Which Is Better, Lake Como or Lake Maggiore? The Trickiest Question Of All Times Answered

Let’s face it: the Italian Lakes of Northern Italy are an incredible holiday destination.

Lake Como and Lake Maggiore, in particular, are the most popular hotspots due to their Mediterranean flair, the mountains all around, and the crystal water.

Lake Maggiore

Deciding which of these two lakes visiting can be challenging indeed.

We often hear some of our international clients asking us something like “which is best, Lake Como or Lake Maggiore?”.

Our answer is always the same: it depends, guys. You have to consider what fits best with your needs; It really depends on to what extent the specific features of each lake are priority for you.

But in the end, does it really make sense to compare them? We don’t think so. Both Lake Como and Lake Maggiore have their own DNA, their pros and cons.

Read on to discover their individual appeal!

Key assets of Lake Como

If you’ve already visited our lake, you’ll know better than us what are the assets of Lake Como.

Here’s a (really) short summary.

An outstandingly dramatic scenery

The view from pretty much all its banks is literally spectacular: the thing is that the inverted-Y shape itself of the lake is very special and unusual. Someone even compares the morphology of our region, with all its gulfs and promontories and recesses, to the stunning Norwegian fiords.

Lake Como is arguably the most dramatic lake when it comes to scenery, probably in large part because the mountains seem to almost rise directly out of the lake itself. If you’re on a coast of one of the two branches, which are pretty narrow, you’ll see how close the other bank is: it’s kind of a feeling of being in a “cozy” place. As Lago di Como is narrower, you can easily see both sides of the lake with the boat and get the best views. Seeing the places from the water with the mountains in the background is one of the best things to do at Lake Como.

It’s like an old painting

Lake Como still retains an insanely romantic Belle Epoque flair which is pretty unique in Italy. The majority of its villages are still extremely authentic, with the old boats of fishermen on the shores, and the most ancient buildings with the faded signs on the facade. It’s not uncommon to hear people define Lake Como as an old painting, with its fairytale vibe throughout. Time really seems to have stopped here.

Local architecture: pure joy for the eyes!

Lake Como is famous for its opulent villas and gardens, that will let you live a pure aesthetic experience.

Consider that in the past all noble families from Milano and other cities of Lombardy used to have their holiday mansion at Lake Como: they chose this location because it was easily reachable from the main cities. During the great Plague in the 17th century, but also during both World Wars, these families escaped here in their villas.

The exclusive mansions of Lario are really legendary jewels: they stand in line to embellish the lake banks, one after the other, marvelous in their unquestionable charme. They’re all different: we have villas in neoclassical, neo-renaissance, liberty, neo-gothic, eclectic, nordic, moorish, manneristic, rationalist flairs. No other Italian lake boasts such an incredible kaleidoscope of architectural styles!

Celebs love it

Lake Como is also extremely elegant and upscale in many locations (not everywhere though). That’s probably why celebrities from all over the world love it, visit it frequently, and have their second home here.

Places of great historical value

If you’re passionate of history, you’ll be happy to know how many historical places are at Lake Como.

Dongo village is famous for being the precise spot where Mussolini was captured in 1945; Mezzegra (Tremezzina) is where he was killed by partisans.

But that’s not all: there are plenty of foxholes from World War I near Menaggio and Valle Intelvi to be discovered. And if you are intrigued by the BC past, bear in mind that in Plesio and many other locations you can find the ruins of old walls, graves and prehistoric stone bowls.

A paradise for hiking, trekking, and water sports

You’ll never get bored on Lake Como: there are tons of hiking routes (Sentiero del Viandante on the east coast, to mention but one), spectacular mountains to climb (Monte Generoso, Monte Legnone, Monte Bregagno, etc.), and enviably windy locations where practicing water sports (like in Cremia and Domaso).

Assets of Lake Maggiore

It’s the second largest lake of Italy: surrounded by imposing peaks and dotted with islands, the beauty of Lake Maggiore is undisputed.

But let’s see in details the key assets of this (huge) lake!

Isole Borromee: an incredible heritage

Loved by Ernest Hemingway and favorite destination of England's royalty, the archipelago is formed by the monumental Isola Bella which houses the seventeenth-century Borromeo palace and its spectacular gardens, by the picturesque Isola dei Pescatori, and by Isola Madre known for its rich botanical garden. These spectacular islands are really the icons of Lake Maggiore.

Source: Outdoor Active

Villa Taranto: a must visit at least once in a lifetime!

In 2014, Villa Taranto was elected by the Buzzfeed site as the most beautiful garden in the world, surpassing famous places such as Versailles (Paris, FR), Mottisfont Abbey Rose Gardens (Humpshire, UK) and the Gardens at the Cloisters (New York, USA).

It’s quieter and less touristy

Although locations like Stresa, Verbania and Arona are very popular, we can say Lake Maggiore is still less touristy than Lake Como. Lake Como’s roads will get clogged up during the peak Summer months. With visitor numbers higher on Lake Como and with the lake roads simply narrower and harder to pass than on Lake Maggiore, Summer traffic queues on Lake Como are pretty much inevitable. On Lake Maggiore, the mountains are set that little further back from the lake which, at a practical level means that roads tend to be wider allowing traffic to move more freely.

It’s less expensive

Due to the increased number of visitors on Lake Como, you’ll find demand for accommodation that little bit higher which in turn leads to higher prices. Lake Maggiore from this point of view is more affordable. That said, Lake Como does have a wider choice of places to stay with everything from budget hostels to high end luxury hotels.

It’s perfect for families

Lago Maggiore is the perfect lake for families, as it offers more beaches, more camp grounds and activities to do with children. The access to the lake is generally easier: this lake boasts a number of larger beach clubs, lidos, and small bays which are easily accessible by car. What is more, in most parts of the lake, the water gently slopes away from the shoreline making it wonderfully safe even for young children.

A paradise if you like mountains

If you are more into the adventures and would love to go for a hike and see a bit of the area around, Lago Maggiore is the better options. With a mountain like the Mount Mottarone in Stresa, you have quite a few beautiful treks and hikes to do. You can enjoy the view from above and see the lake from a totally new perspective. In general, Lago Maggiore has more things to do in the area around and you can spend days exploring the different places. This is perfect if you want to spend more time at the lake and stay for a week or even longer.

Conclusions

All that being said, you won’t go wrong on either Lake Como or Lake Maggiore. Both are stunning and draw holidaymakers and tourists back year after year.

If you love Italy overall, you’ll love the unique identity of both these lakes!

Why not buying your pied-à-terre at Lake Como and use it as a starting point to explore the whole Italy, including Lake Maggiore?

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