8-Day Hiking Tour: Lake Como & Beyond from Lugano

Hiking through the Italian lake region of Como and Lugano is a journey through the stunning natural beauty and rich culture and art of Lombardy. We describe this beautiful route as an 8-day trip. You can simply walk and organize the route yourself, but you can also leave the planning to a Local expert. In that case, your hotels, luggage transport, support, and transfers are included. Read more about this below.

The hikes are manageable for people with average fitness levels. You can see the daily distances below. You’ll walk on easily navigable footpaths, forest trails (not always well-marked), paved paths, and a few sections along quiet country roads.

Hiking Highlights: Lake Como and Lake Lugano

• Hike along mountain trails high above the lakes of Como and Lugano
• Experience the rich culture and art of the Lombardy region
• Luxurious villas and beautiful gardens
• Menaggio, a beautiful little town with a fantastic view of the lake
• The “Antica Strada Regina”
• Lake Lugano
• Porlezza

Day 1: Arrival in Menaggio, Lake Como

Arrival in Menaggio on the shores of Lake Como. Today you can explore the town and enjoy the view of the rugged mountains across the lake.

Over the next few days, you’ll have plenty of time to explore the small towns, scenic overlooks, and forests on both sides of Lake Como, as well as the beautiful gardens of Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo and Villa Melzi in Bellagio.

Day 2: Hike from Varenna to Dervio

12.4 km | approx. 5 hours | 637 m ascent, 624 m descent

Your hiking trip begins today. After breakfast, take the boat across the lake to Varenna. Follow the eastern shore of the lake and take the “Sentiero del Viandante” (the traveler’s path). You’ll walk through a rich and ancient cultural landscape featuring traditional architecture and stunning views of Lake Como and the surrounding mountains.

TIP: Just past Varenna, take a short detour to visit the castle in Vezio. It’s well worth the trip.

Back to Menaggio by boat.

Day 3: Hike from Menaggio through the Val Sanagra Nature Reserve

Today you have many options. You’ll hike through the Monti Lariani (Lario is the ancient name for Lake Como), where there are several hiking trails of varying lengths and difficulty levels. You can do the routes we describe for the next three days in any order.

9–15.5 km | approx. 5 hours | 696 m ascent, 695 descent

The loop trail starts in Menaggio and takes you to:

• Val Sanagra, a little-known region rich in historical and cultural heritage
• From Menaggio, you can reach Loveno, a charming village with beautiful villas
• Next is Pianuro, a vast pasture with livestock
• The trail then follows the Sanagra River, a typical Alpine watercourse with several old mills and iron foundries that have carved out impressive gorges over the centuries
• The walk takes you through Barna, a charming little hamlet where time seems to have stood still.

Day 4: Hike from Breglia to Monte Grona and Monte Bregagnino

14 km | 6–7 hours | 1,000 m ascent, 1,000 m descent

The hike begins in Breglia, a small village above Menaggio (accessible by bus). The trail passes by two of the most important peaks on the western side of the lake: Monte Grona and Monte Bregagnino.

From the summit of Monte Grona (1,736 m), you have one of the most beautiful views of the Pre-Alps; from here, you can see the three lakes (Como, Lugano, and Piano). You can also see the peaks of Monte Bregagno, Legnone, Pizzo di Gino, and the Grigne. On clear days, you can see the Alps stretching from Monviso to Bernina.

There are three ways to reach the summit of Monte Grona from Rifugio Menaggio, including an alpine climb via the “via ferrata.”

Day 5: Hike from Menaggio to Rezzonico on the Antica Strada Regina

9 km | approx. 3 hours | 330 m ascent, 350 m descent

The Antica Strada Regina runs along the western shore of Lake Como. The road was built by the Romans. It was an important link between Como and the Alpine passes.

The old path was used until the end of the 18th century, when the current road along the lake was built. This section begins in Menaggio and follows cobblestone paths to the quaint village of Rezzonico. From the top of the hill, you’ll enjoy a stunning view of the lake and the surrounding mountains. After the hike, take the local bus back to Menaggio.

Day 6: Hike from Cavargna to Porlezza

16.5 km | approx. 5 hours | 600 m ascent, 1,300 m descent

The hike begins in the hilltop village of Cavargna (if you’re on an organized tour, you’ll have a private transfer). From here, you’ll make a spectacular climb to the church of Saint Lucio, located right on the border between Italy and Switzerland.

You’ll pass through Monti, a quaint mountain village that’s only accessible via a “Land Rover trail.” As you descend toward Molzano, you’ll pass striking mountain cliffs and enjoy beautiful views of both Lake Como and Lake Lugano.

A beautiful panoramic hiking trail leads you through forests and meadows, descending 1,550 meters to Porlezza. This village is located at the northeastern end of Lake Lugano and very close to the border. This rural hike through fields and forests, with impressive views, is one of the highlights of the area.

Day 7: Hike from Porlezza to San Mamete via Alpe Vecchio

11.3 km | approx. 5 hours | 1,100 m ascent, 1,100 m descent

Today’s optional hike takes you to the mountains above Lake Lugano, a beautiful landscape of forests, waterfalls, and small villages along the lake’s shore. The start is quite challenging as you climb the steep side of the mountain, but once you reach Alpe Vecchio, a truly beautiful mountain hut on the plateau, you can relax and admire the scenery.

The road to the village of San Mamete goes downhill, through forests and along trails. From here, take the bus back to Porlezza.

Day 8: End of the hiking tour of Lake Como and Lake Lugano

Your hiking trip ends after breakfast. Say goodbye to the beautiful lakes and depart by public transportation (or with a pre-booked private transfer). Click here to see the most beautiful spots on Lake Como.

Hiking around Lake Como and Lake Lugano on a map