Lake Como with Kids: A Magical Italian Escape Between Mountains, Villages & Family Adventures

Lake Como: where Italy feels a little bit unreal

There are places where you arrive and immediately understand why everyone has been talking about them for years.
Lake Como was one of those places for us.
We had seen the pictures before we went. The blue lake, the mountains, the beautiful villas and the little villages scattered along the shoreline. But pictures really don’t prepare you for the first time you actually see Lake Como.
The mountains seem to rise straight out of the water, the villages are stacked against the hillsides and everywhere you look there is another view that makes you want to stop.
After Rome, Venice and Verona, Lake Como felt like a completely different side of Italy.
There was less rushing around. Instead of trying to see five things before dinner, we could take a boat to another village, find somewhere for lunch, have a gelato and simply see where the afternoon took us.
And with kids, that turned out to be exactly what we needed.
Because travelling with children doesn’t always go according to plan. Sometimes they are interested in an ancient Roman ruin for exactly seven minutes. Sometimes the highlight of the day is a swimming spot you hadn’t planned to visit at all.
At Lake Como, that didn’t really matter.
There was always another boat to catch, another village to explore or another gelato shop to discover.

Planning a family trip through Italy

Lake Como was part of our wider Italian adventure, and it works particularly well as one of several stops on an Italy road trip.
If you’re planning a similar trip, you could start in Rome and spend a few days exploring the Colosseum, Roman Forum and the other historic sights before heading north.
We loved Rome with the kids because history suddenly became much easier to understand when they could actually walk through the places they had heard about.
From there, Venice is an obvious next stop. Getting lost in the narrow streets, crossing little bridges and taking a boat through the canals feels like an adventure in itself.
Then there is Verona, which we found much smaller and easier to explore than Rome or Venice. It’s a lovely place to slow down for a day or two.
And if you have more time, Milan and Florence can easily be added to the route.
We have brought all of our Italian family adventures together in our Italy with Kids guide, which is a good place to start if you’re still planning your itinerary.
Lake Como can also work perfectly well as a holiday on its own. In fact, if you don’t want to move hotels every few nights, staying around the lake for a week and exploring from one base is a very tempting option.

Getting to Lake Como with kids

There are several ways to get to Lake Como, but we really liked having a car.
Especially with children.
You don’t have to think about whether you have packed everything into one backpack, you can stop whenever someone needs a break and you can explore some of the smaller places around the lake.
And the drive itself is part of the experience.
The roads around Lake Como can be narrow and winding, so you definitely don’t want to rush. But that is also what makes driving here fun. One minute you’re driving along the lake and the next you’re looking down at the water from high above.
If you’re flying into Italy, it’s worth comparing rental car prices before you go, we use https://discovercars.tpk.lu/ciSbEadR. In summer, prices can increase quickly and automatic cars are often limited.
Travel tip: Don’t automatically choose the biggest car. Some of the roads and parking spaces around the lake are surprisingly tight, so a smaller car can actually make life much easier.
For us, having a rental car was especially useful when we wanted to explore beyond the main ferry routes.
And as with every family holiday, we always arrange travel insurance before leaving. It is one of those things you hope you never need, but travelling with children makes the extra peace of mind worthwhile.

Exploring Lake Como by boat

If there is one thing you should put on your Lake Como itinerary, make it a boat trip.
Seriously.
The first time you travel across the lake and look back at the villages from the water, you understand why Lake Como has become so famous.
And the kids loved it.
The ferry isn’t just transportation when you’re travelling with children. It becomes part of the day.
You get on the boat, find a place outside, watch the villages disappear behind you and wait to see where you’re going next.
Much more exciting than sitting in the back of a car.
The ferry network connects many of the main villages, making it possible to leave the car behind for a day.
That also means you don’t have to plan every minute. You can visit one village in the morning, have lunch somewhere else and decide later where to go next.
That flexibility was one of our favourite things about Lake Como.

Bellagio: beautiful, busy and worth seeing

Bellagio is probably the place most people picture when they think of Lake Como.
And yes, it really is that pretty.
The old streets climb up from the lake, colourful buildings line the narrow lanes and there are little shops, cafés and restaurants around almost every corner.
We didn’t try to turn Bellagio into a sightseeing mission.
Instead, we simply wandered around.
With kids, that is often the better approach.
We stopped for gelato, looked into shops, found viewpoints and took far too many pictures of the lake.
Bellagio can get very busy, particularly during the summer months. If you want to experience it without quite so many people around, arrive early in the morning or stay later in the day.
Either way, I wouldn’t leave it off your itinerary.

Varenna: the village we loved most

If Bellagio is the famous one, Varenna felt a little more relaxed to us.
It is smaller and has a wonderful waterfront promenade, with colourful houses and views across the lake.
This was the kind of place where we were happy to simply walk around without having a list of things we needed to see.
And that is probably what I liked most about Varenna.
There was no pressure to keep moving.
We could stop for something to eat, sit by the water and watch the boats.
Varenna is also very convenient if you want to explore Lake Como by ferry, so it makes a good base for families who don’t want to use the car every day.
If you’re looking for accommodation here, I would book early, especially for the summer holidays.

Como: more than just an arrival point

The city of Como is often the first place visitors see, particularly if they arrive by train or fly into Milan.
It is worth staying for a while rather than simply passing through.
The old town is easy to explore on foot and the waterfront is lovely for a stroll.
One of the things we particularly enjoyed was taking the funicular up to Brunate.
The ride isn’t very long, which is actually perfect with children, because they get the excitement of going up the mountain without spending half the day travelling.
And once you’re at the top, the views are fantastic.
You can see the lake, the surrounding mountains and Como far below.
It’s one of those relatively simple activities that ends up being one of the things the kids remember.
Travelicious tip: stay at Hotel du Lac

Things to do at Lake Como with kids

Lake Como might have a reputation as a destination for romantic weekends and luxury hotels, but don’t let that put you off travelling here with children.
There is plenty to keep families busy.

Take a boat across the lake

This would be our number one recommendation.
You don’t need an expensive private boat tour to enjoy Lake Como. The regular ferries already give you some spectacular views.
Of course, if you’d like to make it a special occasion, there are also private boat trips and organised tours available.
For families, a boat trip can be a great way to see several parts of the lake without constantly getting in and out of the car.

Visit one of the gardens

The villas around Lake Como are famous for their gardens, and some of them are genuinely spectacular.
Even if your children aren’t particularly interested in gardens, the combination of paths, fountains, flowers and lake views makes these places different from the usual sightseeing stops.
Just don’t plan too many gardens in one trip.
Even in Italy, children have their limits.

Go swimming

In summer, the lake becomes a completely different experience.
After walking through villages in the heat, being able to cool down in the water is exactly what everyone needs.
There are swimming areas and small beaches around the lake, although the setup varies from place to place.
We found that having swimwear and towels with us was always a good idea.
Because naturally, the moment you don’t bring them is the moment the kids find somewhere they desperately want to swim.

Take the funicular to Brunate

The funicular from Como to Brunate is a simple activity but one we would definitely recommend for families.
The journey is short and exciting, and the views from above make it worthwhile.
If you have children who aren’t huge fans of sightseeing, this is also an easy way to add something different to a day in Como.
Book one of these activities via US and get an extra 5% discount.

Where to stay at Lake Como with kids

Where you stay can make quite a difference to your holiday.
Lake Como isn’t small, and while the villages look close together on a map, travelling around the lake can take longer than you might expect.
For us, the best location depends on what kind of holiday you’re looking for.
Varenna is a great choice if you want a pretty, quieter village and good ferry connections.
Bellagio is ideal if you want the classic Lake Como experience, with restaurants, shops and beautiful streets right outside your accommodation. Just be prepared for more visitors.
Como is practical if you’re arriving by train, flying into Milan or combining Lake Como with other destinations in northern Italy.
Menaggio is another good option for families. It has a relaxed waterfront and is well positioned for exploring the central part of the lake.
For families, I’d also check whether your accommodation has air conditioning and a pool during the summer months. Those two things can make a surprisingly big difference after a day of exploring.

And then there is the food…

Let’s be honest.
One of the reasons we love travelling through Italy is that you never have to look too far for something delicious.
Lake Como is no exception.
Pizza, pasta, risotto, fresh fish and, obviously, gelato.
Lots of gelato.
With children, we rarely look for the most sophisticated restaurant in town. We much prefer somewhere relaxed where everyone can sit down without worrying about whether the children are being perfectly quiet.
Some of our favourite meals while travelling have been the simplest ones.
A plate of pasta.
A pizza shared at the table.
A glass of wine for the adults.
And a lake view while the sun starts disappearing behind the mountains.
You don’t need a Michelin-starred restaurant to make dinner memorable.

Is Lake Como worth visiting with kids?

For us, absolutely.
We went to Lake Como expecting beautiful scenery, and obviously we got that.
What we didn’t expect was how easy it would be to enjoy it as a family.
There is enough to keep adventurous kids busy, but there is also plenty of space to slow down.
You can spend one day visiting villages and taking ferries, another swimming in the lake and another simply enjoying your hotel or apartment.
And that balance is exactly what makes Lake Como work so well for a family holiday.
The kids get their boats, swimming and gelato.
Parents get the mountains, the lake and those long Italian dinners.
And somewhere in between all of that, you get the moments you didn’t plan for.
The funny conversation on the ferry.
The unexpected swimming stop.
The gelato that somehow ends up all over someone’s clothes.
The view that makes everyone stop talking for a minute.
Those are the things we remember.

More Italy with Kids inspiration

Lake Como was one chapter of our Italian adventure, but there is so much more to discover.
If you’re planning a longer family trip through Italy, have a look at our Italy with Kids: The Ultimate Family Travel Guide, where we’ve brought our favourite destinations and practical tips together.
You can also continue your journey with:
Rome with Kids – Rome with Kids: Discovering the Eternal City as a Family
Venice with Kids – Venice with Kids: Discovering the Magic of Italy’s Floating City
Verona with Kids – Verona with Kids: Falling in Love with Italy’s Most Charming City
Milan with Kids – Milan with Kids: The Italian City We Didn’t Expect to Love So Much
Florence with Kids – Florence with Kids: Our Favourite Tuscany Base for the Perfect Family Holiday
And if Lake Como is on your itinerary, don’t forget to leave some empty space in your planning.
You probably won’t need it for another attraction.
You’ll need it for gelato.
And maybe for one more boat ride.
Because sometimes the best family travel days are the ones where you don’t quite know what you’re going to do next.