Is there any holiday destination that's more foolproof than Italy? Beautiful scenery, charming villages, and of course, all the pasta, pizza, wine, Aperol Spritz, and gelato you can eat and drink! You just can't go wrong! So when we were looking for places to go for a long weekend this summer, Lake Como seemed like the perfect option (and if it's good enough for George Clooney, it's good enough for me!).

This stunning lake, surrounded by the foothills of the Alps, is packed with activities for both adults and toddlers. Whether you're looking for beaches, history, culture, shopping, or hiking, Lake Como has it all!

Although a weekend is definitely not long enough to see everything the area has to offer, I still felt it was enough to get a feel for the place. It was easy to get around, and we managed to see and do a fair chunk.

Where is Lake Como?

Lake Como is the deepest lake in Italy, reaching depths of 400 metres! It is located in the Lombardy region of northern Italy, about an hour’s drive north of Milan and close to the Swiss border. Shaped like an upside-down Y, it is surrounded by the breathtaking foothills of the Alps, creating a stunning mix of mountain and water views.

How to Get to Lake Como

The easiest way to reach Lake Como is by flying. While the lake doesn’t have an airport of its own, there are four airports relatively close by: Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP), Milan Linate Airport (LIN), Bergamo Orio al Serio Airport (BGY), and Lugano Airport (LUG) in Switzerland. All are within a 1-2 hour drive from Lake Como. We flew into Milan Malpensa, serviced by regular flights from budget airlines. From there, you can either drive or take the train directly to Lake Como. We chose to hire a car because we love road trips, and it gave us the freedom to explore the surrounding areas.

When is the Best Time for your family to visit Lake Como?

If you want to swim and enjoy warm, sunny weather, the summer months are the best time to visit. However, be aware that it gets VERY busy in July and August. We went at the end of July, and it was packed with tourists, especially in the main villages. If you can, I would recommend going outside of the summer season. The shoulder season (May-June/September-October) is still warm but much quieter.

One thing to keep in mind is that due to the mountains surrounding the lake, this area is one of the rainiest in Italy. So, be sure to pack an umbrella!

What to Pack for Lake Como

For this trip, we decided to challenge ourselves and travel lighter than ever with our daughter—only one rucksack each! I can confirm that not only is this possible, but it was so much easier not having to spend ages queuing at bag drop or lugging around suitcases, strollers, and car seats.

Instead, we used Babonbo, a company that lets you rent baby and toddler gear from locals. We could choose the exact products we wanted, and you have the option to either collect them yourself or have them delivered. We had a stroller and car seat delivered straight to our hotel. It honestly made the trip so much smoother—whizzing through the airport while feeling reassured that we had everything we needed for a comfortable trip. Babonbo currently has trusted providers in over 200 destinations worldwide—check out their website here.

If you want tips on exactly what to bring, you can check out my packing guide for practical tips and a downloadable travel checklist!

Where to Stay in Lake Como

There are a few hubs where you can stay in Lake Como, and the best choice for you will depend on your travel plans and budget. If you aren't hiring a car, Como is probably the easiest option as it is easily accessed by train. If you're short on time, like us, and want to make the most of your visit without spending a lot of time driving or in transit, I recommend staying in the "Golden Triangle"—Bellagio, Menaggio, or Varenna. These three towns are connected via ferry, making it easy to move between them, and there is plenty to see and do in this part of the lake.

We were guests at the wonderful Aria Bellagio, a boutique apartment about a 20-30 minute walk from the centre of Bellagio. It has stunning views of the lake, but more than anything, it’s a well-thought-out place with everything you need for a comfortable stay. You can tell a lot of care and attention has gone into creating this space.

How to Get Around

If you plan to visit the different villages and towns on the lake, especially in the "Golden Triangle," the easiest and quickest way is to take the ferry. Tickets for the ferry can be bought online, but they sell out quickly. In that case, you'll need to queue up and buy tickets at the ferry terminal. There are some car ferries, so you can bring your car if you want to explore other areas by car. Just be mindful that public parking is very limited in the main villages. For places a little further afield, we did drive and found that the car allowed us to explore less touristy areas, like some of the beaches and the mountains.

If you're travelling with kids, keep in mind that there are lots of steps in the villages and towns. We quickly learned that having a toddler carrier for when our daughter didn't want to walk was much easier than carrying her up and down the stairs in her stroller. We use the Izmi Adventure Breeze carrier, which you can get a 10% discount off with the discount code TTD10.

48 Hours in Lake Como with a Toddler Itinerary

Day 1 - Bellagio, Varenna, and Villa Monastero

We started our trip near Milan Malpensa airport, where we had stayed for our first night. We had chosen to hire a car for more flexibility when visiting. After picking up the car, we made our way to Bellagio, about a 1-1.5-hour drive. We arrived early afternoon, and after dropping our things off at our apartment, we headed into Bellagio to explore the town.

Bellagio, often nicknamed "the Pearl of Lake Como," is a picturesque town nestled in the heart of the lake, with cobbled streets, pastel buildings, and panoramic waterfront views.

It is also, unsurprisingly, one of the most touristy places in Lake Como. Lunchtime in peak summer season was absolutely packed. We hadn't made any lunch reservations, and after spending some time looking for a place to eat, we decided to grab takeaway panini from Mr Panino and jump on the ferry to Varenna.

The ferry to Varenna is only about 10 minutes direct or around 25 minutes if you take the ferry that stops in Menaggio. You can buy tickets directly at the ferry terminal. There are both a car ferry and a ferry for pedestrians (they run from different ports in Bellagio but are only a minute's walk apart). We did a mixture of both ferries since they’re the same price. The pedestrian-only ferry has more seating, but the car ferry is more open and offers better views.

Chances are you will want to visit at least one of the villas while you're here. These villas are estates that offer a glimpse into the area's glamorous past, many of which are open to the public. This is a great way to explore lush gardens, lake views, and ornate architecture in a more relaxed setting. Most of them need to be booked in advance, so I recommend dedicating some time before your trip to research which villa(s) you would like to see.

We had booked to see Villa Monastero, a short walk from the Varenna ferry terminal. I highly recommend this villa if you're travelling with kids. The botanical gardens by the lake were a great place for our daughter to roam around freely, and it was a beautiful and calm way to see the lake—a welcomed break from the busy villages! You only need a couple of hours max here, and I would also allocate some time afterward to explore Varenna and grab a drink or a snack at one of the waterfront restaurants (there was also a playground right next to the ferry terminal, which came in handy!).

We arrived back in Bellagio around 5.30pm, and now that most of the day-trippers had left, it was much quieter. We could explore at our own pace. For dinner, we had booked Ittiturismo Restaurante Mella, a restaurant specialising in local lake-caught fish, located near the San Giovanni ferry terminal. It's about a 25-minute walk from Bellagio or a quick taxi ride, and the food was incredible! You do need to pre-book, as they are only open for one sitting between 7.30-9.30pm, and we saw a few people being turned away.

Day 2 - Nesso, Menaggio, and Dinner in the Mountains

For our second day in Lake Como, we started off in Nesso. Nesso is a quaint little village halfway between Como and Bellagio (about a 30-minute drive from Bellagio). It is best known for its dramatic waterfall, the Orrido di Nesso, which cascades through a gorge beneath a Roman stone bridge. There's parking next to the waterfall at the top, and from there, it's quite a steep walk down the cobbled steps to the bridge (definitely ditch the pram for this one!).

If you are feeling brave, the bridge has become a popular spot for jumping into the water—it's only about 4 metres high, and the water was really warm! There are some steps on the side where you can easily get out of the water afterward. My husband and I took turns jumping off while the other stayed with our daughter. You do get stared at by tourists (as well as all the teenagers wondering who these old people interrupting their swimming session were), but it was good fun!

In the afternoon, we headed back to Bellagio and were lucky to find a place to park down by the water (where there was also a small fun fair for our daughter to enjoy). We then jumped on the ferry again, this time headed to the opposite side of the lake to Menaggio. Menaggio is another cobbled village with lake views and charming piazzas. Take a stroll down by the lake, wander around the quirky shops, and treat yourself to gelato from one of the many gelaterias (I highly recommend La Fabrica del Gelato!).

In the evening, we had booked a table at Polentoteca Chalet Gabriele, a restaurant higher up in the mountains specialising in polenta. The food here was great and very different from what we'd had thus far, but the best part about this place is the panoramic views of the lake! It was also very reasonably priced (I will definitely miss paying €10 for an entire litre of wine).

Day 3 - Boat Trip and OnnoLuLu Beach

As we didn't need to be at the airport until about 4pm, we decided to maximise our final day here. We had booked a boat hire for a few hours in the morning with Bellagio Rent a Boat. This was honestly the highlight of our entire trip! If you don't feel comfortable driving a boat yourself, there are loads of tour companies that offer both private and shared boat tours of the lake.

We saved it for our last day since the weather had been a bit unpredictable the previous two days, and today was glorious and sunny. We had originally booked it for three hours from 9-12, but as it was a bit choppy in the morning, the guys told us to come back at 10 instead. It calmed down significantly. Unfortunately, there were some people booked in at 12pm, so we only got 2 hours in the end, which was a bit short, but we still had an amazing time.

We took turns driving the boat and followed the recommended route, first heading to Nesso, where we had gone the day before. We got to see the waterfall and bridge from a different viewpoint (we decided to skip the bridge-jumping today to have more time on the boat!). We then went to a small channel where we could stop and swim from the boat before heading back towards Bellagio. On our way back, we passed the famous Villa Balbianello, arguably the most beautiful villa in Lake Como, which has even featured in films like James Bond and Star Wars.

We still had a bit of time before we needed to be at the airport, so we got a takeaway lunch (Mr Panino to the rescue again) and headed to one of the beaches around the lake. We had driven past quite a few beaches on our way up from the airport, so we knew there were some on the way and chose a beach called OnnoLuLu Beach, which is right next to the road and had parking nearby. It's worth noting that the beaches are very pebbly, so you might want to consider bringing beach shoes if you plan on visiting a few. That said, it was a lovely spot for a swim in the warm lake with the mountains as the backdrop. It was clear this is where the locals go—the beach was quite busy, but we didn't see a single tourist! The only downside to swimming on your last day is, of course, having to bring back wet swimming clothes, but I'm not one to ever turn down an opportunity for a swim!

It was the perfect way to end a lovely weekend. It does require a bit of planning, especially if you're going in peak summer, as things like the villas and many of the popular restaurants tend to book out. However, there was also a lot to do and discover that you don't need to pre-book. As it turns out, Lake Como is a fantastic destination for young kids, with plenty to entertain them!