If you’re hoping to take a trip to Lake Como with kids, you may be wondering if it’s the right move.

While this glitzy lakeside region isn’t often the first place to come to mind for an Italian escape with littles, it can be a good option with a bit of planning.

Fortunately, after visiting Lake Como with our precocious 2.5-year-old, I’m sharing all of my toddler-centric travel tips and family-focused recommendations to help you plan a  memorable lakeside adventure in Northern Italy.

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Although Lake Como tends to cater to an older demographic (think retired couples and empty nesters) as well as the child-free-travel-influencer crowd, the region can be surprisingly enjoyable for families with young kids, too.

It will just take a bit of advance planning (starting with this post!) to sleuth out all of the best family-focused activities.

The shoulder season of spring – particularly Lake Como in May – is a wonderful time to visit the region. During this time, you’ll see flowers in bloom, enjoy more comfortable weather, and experience the beauty of the lake before the peak summer crowds set in.

In addition, an autumn visit (especially September) can also be beautiful.

Como is actually widely considered one of the best towns along the lake for families. Although it’s located outside the beloved Golden Triangle, it has a train station of its own, a flat, stroller-friendly city center, and many restaurants, parks, and amenities suitable to families with young kids.

Lake Como can offer a peaceful lakeside retreat for families looking to relax – or an adventure-filled holiday for on-the-go types. It’s all about what you want to prioritize and how you go about planning.

Here are some key tips for making the most of your family time along Lake Como:

• Choose your home base wisely – Where you stay in Lake Como can dramatically affect your trip (especially when traveling with kids), so pick carefully. I’ll be putting together an accommodation guide to provide a detailed overview of the towns, but as a quick reference point, I’d recommend one of the “Golden Triangle” (Bellagio, Menaggio, and Varenna) towns for a first visit.
• Bring a stroller but prepare to fold it up – Fortunately, ferries are stroller-friendly in Lake Como (and you can even keep them fully expanded while on board). That said, depending on the towns you visit, you may find your stroller to be more of a hindrance than a help on steep terrain, cobblestone streets, etc.. For instance, the huge staircase street of Salita Serbelloni in Bellagio would be a real challenge with a stroller. Ideally, you’ll want a stroller that’s lightweight, compact, and can be easily folded up as you walk around. We currently have the Nuna urbn travel system, but we’re looking to get the Cybex LIBELLE Ultra Lightweight Travel Stroller for our next trip. Alternatively, if you’re traveling with an infant, I’d recommend a baby carrier instead.
• Come prepared when riding the ferries (but remain flexible to changes) – As I mentioned in my guide to how to get around Lake Como, it pays to purchase ferry tickets in advance when possible and to show up early to queue up at the dock. However, schedules are not set in stone, so always prioritize a printed schedule over online timetables. You should also expect the ferries to arrive later than anticipated.
• Check if your desired dinner spots require reservations – Many restaurants in Lake Como suggest (or even require) reservations, but not all do! In fact, there’s a smattering of restaurants who straight up won’t accept them (like La Scarpetta in Varenna). It pays to do your research before heading out for the evening, especially when traveling with young kids who won’t want to sit around and wait.
• Pay attention to restaurant openings/closings – Another restaurant-related tidbit to be aware of is that many dining spots have strict opening/closing times. For instance, restaurants will often be open for lunch until a set time and then close for a few hours until dinnertime. If you’re hoping to do an earlier dinner with young kids, you’ll definitely need to plan ahead.
• Look for a park in each town you visit – Although Lake Como tends to cater to an older demographic, there are still plenty of playgrounds to be found here if you do your research! I’ll be getting into more detail on recommended parks below.
• Pack water shoes for the whole fam – Planning to get in the lake with your little(s)? Don’t forget the water shoes, as most beaches are pebbly.

Without a doubt, one of the most popular things to do in Lake Como is visit the area’s many stunning villa gardens. Fortunately, this can be a great way to spend a morning (or afternoon) with young kids.

My daughter loved “collecting” rocks (though we left them behind) as we explored the beautiful villa grounds.

As we were based in Varenna, we explored the gardens of both Villa Cipressi (our favorite and the most idyllic, IMHO) as well as Villa Monastero (the larger and more opulent of the two).

Beyond the villas of Varenna, you can check out the region’s other villa gardens (and book tours) here.

Practically speaking, ferries are the best way to get around Lake Como – but they can also be super fun for little ones!

Our 2.5-year-old loved walking from one side of the ferries to the other while we were on the water.

Otherwise, if it gets too windy, kids can also have a ball looking out the windows from the inside and pointing out all of the fun things they see in the approaching towns.

If your little one is especially charmed by being on the water, you should definitely consider booking a private boat tour. This is actually something I wish we’d done on our trip – and probably would have if we had one more day to explore.

There’s no shortage of boat tours along the lake, from multi-hour, self-drive boat rentals to private boat tours.

What’s a trip with the whole fam without a playground visit?

Personally, I wouldn’t dream of traveling with my toddler without hitting up at least one park. Fortunately, there’s a smattering of “pocket” parks across the Lake Como towns, so you should have no problem finding one.

We spent a good chunk of our time in Bellagio at Parco Martiri della Libertà.

Although this park is pretty small, our daughter loved climbing up the play structure and walking across the bridge here, so we basically did this on repeat for awhile!

You’ll find this park here: Parco Martiri della Libertà 4, 22021 Bellagio CO, Italy

While we never ended up needing it, Varenna also conveniently has a playground right along their ferry dock with spongey ground for bouncing around!

You’ll find it here: Piazza Martiri, 18, 23829 Varenna LC, Italy

You can check out a list of other playgrounds by town here.

I tell everyone to stay in the Golden Triangle – Bellagio, Menaggio, or Varenna –  for their first visit.

The towns are well-connected via ferry and just a short ride from each other.

Here are some fun things to do with a toddler throughout the Golden Triangle:

• Play a round of family mini golf at Minigolf Menaggio
• Dine at La Grolla Menaggio (This beautiful waterfront restaurant is located right next to Minigolf Menaggio, so it’s perfect for a post-mini-golf dinner. Reservations are suggested.)
• Splash around the lake and/or kiddie pool at Lido di Menaggio (a.k.a Victoria Beach)
• Play at one of many parks (see above point for specific suggestions)
• Enjoy a shallow swimming area at San Giovanni Beach, Bellagio
• Hike & visit Castello di Vezio, Varenna (I’d only suggest this for parents who are baby-wearing infants and/or parents with children older than toddler age.)
• Eat family breakfast with a view at Bar Il Molo, Varenna (FYI: I love that they provide placemats and colored pencils for littles, but I don’t recommend this place for dinner in terms of food quality!)

If you’re traveling with a car (or you’re otherwise open to leaving the towns for a fun excursion), consider a family-friendly visit to Jungle Raider Park.

This adventure park includes everything from tree-top-treks, to ziplines, to pulleys, to bungee jumping (!!) as well as two dedicated paths just for children.

While there’s no official age limit here, there’s a height limit of 110 cm (3.6 ft). While this park wouldn’t be suitable for infants, it could make for a super fun outing for parents traveling with toddlers and older children.

You can learn more about the three Lake Como locations here.

There’s quite a lot to say on this topic, which is why I’ve separately created a dedicated guide to the best areas to stay in Lake Como. Be sure to have a look at that for my full run down!

For a quick reference, I recommend using this handy map to locate accommodations in your desired town(s) (and trust me, there are many)!

We based ourselves in Varenna and had a lovely stay at Wonderful View Varenna.

What questions do you have for me about staying in Lake Como with kids?

Alternatively, if you’ve already visited the region with littles, what suggestions do you have that I can potentially add to this post? Let me know in the comments below!

Ready to explore Lake Como with kids? Check out my other guides:

• Best Areas to Stay in Lake Como: Neighborhood Guide & Top Accommodations
• Do You Need a Car in Lake Como? Essential Guide to How to Get Around Lake Como
• Varenna or Bellagio: Which Stunning Lake Como Town Should Be Your Base?
• Lake Como in May: Guide to a Magical Springtime Visit
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