Things to know before a holiday on Lake Como

As with any tourist destination, there are things, situations and aspects about Lake Como that may be useful to know if you are planning a holiday in this area.

Hi, I am Marta, Local Blogger of Lake Como. Are you planning a trip to Lake Como? Rely on my Travel Designer service!

I am talking about those aspects and details, referring to certain situations, that are generally well known to those who live in a certain place and that are always better to know in order to move around more casually even as a tourist.

Let’s say that in specific situations certain local information can make life much easier.

Here, then, are some things to know if you come on holiday to Lake Como.

Things to know about Lake Como

1. Perch rice and risotto with perch

Let us clarify once and for all: tradition would have it that perch fillets are accompanied by simple boiled rice, seasoned with butter and sage. Over time, however, as happens with many recipes, the dish has become richer and the simple boiled rice has been replaced by a real risotto.

So simply before ordering this typical Lake Como dish, it is always best to read on the menu whether it is rice or risotto with perch.

There is no right and wrong version, it is simply good to be aware that if you are talking about rice, what you will get is a simple butter and sage rice.

But that does not mean badly cooked. Quite the contrary!

2. Distances are relative

One of the things to know about Lake Como is that around here if you say “I live 10 kilometers from …,” it is not the same as saying “it takes me 10 minutes to get there.”

The operative word is “it depends.”

It depends on whether it is winter or summer, first of all. But it depends mostly on the area of the lake you are in. To be clear, if you are in the center of the lake in July those famous 10 minutes can easily be multiplied by 2, by 3 or even by 4.

What is fair to know before you leave, in general, is that the traffic patterns on the lake can put a strain on those moving around here. Because there is so much traffic, because the roads in some places are very narrow, and because if there is a snag everything stops.

What I suggest, always, to those who rely on me to plan their itinerary is to see less, but better.

I not infrequently get requests to organize in one day a visit to Como, but also the villages in the center of the lake and at least one villa.

What do I reply? That it is a bad idea!

I’m not saying it’s impossible; many do it, or at least try. But it is simply a tour de force, not a pleasure trip, in which by the way, if precisely on the famous and only road mentioned above something goes wrong everything, and I mean everything, skips.

Some might argue that the solution is to move via the lake. Sure, except that from Como it takes more than 2 hours to reach the center of the lake, and the express service has unfortunately been unable to keep up with the high number of people for a few years now and therefore does not guarantee boarding.

Needless to hide behind a finger, this is currently the situation.

In fairness, given the work I do, I always explain in detail what it means today to move to the lake at certain times of the year. This is not to discourage those who want to come, but to make them aware and prepared, to really enjoy the time they have.

3. Lunch and dinner times

With exceptions in most cases, if it is a restaurant or trattoria, the kitchen is open from 12 noon to 2.00 p.m., 2.30 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9.30 p.m., 10 p.m.

Then of course, you will more or less always find something open, especially in the most popular (and crowded) locations. Or if you settle for quick, often ready-made dishes, sandwiches and piadinas.

But for a lunch or dinner, let’s say Italian style, keep in mind the times I indicated above.

Looking for a nice place to eat? Check out some of my favourite restaurants and trattorias!

4. George’s villa can only be seen from the lake

So many years after Clooney’s arrival on the lake, curiosity about his beautiful villa does not cease.

First of all, the name of the town where it is located is Laglio, so if you are in the central part of the lake, the villa is not exactly around the corner and therefore cannot be seen.

To see it you have to go by boat to Como and maybe ask some kind crew member to point it out to you, if you cannot make out the villages from the lake.

An alternative might be to join a tour by private boat, to get much closer to the shores and get a privileged perspective of the historical residences in general, for which Lake Como is famous.

Villa Oleandra included.

5. Forget flip-flops in the mountains

Never believe those who tell you that ‘it takes nothing to reach that nice little church or that nice viewpoint’.

In principle this may be true if we are talking about timing or difficulty, but take into account that the road will always be uphill, mostly steep and mostly with a path with lots of stones or unevenness.

So shoes with a good sole always, if you are hiking! You will enjoy the trip a thousand times more.

It may sound trivial, but unfortunately the facts prove that it is not.

6. Bus tickets can also be found at the butcher’s

What it means to travel by public transport on Lake Como today would require a separate article. And I say this with much regret.

However, I don’t want to dwell here on the efficiency or otherwise of buses and boats (who am I to do that, just googling is enough, and news comes out galore), but I prefer to talk about a detail that has always amazed those who visit the lake for the first time.

Tickets, for various reasons, are best bought before boarding.

But the fatal question is: where?

The possibilities are manifold!

At newsstands, travel agencies, restaurants and even the butcher’s. The trick is to try the shops around the stop where you have to take the bus. Alternatively, you can always do it on board, but at an extra charge and at the risk of slowing down the bus’s journey. Not recommended!

Or through the ArrivaMyPay app. But even in this case… with a surcharge for each ticket purchased.

The choice is yours, while we wait for contactless to arrive on our buses too ;-).

In short, these are some of the things to know before a holiday on Lake Como.

And be sure to check out my Pocket Guide full of useful local tips before you leave!