MXP to Lake Como (Como)

Lake Como is a stunning alpine lake about 60 km north of the airport.

Lake Como (Lago di Como) is a deep, glacial lake set among dramatic pre-Alpine mountains, its shores lined with centuries-old villas, gardens, and pastel-painted villages that have attracted aristocrats, artists, and celebrities since Roman times. The lake's distinctive inverted-Y shape creates three branches, each with its own character, all surrounded by mountains rising steeply from the water's edge.

The town of Como sits at the southwestern tip of the lake, featuring a medieval walled old town, the Gothic-Renaissance Cathedral (Duomo) with its ornate marble façade, and the Brunate funicular — a steep railway climbing to a hilltop village offering one of the most spectacular lake panoramas in all of Italy. The lakefront promenade, lined with neo-classical temples, gardens, and ferry terminals, is where the dolce vita is lived.

The lake's most famous stretch runs from Bellagio (the 'Pearl of the Lake,' perched on the promontory where the three branches meet) to Varenna (a colorful fishing village), with the grand villas of Tremezzo and Lenno between them. Villa del Balbianello, a terraced garden villa on a wooded promontory, has appeared in films from James Bond to Star Wars, while Villa Carlotta houses a botanical garden and art collection. George Clooney's estate in Laglio has added modern celebrity cachet to the lake's timeless allure.