We are meeting our daughter in Como at the beginning of July. We stay over two nights and be there for 2 1/2 days. I am looking for recommendations of places to stay a and top things to do in the short time we are there. Based on our schedule we will be in Milan later in our trip.
Thank you!
Posted by
new york
1514 posts
Do you mean in the city of Como, or in a town on Lake Como?
If you want to stay in one of the towns on the lake that are popular with tourists, you ought to book your hotel as soon as possible--you've left it very late.
Posted by
Washington DC
30598 posts
Although the lodging situation in the city of Como itself may be somewhat looser, in the cute towns on the lake where most people want to stay, at this point it is not about places people recommend; it's about finding a place that actually has a vacancy at the beginning of July. Deep pockets may help; it seemed to me when I was looking in 2024 that the more affordable places booked up first.
I'd recommend using a website like booking.com to see what is available, checking locations carefully and reading reviews on the places that seem most appropriate and affordable to you. Certainly all rooms on Lake Como are not listed on booking.com, but that's a quick way to get an idea of the situation. It takes a lot more time to drill down on Google Maps, find names of hotels and check individual websites.
The usual recommendation is to try for a place in one of the mid-lake towns served frequently by ferry. The key towns in that area are Varenna, Bellagio and Menaggio. Varenna and Bellagio book up faster than Menaggio, but I'm not sure what you will find for July even in Menaggio at this point. There are of course other options, but they may be less convenient, with less frequent ferry service, especially for a short stay. It would be helpful to know what you want to see and do on the lake, as that might make some locations more practical than others.
The city of Como is far from the mid-lake area considered the most beautiful. It has some museums (which I have not yet visited), but few people go to Lake Como to spend time in museums.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
17754 posts
Check the Hotel Garni Corona in Menaggio. I checked for the first weekend in July, they have 1 room left (city view only, the lake view rooms are sold out). One of the best I've stayed in the area. Less than $300/night. A bargain these days at lake Como in July. Haven't checked Varenna or Bellagio, but those will be more expensive for sure (if anything is left).