Walking Lake Como and Maggiore (northern Italy)

With so much on offer at Lake Como and Lake Maggiore, both regions provide unforgettable experiences with their scenic walks, historic paths, and charming villages. Here we take a stroll along the beautiful lakesides to explore a fantastic array of walking routes.

Walking Lake Como and Maggiore

Day walks and the Sentiero del Viandante trek in the Italian Lakes

£17.95

Guidebook to 28 day walks and the Sentiero del Viandante trek in the beautiful Italian lakes of Maggiore and Como. Routes are graded by difficulty and range from easy lakeside strolls to challenging mountain peaks. Well-waymarked trails take you away from the crowds to visit tiny hamlets, historic villas and scenic islands, with walks for all year round.

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Lake Como

Como is a charming town on the edge of a stunning lake. It offers a picturesque setting and is accessible by train, making it a convenient starting point for exploring Lake Como. Menaggio, located halfway up the western shore, is an excellent base for walking holidays there. The village is quiet, with a helpful Tourist Office providing detailed guidance for walkers.

Top walks around Menaggio

Val Sanagra: This tranquil valley features high arched stone bridges and a converted water-powered mill turned rustic eatery.
Rifugio Menaggio: From Breglia, a climb leads to this refuge on Monte Grona. Continuing uphill, the ridge offers panoramic views of the Alps and Lake Como.
Greenway: An easy lakeside route passing villas, churches, and cafés, with excellent panoramas of the western lake.

Bellagio and surroundings

A short ferry trip to Bellagio reveals delightful walking routes looping via lakeside coves, harbours, and a villa with a monumental avenue. From Bellagio, trails lead to Monte Nuvolone and Monte San Primo, offering views from Milan to the Matterhorn.

Strada Regia

A stretch of the ancient Strada Regia links Bellagio with Como. This historic path features long paved sections and glacial erratics, ending with a ferry trip to flower-decorated harbours.

Beyond Bellano is the Dervio peninsula in upper Lago di Como (Sentiero del Viandante trek)

The Santuario di Santa Marta is a lovely spot (Walk 13, Lago di Como)

Beautiful lake views from the San Martino route (Walk 16)

The view from Montorfano embraces the Gridone and the Alps (Walk 3, Maggiore)

A scenic pause during the ascent to Monte Grona (Walk 20, Lago di Como)

The beautiful grounds of Villa Melzi, Lago di Como (Walk 26)

Lake Maggiore Highlights

Stresa

Stresa, a laidback village halfway up the western edge of Lake Maggiore, is the gateway to the Borromean Islands and Mottarone Mountain, accessible by cable car. The walk down from Mottarone offers unbeatable views, enhanced by the Peak Finder app.

Cannobio

North towards the Swiss border, Cannobio offers walks such as the traverse from Cannero and the historic Via Borromea down Val Cannobina, passing traditional hamlets, stone bridges, and concluding with a lakeside drink.

Monteviasco

Monteviasco, on the northeastern shore opposite Cannobio, is an alpine hamlet reached by foot or cable car. The village, with slate-roofed houses and narrow alleys, feels like a step back in time. A local eatery run by residents adds to its charm.

Our guidebook covers 28 day walks, plus the Sentiero del Viandante trek, in the beautiful Italian lakes of Maggiore and Como. Routes are graded by difficulty and range from easy lakeside strolls to challenging mountain peaks. Well-waymarked trails take you away from the crowds to visit tiny hamlets, historic villas and scenic islands, with walks for all year round. Below is a sneak peek of the walks included in the book.

Name	Time	Distance	Grade
Stresa to Belgirate	2hr 40min	9km (5.6 miles)	1–2
From the Mottarone to Baveno	3hr 50min	15km (9.3 miles)	2+
Monte Orfano and Lago di Mergozzo	4hr	13km (8 miles)	2-3
Cavandone on Monterosso	2hr 30min	8.5km (5.3 miles)	1-2
Ghiffa Sanctuary Loop	3hr	10.5km (6.5 miles)	1-2
Villages above Cannero	4hr	16.5km (10.3 miles)	2
The Cannero–Cannobio Traverse	2hr 20min	8.5km (5.3 miles)	1-2
Monte Carza	5hr	17km (10.6 miles)	2-3
Val Cannobina	5hr	20km (12.4 miles)	2
Cannobio–San Bartolomeo in Montibus Circuit	3hr 40min	12km (7.5 miles)	2
Monteviasco	4hr	15.6km (9.7 miles)	1-2
Sasso del Ferro	2hr 30min	8.5km (5.3 miles)	2
Moltrasio to Laglio	1hr 45min	5.2km (3.2 miles)	1-2
Pigra to Colonno	2hr	5.8km (3.6 miles)	2
Colonno to Cadenabbia on the Greenway	3hr 15min	10.5km (6.5 miles)	1
San Martino Circuit	2hr 30min	5.7km (3.5 miles)	2
The Bocchetta di Nava Traverse	3hr 15min	9km (5.6 miles)	2
Crocetta	1hr	3.5km (2.2 miles)	1
Val Sanagra	5hr 20min	14km (8.7 miles)	2
Rifugio Menaggio and Monte Grona	4hr 40min	9km (5.6 miles)	2+
San Domenico and the Santuario di Breglia	1hr 15min	3km (1.8 miles)	1
Gravedona to Domaso	1hr 30min	4km (2.5 miles)	1-2
Domaso to Gera Lario	2hr 20min	7.5km (4.6 miles)	2
Around Bellagio	2hr	6km (3.7 miles)	1
Belvedere del Monte Nuvolone	4hr 15min	14km (8.7 miles)	2
Monte San Primo	3hr 20min	7.5km (4.6 miles)	2+
The Strada Regia from Pognana Lario to Torno	3hr 30min	10.5km (6.5 miles)	1-2
Brunate to Torno Path	3hr 30min	12.5km (7.7 miles)	2
Sentiero del Viandante Trek	19hr 10min (5 days)	54.3km (33.7 miles)	2