Lake Como With Kids: 10 Unmissable Fun Things To Do With The Little Ones
Image via Jungle Raider Park Bellagio
Traveling abroad with children and enjoying with them new places is always an amazing experience, but let’s face it: sometimes finding activities to experience with them, suitable for their age - especially if you’re not in your home country - can be just challenging.
In this article we’ve selected 10 funny things you can do with kids during your stay at Lake Como: they won’t ever get bored, it’s a promise!
Lake Como Adventure Park in Gravedona and Jungle Raider Park in Bellagio
Adventure parks are always a guarantee of a lot of fun for the little ones.
Lake Como Adventure Park is located in the mountains surrounding Gravedona (Germasino) at an elevation of 800meters and can be easily reached by car, campervan or small bus. It’s open from Spring to Fall throughout the whole Summer.
They offer 7 routes (all equipped with high-safety systems) running on trees, for a total of 40 different challenges: you’ll face hanging bridges, swinging logs and ropes, zip lines and much more! Everything is designed and built to be safe and eco-friendly and the park is constantly monitored by a high qualified staff to provide assistance whenever required.
Image via www.lakecomoadventurepark.com
Another interesting park is the Jungle Raider Park, around 15 km from Bellagio (Civenna). The park offers structured routes on lianas, ropes and passages suspended in the air, as well as routes built on trees and arranged in fantastic coniferous forests, totally immersed in nature and tackled in complete safety.
Image via www.jungleraiderpark.com
Saying hello to alpaca at Agriturismo Le Radici in Blessagno
Agriturismo Le Radici in the amazing Valle Intelvi, on the boundary with Switzerland, often organizes various activities for the little ones, all related to animals (they raise alpaca here!) and nature.
Image via www.lagodicomo.com
In this mountain pasture you’ll find absolute tranquility and many spaces where you can sunbathe, play with your children, observe the grazing animals or enjoy a nice reading in the shade of the pine forest.
Their cooking is also excellent, by the way!
Funicular to Brunate or Pigra
The cable car is an exciting way to involve the little ones by showing them the lake region from above.
There are two famous funiculars at Lake Como: one leads from Argegno to the mountain hamlet of Pigra (the steepest in Europe!).
The other is the one that leads from Como to the elegant hilltop village of Brunate.
Pic by Giovanni Massola
Orrido in Bellano
In Bellano (eastern coast of Lake Como) you can’t miss the impressive cliffs of the natural waterfall of the Orrido, a privileged place for nature lovers and photographers because of the beautiful lights and rainbows that often form in the small canyon.
Image via discoveringbellano.eu
The narrow spaces, the particular play of light reflected on the rocky walls and on the water, the vegetation that recalls more tropical environments and the noise of the waterfalls crashing on the stone have always inspired many writers who have told of its beauty.
The visit is 20′ long. Free entry for children under 6 years old!
Image via discoveringbellano.eu
A tour on the motorboat
What better way to let children discover the lake than with a tour on a motorboat!
You can do it with the boats of the Lake Como Navigation Service (choosing between daily tickets or tickets for direct journeys without stops), or with a private tour.
In case you’ll opt for the Navigation Service boats, an interesting route is certainly the one from Como to Bellagio: 2h 30’ of pure beauty, between wonderful views and surreal colors!
Another cool (and less popular) path is the one along the northern coastline of the lake, with a stop at the spectacular abbey of Piona.
A private boat tour
Museum of Toy Horse in Grandate
We’ve already talked about this dreamy museum in one of our articles: it’s the Toy Horse Museum of Artsana Group in Grandate, the only museum in the world dedicated to toy horses.
The museum is 400 square meters and exhibits an incredibly unique collection: more than 670 toy horses made from the eighteenth century until today, from pretty much every corner of the world.
Practical tip: near the museum you’ll also find Chicco outlet, with high-quality clothes and accessories for kids at very interesting prices.
Sentiero Espressioni (“path of expressions”) in Schignano
This path into the woodland was inaugurated in 2014 and goes through the Regional Forest of Valle Intelvi. It’s a truly interesting and somehow magical trail: visitors can encounter many wooden sculptures and carved masks, all scattered among trees, flowers and wild plants.
Image via ape-alveare.it
Interestingly, the sculptures are made by local artists from Schignano, the village known worldwide for its very peculiar Carnival with the wooden masks.
You can start the walk by following the marked trail from Alpe Nava in Schignano.
It will be fun to make your children imitate the funny expressions of the wooden statues along the way!
Rescia caves
Rescia Caves are a true jewel of Lombardia: 7 caves that were dug (over millions of years) by the water in the rock of the mountains overlooking Lake Lugano, in the town of Claino con Osteno.
The caves are connected to each other by tunnels and stairs: a real labyrinth between fascinating stalactites and stalagmites, a perfect scenery for the most adventurous children who will feel like little explorers!
Castello di Vezio
We are a bit biased: Castello di Vezio, an ancient military outpost on the top of the Varenna promontory, is one of the most fascinating attractions of Lake Como.
With its partially open cellars, and the statues of ghosts scattered around the gardens, this castle has a truly unique mysterious charme.
Ghosts statues in the garden of Castello di Vezio
The interesting thing to know is that here is a falconer who trains wonderful birds of prey: an unmissable show to enjoy with your children!
Image via varennaturismo.it
Bear in mind to always check on the official website the dates when the falconer is at the castle, as they might change.
Bernina Express, the red train (like Hogwarts express!)
This train links Italy to Switzerland: it’s one of the most spectacular routes in the world, so much so that it has been awarded the recognition of Unesco Heritage.
Image via www.outdooractive.com
It allows you to cross truly unique landscapes, to be enjoyed in any season: two and a half hours of travel between Tirano and Sankt Moritz, to be spent with your face glued to the window.
You’ll be able to see stunning alpine landscapes, chamois, incredible flowers, glaciers… Get onboard with your children and be prepared for hundreds of emotions!
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