Lake Como in Lombardy, northern Italy, is best visited in autumn, offering fewer crowds, colourful foliage and mild weather, with flights to Milan from as little as £31 in the off-season.
October is here, and it’s the perfect time to squeeze in one more quick getaway before winter kicks in. Popular European destinations such as Milan, Alicante, and Paris start from under £100 in October, with flights from airports like Cardiff, Bristol, and Birmingham.
A lakeside autumn escape
If you can get a cheap flight to Milano Malpensa Airport, a popular glacial lake is a short train ride away and worth visiting, especially in the off-season. Charming Lake Como is one of Italy's grandest lakes, with neoclassical villas, luxurious hotels, and romantic lakefront restaurants.
Here, Italian grandeur meets deep blue lake waters and spectacular alpine vistas, with epic views best enjoyed while sipping a classic Aperol Spritz and feasting on cicchetti (small snacks or side dishes). Small towns and fishing villages dot this inverted ‘y-shaped’ lake, with the city of Como, its historic centre, and plenty of hotels making an excellent base.
The lake's distinctive charm remains as the summer crowds fade, making it an ideal season to explore without the large crowds that fill the narrow streets and lakefront promenades in high season. Lake Como is best explored by boat, and public ferries and private boats let day trippers visit the many lakefront towns and villages without a car.
Towns, villas and vineyards
Dubbed “the pearl of the lake”, Bellagio is one of the most popular spots on Como’s southern shores. Its narrow, cobbled streets packed with bougie wine bars and ochre-coloured boutique stores make it easy to see why so many visitors flock here. Head to Salita Serbelloni, one of Bellagio's most photographed passageways, for alfresco dining, shopping, and picturesque views of the old town centre from the top of the sloping medieval street.
Rainbow-coloured Varenna is quieter than busy Bellagio. Bask on the picturesque shoreline with creamy gelato, wander the blooming botanical gardens at Villa Monastero and have a leisurely lakeside stroll along the boardwalk. Lake Como is also home to some of the world's most opulent villas, where historic art, architecture, and beautiful gardens blend seamlessly with the lake backdrop.
Villa del Balbianello is one of the region's most famous villas, as it served as a filming location for the Bond film Casino Royale (2006) and Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002). In Tremezzo, the exquisite 17th-century Villa Carlotta houses elegant botanical gardens and a museum whose collection includes impressive works by Francesco Hayez, Antonio Canova, and Bertel Thorvaldsen.
Built as the summer residence of Francesco Melzi d'Eril, neo-classical Villa Melzi in Bellagio is surrounded by statues and exotic foliage, including Japanese maple and cedar trees, along with blooming azaleas and rhododendrons. Join a guided tour to peek inside the stately museum, chapel, and gardens.
Culture, wine and hiking
The Museo della Seta [Educational Silk Museum] offers insight into Como’s long textile industry and skilfully displays the entrepreneurial tradition of silk making. It also showcases heritage machines, looms, and fabric samples. For Renaissance-era art, visit the 17th-century Pinacoteca Civica, which houses a vast collection of sculptures and paintings, including Paolo Giovio's 16th-century Portraits of Illustrious Men collection.
Pretty Bellagio also has several small galleries and museums, including the creative hub Tower of the Arts and the curious Museum of Navigation Instruments, packed with vintage telescopes, compasses and solar clocks. Wine lovers can visit several verdant vineyards near Montevecchia and in North Lake Como, where you can sample high-quality local vino amid leafy surroundings.
In the Valtellina region, north of Como, winemakers produce red wine from the Nebbiolo grape, while the south produces a range of white, red, and sparkling wines. Two of the most charming wineries to tour are Azienda Agricola Sorsasso and Cantine Angelinetta, both based on the northern shore of Lake Como.
Religious heritage is abundant in Lake Como and the wider Lombardy area, with towering churches and monasteries that have opened their creaky doors to visitors. One of the most impressive spiritual sites is the Basilica of Sant’Abbondio, dating to the 5th century CE and making it one of Como's oldest churches. However, its current Romanesque structure dates to the 11th century.
Como's Duomo, also known as the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, is one of the city's most striking landmarks. Renaissance and Gothic styles include intricate stone carvings, a rose window, and a distinctive green copper dome. Inside, the church houses several important works of art, including a remarkable polyptych by Bernardino Luini.
You can also find several monasteries in the wider area, including the isolated Monastery of San Benedetto, a 9th-century medieval abbey located on the southern slope of Mount Galbiga. Hiking the trails around Lake Como is one of the best ways to enjoy panoramic views while escaping the crowds. Greenway del Lago di Como is one of the most scenic hikes around the lake, passing small villages, lavish villas, and gardens over its 10km stretch.
The Sentiero del Viandante is a longer 45km Roman Road trail on Lake Como's east coast that you can complete in sections. For a more challenging hike, head to the summit of Monte Grona, which stands at 1,736 meters. Several strenuous summit routes include steep climbs and rocky passages that require ropes and technical climbing skills. From the top, you’ll be rewarded with a panorama of the Alps and the Como, Lugano and Piano lakes.
Getting to Lake Como
Getting to Lake Como from the UK is straightforward, with multiple options combining flights and scenic train journeys. The most convenient way to reach the region is by flying into Milan, which is served by several airports, including Milan Malpensa (MXP), Milan Linate (LIN), and Milan Bergamo (BGY).
You can fly to Milan from as little as £31 in the off-season. Direct flights from major UK cities like Bristol, Manchester, and London are frequent and take around two hours. Once in Milan, you can easily reach Como by train. Board a direct train from Milano Centrale, Milan’s main railway station, to Como San Giovanni, the town’s central train station. The journey takes approximately 40 minutes, with frequent services throughout the day operated by Trenitalia. Alternatively, if you land at Milan Malpensa, you can take a train from Malpensa Airport to Saronno, then change to a regional train to Como. This route also takes just over an hour.
