Places to stay around Lake Como

How did you plan to travel?
Where are you coming from/going to?

No experience with any of those locations but it looks like none have train service
Only ferry and bus

Cernobbio is just outside the city of Como. Lezzeno and Brienno are further away on opposite sides of the lake. There is bus service to all of these. Nesso I know nothing.

Coming from Cinque Terre and going to Milan four days later.

I believe that Nesso is super tiny. Not sure if there is anything there in terms of services or food. Very Insta-worthy though

You might also consider staying in the small town of Varenna in the mid-lake area. It's a big favourite with many here, and a good home base for exploring other parts of the lake using the ferries.

It's also easily accessible by rail from Milan, so will minimize your travel time from the Cinque Terre and your return to Milan after your visit. Travel time to/from Milan is about an hour each way.

I have no information on AirBnB properties in Varenna but hopefully one of the others can help with that.

I think I would stay in either Varenna, Bellagio or Menaggio as the towns you listed are really pretty small. Without a car you might find getting from those towns to see other places difficult - but I do not recommend a car in this region.

You need to be careful not to be mesmerized by great looking accommodations located in out of the way places. My sister in law and family did that and ended up having to rent a car to even practically get to the ferry stop (not to mention getting groceries). Mid lake is best for ferry transportation. We stayed in Bellano because it was all we could find at last minute for group of 7. It is on the train line that Varenna is on and there are ferries from town, just not as frequent as from midlake. You can take a train to Varenna to use the mid lake ferries and we did that one day. I talked with some people who stayed in Como because it was less expensive. It is also well connected but a ways to the prettiest parts of the lake.

Cernobbio is very pretty and super easy to access, but you do have to travel a bit "up" the lake too reach the most scenic parts. The others I do not know!

Great info!!! Thanks for the help.