Where to Stay in Lake Como with Kids: Best Family-Friendly Places to Stay

Italy has a way of making family travel feel effortless, and Lake Como is a particularly good example of this. The combination of mountain scenery, beautiful villages, good food, and lake access means both adults and kids will have something to enjoy.

We spent a long weekend there when our daughter was two, flying into Milan Malpensa and hiring a car, and came away thinking it was one of the most spectacular short breaks we'd done as a family.

The lake is shaped like an upside-down Y, and there are a handful of key bases families tend to choose from. Bellagio sits right at the centre fork and is the most popular village to stay in. Menaggio and Varenna face each other across the lake from the Bellagio promontory and together make up the "Golden Triangle". These three towns are connected by regular ferry and between them cover most of what you'd want to do on a lake visit. Como itself, at the southern tip of the western arm, is the largest city on the lake and the easiest to reach from the airports. Each has a different character, and the right choice depends mostly on your priorities and whether you're hiring a car.

For the full itinerary and practical tips, read our 48 Hours in Lake Como with a Toddler guide.

Where to Stay in Lake Como with Kids

Como — For the Easiest Airport Connection and a City Base

Como is the largest settlement on the lake and sits at the southern foot of the western branch. Being only 50 minutes from Milan by train, it is incredibly well connected to all four nearby airports. It is a proper city with a cathedral, a medieval old town, good restaurants, and a funicular up to the hillside village of Brunate for views over the whole lake. If you are not hiring a car, Como is the most practical place to start because the train connection from Milan is direct and you can catch ferries north to the other towns.

1. Hotel Barchetta Excelsior (from around £130/night)

If you want easy transport links alongside real character, this historic 4 star hotel is a fantastic choice. It sits directly on Como's lakefront piazza, meaning the ferry terminal is steps away and the old town is a five minute walk. The lake facing rooms have balconies right over the water. They offer family rooms that sleep three, and you can easily request a cot when you book. There is also paid parking close by.

2. Villa Olmo Luxury Suites (from around £150/night)

This is a cut above your standard holiday apartment. Located in a beautiful lakeside building about 15 minutes walk from Como's historic centre, these self catering suites are massive and impeccably maintained. The fully equipped kitchens are a huge bonus for families, and you even get access to spa facilities and free private parking. The hosts, Yuliya and Luca, really make this place special, little extras like providing wine and chocolates on arrival and going the extra mile to organise boat trips and airport transfers. Just message them to confirm a cot when you reserve your dates.

Bellagio — The Hub with Picturesque Views

Bellagio sits right at the tip of where the two arms of the lake divide, which gives it views in three directions and a central position perfect for exploring by ferry. It's the most photographed village on the lake with pastel houses, cobbled alleys, and the waterfront restaurants are exactly what you'd picture when you think of Lake Como. However, it is also the most touristy, and in peak season the main streets can feel very crowded between about 10am and 5pm. The evening atmosphere, once the day-trippers have left, is considerably more relaxed. There are steps everywhere so a carrier will make things easier.

3. Aria Bellagio (from around £200/night)

This is where we stayed, and I cannot recommend it enough. It is a self catering apartment about five minutes by car from the centre of Bellagio. We had two bedrooms, two private terraces, and an uninterrupted lake view from the living room where we sat at the end of every day doing very little. The owners really understand what families need, offering free parking (with an EV charger), a superbly equipped kitchen, and lovely touches like complimentary local wine and pasta on arrival. Remember to request your cot when booking.

4. Hotel Belvedere Bellagio (from around £170/night)

If you want more facilities than an apartment but do not want to pay top luxury prices, this is the perfect middle ground. It has been family run for five generations (currently managed by grandmother Lucia, mother Tiziana, and daughter Giulia). Sitting on the hillside just above the centre of Bellagio, it features a pool with lake views, a beautiful spa, and a free shuttle down to the ferry port. Cots are available for a small extra charge, and parking is free on site.

Menaggio — For the Best Hotel Facilities on the Lake

Menaggio sits on the western shore directly opposite Varenna and is a short ferry ride from Bellagio. It's a pretty town with a good waterfront promenade, a beach area, and a more relaxed atmosphere than Bellagio with fewer tourists, more of a local feel, and a good base for exploring the northern lake and the Swiss border area.

5. Hotel Adler (from around £130/night)

This lovely hotel sits in the hills above Menaggio and features a large garden and an outdoor pool overlooking the mountains. The family who run it (Giacomo, Caterina and their son Andrea) are incredibly warm and full of excellent local knowledge. Because it is about a 20 minute downhill walk to the waterfront, it is best suited for families who have a rental car and prefer a quieter, residential feel. They happily provide cots on request and offer free parking.

6. Grand Hotel Victoria Menaggio (from around £220/night)

If you are looking for an elegant treat, this Art Nouveau 5 star hotel is spectacular. Located just 300 metres from the pedestrian centre, it boasts extensive private gardens running down to the lake, huge pools, a full spa, and a panoramic terrace where they play live piano music in the evenings. The rooms are incredibly spacious, making it very comfortable for families, and they provide free parking and cots upon request.

Varenna — For a Quieter Village and Villa Monastero

Varenna is the smallest and, in my opinion, the most unspoilt of the three Golden Triangle villages. The stepped paths connecting the waterfront to the village run above the lake's edge rather than along it, giving you views down over the water that feel genuinely dramatic. Villa Monastero with its botanical gardens stretching along the lakeside, is one of the best activities on the lake for young children, with space to roam freely and a beautiful, calm atmosphere that's welcome after the busier villages. There's a playground right next to the ferry terminal. The village has fewer tourists than Bellagio or Menaggio and a noticeably quieter pace.

7. Hotel Villa Cipressi (from around £130/night)

This recently renovated 4 star hotel is actually set within the terraced botanical gardens of the historic Villa Cipressi, which is a massive bonus for parents. The gardens run right down to the lake, giving your kids an incredible amount of safe, beautiful outdoor space to burn off energy without you ever having to leave the property. You even get to enjoy the grounds practically to yourself early in the morning before the day trippers arrive. The rooms are wonderfully elegant, the ferry terminal is just a short walk away, and they offer paid private parking alongside providing a cot upon request.

8. Hotel Royal Victoria Varenna (from around £180/night)

Sitting right on Varenna's charming main piazza, this hotel is a brilliant choice if you want a noticeable step up in facilities. The absolute standout feature for families here is the stunning outdoor pool overlooking the water. After a warm morning navigating cobbled streets, having a pool to bring your toddler back to is a complete lifesaver before dinner. You also get a gorgeous spa and a terrace bar with sweeping lake views, making it easy to enjoy an evening drink without straying far from your room. Children are warmly welcomed, so just ask for a cot when booking your stay.

A Few Final Thoughts

Lake Como rewards you for getting off the main tourist circuit, even slightly. Book a self-drive boat for a morning and you'll see the lake in a way no ferry tour can match. Drive up to Polentoteca Chalet Gabriele in the mountains above Menaggio for dinner and watch the sunset over the water with a litre of wine that costs €10. Swim at OnnoLuLu Beach on the way back from the airport because the lake is warm, the mountains are right there and you might as well.

For families visiting for the first time, Bellagio is the natural base, with the best ferry connections and the most central position on the lake. Aria Bellagio is the best self-catering option and where we stayed; Hotel Belvedere is the right choice if you want a hotel with a pool and on-site restaurant. Varenna is worth choosing if you want a quieter, more relaxed atmosphere then Hotel Villa Cipressi is excellent value set in the botanical gardens, and Hotel Royal Victoria is the pick if a pool is a priority. Menaggio suits families who want a larger hotel with the best facilities on the lake and Grand Hotel Victoria is the standout option, and Hotel Adler is a very good mid-range alternative with a pool and a family welcome that's hard to match. If you're flying in and want to start or end the trip in Como city, Villa Olmo Luxury Suites is a cut above the standard holiday apartment and worth considering.

All three Golden Triangle villages are connected by ferry. The best approach is to stay in one and use the ferry to visit the others.

Read our full 48 Hours in Lake Como with a Toddler guide for the complete itinerary, restaurant recommendations, and practical tips.