Lake Garda vs. Lake Como: Which to Choose for Your Vacation

Easiest Lake to Get to

Winner: Neither

This one is a little bit of a tie because they both have towns that are directly accessible from major cities by public transportation. But it's really important to know that the easiest destinations on both lakes are not the best destinations on either lake.

Which is why I'm categorizing them both as tough to get to.

You can easily arrive to Como the town from Milano Centrale station in just over 30 minutes. Note that these trains tend to be overcrowded and don't always guarantee you a seat. You can also get directly to Lecco in about the same amount of time also by train.

Likewise, on Lake Garda, the southern shore is easily accessible from Verona's train station. Peschiera del Garda is only 15 minutes by train and Desenzano del Garda is just the next stop away.

The thing is, Como, Lecco, Peschiera, and Desenzano are not the best parts of either lake. They're overly crowded (given the fact they're easiest to arrive at) and don't offer the stunning views or as charming towns as other areas of the lakes do. These are hubs for day trippers that want to visit a lake but don't have the time to stay longer than just a few hours.

In my opinion, the center of Lake Como (think the zone around Bellagio) and the northern tip of Lake Garda (around Riva del Garda) are the best parts to visit. Technically you can get to both of these areas by public transportation but it'll take a lot more time, transfers, and effort on your part. But, worth it if you can swing it. Driving your own car is the easiest option.

If you're trying to figure out your options on how to get to Lake Como, this guide will help you out.

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Easiest Lake to Get Around

Winner: Lake Garda

I was tempted to categorize neither as the winner again but after thinking about it more, there are 2 reasons that Lake Garda is a bit easier to get around: less crowds and a more simple shape.

It might seem strange to bring up crowds here but I promise it makes a difference. Never did I anticipate the lines you'd have to wait in to buy a ferry ticket in Lake Como in early May (in Bellagio specifically). One day we waited up to 1 hour just to buy the ticket.

While I did face some lines in Lake Garda in July (I was in Riva), it only took about 10 minutes of waiting. With that same ticket, you'll be able to visit most of my favorite towns on Lake Garda.

Lake Garda is the largest lake in Italy but is a pretty typical size. It's not as complicated to either drive around it or take the ferry from one end to the other. Although technically smaller, Lake Como's unique shape makes it a lot more timely to the 3 distinct points the lake has in its wishbone shape.

Neither lake has a bridge so if you plan to drive, you will have to drive around the lake. There are some ferries that allow cars but those aren't nearly as common as boats for just pedestrians.

Both also have ferries that you can take bikes on, which is a great alternative. Although both lakes are mountainous, the area around the lakes are flat and great for biking. Both have ample biking and walking paths to take you from one town to another.

I highly recommend you take advantage of the public ferries to get around the lakes. Just know that some lines don't run year-round so if you plan to visit in the off-season, ferries may be limited or non-existent.

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Most Crowded

Winner: Lake Como

As I mentioned above, the crowds felt a lot more apparent on my visit to Lake Como than any of my visits to Lake Garda. That said, the exact area you visit really makes a difference.

For example, one of the days of our Lake Como trip, we walked along the Lake Como Greenway, a path starting at the Villa del Balbianello and ending at Villa Carlotta. Although the ferry terminals and both gardens were crowded, we had a lot of this path to ourselves.

My point here is that even though the main touristic areas of Lake Como feel more crowded, there are ways to get away from the hordes and find your own quiet spots.

That said, if you visit the southern shore of Lake Garda or Limone sul Garda, you can expect the same number of people that are commonly seen in Bellagio or Varenna.

Although I do think that more tourists flock to Lake Como, neither are quite the quiet gem you might be hoping for.

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Best Scenery

Winner: Northern Lake Garda

While both lakes are stunning, the northern end of Lake Garda is truly exceptional. Starting with the view of Malcesine and working your way up north, the landscape gets more and more dramatic. The green hills turn into bold cliffs that rise directly from the lake.

If you're a sucker for a view like I am, you'll be hard pressed to beat this area. You can enjoy great views from the shore and from the water.

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Best Access to Nature

Winner: Northern Lake Garda

While you can't be completely surprised that the best scenery comes with the best access to nature, it's true. Although there are hiking trails and incredible gardens on Lake Como, Lake Garda has a seemingly endless amount of trails to traverse either on foot or by bike.

No matter where in northern Lake Garda you stay, you'll have trails right from the center of towns. For the most diversity of trails, I'd suggest basing yourself in Riva del Garda. This also offers a variety between strenuous hikes and more casual bike rides that still yield great views.

While the nature on Lake Garda is a bit more rugged, the nature on Lake Como is more manicured. Here, you'll be able to visit a number of different villas and beautiful gardens. Although there are a number to choose from, Villa del Balbianello is truly spectacular.

So although I prefer getting on a hiking trail and losing myself in the wild, if you prefer paved paths and manicured lawns, you should choose Lake Como for this category.

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Most Affordable

Winner: Neither

I wouldn't consider either Lake Garda or Lake Como affordable. I do think Lake Garda is slightly cheaper than the killer prices in Lake Como but compared to the rest of Italy, both areas charge premium.

At a regular Italian restaurant, I typically pay about €10-12 for a plate of pasta in Trieste (where I live), but that same plate would be €15-20 on either lake.

There is one thing that really helped to offset my expenses on my last visit to Lake Garda and that was the MioTrentino card. Since I was staying in the Trentino region, the hotel offered me this free card for tourists. With it, I got a big discount on the ferry, enjoyed free public transportation, and had free entrance to a few tourist attractions. Although it's true something similar could exist in other parts of Lake Garda or on Lake Como, I'm only aware of it for guests staying in Trentino.

If you're traveling to Italy on a tight budget, I suggest you consider visiting Lake Iseo instead. This lake sits right between Lake Como and Lake Garda but isn't nearly as well-known as its neighbors.

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Most Luxurious

Winner: Lake Como

There's a reason Lake Como is synonymous with Italian luxury. George Clooney and Richard Branson didn't choose luxurious villas here for no reason after all.

I will say though that the level of luxury on Lake Como is most apparent from the water or while wandering one of the many botanical gardens. From the water, you can see the incredible homes and cherish the pristine landscaping at each of them without fighting crowds to do so.

During my 3-day trip to Lake Como, my friends and I rented a private boat and took ourselves on our tour of the lake. Most of the time was spent just looking at the homes we passed and their sprawling gardens.

There are also hotels like Grand Hotel Tremezzo where you feel like you've physically walked into another tax bracket. Although the drink prices at the waterfront bar were very hefty, the decor makes it feel like walking into a Wes Anderson film.

But that said, Lake Como is crawling with tourists. Tourists that don't look Italian chic and can wipe away the sense of the 1% the lake is known for. I'm not saying this is a bad thing, I definitely don't own (or want) any name brand clothing but it's just to give you an honest picture of what it can look like visiting and that the people surrounding you might break that fancy facade just a bit.

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Most Things to Do

Winner: Both

Both Lake Como and Lake Garda have ample things to do. On both lakes you can:

• Take the ferry and hop around the different towns
• Enjoy a great selection of restaurants
• Swim, sunbathe, or enjoy other water sports
• Spend plenty of time outdoors
• Go shopping

If you're really after outdoor activities and prefer more challenging trails or more variety in your choices, I do think northern Lake Garda has an edge but if you're happy just to spend time outside and enjoy some fresh air, both lakes offer plenty of opportunities.

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Where to Stay on Lake Garda

As you've seen from this article, I really prefer the northern end of Lake Garda to the southern part. That said, I'd suggest staying in Riva del Garda. This town offers plenty of things to do, an active ferry hub, and great views even if you don't want to move around the lake. I've also stayed in Malcesine and Sirmione but do think Riva has to most to offer.

Consider booking your stay at:

• Budget Stay: Aparthotel Englovacanze: This hotel has a wide variety of room types and sizes. The location is really convenient for those who want to take advantage of the ferry, hop on the Ponale Road easily, and enjoy town (more so than the beaches).
• Mid-Tier Stay: Hotel Villa Rina: This is where I stayed in Riva del Garda and loved it. The staff was welcoming, the breakfast was fresh, they offered free bicycles that made exploring easy, and the single room was just what I needed for a solo getaway.
• Luxury Stay: Lido Palace: If you're looking for something truly special, you can't do better than this hotel. You'll be right in the center of everything that brought you to Lake Garda, with easy access to enjoy the city but also the nature that surrounds you (if you can leave the hotel!).

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Where to Stay on Lake Como

Although Bellagio is pretty crowded, its central location on Lake Como does make it a pretty strategic hub. This is a good option if you plan to explore other parts of the lake during the day. Staying here will mean you can enjoy Bellagio in the morning and at night after the day trippers have left.

Here's where I recommend you stay in Bellagio:

• Budget Option: Hotel Bellagio: Located right in the center of Bellagio, this pet-friendly hotel is a great choice for those that don't need all the space or amenities of an apartment. Plus, you'll get free breakfast!
• Mid-Tier Option: Skyway Apartment: This is the apartment we stayed in. It was fantastic! It's split between 2 levels which we enjoyed and offers unbeatable lake views inside and from the private terrace. Plus you're right in town center, which is really impossible to beat.
• Luxury Option: Palazzo Barindelli Suite Verde: Although the Skyway Apartment can sleep more guests, this one gives you more space and open views from every room. The location of this apartment is right on the lake.

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Which Italian Lake Will You Visit?

When deciding between Lake Como or Lake Garda, the choice is yours. Although I'm partial and would vote on the northern half of Lake Garda, I can't deny that Lake Como is also a great place to visit.

The biggest thing you need to realize when planning your trip to either Lake Como or Lake Garda is that both lakes are popular and more expensive than most other parts of Italy. While they're absolutely gorgeous and a lot of fun to explore, if you're looking for a quiet place to visit and to stretch your budget, I'd suggest a visit to one of the other Italian lakes instead.

If you chose to visit Lake Como, don’t miss out on our detailed 3-day guide to Lake Como to help you plan your trip. Likewise, if you picked Lake Garda instead, this 3-day guide will set up for success.

Either way, you'll get panoramic views and scenic boat rides out of it. Just know that both options take a little bit of effort to get to the best parts of the lake but if you have a few days to spend, the reward is worth it!