Lake Como Or Lake Garda In Summer (2026)? A Resident Decides

Last updated on July 16th, 2026.

If you've spent any time in Italy travel forums during planning season, you've likely seen this question: Como or Garda?

Which is prettier, which is calmer, which is worth the train ticket from Milan in July or August?

The honest answer is that both lakes reward a summer visit, but they reward different kinds of travelers.

Most comparison guides gloss over the parts that matter; this one won’t.

After all, it'll be too late once you're standing on a crowded ferry dock in 34°C heat wondering whether you chose wrong.

I've been to both Lake Como and Lake Garda during the peak of summer (late July). For me, there was a noticeable difference between the two.

Bardolino, one of many towns on Lake Garda, was hot but not overcrowded. Families and pensioners relaxed along the shore, bathed, swam and took their time. It felt down-to-earth, unpretentious and easy.

Lake Como was a different story. Northern Italy's famous lake is glamorous and sophisticated, with high prices to match in many towns.

Two people descending the stone steps of Salita Serbelloni in Bellagio, Lake Como

Tourists lined up patiently for the same photo spot, often right next to influencers doing the same thing.

That's not to say I didn't enjoy visiting Lake Como in July. I really did. But the two lakes attract different kinds of travelers and knowing which type you are can make all the difference.

By the end of this Lake Como or Lake Garda guide, you'll know exactly what to expect from each lake in summer.

The crowd levels, the heat, the towns worth your time and how to get there from Milan without a car.

Which lake better fits your trip, whether you're traveling with kids, as a couple, or want to be active rather than just taking photos.

Use this guide to plan your trip to Italy.

Jump to:

Lake Como or Lake Garda in summer
Lake Como in summer
Lake Garda in summer
Lake Como or Lake Garda: summer at a glance
Which lake fits your trip?
Lake Como or Lake Garda: how to get there from Milan
Where to stay: Lake Como or Lake Garda?
What I wish I knew before visiting
FAQs on Lake Como or Lake Garda
💬 Comments

Lake Como or Lake Garda in summer

Choose Lake Como if you want mountain scenery, glamorous small towns like Bellagio and Varenna or a romantic vibe. Be prepared for more crowds and higher prices in July and August. Choose Lake Garda if you want more space to spread out, better swimming and water sports, family-friendly towns, and a wider range of budgets.

Neither lake is 'better' in any absolute sense. They're built for different trips, and the rest of this guide breaks down where each one wins.

Map of the main towns on Lake Como and Lake Garda

The two lakes sit roughly 100km apart in northern Italy, connected through Milan rather than by a direct route.

Use this map to get your bearings. Lake Como towns are marked in blue, while Lake Garda towns are in green.

Lake Como in summer

The iconic Lake Como is what people picture when they imagine the Italian lakes: steep, with mountains surrounding charming towns.

It's smaller and narrower than Garda, which means everything feels closer together.

However, it also means that popular towns fill up fast.

In summer, Como's signature towns each have a distinct personality.

Bellagio, sitting at the point where the lake splits into its Y-shape, is the postcard town.

Serene and walkable, it’s absolutely packed by midday from June through September.

Varenna, on the opposite shore, has a quieter, more residential feel. But, like Bellagio, its lakeside promenade quickly fills up by mid-morning.

Como town itself, at the southern tip, is the most 'real city' of the bunch. It has a working funicular, a magnificent cathedral, and plenty of food and accommodation to suit all budgets.

The defining feature of a Lake Como summer is heat trapped between mountains.

The water stays cool, but the air can feel heavy in the afternoon. This is especially true in the narrower parts of the lake near Bellagio.

Most visitors plan their sightseeing for the morning and/or early evening, with a stop for lunch and a swim or boat ride in between.

Villa del Balbianello seen from the water on Lake Como

Where to swim in Como

Como lends its name to both the town and the wider province. And within that province are several spots to swim and cool off in summer. One of the best things to do in Lake Como during the season, make a note of the following beaches.

Lenno has a free beach (Spiaggia di Lenno) and a paid beach club (Lido di Lenno). Both are close to Villa del Balbianello, one of the most iconic villas on the lake. It's a good option if you want to combine sightseeing with a swim.

On the eastern shore is the charming town of Nesso. It’s known for its romantic bridge, Ponte della Civera, and a gorge that Leonardo da Vinci once wrote about. Stone steps lead down to the water and a small pebble beach.

Is Lake Como worth the crowds in summer?

Yes, but plan around them. Visit Bellagio and Varenna early in the morning or via the last ferries of the day. Base yourself in a quieter town like Menaggio or Varenna rather than Bellagio. Treat famous towns as half-day stops rather than overnight bases if you're traveling in July or August.

Lake Garda in summer

Lake Garda is Italy's largest lake, and it feels like it.

Where Como is intimate and steep, Garda is broad, with a noticeably different landscape from north to south. The northern end near Riva del Garda has the same mountain backdrop as Como.

In contrast, the southern end around Sirmione and Desenzano has an almost Mediterranean-feeling shoreline, lined with olive groves and vineyards.

Garda’s size translates into more room to breathe in peak season.

Sirmione, the most famous, and touristy, town on its narrow peninsula with a medieval castle, is busy year-round.

However, surrounding towns like Desenzano, Peschiera and Lazise absorb the crowds in a way Como's towns can't.

Riva del Garda and Malcesine, on the northern lake, are a different world entirely.

They attract windsurfers, mountain bikers and hikers as much as sightseers, thanks to the consistent thermal winds.

Boats moored at the port in Lazise on Lake Garda - Lake Como or Lake Garda?

Summer on Lake Garda means proper beach culture.

The lake has beaches (pebbles and grass) plus a string of lakeside lidos with sunbeds, shade and easy water access.

For families, this matters. Garda has shallow entry points, water parks (Gardaland and Caneva), and an infrastructure built around a full day at the water.

Como has lidos and swimming spots too, but the terrain is steeper, and the setup can be less family friendly.

From my experience, many of Lake Garda's towns are easier for families traveling with a baby or toddler.

Lazise, Bardolino, and even Sirmione are mainly flat and straightforward to navigate with a stroller.

Bellagio is a different story. Long stone staircases and uneven steps take effort to navigate. On a hot July day, that can put a real dampener on the experience.

Is Lake Garda better for families than Lake Como?

Generally, yes. Garda's beaches, shallow swimming areas and proximity to theme parks like Gardaland make it easier for families with young kids. Como's steep terrain, limited swimming access and narrow town centers are better suited to couples and older travelers.

Lake Como or Lake Garda: summer at a glance

	Lake Como	Lake Garda
Overall vibe	Glamorous, intimate	Spacious, down-to-earth
Best for	Couples, romantic breaks, destination weddings	Families, active travelers
Swimming access	Small pebble beaches and lidos	Beaches and lidos
Crowd levels (Jul to Aug)	Very high in Bellagio and Varenna	Very high in Sirmione, more spread out elsewhere
From Milan by train	Train to Como San Giovanni/Como Lago, then ferry/bus to other towns	Train to Desenzano/Peschiera del Garda
Typical trip length	1 to 3 nights or a day trip	2 to 4 nights given the size
Standout activity	Villas, gardens, boat tours, town hopping	Town hopping, castles, beaches, water sports, hiking, walking, theme parks
Price level	Higher, especially Bellagio	Wider range, more budget options

Which lake fits your trip?

Best for a day trip from Milan

Lake Como wins for a single day trip. Train times range from 40 minutes to 1 hour from Milan to Como, with onward ferry or bus connections to Bellagio and Varenna. It’s more realistic to see a town or two and be back by the evening. Garda's size makes a day trip feel rushed.

If your time in northern Italy is limited — say you're based in Milan for a few days — Como is the easier option.

Take an early train, spend a few hours in Como town, or take the funicular to Brunate for the view. After that, head to one town by ferry (like Cernobbio) or enjoy the lakefront before heading back.

View from the top of Salita Serbelloni in Bellagio, Lake Como

Best for a multi-night stay

Garda's size is an advantage if you have three or more nights.

You can base yourself in one town and still have meaningfully different experiences nearby.

Plan a day at Jamaica Beach in Sirmione or try a windsurfing lesson near Riva del Garda. Book a wine tasting in Bardolino or walk/bike parts of the lungolago (sea promenade).

Como, in contrast, rewards a shorter stay. Because it's smaller, a few days can start feeling repetitive unless you're specifically there to relax.

Best for budget-conscious travelers

Lake Garda generally offers better value. Towns like Desenzano, Lazise and Peschiera have a wider range of accommodation prices and more casual dining options. Lake Como's most photogenic towns, particularly Bellagio, carry a premium that doesn't always reflect the experience once crowds set in.

Best for couples and honeymoons

Honeymoons and romantic breaks are where Como wins.

Lake Como is renowned as a wedding destination the world over; a title it rightly deserves.

The combination of scenery and historic villas with public gardens (Villa Carlotta and Villa del Balbianello) makes Como the classic romantic choice.

Garda can work for couples too, especially in quieter northern towns. However, it's harder to escape the family-resort energy in peak season around the southern shore.

Garden terrace at Palazzo dei Capitani overlooking Lake Garda

Lake Como or Lake Garda: how to get there from Milan

Both lakes are reachable from Milan without a car, which matters if you're building a wider train-based Italy itinerary.

⏩️ Read: How to take trains in Italy

For Lake Como, the regional train from Milano Centrale or Milano Porta Garibaldi runs to Como San Giovanni/Como Lago stations.

Journey times range from 40 minutes to 1 hour. Check sites like Trenitalia or Trainline before you travel, as regional schedules change seasonally.

See 'How to get from Milan to Lake Como' for a more detailed breakdown.

From Como San Giovanni station, it's around a 15-minute walk down to the lakefront. Board a ferry (operated by Navigazione Laghi) to connect to Bellagio, Varenna, Tremezzo and other towns.

📌 Lisa’s tip: book ferry tickets online in advance. During peak season, popular routes sell out fast, not the ferry itself, but the pre-purchased tickets. Without one, you're queuing to buy at the dock.

For Lake Garda, Desenzano del Garda and Peschiera del Garda are both on the Milan to Venice main line.

This means faster trains, but it also means a slightly longer travel time from Milan than the Como route. Again, verify current timetables online, as this line runs both regional and high-speed services.

From either station, local buses and ferries (also Navigazione Laghi) connect to Sirmione, Bardolino and northern towns.

If you're combining both lakes with a longer northern Italy rail itinerary (Milan, Verona and Venice) Garda's position is the clear winner.

Check the Navigazione Laghi website for the most up-to-date ferry prices and timetables.

How do you get from Lake Como to Lake Garda?

There's no direct train between the two lakes. The standard route is back through Milan. Como San Giovanni to Milano Centrale, then on to Desenzano del Garda or Peschiera del Garda on the Milan to Venice line. The total journey time takes roughly 2 to 2.5 hours, including the connection. Check current Trenitalia timings before booking.

Where to stay: Lake Como or Lake Garda?

Varenna is in central Lake Como with direct train connections to Milan via Lecco. It can simplify planning if you don't want to rely solely on ferries.

Bellagio has a good mix of attractions and convenience, but it’s also the most expensive and crowded. Menaggio offers a calmer alternative with good ferry connections to both Bellagio and Varenna.

See where to stay on Lake Como for a full breakdown on the best towns and which travel type it suits best.

Funicular cable car ascending Monte Baldo above Malcesine on Lake Garda

For Lake Garda, Sirmione is the obvious choice for first-timer visitors thanks to its central location and walk-ability. However, like Bellagio, it's the most touristy town on the lake.

Riva del Garda, or Malcesine, on the northern shore, are quieter bases with easy access to hiking and watersports. Its laidback vibe and relaxed atmosphere also make it a hit among families and couples.

My guide to where to stay on Lake Garda covers this in full.

What I wish I knew before visiting

Bellagio looks flawless in photos, but it depends on when you visit.

In March, it was far from the polished postcard you see online with plenty of construction work throughout the town.

Public toilets are scarce too, with long queues when you do find one. On my last visit I ended up ducking into a bar and nearly missed my ferry in the process.

On Lake Garda, Limone sul Garda is one of the most photographed towns on the lake. However, it’s also one of the hardest to navigate with a pram.

We visited when my daughter was five months old and the steep inclines and cobblestone streets made it very difficult.

One of my favorite Lake Garda towns, leave the pram behind and use a baby carrier instead.

FAQs on Lake Como or Lake Garda

Which lake is prettier, Como or Garda?

This comes down to preference rather than a clear winner. Lake Como's scenery is more dramatic and concentrated: steep mountains, narrow water, and postcard towns close together. In contrast, Lake Garda's beauty is broader and more varied, ranging from alpine views in the north to olive-grove landscapes in the south.

Where is Lake Como compared to Lake Garda?

Both lakes sit in northern Italy, roughly one to two hours from Milan depending on the destination town. Lake Como falls within Lombardy, while Lake Garda borders Lombardy, Veneto and Trentino. Lake Como is the closer and smaller of the two, sitting almost directly north of Milan. In contrast, Lake Garda is larger and extends further east.

Is Lake Como safe to visit in summer?

Yes. Lake Como is a popular, well-developed tourist destination with no safety concerns beyond the usual precautions. Watch out for pickpockets in crowded ferry lines and be cautious swimming outside designated areas.

How big is Lake Como compared to Lake Garda?

Lake Garda is much larger. Lake Como covers roughly 146km², while Lake Garda is more than three times that size at around 370km². It’s why Garda feels more spread out whereas Como feels more intimate.

Can you visit both Lake Como and Lake Garda on the same trip?

It's possible but ambitious for a short trip. Both lakes are well connected to Milan by train, and Garda sits directly on the Milan to Venice line. Milan to Como, back to Milan, then onto Garda and Verona is realistic with at least five to seven days for the lakes.

Final words

What are your thoughts on this guide to Lake Como or Lake Garda in summer? Which lake best suits your travel style? Let me know in the comments below.