Scenic Hiking in Menaggio, Lake Como

Menaggio anchors Lake Como's western shore — a graceful 19th-century resort town with a wide lakeside promenade, a Belle Époque golf course in the hills above, and direct ferry connections to Bellagio and Varenna. From here it's a 90-minute drive to Lugano and the Swiss Alps, making Menaggio the perfect base for combining lake life with day trips to Switzerland.

The mountains around Lake Como rise 2,400 metres directly from the water, and the historic trails that cross them — the Sentiero del Viandante (Wayfarer's Path), the Greenway del Lago di Como, the Grigna ridge — were the lake's main transport network long before the ferries. A guided hike from Menaggio can be paced as a relaxed half-day with panoramic views and a long lunch, or a serious full-day with 800 m of vertical.

All hikes are guided by a certified mountain leader and include transport to and from the trailhead. Lunch at a rifugio (mountain hut) on the high-altitude routes is unforgettable — polenta with local sausage, eaten with a 270° view across the lake.