Marnich | Farm

Al-Marnich is a delightful farmstay ‘agriturismo’, with a restaurant where you will taste authentic dishes and food specialities of the Lombardy region. Accommodation includes double and family rooms, with some, boasting an original fireplace or a terrace/balcony. The property is surrounded by lush greenery, with a panoramic hiking trail and a small gym.

Set off and take a scenic cable car from Argegno to Pigra, the start of today's walk. Follow shady forest trails through an abandoned village and down to the lakeshore at Colonno. Here you join the waterside Greenway path. Take a short detour (walk or water taxi, dependent on the day of the week) to Villa del Balbianello, with its immaculate gardens. This spot has cinematic pedigree thanks to the James Bond film ’Casino Royale’ and is one of Como’s most dramatic locations. Take an optional guided tour to see the villa itself. Continue to Cadenabbia, where you will spend the next two nights. You have the option of taking a local bus to shorten the walk today if you wish.

Please note that due to limited suitable accommodation option in Cadenabbia, it may be necessary to stay in neighbouring Tremezzo,which is still on the shores of the lake. If this is the case then it will be necessary to take a short bus journey (around 6 minutes) from the end of todays walk in Cadenabbia to Tremezzo.

Please Note: the cable car from Argegno to Pigra is currently not operating (as of April 2023) and we are unsure as to when it will be back in action. Not to worry though, if this is the case when you are due to be departing we will arrange for your transfer to take you to the start of the walk in Pigra instead of dropping you at the Argegno cable car base (additional supplement applies for the longer transfer). Your walking route will therefore be unchanged.

Overnight Cadenabbia

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Hotel Villa Mirabella | Hotel

Hotel Villa Mirabella is a prestigious 19^th century villa, restored and opened as a hotel in 2010. There are 11 simply furnished rooms, some with original period pieces and most have balconies with lovely views of the lake and the beautiful garden. There is a restaurant serving traditional Italian dishes using seasonal produce. Guests enjoy free WiFi. There is a pool and beautiful gardens.

Alberghetto La Marianna | Hotel

Your host at 8-bedroom La Marianna is keen walker Paola. Enjoy the peaceful lakeside terrace with views of Bellagio, and a slice of Paola's home-made cake. There is a restaurant 'La Cucina della Marianna' on the ground floor, where chef Ty uses only seasonal and locally-grown produce in his regional recipes. As this property is located on the main road, we usually request quieter rooms at the back (subject to availability), however if you would prefer to have a view of the lake, please let us know and we can request this (again, subject to availability).

Hotel Bazzoni | Hotel

Hotel Bazzoni is located on Lake Como, on the main street of Tremezzo, coined as one of the most beautiful Borghi (small villages) in Italy. It is situated a few steps from the ferry and bus stop. The hotel offers an outdoor swiming pool, and a jacuzzi, a cocktail bar and a beautiful terrace with views of the lake. There is free WiFi available in the hotel's common areas and in all bedrooms, alongside offering en suite bathrooms, air conditioning and satelite TV.

Visit the pretty little church and sanctuary of San Martino on a short loop walk from Cadenabbia. The chapel is perched 450m above the lake and clings to a sheer cliff face, and the paved path leading up to the church is lined with shrines. Pause to take in the far-reaching panorama and enjoy the tranquillity.

From Cadenabbia you can hop on a ferry across to impossibly chic Bellagio, take a stroll along the stylish promenade, then sit and watch the world go by from a shady café terrace.

Another must-see is 17th century Villa Carlotta, just a short walk southwest from Cadenabbia. Admire the botanic gardens, filled with pergolas and lush planting.

Please note that if you are staying in Tremezzo it will be necessary to take a short bus journey (around 6 minutes) to/from Cadenabbia at the start and end of today's walk.

Overnight Cadenabbia

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Hotel Villa Mirabella | Hotel

Hotel Villa Mirabella is a prestigious 19^th century villa, restored and opened as a hotel in 2010. There are 11 simply furnished rooms, some with original period pieces and most have balconies with lovely views of the lake and the beautiful garden. There is a restaurant serving traditional Italian dishes using seasonal produce. Guests enjoy free WiFi. There is a pool and beautiful gardens.

Alberghetto La Marianna | Hotel

Your host at 8-bedroom La Marianna is keen walker Paola. Enjoy the peaceful lakeside terrace with views of Bellagio, and a slice of Paola's home-made cake. There is a restaurant 'La Cucina della Marianna' on the ground floor, where chef Ty uses only seasonal and locally-grown produce in his regional recipes. As this property is located on the main road, we usually request quieter rooms at the back (subject to availability), however if you would prefer to have a view of the lake, please let us know and we can request this (again, subject to availability).

Hotel Bazzoni | Hotel

Hotel Bazzoni is located on Lake Como, on the main street of Tremezzo, coined as one of the most beautiful Borghi (small villages) in Italy. It is situated a few steps from the ferry and bus stop. The hotel offers an outdoor swiming pool, and a jacuzzi, a cocktail bar and a beautiful terrace with views of the lake. There is free WiFi available in the hotel's common areas and in all bedrooms, alongside offering en suite bathrooms, air conditioning and satelite TV.

After breakfast, begin your walk from Cadenabbia to Menaggio. Head inland and wind your way up peaceful footpaths across limestone mountain flanks to the Boccetta di Nava. Descend on forest trails to Croce where you can take a bus or continue on foot to the lakeside at Menaggio.

Menaggio boasts a picturesque old cobblestone centre. The waterside piazza has several cafés that are perfect for lake-gazing and people-watching.

Please note that if you are staying in Tremezzo it will be necessary to take a short bus journey (around 6 minutes) to Cadenabbia at the start of today's walk.

Overnight Menaggio

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Hotel Garni Corona | Hotel

This family-run hotel is located in the pedestrian area of Menaggio's main square, within walking distance of restaurants, shops and cafes. All rooms have WiFi, aircon, mini bar and TV.

Hotel Bellavista | 3 Star | Hotel

Located in the centre of Menaggio, directly on the lakeside, Hotel Bellavista enjoys a magnificent panorama across the heart of Lake Como. The view of Bellagio is splendid! The spacious veranda of the “Ristorante del Porto”, the solarium with swimming pool and the terrace enable guests to relax to the full in a wonderful setting.

Hotel Loveno | Hotel

This family run hotel is proud to rent rooms from a historical building dated 1904 and a building from the 1950s. Every room has wi-fi, USB plug socket, 32 inches flat screen tv, bathroom, a closet with hangers, and hairdryer. Most of the rooms have a balcony, the 2 without have chairs or beach-chairs on the back of the dependence.

Jump aboard a ferry for the short hop across to Varenna, a quieter spot whose pastel-hued houses seem to cling impossibly to the steep slopes that rise above the lake. Take a scenic train north along the eastern shore of the lake to Dervio, then walk back to Varenna along the Sentiero del Viandante 1 pathway. You can halve the length of this walk by only taking the train as far as Bellano before walking back to Varenna.

Alternatively, if you haven’t already visited Belllagio or Lugano, you could explore further afield today.

Overnight Menaggio

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Hotel Garni Corona | Hotel

This family-run hotel is located in the pedestrian area of Menaggio's main square, within walking distance of restaurants, shops and cafes. All rooms have WiFi, aircon, mini bar and TV.

Hotel Bellavista | 3 Star | Hotel

Located in the centre of Menaggio, directly on the lakeside, Hotel Bellavista enjoys a magnificent panorama across the heart of Lake Como. The view of Bellagio is splendid! The spacious veranda of the “Ristorante del Porto”, the solarium with swimming pool and the terrace enable guests to relax to the full in a wonderful setting.

Hotel Loveno | Hotel

This family run hotel is proud to rent rooms from a historical building dated 1904 and a building from the 1950s. Every room has wi-fi, USB plug socket, 32 inches flat screen tv, bathroom, a closet with hangers, and hairdryer. Most of the rooms have a balcony, the 2 without have chairs or beach-chairs on the back of the dependence.

Your Como walking adventure comes to a close after breakfast. You can either take the ferry across to Varenna and join the train line there (1hr to Milan), or take the bus/ferries back to Como to continue your onward journey by train.