A guidebook to 28 day walks and a 5-day trek around Lakes Como and Maggiore. Exploring the dramatic scenery of the Italian lakes, the walks are suitable for beginner and experienced walkers alike.

Walks range from 3km to 20km (2–12 miles) and can be enjoyed in 1–5 hours. The Sentiero del Viandante trek, or Wayfarer’s Path, along the eastern shore of Lake Como between Lecco and Colico is described in 5 stages covering 54km (34 miles).

• Sketch maps are included for each walk
• Detailed information on accommodation, public transport and wildlife
• Highlights include Mottarone and Monte San Primo

Map key

Overview map

Introduction

Plants and flowers

Wildlife

Getting there

Local transport

Information

When to go

Accommodation

Food and drink

What to take

Maps

Dos and don’ts

Emergencies

Using this guide

Lago Maggiore

Walk 1 Stresa to Belgirate

Walk 2 From the Mottarone to Baveno

Walk 3 Monte Orfano and Lago di Mergozzo

Walk 4 Cavandone on Monterosso

Walk 5 Ghiffa Sanctuary Loop

Walk 6 Villages above Cannero

Walk 7 The Cannero–Cannobio Traverse

Walk 8 Monte Carza

Walk 9 Val Cannobina

Walk 10 Cannobio–San Bartolomeo in Montibus Circuit

Walk 11 Monteviasco

Walk 12 Sasso del Ferro

Lago di Como

Walk 13 Moltrasio to Laglio

Walk 14 Pigra to Colonno

Walk 15 Colonno to Cadenabbia on the Greenway

Walk 16 San Martino Circuit

Walk 17 The Bocchetta di Nava Traverse

Walk 18 Crocetta

Walk 19 Val Sanagra

Walk 20 Rifugio Menaggio and Monte Grona

Walk 21 San Domenico and the Santuario di Breglia

Walk 22 Gravedona to Domaso

Walk 23 Domaso to Gera Lario

Walk 24 Around Bellagio

Walk 25 Belvedere del Monte Nuvolone

Walk 26 Monte San Primo

Walk 27 The Strada Regia from Pognana Lario to Torno

Walk 28 Brunate to Torno Path

Sentiero del Viandante Trek

Stage 1 Lecco to Abbadia Lariana

Stage 2 Abbadia Lariana to Lierna

Stage 3 Lierna to Varenna

Stage 4 Varenna to Dervio

Stage 5 Dervio to Colico

Appendix A Route summary table

Appendix B Glossary of Italian–English terms

Seasons

the lakes have a mild climate suitable for year-round walking, although spring through to autumn means near-perfect conditions. Midsummer is best for mountain routes, while in winter when snow may cover the high peaks, stick to the lakeside walks

Centres

Como, Cadenabbia, Menaggio, Gravedona, Varenna, Bellagio on Lago di Como

Difficulty

walks range from easy lakeside strolls to rambles across terraced mountainsides and exciting paths to superbly panoramic peaks. Graded 1 to 3, catering for everyone

Must See

ferry trips combined with walks. Val Cannobina ancient pilgrim route. High altitude sanctuaries (Sacro Monte on Maggiore and San Martino on Como). Car-less Monteviasco. Charming historic villas and islands. Historic Strada Regia on Lake Como. Stresa cable-car to panoramic Mottarone mountain. Como funicular to Brunate. Lake Como Greenway lakeside stroll. Sentiero del Viandante along Lake Como's shores. Bellagio stroll

October 2023

Sentiero del Viandante

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