Lake Como Itinerary: Five Days from Como to Lecco, Varenna and Bellano
Forest Travel advisor Candela Gonzalez travelled Lake Como from 20 to 24 October 2026 and kept the route: two nights in Como, two in Malgrate near Lecco, with a private boat among the villas, Villa Carlotta, a seaplane flight, the Orrido di Bellano and a wine tasting in Montevecchia.
- The route is five days and four nights with two bases, Como for two nights and Malgrate, by Lecco, for two, flying into Milan Malpensa (MXP).
- The west shore day is a private boat tour of the villas and gardens, a visit to Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo, a site inspection at Grand Hotel Tremezzo and the vintage boats museum in Pianello del Lario.
- The Lecco side adds the Villa d’Este Golf Club in Montorfano, a rural resort and mill at Oasi di Baggero, a wine tasting in Montevecchia, cheese-making in Pasturo, the Orrido di Bellano and a stop in Varenna.
- Candela travelled on a familiarisation trip organised by ENIT, the Italian National Tourist Board, with American Airlines, from Miami.
- A Forest Travel advisor books the private boat, the seaplane, the tables and the transfers; the planning fee is US$250 per itinerary.
The short answer
This itinerary follows the route Candela Gonzalez, a Forest Travel Luxury Travel Advisor based in Miami, travelled on Lake Como between 20 and 24 October 2026. It has two bases instead of one: two nights in Como, at the southern end of the lake’s western arm, and two in Malgrate, next to Lecco, where the eastern arm begins. It suits travellers who want to see both sides of the lake, with a private boat day in the middle, rather than one town and its day trips.
Candela specialises in multi-generational family travel and in Europe, so the route is built so that the moving parts, a seaplane, a boat, a gorge and a cheese dairy, give every age something to do, and so that the lake days leave time to sit down. Her photos and clips are below.
Why two bases
Lake Como is shaped like an upside-down Y, and the distances between the towns on the water are longer than a map suggests. Changing hotels once, halfway, keeps each day to one or two main stops. Como is the easy arrival: the transfer from Malpensa is short and the city has a walkable centre. Malgrate and Lecco open the quieter eastern side, with the mountains at the back of the lake in the photos on this page.
Day 1: Como, a seaplane and dinner on a terrace
The flight from Miami lands at Malpensa (MXP) at 11:30 am. A private transfer takes you to Como and the Hilton Lake Como, followed by a light lunch. In the afternoon there is a seaplane experience with the Aero Club Como and a walking tour of the city centre. Dinner is at Terrazza 241.
Day 2: A private boat among the villas, Villa Carlotta and Grand Hotel Tremezzo
At 9:00 am a private boat leaves to see the famous villas and gardens of the lake. The boat stops in Tremezzo for a visit to Villa Carlotta, then to Grand Hotel Tremezzo for a hotel site inspection and a light lunch. A minivan continues to the upper part of the lake, to the International Vintage Boats Museum in Pianello del Lario, before returning to Como for dinner at Il Radiante, in Palazzo San Gottardo.
Day 3: Golf, a rural resort and a wine tasting
After check-out, the group drives to Montorfano to see the Villa d’Este Golf Club, then to Oasi di Baggero for the rural resort and its mill, with a light lunch. The afternoon ends in Malgrate, at the Hotel Promessi Sposi, and the evening in Montevecchia with a wine tasting at La Costa.
Day 4: Lecco, a cheese dairy and the Orrido di Bellano
The day starts with a walk through the centre of Lecco. A bus goes up to Pasturo for a cheese production experience at Carozzi, followed by a light lunch. The route continues to Bellano to visit the Orrido, the gorge and waterfall at the edge of the town, with a stop in Varenna on the way back to the hotel. The farewell dinner is at Griso Panorama.
Day 5: Back to Malpensa
After check-out, a transfer takes the group to Malpensa. The return flight to Miami leaves at 1:20 pm and lands at 6:05 pm, which keeps the last morning relaxed.
Where to stay on this route
Candela stayed at the Hilton Lake Como in Como and at the Hotel Promessi Sposi in Malgrate, and inspected the Grand Hotel Tremezzo on the west shore. A Forest Travel advisor matches the hotels to your travellers, your dates and the kind of lake you want, and confirms what each property offers before you commit.
When this route works
Candela travelled in the second half of October, and the route ran with boat, garden, gorge and mountain days under clear skies. Opening dates and hours for villas, gardens and boats change by season, so an advisor checks them against your dates before anything is booked.
How Forest Travel plans it
A Forest Travel advisor holds the hotels, arranges the private boat, the seaplane, the tables and the transfers, and adjusts the pace for children or grandparents. The planning fee is US$250 per itinerary. To go deeper on the lake, read about grand villas by boat and a Lake Como honeymoon, see the Lake Como destination guide or start a private consultation.
Questions, answered.
The route in this guide takes five days and four nights, with two bases, Como and Malgrate. That leaves each day room for one or two main stops, such as a villa and a museum, or a gorge and a town.
On this route: a private boat tour of the villas and gardens, Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo, the International Vintage Boats Museum in Pianello del Lario, a seaplane experience from Como, the Orrido di Bellano, Varenna, cheese-making in Pasturo and a wine tasting in Montevecchia.
Yes. On this route the private boat tour stops in Tremezzo for a visit to Villa Carlotta, and the day continues with a visit to Grand Hotel Tremezzo.
Candela flew from Miami to Milan Malpensa (MXP), which is a short transfer from Como. The same airport serves the Lecco side.
Candela travelled from 20 to 24 October 2026 and the route ran as planned. Seasonal opening dates for villas, gardens and boats vary, so a Forest Travel advisor checks them for your dates.
It was a familiarisation trip organised by ENIT, the Italian National Tourist Board, with American Airlines, from 20 to 24 October 2026.
Forest Travel’s planning fee is US$250 per itinerary. Hotel, boat and experience rates are those of each provider.
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