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Swimming in Lake Como

We'll be headed to Lake Como as a day trip only from Milan this coming week. One of my kids is asking to swim or better yet to go to a beach. I'm thinking to follow Rick's day trip advice which is to take the train to Varenna, and then a ferry to Bellagio. Rick's guidbook says that the Lido in Varenna is the best place to swim there; I found this place online as Lido Spiaggia. Has anyone gone there, and is it recommended? Also, what are current fees like?

Continuing with Rick's itinerary, we would take the ferry to Bellagio. I read in the 2021 Lonely Plaent about the Lido di Bellagio Beach Club, but it sounds insanely expensive at 50 euro for a gazebo rental. Does anyone have experience with this place, and is it worth the expense?

Finally, where is the spot in Bellagio where people jump off a bridge into the lake? That might make the most sense, and sounds like the most fun!

Posted by
2065 posts

Lake Como’s water temperature at Bellagio is now F77 degrees, so it’s warm. In Italy the beaches can be public or private. The beach clubs, usually have the word “ Lido” in their name and are private concessions run as a private business. With Bellagio being the most famous town on the lake, restaurants, hotels and beach clubs are going to be higher. Bellagio does have a free public beach called “San Giovanni” which is about a 15- minute walk south of the ferry docks. Menaggio also has a free beach called “Laria.” The concessions at Varenna’s “Lido Di Varenna” are quite expensive. You might take a look at Bellano’s sandy public beach which is next to Lido Di Bellano. Bellano is a 5-minute train ride north from Varenna-Esino train station.

Posted by
2816 posts

We stayed in Bellano a couple years ago. My twenty something kids loved the beach there. I would recommend. It is a nice town too.