Lake Como and swimming: what you need to know
Before setting off to explore the public beaches on Lake Como, it is important to be aware of a few key features of the area:
- The lake is over forty kilometres long and its shape – three branches that meet in the centre, surrounded by mountains that drop steeply down to the water – means that the shores are largely inaccessible by land. In fact, the small beaches on Lake Como are concentrated in specific spots, often hidden between two rocky ridges, accessible only to those who know where to look.
- Swimming in Lake Como is generally permitted and the water, which is monitored regularly, is largely classified as excellent or good. Water temperatures reach 24–25 degrees at their peak in summer. That said, the lake is not a sea: fine sandy beaches are rare, the shores are mostly pebbly or rocky, and the depth increases rapidly just a few metres from the shore.
Public beaches around Bellagio
Visitors to Bellagio often seek out its beaches, partly because its central location on the lake makes it one of the most convenient starting points for reaching various bathing spots.
Bellagio’s public beach is located near the lido, between the historic centre and the gardens of Villa Melzi. It is one of the few sandy beaches on the lake – a significant feature – with free access and a clearly marked bathing area. It gets busy in high season, but there is space in the early morning.
Few people know that, just outside the centre, there is San Giovanni beach in Bellagio: a stretch of pebbly shore, quiet and far less crowded than the public beach, reachable on foot or by boat along the coast facing the Como branch. The water here is crystal-clear and the view of the opposite shore is unforgettable. If you’re looking for a place to swim on Lake Como without the crowds, this is one of the most beautiful hidden corners of Lake Como in the central lake area.
Our tip? Explore Bellagio’s beaches by hiring a boat with a driver in Bellagio to sail along the peninsula and discover the most secluded coves, accessible only by water and with less people.
Varenna and its hidden shore
In Varenna, the beach is a topic in its own right. The village is famous for its walkway that runs right at water’s edge, but anyone looking for a place to take a dip needs to venture a little beyond the centre. Varenna’s actual beach is pebbly and intimate, better suited to those who love a swim than to those who want to lie in the sun for hours. Access is free and the setting is simply extraordinary: mountains overlooking the lake, pastel-coloured houses and a profound silence.
What makes the eastern shore of the lake particularly appealing to those who love hidden beaches is the shape of the coastline: irregular, jagged, with small natural coves opening up amongst the rocks. Some of these coves on Lake Como are accessible only by boat. With our boat hire with a skipper in Varenna, you can explore the entire shore at your leisure, stopping wherever you like and taking a dip away from the more popular spots.
Menaggio and Carate Urio: little-known beaches
In Menaggio, the beach is located along the lakefront and offers a stretch of shore that is freely accessible and, at certain times of day, surprisingly quiet. It is not as spectacular in terms of scenery as the beaches in the centre of the lake, but it is convenient, well-served and ideal for those who want to go for a swim without having to organise a trip.
A few kilometres further south, on the western shore, Carate Urio is a name that rarely appears in tourist guides but is well known to those who frequent the lake. The beach at Carate Urio is a small pebbly cove with crystal-clear water, framed by vegetation and accessible both by land and from the lake. It is the sort of place where you arrive, look around, and immediately understand why some people don’t talk about it: to keep it all to themselves.
Lierna: the pearl of Lake Lecco
When it comes to beaches on Lake Lecco, the name that comes up most often is Lierna. Lierna’s beaches are among the most frequently mentioned for swimming on the Lecco arm of the lake: the water is classified as excellent, the shores are largely undeveloped, and the surrounding landscape is truly stunning. Furthermore, the small village that gives the area its name has retained an authentic, unspoilt character, and its shores – partly unspoilt, partly equipped with small local facilities – are a favourite destination for those wishing to take a dip in Lake Como without having to travel far from the main town.
As is the case throughout the lake, even Lierna’s most secluded beaches are best reached by water. The coastline between Lierna and Varenna is particularly rich in coves for swimming on Lake Como that are not marked on maps but which, when viewed from the perspective of a boat on the water, make you want to stop.
Mandello del Lario and Bellano: public beaches on Lake Lecco
Continuing along the eastern shore, Mandello del Lario offers a well-maintained public beach on the Lecco arm of the lake, with a pebbly seabed and clean water. The area is mainly frequented by locals and retains a peaceful atmosphere even during the summer months. The setting is different from that of the central lake; it is less polished, more down-to-earth, and for this very reason has a charm all of its own.
The Bellano lido is another key spot among the beaches of Lake Lecco: a public beach with easy access, a short distance from the Orrido di Bellano, the striking gorge carved out by the Pioverna stream. Combining a morning in the water with a visit to the Orrido makes for one of the most beautiful excursions along the entire Lecco shore.
Rezzonico and Domaso: the cooler waters of the northern part of the lake
As you head north along the lake, the landscape changes rapidly: the villas give way to woods, the villages become smaller and the water cooler. Rezzonico is one of those picturesque villages on Lake Como that seems frozen in time. It boasts a few houses overlooking the water, a small pebble beach and a medieval tower reflected in the lake. Here, Rezzonico’s beach is free to use, uncrowded and much-photographed, and the village is often cited as one of the most picturesque on the entire western shore.
Domaso, on the other hand, lies at the northernmost tip of the lake and is known for its beaches of fine gravel and the constant wind much appreciated by windsurfers and kitesurfers. The Domaso waterfalls add a touch of wild nature to the landscape, whilst the public beaches of Lake Como in this area are spacious and well-maintained, with a more sporty and less glamorous atmosphere compared to the centre of the lake.
Faggeto Lario: sandy beaches just ten kilometres from Como
Are you looking for a beach on Lake Como with sand, rather than gravel and stones? The Faggeto Lario lido is located about ten kilometres from the main town and is one of the few stretches of shoreline with golden sand. It has a designated area with sun loungers and parasols and direct access to the lake for swimming, and is one of the most beautiful beaches on Lake Como.
How to reach the hidden beaches? By boat
Most of the secret beaches on Lake Como and the hidden coves we have described share one characteristic: they are best viewed – and often only reached – from the water. The main road running alongside the lake offers very little glimpse of the most beautiful shores. From the lake, however, the perspective is completely transformed: the inlets open up, the small beaches that seem non-existent from land become visible, and the entire coastline takes on a new dimension.
Our personalised private tour takes you to the secret spots of Lake Como – the ones you won’t find with a Google search – allowing you to stop wherever you like and immerse yourself in a unique setting. No fixed timetable, no set route, just the lake in its most authentic form. You can set off from Bellagio, Varenna, Cernobbio or Tremezzo: wherever you choose.
And why not make exploring the romantic beaches of Lake Como an even more special experience by sipping an aperitif on a boat? With the mountains turning orange and the water lapping at the shores of Lake Como’s beaches, there’s no better way to round off the day.