Discover centuries-old landmarks and lively piazzas, golf, watersports and walking trails at Menaggio. This pretty lakeside town is surrounded by breathtaking mountain scenery and is popular with everyone from families and honeymooners to day trippers and nature lovers.
Menaggio sits on the central western shores of Italy’s magnificent Lake Como.
At the heart of Menaggio’s cobbled historic centre is the animated Piazza Garibaldi. Find bars, cafés and traditional trattorias, many with outdoor patios and lake views. Stroll along Via Calvi and peek inside the boutiques, fashion stores and souvenir shops. Follow the winding alleyways that lead to historic monuments such as the ruins of a 16th-century fortress. Study beautiful frescos at the Chiesa di Santa Marta (Church of Santa Marta) and Chiesa di Santo Stefano (Church of Santo Stephano).
Enjoy a stroll along the tree-lined waterfront promenade. Sit on a bench and gaze across the lake to the towns of Bellagio and Varenna. On a warm summer day you might want to take a refreshing swim in Lido di Menaggio, an open-air pool. Rent a boat at the harbour and take a self-guided tour of the lake. Alternatively, try your hand at waterskiing and wakeboarding.
Go to the tourist office on Piazza Garibaldi to collect information about walking and mountain biking trails in nearby Monte Grona. Visit Parco Val Sanagra, a protected reserve home to colourful flora, wildlife and ancient rural settlements.
If you are into golf, play a round at the Menaggio and Cadenabbia Golf Club or have some family-friendly fun at the waterfront miniature golf course.
Menaggio is about a 45-minute drive from both the lakeside town of Como and Lugano in Switzerland. It is easily accessible by buses, boats and ferries from other destinations on the lake. Get around on foot and bike or ride the summer tourist train, which travels between Menaggio and Lenno. The town is ideal for daytrips, but if you want to stay for longer, there is a range of accommodation, from campsites to luxury hotel resorts.
Besides its many attractions Menaggio is a gateway to the stunning Lake Piano and Lake Lugano on the Italian-Swiss border.
