Activities

Northern Lake Como has become a European centre for water sports like windsurfing, water-skiing and sailing. It is also ideal for walking and mountain biking and makes a beautiful base for skiing and snowboarding in winter.

Walking and mountain biking

    Casual walkers can walk from the house, explore the local towns with leaflets showing routes and buildings of interest, make a short drive in to the mountains for a walk or picnic, or just stroll along the lakeside. More serious hikers or mountain bikers will find a large network of walking and mountain bike trails throughout the area (bikes can be hired locally). Routes range from a few miles to several days (with stops at mountain "refuges" for a bed and a meal). To take a mid-range example: you can walk from near Menaggio to the top of Monte Grona (1760m) and back in about six hours. The views are unbelievable: almost all of Lake Como to the east, Milan and the Po valley to the south, Lake Lugano to the west and the Valtellina and Alps to the north. The tourist information offices provide leaflets on a wide range of such walks (and mountain bike trails), and we leave details in the house. Guided  hikes and bike excursions are also available

Water sports

    Water sports are a major activity in the Alto Lario from April until October: the southerly lake breeze being perfect for sailing and windsurfing. There are sailing, windsurfing and water-skiing schools - or you could try kite-surfing.. You can hire sailing and motor boats, windsurfers and canoes, or there are equipment and repair shops if you have your own. For something quieter you can hire rods and boats for fishing. For swimmers and sunbathers there are open-air pools as well as the lake and beaches.

Skiing and snowboarding

    In winter northern Lake Como is ideal for those who want to combine ski or snowboarding with other things. The lakeside roads are quiet and snow-free and a range of centres is within easy reach. Madesimo and Barzio/Piani di Bobbio/Valtorta are just over thirty miles away - there is a coach from Colico to Madesimo (most useful on Sundays when the road is most crowded) . Many locals also go to centres like Chiesa-Valmalenco (just over 40 miles) and St Moritz in Switzerland (about 55m) as well as skiing and sledging in local valleys. There are also smaller, local centres like Margno-Betulle (28 miles - 7 pistes), Giumello-Paglio (31 miles, especially good for cross-country skiing) and Valgerola (31 miles, "Snowboard Valley") but you need to check the snow conditions.

Horse riding

    There are horse-riding centres on the Piano di Spagna which offer guided rides of the wetland. Others near Menaggio and Bellagio organise rides into the mountains.

Golf

    Golfers will enjoy the 18-hole course outside Menaggio (open from March to November) with its British traditions and style. Or you could try the 9-hole, 3000ft high mountain course in Lanzio Intelvi (about 25miles). Some courses open all the year round.

Climbing

    There are many climbs in the  region, most famously around Mount Grigna. There is an outdoor rock climbing "gym" in Menaggio. You can  also arrange a climb under the supervision of an Alpine guide.

Other activities

    There are local tennis courts as well as facilities for soccer, volleyball etc. An unusual day out, especially if you have children, is provided by the walkways between trees at the Jungle Raider Parks in Civenna (16 miles plus car ferry) and Margno (28 miles).

Need more excitement?

    Why not try canyoning or paragliding from Bellagio? Or book a seaplane flight over the lake? (Como has the only seaplane training school in Italy).