Where you stay on Lake Como defines your entire trip. Como city gives you transport convenience and year-round services at the lowest prices on the lake. Bellagio puts you at the scenic centre with the best ferry connections but charges a premium for the location. Varenna offers train access and romantic atmosphere. Menaggio suits families and active travellers. This guide covers the four main base towns with specific hotel recommendations at luxury, mid-range, and budget tiers, all with verified Booking.com links. Explore our complete Lake Como guide for everything you need to plan your trip.
Where to Stay in Como: Como City
Como city is the most practical base on the lake. It has the main train station (Como San Giovanni) with direct connections to Milan and Switzerland, the widest range of restaurants open year-round, and hotel prices 20% to 40% below Bellagio. The historic centre (centro storico) inside the medieval walls is where you want to be: walking distance to the ferry terminal, the Duomo, and the funicular to Brunate. The area around the lakefront (lungolago) from Piazza Cavour to Villa Olmo has the best views but higher prices. For more detail, see our Como weather by month.
Suggested Hotels in Como City
Hotel Barchetta Excelsior
A member of the Villa d’Este Hotels group, this four-star property occupies a prime position on Piazza Cavour directly facing the lake and the ferry terminal. Rooms with a lake-view balcony cost roughly €250 to €350 per night in high season; interior rooms start around €180. Best for couples who want a central lakefront location with direct ferry access. Check rates and availability For more detail, see our best time to visit Como.
Hotel Metropole Suisse
This four-star hotel sits on the lakefront 100 metres from Piazza Cavour, with an outdoor terrace restaurant overlooking the water. Rooms run €140 to €220 per night in high season, with a continental buffet breakfast included. The classic design and harbour-side location make it a solid mid-range choice. Best for travellers who want a reliable, well-located hotel without Bellagio pricing. Check rates and availability For more detail, see our things to do in Como.
Hotel Engadina
A three-star hotel 10 minutes’ walk from the historic centre near Como San Giovanni station, with free WiFi and air-conditioned rooms. Rates run €70 to €110 per night including breakfast buffet, among the lowest on the lake for a hotel with private bathrooms and air conditioning. The location near the station is practical but not scenic. Best for budget-conscious travellers who want a clean, functional base for day trips around the lake. Check rates and availability For more detail, see our Como events and festivals.
Where to Stay in Como: Bellagio
Bellagio commands the highest hotel prices on Lake Como for good reason: it sits at the central junction where the lake’s three arms meet, with panoramic views in nearly every direction. The trade-off is cost and crowds: mid-range rooms cost €150 to €300 per night in summer, the town fills with day-trippers from 11 AM to 4 PM, and many hotels close from November to mid-March. If you can afford it, staying overnight in Bellagio gives you the town in its best light, early morning and evening, after the ferries have taken the day crowds away. For more detail, see our best neighborhoods in Como.
Suggested Hotels in Bellagio
Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni
The grande dame of Bellagio hotels, occupying a neoclassical villa at the tip of the peninsula with private lakefront gardens, a Michelin-starred restaurant (Mistral), and an indoor pool. Rooms run €600 to €1,200 per night. The service is formal and old-school: jacket required for dinner at Mistral, white-glove afternoon tea in the salone. Best for travellers celebrating a special occasion who want Lake Como’s most historic luxury experience. Check rates and availability For more detail, see our Como travel tips.
Hotel Bellagio
A boutique three-star in the upper part of Bellagio’s historic centre, 5 minutes’ walk uphill from the ferry dock. Rooms are minimalist with air conditioning, satellite TV, and lake views from the higher floors (€180 to €280 in high season). The hotel includes free gym access and WiFi. The uphill walk from the ferry means it is not ideal for those with mobility concerns, but the location is quieter than lakefront properties. Best for couples who want Bellagio’s atmosphere at a mid-range price. Check rates and availability
Hotel Silvio
A family-run three-star in the frazione of San Giovanni, a 15-minute walk north of Bellagio’s centre along the lakefront road. Rooms run €100 to €160 per night in high season, and the on-site restaurant specialises in fresh lake fish (lavarello and persico) caught by the owner’s son each morning. The location is quieter and greener than central Bellagio. Best for budget-minded travellers who want a family atmosphere and excellent food at Bellagio’s most reasonable price point. Check rates and availability
Where to Stay in Como: Varenna
Varenna on the eastern shore offers the best compromise of romance, train access, and value. Direct trains from Milano Centrale to Varenna-Esino station (1 hour, €7.50) make it the easiest lakeside town to reach without a car. The town is small (population roughly 800), so book accommodation 2 to 3 months ahead for summer stays. Hotel prices run 15% to 25% below Bellagio equivalents for comparable views.
Suggested Hotels in Varenna
Casa Du Lac, by R Collection Hotels
A four-star lakefront property in the heart of Varenna with a rooftop terrace and direct lake views from most rooms. Rates run €250 to €400 per night in high season. The rooftop aperitivo hour (5 PM to 7 PM) is one of the best sunset spots on the eastern shore. Best for couples wanting a romantic, high-service base with unbeatable views of the central lake. Check rates and availability
Hotel Olivedo
A character-filled three-star directly at the Varenna ferry dock, occupying a Liberty-style villa with lake-view terraces. Rooms run €120 to €190 in high season, and the ground-floor restaurant serves solid Lombard cuisine (risotto al persico is the signature dish). The ferry dock location means 30-second access to boats but some daytime noise from the pier. Best for travellers who prioritise ferry convenience and want a hotel with genuine old-lake atmosphere. Check rates and availability
Albergo Milano
A small, family-run three-star in Varenna’s upper streets, 5 minutes’ walk uphill from the lakefront. Rooms with a lake-view terrace (€130 to €180 in high season) offer some of the best value balcony views on the entire lake. The hotel has only 12 rooms, so book 3 to 4 months ahead for summer. No elevator. Best for budget-conscious couples who want a lake-view balcony at Varenna prices rather than Bellagio prices. Check rates and availability
