Lake Como webcams
The Lake Como webcams look at eight points on the lake: Como from the Brunate hill, Sala Comacina with its island, Lenno and Tremezzo opposite Bellagio, Varenna and Bellano on the eastern shore and Colico and Domaso on the upper lake.
They show the weather, the wind and the visibility over the water before you set off.
Places
The lake
Lake Como, also called Lario, is shaped like an upside-down Y: the Como branch to the south-west, the Lecco branch to the south-east and the upper lake to the north meet off the Bellagio headland. It is 46 kilometres long from Gera Lario to Como, with a surface of about 145 square kilometres and 170 kilometres of shoreline, in the provinces of Como and Lecco. At more than 400 metres it is the deepest lake in Italy. The Adda and the Mera flow in from the north; the Adda flows out at Lecco. It has a single island, Isola Comacina, off Sala Comacina. To the north the lake opens towards the Valtellina and Valchiavenna.
Getting there
- By car
- From Milan to Como it is about 50 kilometres on the A9 motorway. Lecco is reached on the SS 36, which continues along the eastern shore to Colico and then on towards Valchiavenna and the Valtellina. On the western shore the SS 340 Regina runs from Como to Menaggio through Cernobbio, Sala Comacina, Lenno and Tremezzo, narrow and winding in places; from Menaggio a branch road continues to the upper lake, through Domaso.
- By train
- Como is reached from Milan on the line to Chiasso (Como San Giovanni station) or from Milano Cadorna, via Saronno, to Como Lago, close to the shore. The Milan-Lecco-Colico-Tirano line runs along the whole eastern shore, with stations at Varenna, Bellano and Colico; from Colico another line climbs to Chiavenna. On the western shore north of Como there is no railway: you travel by bus or by boat. Check the timetables before you leave.
- By boat
- The public boat service links the lake's villages with passenger boats, a fast service and ferries that also carry cars. The main line runs from Como to Colico; another links Bellagio and Lecco. In the centre of the lake the ferries shuttle between Bellagio, Cadenabbia, Varenna and Menaggio. Cernobbio, Sala Comacina, Isola Comacina, Lenno, Tremezzo, Bellano and Domaso also have a landing stage. Sailings and timetables change with the season: check them before you leave.
When to go
The lake has two regular winds. The Tivano blows all year round in the early morning, from the north; the Breva, from the south, gets up as the Tivano drops, between late morning and early afternoon, mostly in the warmer months, and usually comes with fine weather. Rain is heaviest in spring and autumn; winter is the driest season. In summer people come for the boats, the villa gardens and sailing on the upper lake; in winter the webcams show whether there is haze over the water or the day is clear, and how far down the snow has come on the Grigne and the mountains around.
What to do
Winter
- Brunate by funicular
- From Como you ride up in seven minutes to the viewpoint village at 715 metres; higher up, at San Maurizio, stands the Volta Lighthouse.
- Skiing at Piani di Bobbio
- In Valsassina, above Lecco: about 35 kilometres of pistes together with Valtorta, reached by gondola from Barzio.
- Como and Lecco
- The two cities at the ends of the southern branches can be visited all year: Manzoni set “The Betrothed” on the Lecco shore.
Summer
- By boat from villa to villa
- Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo, Villa del Balbianello in Lenno, Villa Monastero in Varenna: you cross from one shore to the other on the ferries in the centre of the lake.
- Greenway del Lago di Como
- About 10 kilometres on foot from Colonno to Cadenabbia, through Sala Comacina, Lenno and Tremezzo, in the tracks of the ancient Via Regina.
- Sailing, windsurfing and kiting on the upper lake
- Between Dervio, Domaso, Colico and Gera Lario the afternoon Breva usually blows at between 10 and 20 knots.
- Sentiero del Viandante
- On foot along the eastern shore, from Lecco to Colico: the railway stations let you walk it in stages.
On the map
Open the full mapFrequently asked questions
Which webcams are there on Lake Como?
Is there a Bellagio webcam?
Not in Bellagio, but you can see Bellagio: the Tremezzo webcam and the one in Lenno show it from the western shore, at the foot of its headland, with the Grigne behind. On the eastern shore there is the Varenna webcam, opposite Bellagio.
What is the weather like on Lake Como right now?
Look at the webcams: every picture carries the time it was taken. Como is at the end of the south-western branch, Tremezzo and Lenno in the centre of the lake, Colico and Domaso on the upper lake, where the weather can be different.
What is the wind like for sailing and kitesurfing on the upper lake?
As a rule the Tivano blows from the north in the early morning; as it drops the Breva gets up from the south and lasts until late afternoon, stronger from Dervio northwards: between 10 and 20 knots on good days. The Colico and Domaso webcams show the water, they do not measure the wind: check a forecast before you go out.
How do I get to Lake Como from Milan?
By car on the A9 motorway to Como, about 50 kilometres, or on the SS 36 to Lecco and Colico. By train to Como, or to Lecco, Varenna, Bellano and Colico on the Tirano line. On the lake you get around by boat.
How deep is Lake Como?
More than 400 metres at its deepest point: it is the deepest lake in Italy. Its surface is just under 200 metres above sea level, so the bottom lies below sea level.
