10 Best Outdoor Adventures in and Around Como

Kitesurfing is ideally suited to Lake Como as the area experiences reliable winds. Kitesurfing schools such as Sports Paradise can show you the ropes, offering lessons in English, German and Italian, beginning with an hour’s theory class before heading out onto the water for a practical session.

If you’re a beginner, you’ll soon take a keen interest in the breva, a strong wind with peak speeds where the lake narrows between Dervio and Cremia. The season lasts from March to October, but summer is a great time to book a session, not least because the water’s warmer when you inevitably get wet.

Lake Como is a year-round dive spot, thanks to its depth of over 400 meters deep between Nesso and Argegno. Wherever you dive, you’ll need to take the water's visibility and temperature of  into account, as diving in a lake can feel very different to diving in the sea.

Submarine boulders shelter fish, mussels and shrimp. Among the many underwater sights are wrecked gondolas, wartime bombs, and Moregallo’s curious automobile cemetery. Before you surface, check out statues of Jesus and the Virgin Mary, plus and a mermaid close to Villa Geno in the south of the lake.

The Sentiero del Viandante attracts hikers to the Lake Como area. Since Roman times, people have walked this long-distance trail, which loosely follows the lake's eastern shore. It begins at the church of St Martin in Abbadia Lariana and leads to the Sanctuary of the Madonna of Val Pozzo Pianteda.

Between Abbadia Lariana and Lierna, hikers pass the frescoed Church of San Giorgio in Mandello del Lario. Heading north, take the higher path to admire the view from Vezio Castle in Varenna. Other highlights along this scenic trail include the spectacular Orrido di Bellano gorge.

Water Experience Center (WEC) offers a range of water-based activities, including jetskiing, kayaking, wake-surfing, wakeboarding, waterskiing and standup paddleboarding. Open during the warmer months, it supplies all the necessary equipment and where appropriate, training, to get you safely out onto the water.

Lake Como’s area measures an impressive 146 sq km, meaning there are many opportunities to appreciate the surrounding scenery. Adrenalineseekers especially love jetskiing at high speed and wake-surfing or waterskiing behind a powerboat. During a warm Italian summer, watersports are the ideal vacation activity.

Orrida di Nesso is a small but photogenic waterfall tucked away in a narrow ravine. In Nesso, the Tuf and Nose streams converge and tumble down a steep-sided and narrow gorge. It’s a remarkable sight, particularly if viewed from the water in a small boat or kayak.

Where this gorge meets the lake, you’ll find an arched stone bridge known as the Ponte della Civera. The Romans were the first to build a bridge here, though the structure you see today is a medieval construction.

Sacro Monte di Ossuccio occupies a commanding position overlooking the village of Ossuccio, Isola Comacina and Lake Como. This UNESCO World Heritage site is one of 9 in Lombardy and Piedmont inscribed on the prestigious list in 2003.

Hike along a cobblestone path that connects 14 baroque chapels, which were built between the 17th and 18th centuries. The historical landmarks are decorated with colorful frescoes and statues. Stroll on a slow pace as you meander uphill to the sanctuary, turning occasionally to savor the view of the lake and mountains beyond.

Montepiatto, like many hiking destinations close to Lake Como, sits high above the lake. One of its must-see sights is the 16th-century church of Santa Elisabetta. From up here, the views over the lake and mountains are remarkable.

From the church, it’s a short walk to the Pietra Pendula (Hanging Rock). This granite boulder balances precariously (or so it seems to the casual observer) on a much-eroded stack of limestone. Its position is the result of glacial processes that brought it here several thousands of years ago.

Parco Regionale Spina Verde is a forested area located west of Como, close to the Swiss border. It offers numerous hiking paths to suit just about any experience level. The trail known as La Dorsale Collinare (Hilly Ridge) is a panoramic route that makes a good introduction to the area.

Follow the Parè Nature Trail through a wooded area characterized by a diversity of tree species and a wetland created by damming the La Valle stream. History lovers will be interested to visit the Monte Sasso area, where you find numerous trenches and tunnels dug during WWI  to counteract a potential invasion.

The Villa Melzi Gardens sit on the edge of Bellagio, close to the point where Lake Como's eastern and western branches meet. This neoclassical park houses botanical specimens from across the world. It is also home to a historic villa, chapel and orangerie.

The place was commissioned by Francesco Melzi d’Eril, a well-to-do duke, and took shape between 1808 and 1810. It features an elegant, formal English garden decorated with sculptures. Pair your visit with the gardens of Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo on the opposite shore.

Fly Emotion offers ziplining activities from its base in Albaredo per San Marco. Since 2011, the center is known for its Aerofune, which flies over the Bitto Valley to San Marco and Bema in a two-section ride reaching a top speed of up to 120 km/h.

You can try the Railzip, a 700-metre-long route that traverses woodlands, meadows and valleys. It promises a breathtaking view to anyone brave enough to keep their eyes open.