Lenno holidays

Lenno nabs prime position right on the legendary Greenway del Lago di Como. This 10km trail starts down in Colonno and passes through Sala Comacina and Ossuccio before reaching Lenno, then continues north to Mezzegra, Tremezzo and Griante. A lot of the path lies on the Roman-built Strada Regina and along the way you’ll see historic hamlets, olive groves, chapels, medieval bridges and old towers. You can do the whole thing in one go or head south one day, north the next.

The walk from Lenno up to Villa del Balbianello, which juts out into the lake, is a must. Amble around the gardens, spot scenes from films (like Casino Royale and Star Wars) and even if your legs are raring for more exercise, catch the water taxi back for the views from the water.

South of Lenno, the Argegno cable car takes you up to Pigra, where you can explore the village and hike down to Colonno (which puts you back on the Greenway) or continue over towards Lago di Piano and/or Lake Lugano.

Up the lake in Cadenabbia, the San Martino hike is another favourite, taking you up a cobbled old path to the famous church on the clifftop. Cadenabbia’s also where you can catch the ferry to other lake towns for wanders further afield: Bellagio’s brilliant if you want to explore more historic hamlets, while Varenna is the access point for an ancient mule’s track called the Wayfarers Trail with its natural and architectural beauties.

You can’t visit an Italian lake without gorging gelato on the lakeside, and in Lenno, La Fabbrica del Gelato’s your place. There’s usually a fabulous range of flavours, with options like ice lollys and milkshakes too. You also can’t come to Lenno without dunking a chunk of bread (or nine) into its famous olive oil, which makes for a super snack or appetiser. For something more than nibbles but still on the waterfront, Chef Matteo at the Albergo Lenno creates delicious lunches and dinners using Italian and international flavours. Up in the hills behind Lenno, Il Cris Ristorante cooks up tasty Italian classics.

For a dining experience like no other, hop over to Isola Comacina and its only restaurant, Locanda. According to island lore, a medieval bishop made a deathly curse against anyone who brought guests to the island. In 1958, three men had just decided to open a restaurant there when two of them suddenly died. The third (Lino Nessi, aka Cotoletta) believed the only way to escape the curse was to perform an ‘exorcism of fire’ every time someone ate there. Lino passed the baton to a cracking chap called Benvenuto Puricelli, who continues the exorcism tradition (heads up – the ‘fire’ takes the form of a particularly potent drink). The restaurant still serves the original menu and recipes, and the lake views are stunning as ever.

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Lenno has no shortage of trails to explore on two wheels. Local companies – like Bici Sport 2000 – offer rentals if you’re not bringing your own bike and there’s always the option to hire a guide if you’d prefer a local in the lead.

While mountain bikers head north to scale Tabbiadello, long haulers can do a loop via Lake Lugano and those wanting to stick to the lakeside (we don’t blame you, it’s very scenic) can peddle up to explore Tremezzo, Cadenabbia and Menaggio.

Cycle (or drive) up to Cadenabbia and you can catch the ferry to Bellagio for two of the most famous rides in Italy – Madonna del Ghisallo (a hill home to the shrine of cycling and Museo Del Ciclismo) and Muro di Sormano (famed for its gruelling gradient). Neither are for the fainthearted, but you can always opt for an E-Bike if you want a helping hand.

When it comes to mountain biking, the ancient mule tracks surrounding the lake are incredible. The loop to Rifugio Venini is always a hit with experienced riders, and there’s a super, not-too-testing trail along the Adda River – keep going and you can reach Milan, then get the train back. A 10-15 minute drive south along the Via Statale leads to Argegno, where you can take a funicular up to Pigra, then ride back down the mountainside. It’s also possible to do the uphill climb with a few stops along the way.

Lenno (pronounce it: Leh-no) is one of the hamlets belonging to Tremezzina, a part of Lake Como’s western shore with no end of activities. Around the village itself, Lido di Lenno’s the ultimate spot to relax, cold drink in hand, and soak up the surroundings. Water taxis whizz from here to sites along the shore, like the legendary Villa Del Balbianello. It’s often possible to hire motorboats from here too. If you prefer more action, one thing Lenno really shines for is canyoning. Trips along the Perlana river take you to caves, jumps and some spectacular sights and there are local guides to show you the ropes.

There’s an age-old fishing culture here (the story goes that Pliny the Younger would fish from his villa window in Roman times), and early mornings often see locals casting lines off the jetty. You might find their catches for sale at the weekly market (usually Tuesday mornings) as well as olive oils and other local produce.

Lenno’s far too relaxed to have a wild nightlife, but that’s precisely why people like it here. The Hotel Lenno Bar usually has a happy hour but beyond that, it’s all about lovely, leisurely dinners, a bottle (or two) of vino and those glorious lake views.