13 Most Instagrammable Places in Lake Como, Italy
Lake Como is one of the most beautiful places in Italy hands down! There’s no shortage of stunning luxurious villas, picturesque streets, amazing Italian food, and mountainous viewpoints from the famous lake. This is a place you’ll never want to put your camera down. There are endless photo opportunities. I’ve put together a list of the 13 most instagrammable places in Lake Como, Italy. Along with the best time to visit these places and top tips for taking the best pictures of Lake Como. These places are a must-visit for your Lake Como trip!
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1. Salita Serbelloni Street in Bellagio
This is possibly the most famous street in Lake Como and maybe even all of Italy too! One of the reasons I wanted to visit the picturesque village of Bellagio was to see this truly charming street. During the day it will be bustling with people but when the evenings clear from the tourists it will be a bit quieter. I even dined at the restaurant, Trattoria San Giacomo which you will see on the right of this photo. It is pretty good even though you’d think it would be a tourist trap since it has a prime location.
📸 Photo Tip: If you go too early, the tables at the restaurant won’t be set up.
☀️ Best Time to Go: I took the above photo at 9 am and it was perfect because earlier the sky was not clear enough to see the mountains. Make sure you go on a clear day so the mountains are visible. Later in the day will be too busy with tourists.
📍Location: Salita Serbelloni (Google Maps)
2. Hotel Florence in Bellagio
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The Wisteria restaurant in Lake Como is a restaurant connected to Hotel Florence. If you go in April during Wisteria season you will find the awning covered in the beautiful purple flower. The pink tablecloth tables in front of the sea make this one of the most beautiful photography spots in Lake Como. Enjoy a delicious meal here or just go mid-day for a cocktail like I did! You can also stroll by for a quick snapshot of this place, no need to dine in if you’re short on time.
📸 Photo Tip: Get a table by the lake for the best photo opportunities.
☀️ Best Time to Go: Go during wisteria season in April to see it covered in wisteria which is the real draw. Visit mid-day for fewer people and grab a drink or snack. Sunset would be ideal but comes with more people and will be trickier to get a table.
📍Location: Hotel Florence, Bellagio (Google Maps Location)
3. Villa Melzi in Bellagio
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Villa Melzi is one of two villas in Bellagio. If you could only choose one of them, Villa Melzi is it! It dates back to the 1800s and was constructed for Francesco Melzi d’Eril. There are many beautiful photo points so you can’t go wrong here. Find a spot in front of the lake with the trees and flowers framing your shot. My favorite photo point is right near the entrance and is called the Orangery. This geometrical facade has a doorway leading out to the Lake. Frame your photo from the outside and stand in the doorway to create a beautiful photo.
📸 Photo Tip: Villa Melzi in Bellagio has many picturesque spots for photography, including the serene lakeside pathways, the Japanese pond, and the elegant Orangery. Don’t miss the grand staircases, terraces, and the charming chapel.
☀️ Best Time to Go: Opening time is 10 am so if you can beat the crowds, that would be ideal. Note, it closes around 7pm but check ahead as the timings differ depending on the season. I went in April and it was relatively quiet.
📍Location: Villa Melzi (Google Maps Location)
4. Villa Serbelloni in Bellagio
.Villa Serbelloni is a great photography spot in Bellagio if you want to see panoramic views of the town. While you’re not allowed to take photos in one of the sections that shows the actual villa (for privacy reasons), you are allowed to take as many other photos of the view and pathway leading to the top. To visit, you have to be accompanied on a guided tour. The tours run twice a day 11 am or 3:30 pm. Entry is €10 and it’s better to book ahead here. It is possible to show up before the designated tour slots and buy at the counter too.
📸 Photo Tip: Take photos with a camera that can zoom quite far so you can really see the town views.
☀️ Best Time to Go: 11 am or 3:30 pm. Summer is great but of course busier. However, the. tour guides are limited in number so it shouldn’t be a problem.
📍Location: Villa Serbelloni in Bellagio (Google Maps Location)
5. Villa Cipressi in Varenna
Villa Cipressi is one of the most iconic places in Varenna to visit. It is another stunning villa overlooking Lake Como. The best photo spot is definitely the gate leading to the lake. During wisteria season, it is especially beautiful as the wisteria covers the gate. You don’t have to be a guest of the hotel it’s connected to in order to visit the villa. Ticket prices to enter are €10 and you don’t have to buy ahead if you don’t want to.
📸 Photo Tip: Go up a level and take a photo from the top looking downward to the gate. The road in front of the gate is quite small. You can also take a photo from the side like my first one above.
☀️ Best Time to Go: Wisteria season! and morning or sunset time is the best time of day to shoot.
📍Location: Villa Cipressi (Google Maps Location)
6. Bar il Molo in Varenna
Bar il Molo is one of the best Instagram spots in Varenna. You can actually enjoy breakfast here as you start your day exploring Varenna. However, I’ve heard that the food is hit or miss. I’d recommend grabbing a coffee and a pastry in the morning or going before sunset for an Aperol Spritz! You can even just pass by the restaurant and take a quick photo as it’s on the main road.
📸 Photo Tip: Grab a pastry and coffee and take some amazing photos.
☀️ Best Time to Go: Go for breakfast or a sunset aperitivo. You won’t need a reservation but the later in the day, the busier it gets.
📍Location: Bar il Molo (Google Maps Location)
7. Hotel Royal Victoria
Hotel Royal Victoria is a luxury hotel in Varenna, Italy. They have this stunning table in front of the sea at their restaurant. You actually don’t have to be a guest to visit too! You can order some food or even just a drink and come by here.
📸 Photo Tip: Make sure to avoid harsh mid-day as there will be a shade in your photo.
☀️ Best Time to Go: Sunset or early morning.
📍Location: Hotel Royal Victoria (Book this hotel or find the location here)
8. Villa Monastero
Villa Monastero is another pretty villa located in Varenna, Italy. The garden is the highlight of the visit with so many lush plants and wisteria wrapped around the stairwells leading down to the lake. You do have to buy a ticket to enter and it can be purchased for €13 if you want to see the garden and house museum. €10 is for gardens only. No need to pre-book tickets.
📸 Photo Tip: Experiment with different angles. There are pathways where you can get a top-down view or you can sit on the stairwell for a nice picture opportunity.
☀️ Best Time to Go: At opening time for the least crowds.
📍Location: Villa Monastero (Google Maps Location)
9. Grand Hotel Tremezzo
Grand Hotel Tremezzo is one of the most famous hotels in Italy and for a good reason. It’s simply breath-taking. This 5 star hotel is one of the most luxurious hotels I’ve stepped into. The rooms are like a palace! Even the exterior of this place looks like a palace. It has one of the most beautiful pools with views all around of the stunning lake and mountains behind. The photo opportunities are ample here.
We paired our visit with a visit to Villa del Balbianello which is located pretty nearby. You can also visit Villa Carlotta which is even closer.
You don’t have to break the bank to come here as the rooms are very expensive. You can visit at one of their 2 restaurants T Pizza or T Bar. I went to T Pizza right next to the pool area and the pizza was incredible.
📸 Photo Tip: You can climb the pathway behind T Pizza for a view of the hotel with the lake behind. You can also go up a level from the pool and take some shots of the pool beneath.
☀️ Best Time to Go: lunch time or in the evening before sunset
📍Location: Grand Hotel Tremezzo (Book the hotel here or find the location here)
10. Villa Del Balbianello
Villa Del Balbianello is my favorite of the many Lake Como Villas. It has been used as the film set of many movies including Star Wars Episode II – Attack of the Clones and Casino Royale.
Tickets need to be purchased in advance from the website as they do sell out. It costs €12 for the garden only. If you want to visit the inside of the villa a guide is required and that costs €23.
📸 Photo Tip: It can be quite windy so bear that in mind. There are many amazing photo points. The most famous is the archway in front of the lake.
☀️ Best Time to Go: Arrive 15 minutes before opening time. You can either take a boat to the villa for an additional cost or walk to a gate which will open at opening time and then you have another 10-15 minutes walk til you reach the villa. BOLT to the photo spot on the left with the archway as it will be impossible to get empty. Skip everything and go there first!
📍Location: Villa Del Balbianello (Google Maps Location)
11. A Lake View Hotel like Hotel Bellavista
You won’t regret booking a hotel with a Lake Como view! I searched endlessly for the perfect one and one that was actually affordable! And this one was it! Hotel Bellavista is located in Menaggio which is a bit quieter than the other Lake Como towns. I didn’t find it too hard to get around to the other towns as well. It was only a short ferry to Bellagio and Varenna – super easy!
📸 Photo Tip: Take the photo from inside with the window framing the photo. Set up the table nicely with your very own aperitivo. There’s a grocery store nearby where you can pick up some snacks.
☀️ Best Time to Go: anytime as it’s you’re own private balcony! Sunset will be dreamy.
📍Location: Hotel Bellavista (Book this hotel)
12. Il Gabbiano (Menaggio)
If you walk the pathway next to the lake in Menaggio, you’ll come across many cute photo points including this door with wisteria. Right next to it is a restaurant called Il Gabbiano.
📸 Photo Tip: This one is an easy one! just mind the passing cars on the left!
☀️ Best Time to Go: Anytime really as you can probably get a quick photo here without issues.
📍Location: Il Gabbiano (Google Maps Location)
13. Orrido di Nesso
Orrido di Nesso is the beautiful picturesque bridge in Nesso, a hidden gem in Lake Como. It is best to take a wooden boat tour here and enjoy amazing photos straight from the boat with the bridge in the backdrop. If you have a drone, you could also stand on the bridge itself and fly it for an amazing photo or video.
Book this classic boat tour which takes you to this photo-point among other amazing spots across the lake.
📸 Photo Tip: It is best to take a boat tour here and enjoy amazing photos straight from the boat with the bridge in the backdrop. If you have a drone, you could also stand on the bridge itself and fly it for an amazing photo or video.
☀️ Best Time to Go: sunset is perfect! There will be people around passing by the bridge but nothing too distracting for your photo.
📍Location: Nesso (Google Maps Location)
Hopefully, this helps you find the best instagram spots in Lake Como!
You may also like these posts!
🚤 Lake Como Itinerary
💼 Milan to Lake Como Day Trip
🏞️ The Best Things to do in Bellagio, Lake Como Italy
🌸 Things to do in Varenna, Italy
🏠 Most Beautiful Lake Como Villas
🏨 Best Hotels in Varenna, Italy
💡Northern Italy Itinerary Ideas
🤍 Hidden Gems in Italy
👩 Solo Female Travel Guide to Italy
🇮🇹 For more travel inspo visit my Italy section
