Lake Garda vs Lake Como

The comparison at a glance

Use this table to narrow the choice fast, then read the detail below.

Two lakes in one

The north is rugged and Alpine, popular with windsurfers and kitesurfers. Torbole offers lessons for complete beginners, so you can try the sports on your first trip. The south has rolling hills, vineyards and citrus groves. Thanks to its microclimate, Garda is one of the few areas in Northern Italy where lemon trees thrive.

The lake also feeds the table. Olio Garda DOP has been a protected oil since 1997, made from Casaliva, Frantoio and Leccino olives in the municipalities around the shore.

A headline sight is Malcesine, with its ruined Scaligero castle. The castle houses the Monte Baldo and Garda Natural History Museum and a room dedicated to Goethe. Its tower is 31 m high and rises about 70 m above the lake. It was declared a national monument in 1902. A cablecar runs up Monte Baldo, and ferries and beaches sit below.

Villas and towns

The most breathtaking spots are central Lake Como's Varenna and Bellagio. Many towns feel more romantic and less touristy than Garda's biggest resorts, though celebrity fame brings summer crowds to Bellagio.

Como's other advantage is access. It sits closer to Milan, so it works well for a two or three day city and lake break. Public transport around the lake is straightforward, which is one reason a traveller who found driving around Garda frustrating preferred Como for getting about without a car.

What you can expect to pay

For Garda, a 25 minute cruise around the Sirmione peninsula costs $13 per person, a four hour guided boat cruise with a stop in Sirmione costs $61 per person, and a two hour historic sailboat cruise from Malcesine costs $45 per person. A wine and food tasting in the vineyards costs $47 per person. Full day tours from the cities run higher, at $123 per person from Verona and $115 per person from Milan.

Como has the celebrity following, while Garda's many German regulars keep a more local market. Compare hotel and restaurant prices for your own dates before you choose.

Moving between Como and Garda

The fastest route between the lakes runs through Bergamo and takes about 2 hours. If you go by rail, plan it in legs via Bergamo or Milan and check times before you go.

If you are flying in, remember Como sits closer to Milan and Garda stretches further south near Verona, so your arrival airport often decides the lake for you.

Where to base yourself

On Garda, Malcesine pairs its castle and cablecar with ferry connections and beaches, and some hotels run shuttles from Verona or Rovereto train station. Limone and Riva del Garda sit in the dramatic northern arm. In the south, Sirmione is the best known town in the south, and a guided day reaches it easily.

On Como, Varenna and Bellagio are the two names to base yourself around.

Food, wine and things to do

Garda's menus lean on lake fish and filled pasta on regional menus, and a Bardolino estate serves tagliolini with limoncello del Garda and zabaglione for dessert.

Garda's wine country is on the doorstep. Villa Calicantus works native Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara grapes on three hills of Bardolino Classico, and you can taste your way around Bardolino wine tasting or book Lazise wine tasting at Le Ginestre. On the water, Torbole offers windsurfing and kitesurfing lessons for complete beginners, and a Sirmione boat rental lets you captain your own boat with no licence needed.

Choosing by trip length

Pick one lake and use its ferries. Como fits a Milan city break, while Garda is twice the size and has more room to explore.

With more time, Garda has more room to grow into. Add a Verona day from the shore with the Verona day trip from Lake Garda, a pasta class at the Lake Garda cooking class, or a full day in the mountains. The heart of the Dolomites is one to two hours of driving from Garda, longer by bus, and a coach day to Pordoi Pass at 2,239 m and Ortisei returns to Garda pick-up points between 18:30 and 19:30.

If you do want both lakes, sleep on one and cross once through Bergamo rather than hopping back and forth.

Pick your lake

Couples and honeymooners: Como, for Varenna and Bellagio.

Families: Garda, for beaches at Malcesine, the castle, family fun and theme park days with Gardaland tickets.

Water sports fans: Garda, for beginner windsurfing and kitesurfing at Torbole.

Food and wine travellers: Garda, for Bardolino Classico vineyards, olive oil and lake fish menus, starting with a Lugana wine tasting near Sirmione.

Short break from Milan: Como, for the shorter transfer.

Mountain lovers: Garda, one to two hours by car from the Dolomites, with organised day tours if you prefer not to drive.

Car free travellers: Como, which one traveller found easier by public transport, though Garda's ferries and hotel shuttles from Verona or Rovereto stations help a lot.