Lombardy · Como
Menaggio
On the western shore of Lake Como at the mouth of the Senagra, the lake's old Roman crossing point between Como, Bellagio and the Valtellina.
Known for
FERRY CROSSING
Three-way ferry hub at the lake's centro lago, the standard crossing between Menaggio, Bellagio and Varenna.
VILLA MYLIUS-VIGONI
Heinrich Mylius's 19th-century villa in Loveno, now the German-Italian Centre for European Dialogue.
VIA REGINA
Old Roman lake road from Como to the Splügen pass, still traced along Menaggio's lakeside.
When to visit
Best · Apr–Oct
- J10°
- F13°
- M14°
- A17°
- M21°
- J26°
- J28°
- A28°
- S23°
- O19°
- N14°
- D11°
- Best
- Hot or crowded
- Quiet
- Mostly closed
Daytime averages, 2020–2024. Weather data by Open-Meteo.com.
The festa: Stefano, 26 December
Why come
Menaggio sits on the western shore of Lake Como at the mouth of the river Senagra, the point where the lake narrows enough for ferries to fork toward Bellagio and Varenna on the opposite shore. Prehistoric finds in the territory go back to before the Gallic tribes that settled here in the fourth century BC; the Romans absorbed them and built the Via Regina, the lakeside road from Como north toward the Splügen. The medieval castle above the Senagra torrent dates to the 10th century and was destroyed in 1523 by the Grigioni, leaving only the towers, the walls and the bridge.
The Chiesa di San Carlo was built on its ruins between 1612 and 1614. The town's later identity is the 19th-century summer resort: a mild climate, lake views across to the Grigne, and villas like Mylius-Vigoni in the Loveno hamlet, now run as a German-Italian centre for European dialogue.
The Sunday letter
We haven’t written Menaggio’s letter yet.
One town every Sunday, with the photo, the food, the festa. Be there when this one comes up. Free, by Peter & Sophia from Pietrasanta.
How to get there
From Milan (BGY), about 1h 39m by car.
Turin (TRN) is about 2h 39m away.
By car from the centre of Brescia 2h 19m.
Coming by train into Milano Centrale? Menaggio is about 1h 29m away by road.
What to see
Piazza Garibaldi
The main lakefront square, café tables under arcades, ferry pier on one side and the medieval centre rising behind.
Resti del Castello di Menaggio
10th-century castle remains, destroyed in 1523, leaving the two towers, sections of wall and a bridge over the Senagra.
Chiesa di San Carlo
Built 1612 to 1614 by Cinzio Calvi on the ruins of the destroyed castle, in the hamlet of Castello above the torrent.
Villa Mylius-Vigoni
Early 19th-century villa in Loveno, built by Heinrich Mylius, now seat of the German-Italian Centre for European Dialogue.
Lungolago di Menaggio
Lakeside promenade from the ferry pier south toward the public gardens, with the Grigne ridge visible across the water.
Chiesa di Santo Stefano
Parish church above the centre, rebuilt in the 17th century on an older medieval foundation.
The slow-trip planner
Building a trip? Find where Menaggio fits in a slow Italy circuit.
Answer five questions. We will shape a geographically coherent slow trip from the 1,000 Italian towns most travelers skip. Yours to save and share.
We recommend
Where to stay
Not our picks, but places the guides put their name to: a Michelin star, a Gambero Rosso fork, a Slow Food snail, a Michelin Key for the hotels. Worth a table, a counter, or a night when you pass through.
Grand Hotel VictoriaHotel
Grand Hotel Victoria holds two Michelin Keys and a La Liste score of 91.
Living here
- Population 3,040
- In-betweeni
- Pharmacy in town
- High school within a 30-minute drive
- Nearest airport Milan, 1 h 39 min drive
- Regional capital Milano, 1 h 29 min drive
Common questions
- What is Menaggio known for?
- On the western shore of Lake Como at the mouth of the Senagra, the lake's old Roman crossing point between Como, Bellagio and the Valtellina.
- Where is Menaggio?
- Menaggio is a comune in the province of Como, in Lombardy, at 203 meters above sea level.
- What is the nearest airport to Menaggio?
- Milan (BGY), about 1h 39m by car.
- How long is the drive from Brescia to Menaggio?
- About 2h 19m by car.
- When is the best time to visit Menaggio?
- Best in Apr–Oct. July is the warmest month, averaging 28 degrees, and May the wettest, with about 18 rain days.
- Is there a sagra or a festival in Menaggio?
- The town keeps its patron saint's day: Stefano, 26 December.
- Which other towns are like Menaggio?
- Bellagio, Tremezzina and Angera.
- How many people live in Menaggio?
- 3,040 at the 2023 count.
Tags & datadesignations · numbers · sources
Recognised as
The numbers
- Elevation: 203 m
- Population: 3,040
- Surface area: 11.77 km²
These figures were compiled from public directories: ISTAT, OpenStreetMap and Wikidata, and from the official listings of the guides named on this page. Town details change; verify with official sources before you travel.
Similar
Towns like Menaggio
Bellagio
Province: Como
both lake towns · both between 3,000 and 10,000 people
Tremezzina
Province: Como
both lake towns · both between 3,000 and 10,000 people
Angera
Province: Varese
both lake towns · both between 3,000 and 10,000 people
Cannobio
Province: Verbano-Cusio-Ossola
both lake towns · both between 3,000 and 10,000 people
Costermano sul Garda
Province: Verona
both lake towns · both between 3,000 and 10,000 people
Gozzano
Province: Novara
both lake towns · both between 3,000 and 10,000 people
🟠 Bandiera Arancione
More Bandiera Arancione towns in Lombardy
Bellano
Province: Lecco
An eastern shore town where the Pioverna cut a gorge through fifteen million years of rock before reaching the water.
Bienno
Province: Brescia
A medieval ironworking village where water hammers driven by the Grigna stream have shaped wrought iron since the 1200s.
Castione della Presolana
Province: Bergamo
A high-valley commune at 870 meters under the limestone peak the Bergamasque call the Queen of the Orobie.
Chiavenna
Province: Sondrio
An Alpine town at 333 meters on the Mera river, the historical Splügen Pass crossroads named for its key position and its rock-cellar crotti.
Clusone
Province: Bergamo
At 648 meters, capital of the macabre fresco and the 1583 planetary clock above its civic tower.