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Things To DoLake Como, Italy
Besides exploring the many charming towns around the lake we have listed a variety of natural things to do in Lake Como, Italy. There are plenty of opportunities for fun and adventure, sightseeing and exploring...and the lake is a true paradise for sports enthusiasts. The lake turns into sports city as soon as the weather turns warm! And of course we haven't forgotten your kids...there are special places in Lake Como just for them! BikingLake Como has great adventurous natural trails that lead to beautiful destinations in the mountains and by the lake. Follow the trails by the lakesides in each town and discover hidden pebbled-beaches with clear blue waters. Most hotels have bike rentals, inquire within. Although many Lake Como hotels will rent you a bike, you can also rent mountain bikes from various shops in the north such as the Windsurfing Center in Domaso where the space to actually ride is more plentiful. Rates range from 10 - 30 EUR per hour depending on your choice of bike. Note: We highly don't recommend biking on the main roads or through tunnels as they are too narrow and very dangerous. Boat Rental
There are also private companies in Bellagio and Menaggio which do boat tours on the lake. They start at around 60 euros per hour which can be quite cost-effective if you are traveling with a group. Canoes are much cheaper starting at 19 EUR per hour for a single. From the lake, they can show you up close the many interesting villas such as Villa Balbianello, Villa Erba and Villa D'Este as well as private villas owned by the Versace family or the Villa Rosa which once hosted Sir W. Churchill. Click here to read my story of a motorboat rental experience in Lake Como Those who like to paddle can also rent kayaks and rowboats in Bellagio (ask at one of the piers) and those who are interested in water-skiing and wake boarding can check out Domaso's Canottieri www.canottieridomaso.it Here are a few companies to help you with your search. We'll start with the North:
and the South:
Fishing
You need to get a fishing license from one of the local provincial offices. It will cost about 20 Euros. GolfingLake Como has many golf courses which can be easily reached by car the closest being an 18 hole, par 70 course in Menaggio (0344/32103). Most of the other Lake Como golf courses will require a 10km - 20km drive from Como, Italy. Here is a list of golf courses located nearby Como, beginning with the name of the town, type of course and phone number. You can use our interactive map to get driving directions.
The Villa D'Este golf course in Montorfano is considered one of the most challenging and difficult par 69's in Europe, even though several amateur competitions take place there each year. The club house overlooks several holes and offers a spacious view of the Montorfano lake. The Menaggio and Cadenabbia golf course, located about 5km up the mountain from Menaggio in Grandola ed Uniti, is one of Europe's oldest golf courses retaining its English old-world charm to this day. It was founded by four British gentleman who came up with the idea during a meeting at Hotel Victoria in 1907. Most golf courses are open year-round but be sure to check their schedule as they may be closed on odd days of the week. Horseback RidingThere are three places which offer horseback riding for the equestrian enthusiasts. One is in the mountains nearby Bellagio (about 7.5 km away) run by the Cavalcalario Club, the other two are North of Colico in the beautiful nature reserve of Pian di Spagna which separates Lake Como from the small northern Lake of Mezzola. See El Picadero and Centro Ippico for more information. They have qualified trainers who can help out beginners as well as provide interesting, guided tours of the area. You can usually rent out a horse by the hour or for the day. Hiking
The most popular mountain hike leads up to Monte Grona nearby Menaggio, where you can drive up to Breglia (6km from Menaggio - follow the signs toward Lugano, Switzerland) and then hike up to the peak located at 1736 meters. There are also rock-climbing opportunities there. There are two cable-cars in Lake Como, one in Como taking you to Brunate (altitude: 700 meters) and one in Argegno taking you up to Pigra (altitude: 881 meters). Some of the more challenging hikes include the Grigne mountains around Lecco, with paths beginning in Mandello del Lario and Lecco reaching altitudes of over 2400 meters and the Legnone mountains around Colico which reach 2600 meters. There are also trails with special exercise equipment scattered throughout such as the "Percorso della Salute" located 1 km up the mountain from Menaggio. For kids, Jungle Raider Park is a fun adventure park for kids and adults offering obstacle courses amidst in Piano Rancio near Civenna about 12 km up the mountain from Bellagio.
ParaglidingThose who like extreme sports will enjoy jumping off of Mount Nuvolone (600 meter drop) on a two-seat para glide. Inquire from within Bellagio, as the company provides a shuttle service from Bellagio to Mount Nuvolone or view their website at the Cavalcalario Club. Another place a little more north near Bellano is Free Air Adventure. PlaygroundsThe biggest and best playground for children is located in Mandello del Lario which is about 10 km north of Como in an area called Lido. It has a coast guard, a classic horse carousel, and a big playground within a charming park...all designed with children in mind. It can get quite crowded on weekends.
Sailing
You can rent sailboats in Como (sailingdays.it), Bellagio and Domaso costing you a couple hundred euros per day, but allowing you to take on 4-10 people depending on the boat you choose. You can also get sailing instructions by enrolling in one of the courses offered at Casa del Lago (Dongo, +39/0344/81631), the Katsegeln Center in Domaso, Circolo Canottieri Domaso (Domaso, +39/0344/97462) and Tabo Surf Center (Gera Lario, +39/0344/94062). Private lessons start at 50 EUR an hour including the cost of the kit and the rate goes down quite a bit if you prepay an entire course. SightseeingCheck out our favorite towns page for detailed guides to each town on Lake Como. The highlights of the lake are the following attractions: Villas...
Attractions...
ShoppingShopping in Lake Como offers you just about anything you could possibly wish for. Shops and boutiques in Lake Como have as much character and elegance as the individual towns themselves. Whether you are looking for shoes, leather, wallets, handbags, artwork, unique gifts and local crafts you are sure to find it. With Milan so close-by, you are also sure to find designer-line clothing such as Gucci, Versace, Armani and Prada. Although the top shopping centers focus around Como, Bellagio, Menaggio and Varenna, many times the local churches will host the exhibition of a local artist. We found an amazing watercolor painter in a small church in Lenno, who gave us a great discount! Many towns also host a street market on certain days of the week, where you can buy merchandise at discounted rates. They make their presence very well known - you can't miss them! Click here to read more about Lake Como shopping Swimming
Unfortunately, due to neglect and heavy industry, the southern towns are not suitable for swimming due to water pollution. Filters are continuously being installed and thanks to new EU laws regarding water pollution, Italy is slowly cleaning up this problem. Remember, the water in Lake Como drains from North to South since the Adda river is located in the north. The northern towns have swarms of people bathing in the summer, as it allows people to cool off from the hot temperatures, and the beautiful surroundings can make you feel like you are somewhere in the Caribbean! Of course, you can always stay at one of the Lake Como luxury hotels which have the unique, outdoor, floating swimming pools, or try any of the other Lake Como hotels or public grounds that have indoor/outdoor pools such as the "Giordano" in Menaggio. If all you're after is the 'beach-bum lifestyle', there are plenty of pebble-stoned beaches scattered throughout the lake that will allow you to sit by the water and listen to the relaxing sound of crashing waves. The best ones are at Punta Spartivento (the very edge of the promontory at Bellagio), at Villa Olmo near Como, in Bellano just north of Varenna and all the other Northern towns such as Gravedona, Domaso and Colico. Windsurfing/Kitesurfing/Wakeboarding
With good coaching and favorable conditions, the basic skills of sailing, steering, and turning of windsurfing can be learned within a few hours. Click here for more details about windsurfing schools and the best windsurfing spots
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Boat rentals are a fun way to explore Lake Como's villas and churches which would otherwise be impossible to see from the road. You can rent a 40 HP boat without a license and expect to pay at least 75 Euros an hour. Gas is included in the price. There are boat rental companies in Cernobbio in the south, and in Dongo, Domaso, Gera Lario, and Sorico in the north. There is no motorboat rental company in Como, Italy.
With so much water, Lake Como has wonderful places to fish. The main fishing season occurs in the late summer as fish spawn between the end of July and beginning of September. This is the time when you will see many of Lake Como's famous Lucia fishing boats out on the lake.
There are ample opportunities for hiking in Lake Como ranging from simple, peaceful lakeside strolls to steep mountain paths offering amazing panoramic views of the lake. 
Lake Como is a sailor's paradise. The 
Swimming is best done in the northern towns like Domaso and Gravedona where there are more beaches available and more space available for people to go on those beaches! It also has the cleanest water because it is close to the Adda River which fills up the lake.
