Best Things to Do in Lake Como With Kids
Lake Como's best family days are a ferry hop between Bellagio, Varenna, and Menaggio (no car needed), the gardens at Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo (the most walkable villa), Villa del Balbianello by boat from Lenno (better for kids 8+ who can sit through a guided tour), the Como–Brunate funicular for an easy panoramic view, and a lazy lido swim day in Bellagio.
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1Area photo: Luca Casartelli / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)Lake Como Ferry Hop (Bellagio–Varenna–Menaggio)
The classic no-effort Como day — hop the public ferry between the three prettiest lakeside towns, no car needed. Kids like the boat ride itself as much as the towns.
Watch out: Ferries get very crowded on July–August weekends, standing room only on some crossings. Check the schedule ahead — not every route runs every hour.
2Area photo: Luca Casartelli / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)Villa Carlotta Gardens (Tremezzo)
18 acres of terraced botanical gardens on the lake with camellias, azaleas, and a bamboo grove — the most walkable, least fussy villa visit on the lake.
Watch out: The neoclassical house interior has stairs and roped-off rooms that bore younger kids — the gardens are the real draw, so don't over-plan the house tour.
3Area photo: Luca Casartelli / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)Villa del Balbianello (Lenno)
The most photographed villa on the lake (a Casino Royale and Star Wars filming location), reachable only by a short boat ride from Lenno or a steep walk, with terraced gardens on a headland.
Watch out: Interior visits are guided-tour-only on a strict route with no touching — better suited to kids old enough to follow a 45-minute tour quietly. Closes some weekdays; check current schedule.
4Area photo: Luca Casartelli / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)Como–Brunate Funicular
A century-old funicular climbs from Como town to the hilltop village of Brunate in 7 minutes, with a genuinely great lake panorama at the top for very little effort.
Watch out: Brunate itself is a small, quiet village, not an attraction-packed stop — this is a view-and-back trip, not a half-day outing.
5Area photo: Luca Casartelli / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)Lido di Bellagio (lazy lake swim day)
A proper swim beach with sunbeds right on the lake in Bellagio — the honest "do nothing" day after a few villa-and-ferry days, and the lake water is clean and swimmable in summer.
Watch out: Lake Como is not a water-park destination — don't expect slides or wave pools. This is a quiet lido day, which is exactly the point.
Frequently asked
Do we need a car at Lake Como with kids?
No — skip it if you can. The public ferries connect Bellagio, Varenna, Menaggio, and Tremezzo directly, and Como's lakeside roads are narrow, slow, and often clogged with tour traffic in summer.
Villa Carlotta or Villa del Balbianello — which is better for young kids?
Villa Carlotta. Its gardens are flat and walkable with no forced guided tour. Villa del Balbianello's interior is guided-only on a strict route, which suits kids 8+ better than toddlers or preschoolers.
Is Lake Como good for a beach vacation?
Not in the water-park or ocean-beach sense. It's a lake — the swim option is a lido (a maintained swim beach with sunbeds), like the one in Bellagio. If your family wants slides and wave pools, this isn't that trip.
How many days do you need at Lake Como with kids?
4–5 days covers a ferry-hop day, one villa-garden day, the funicular, and a lazy lido day without feeling rushed. It also leaves room for a Milan day trip, which is under an hour from Como by train.
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