Lake Como

Come to Lake Como for an action-packed, fun-filled holiday of water skiing, windsurfing, hiking and even sunbathing

Visit Lake Como and see Varenna, Mennagio and Bellagio - some of Northern Italy's main tourist attractions

Lake Como is a famous Italian lake located in the Northern part of Italy, 40 kilometres north of Milan. It is 140 metres deep, 50 Kilometres long and occupies 140 square kilometres. At the southern end of the lake, it splits into two sections and the Bellagio town conveniently lies between them offering visitors the opportunity to enjoy the breathtaking views of the blue waters.

Lake Como is accessible through either the railway network or by the steamers and buses that access the lake from the northern-eastern side of the country. The lake is just a few minutes away from the Swiss border. The lake is the deepest in Europe and has contrasting visuals usually made visible by the subtropical climate.

Visitors are encouraged to visit the lake between March and October as most hotels close for winter outside of this time. Activities in the lake include wind surfing, water skiing, hiking and skiing. Some people just prefer soaking in the sun, of course. While at the Lake Como, why not take a fast boat ride that to the northern end of Lake Como? Wind surfing is also an ideal holiday activity but this depends on the conditions. As a result of this dependency, kite surfing is very popular.

Towns around Lake Como provide for varied type of accommodation, food and room service. Como is one such town that is located on the southern side of the lake. Gothic features displayed by the town's early cathedrals characterize the town, art galleries, tapestries and paintings. The town has contemporary hotels where it is possible to savour modern Italian cuisine.

Mennagio town is located on the western side of the lake and offers a variety of hotels. The town has a beach that serves as an important point from which to explore the lake. Varenna town offers another peaceful resort where one can enjoy beautiful views of the lake, while a more industrialized town known as Lecco lies on the eastern side of the lake. Lecco does not have much in the way of tourism-related activities but instead acts as the industrial hub of the lake.

The 313-kilometer long Adda River whose origin is in the Swiss Alps drains into the Lake as does the considerably shorter 250 meters long Varenna River (not surprisingly one of the shortest rivers in Italy). The river is seasonal and dries up during the winter season between October and March. As a result, the milky looking river has been an unusual attraction near Lake Como.

Accommodation around the lake is plentiful and all levels and preferences are more than adequately catered for by the many different hotels. Fish diets are also plentiful and most hotels offer fish on their menu. Alternative foods are also available and include beef and pork.

Since Como produces three-quarters of Europe's silk, the town provides one of the best shopping destinations for silk lovers - somewhere one can get quality silk commodities. The mountains and hills around the lake provide great hiking destinations that offer stunning views of Lake Como.