Lake Como
How to Elope at Lake Como: A Photographer’s Step-by-Step Guide
DOCUMENTARY MODERN EDITORIAL | DIGITAL & FILM
PICK ONE SHORE.
BOOK ONE BOAT.
BE ON IT AT SIX.
What eloping at Lake Como actually involves
Lake Como is 50 km long, has three arms and about twelve villages worth a photo, and the sun disappears behind a mountain an hour before it officially sets. That is the whole guide in one sentence: you can’t do all of it, so don’t try. Pick one shore, book one boat, and be on the water at six.
I’m Miks, a destination wedding photographer, and I photograph weddings and elopements in Italy and Spain for couples from the US, UK, Canada and Australia. The last one at Como was Arta and Edgars at Villa Monastero in Varenna, with a vintage boat from Menaggio and the lake to themselves at the end of the day. This is how I’d plan yours, in six steps, including the places that cost nothing, what the boat really costs, and what to do when it rains.
Step 1: Go symbolic
Yes, foreigners can legally marry at Lake Como. A civil ceremony has to happen in a town hall (the casa comunale) or a room the town has licensed for it; Varenna, Bellagio and Como all do them. You’ll need passports, birth certificates, a nulla osta or sworn affidavit from your consulate, two witnesses and an interpreter if you don’t speak Italian, and the paperwork takes months of emailing with offices that answer in Italian, slowly.
For a destination elopement it’s too much time spent on the boring part. My advice is the same as for the Amalfi Coast: sign the papers at home, in a lunch break, and have a symbolic ceremony at the lake, which can be anywhere: a garden terrace, a public lakefront, a boat. A symbolic celebrant costs about €500–1,200 and writes the ceremony with you.
If the legal part at the lake matters to you, start at least nine months ahead and get a planner who does this every week.
Step 2: Varenna, Bellagio or Como?
Varenna. If you make me choose, Varenna. It’s the one with the train from Milan, the lakeside walk, pastel houses on the water and the gardens of Villa Monastero five minutes from the ferry. It’s small, which is exactly what you want when there are two of you and one afternoon.
Bellagio is the famous one, 15 minutes across by ferry, with Punta Spartivento and the stepped streets, and it has the crowds to match. Como town is the city: a lakefront, a funicular to Brunate, a cathedral, and an hour of ferry before the lake starts looking like the postcards.
Menaggio and Tremezzo, on the west shore, are the quiet alternative: a long promenade, Villa Carlotta’s gardens, and the ferry across to Bellagio. If you want both the postcard and the peace, sleep in Varenna or Menaggio and go to Bellagio for one hour on the boat. Here’s how the three compare for an elopement day.
| Varenna | Bellagio | Como town | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feel | Village on the water, quiet after the last ferry | Postcard town, busiest on the lake | City with a lake, not a lake with a city |
| Getting there | Train from Milano Centrale, about 1 hour, then a 10-minute walk | Ferry from Varenna 15 min; by car 1.5 hours from Milan and nowhere to park | Train from Milan 40–60 min; the villages are 1–2 hours away by ferry |
| Free photo spots | Lakeside walk, old harbour, Castello di Vezio above the town | Punta Spartivento, the stepped streets, the lakefront | Villa Olmo gardens, the lakefront, Brunate viewpoint |
| Gardens with a ticket | Villa Monastero (public park, photo slot by email) | Villa Melzi (no ceremonies, photo permit) | Villa Olmo (free) |
| Evening light | Faces west: sun on the water until it drops behind the far mountains | Faces north; the point gets light from both sides | Faces north; the sun goes early behind Brunate |
| Best for | Two of you, no car, one perfect afternoon | A night in a grand hotel and the classic views | Flying in and out fast; a city dinner |
STEP 3: VILLA OR NO VILLA
The famous Como photos are not taken in private villas. They’re taken on public lakefronts, on the water, and in gardens that sell a €10 ticket. You don’t need to rent a villa to elope here; you need a plan for when the tourists aren’t there, which is before nine and after six.
I put the spots on a map. Free unless it says otherwise. Tap a pin for the notes; the full list is under the map.
The one paid thing I’d pay for is Villa Monastero in Varenna. It’s a public park with the iconic terraces: the garden ticket is around €10, and a private photo shoot is a booked slot of about €300 per hour (2025 rate, one-hour minimum, two people plus the photographers, during opening hours, tourists included). Write to [email protected] with your date and time slot.
For the adventurous: the San Martino chapel above Griante. Ferry to Cadenabbia, then a marked path from Griante: about 3.5 km round trip, 200 m of climbing, an hour and twenty minutes at an easy pace, in shoes you can walk in. The chapel sits on a ledge with the lake from Varenna to Bellagio below it. Change into the dress up there, not at the bottom.
- Varenna – Passeggiata degli Innamorati. The lakeside walk between the ferry pier and the old harbour. Free, flat, and empty in the first hour of the day.
- Varenna – old harbour and piazzetta. Pastel houses, boats, a small beach. Crowded at noon, lovely at dusk.
- Villa Monastero gardens, Varenna. Public park, garden ticket about €10; photo shoots are booked slots of about €300 per hour (see above).
- Castello di Vezio, above Varenna. A small ticket and a 20–30 minute walk uphill. The whole centre of the lake from above, best before sunset.
- Bellagio – Punta Spartivento. Free. The point where the three arms meet, ten minutes’ walk from the pier. Windy, with light from both sides late in the day.
- Bellagio – Salita Serbelloni. The stepped street with the arcades. Free and very busy from eleven to five; go at eight.
- Villa Melzi gardens, Bellagio. Ticket €10. No ceremonies or vow exchanges allowed there at all, and a professional shoot is €350 plus VAT per day. Pretty, but Monastero gives you more for less.
- Menaggio lakefront. Free. The long promenade and the mountains across the water; the Menaggio Water Limousine boats leave from here.
- Villa Carlotta gardens, Tremezzo. Ticket about €17.50, two minutes from the ferry pier. Botanical terraces facing Bellagio.
- Lenno lakefront. Free. The view across to Villa del Balbianello, which itself is FAI property, ticketed and strict about shoots. Look at it from the water instead.
- Nesso – Ponte della Civera. Free. A stone bridge over a waterfall gorge, steep steps down from the road. Shaded and dramatic, so it works at midday when everything else is too bright.
- Como – Villa Olmo and the lakefront walk. Free gardens on the Como town lakefront.
- Brunate viewpoint. The funicular from Como costs a few euros and puts the whole first basin under your feet on the sunset side.
- San Martino chapel, Griante. The adventurous one: an hour and twenty minutes on foot, round trip, for the view from Varenna to Bellagio.
Step 4: Take the boat
If you do one thing at Lake Como, do this. The villas were built to be seen from the water, and so was everything else. One hour on a wooden boat gives you Varenna, Bellagio, the point, Villa Balbianello from the lake, and the two of you with champagne in the middle of it. Arta and Edgars came back from theirs looking like they’d had a holiday.
What it costs: a vintage wooden boat with a skipper is about €500–600 for an hour, and up to €1,000 gets you everything you’d want for the photos. The polished Rivas, the ones from the films, are €1,500–2,000. An hour is enough; I need about thirty minutes of it for the photos and video, and you get the rest.
Who to book:
Menaggio Water Limousine (Menaggio, @menaggiowaterlimousine). Venetian-style mahogany limousines with capitonné sofas, a fleet of four or five boats. This is the boat Arta and Edgars had. They do weddings, transfers and sunset toasts, and pick up around the lake.
Barindelli Taxi Boats (Bellagio and Varenna, private piers in both). Deluxe water taxis, tours of one to two hours, pick-ups from Menaggio, Tremezzina, Cernobbio, Torno and Lezzeno. Handy if you sleep in Varenna.
Como Classic Boats (Laglio, @comoclassicboats). A proper classic fleet: a Venetian limousine for up to eight (two hours from €600), a Vaporina, Riva Ariston, Riva Tritone and a Riva Aquarama for the full Dolce Vita. Best if you’re starting from Como town or Cernobbio.
Smaller and more vintage: Como Vintage Boats runs mahogany taxi boats from Como and the central lake from about €300 an hour; Lake Como Boats in Como has the Mizar III, a 1961 wooden motor yacht for six that cruises at eight knots, which is the speed you want for photos; and Matteri in Lezzeno restores old wooden boats and takes couples out in them. If you’d rather drive yourselves, several yards around the lake (Moltrasio, Lenno, Varenna, Menaggio) rent small 40 hp boats with no licence needed. Fun, but then I’m in another boat, so book the skipper for the photo hour.
Three things people get wrong: they book the boat for noon (flat light, hot, every ferry on the water), they forget the lake gets choppy in the afternoon wind, and they don’t ask about the drone. Como is a restricted zone for drones almost everywhere; without the paperwork there are no drone photos, so ask the boat company and the villa, not me, before you count on them.
Step 5: Timing and light
The mountains eat the light. On most of the lake the sun is gone an hour to an hour and a half before the official sunset, depending on which shore you’re standing on. Varenna faces west, so it keeps the sun on the water longest; Bellagio’s point gets it from both sides; Como town loses it early behind Brunate. The best hour on the water is roughly 5 to 7 p.m. in summer, later is better, and the last half hour before the sun drops behind the ridge is the one everyone remembers.
Summer is hot. There are few trees on the shore and the terraces have no shade, so a two o’clock ceremony on a stone terrace in July is a sweat and a squint. Keep the ceremony short or late, and do the walking parts early.
Months: May, June and September are the ones I’d pick. July and August are hot and the ferries are full. October is quieter and the light is soft, but the rain risk is real, so read the rain plan below. From November to March half the lake is closed: hotels, restaurants, the gardens, most boats.
| Month (mid-month) | Official sunset (approx.) | Sun behind the mountains | Start the boat |
|---|---|---|---|
| May | 8:45 p.m. | about 7:30 | 6:00 |
| June | 9:10 p.m. | about 7:50 | 6:15 |
| July | 9:05 p.m. | about 7:45 | 6:15 |
| August | 8:35 p.m. | about 7:15 | 5:45 |
| September | 7:40 p.m. | about 6:20 | 5:00 |
| Early October | 7:05 p.m. | about 5:45 | 4:15 |
Step 6: Your day
A symbolic elopement for two, in Varenna, in June. Shift it earlier by an hour in September, two in October. That’s six hours with no rushing in it, and a photographer for the middle four.
If you add ten guests, add an aperitivo after the ceremony and keep the boat hour for the two of you anyway; thirty minutes away from everyone is the best part of a small wedding.
Dinner: a lakeside table in Varenna or Bellagio, booked in advance in summer because the good ones are full by five. Yes, you’ll be in a wedding dress in a restaurant, and yes, people will look and a stranger will send over a glass of something. That’s half the fun. If you’d rather not, a private chef in a rented apartment with a terrace is the Como version of pizza at the villa.
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 2:00 p.m. | Getting ready in your room (take one with a lake window; it’s the best getting-ready photo on the lake) |
| 4:00 p.m. | Ceremony: a terrace, a garden slot at Villa Monastero, or the lakefront at the end of the walk, with your celebrant |
| 4:45 p.m. | A slow walk through Varenna: the old harbour, the stairs, the lakeside walk |
| 6:15 p.m. | The boat from the Varenna pier: Bellagio, the point, back along the west shore, champagne on board |
| 7:30 p.m. | Back on land for the last light on the Varenna lakefront |
| 8:00 p.m. | Dinner for two, booked ahead, by the water |
If it rains
It will, sometimes. Lake Como gets afternoon storms in summer and grey days in spring and autumn, and nobody’s guide tells you what to do about it, so here is mine. Storms usually pass in an hour: move the boat, don’t cancel it, and ask the boat company when you book how they handle a delay.
The Venetian limousines have an enclosed cabin, so a boat hour in rain still works, and the lake after a storm, with the clouds sitting on the mountains, is better than the lake at noon on a clear day. On land you have the loggias and arcades of Villa Monastero, Bellagio’s covered steps, the villa’s frescoed rooms if you booked one, and your own hotel window.
Bring one good umbrella, not two cheap ones, and pick a dress you can walk through wet grass in. Every photographer has a rain album they’re secretly proud of.
GETTING THERE AND STAYING
Flying in. Milan has three airports. Malpensa (MXP) and Bergamo (BGY) are both about an hour and a half from Varenna by car, Linate (LIN) a little less; a taxi from Bergamo to Varenna is around €180. Most couples from abroad connect through a European hub to Milan.
Train, not car. From Milano Centrale the train to Varenna-Esino takes about an hour and stops ten minutes’ walk from the lakefront. For Como town, trains from Milan take 40 to 60 minutes. Don’t rent a car for Bellagio: the road is slow, parking is nearly impossible in season, and the ferry is the nice part.
On the lake. Public ferries link Varenna, Bellagio, Menaggio and Cadenabbia in about 15 minutes each; they fill up in July and August, so be at the pier early with an Aperol. The fast boats and the longer routes to Como run from spring to autumn. For the wedding hour itself, book the private boat.
Sleeping. Two nights minimum, three is better. Sleep where you’re marrying: Varenna if you want quiet and the train, Bellagio if you want the grand hotel, Menaggio if you want the promenade and a cheaper room. Ask for a lake-facing room on the top floor; it’s your getting-ready location.
What a Lake Como elopement costs for two
Market-level figures, the kind I hear from couples and vendors, not a quote. Confirm everything with the people you book.
| Item | Roughly |
|---|---|
| Symbolic celebrant | €500–1,200 |
| Legal civil ceremony at the town hall (fees, interpreter, paperwork help) | €800–2,000 extra |
| Private wooden boat, 1 hour with skipper | €500–1,000 (Rivas €1,500–2,000) |
| Villa Monastero garden photo slot, 1 hour | about €300 |
| Hair and make-up for the bride | €300–600 |
| Flowers: bouquet and buttonhole | €150–400 |
| Photographer, half day to full day (market range) | €2,500–6,000 |
| Dinner for two by the water | €150–300 |
| Two nights in a lake-view room | €400–1,500 |
All in, most couples spend roughly €5,000–12,000 for two at Lake Como, without a planner or a rented villa. A planner adds €1,500–4,000 and a private villa for the ceremony starts around €3,000 for the day (my affordable Lake Como venues guide has the real numbers).
The all-inclusive “elopement packages” you’ll see advertised at €3,000–10,000 usually bundle a celebrant, two to five hours of photography, a bouquet and a boat hour, so compare them against this table before you buy one. Rough market prices for 2026; confirm current prices with each vendor.
lake como elopement
A photographer’s tips for eloping at Lake Como
Pick one shore and stay on it. Varenna and Bellagio are one day; adding Como town makes it a commute.
Book the boat for the hour before the sun drops behind the mountains, not the official sunset, and not noon.
Monastero’s garden is a public park. A €300 hour there beats renting a villa for a two-person ceremony.
Flat shoes for the stairs, a second pair in the bag. Every village on this lake is built on steps.
Ask about the drone before you dream about it. Como is restricted airspace; no paperwork, no drone.
lake como elopement
FAQ
Can foreigners legally get married at Lake Como?
Yes. A civil ceremony at the town hall in Varenna, Bellagio or Como is legally valid with the right paperwork (passports, birth certificates, a nulla osta or affidavit, two witnesses, an interpreter). For an elopement I recommend signing at home and holding a symbolic ceremony at the lake.
How much does a Lake Como elopement cost for two?
Roughly €5,000–12,000 all in, without a planner or a private villa. The boat is €500–1,000 for an hour, a celebrant €500–1,200, and a garden photo slot at Villa Monastero about €300.
Which town is best for an elopement at Lake Como?
Varenna. It has the train from Milan, free lakefront spots, Villa Monastero’s gardens and the quietest evenings; Bellagio is 15 minutes away by ferry for the famous views.
Can we get married on a boat on Lake Como?
Symbolically, yes. A celebrant can hold the ceremony on board a private wooden boat; a legal ceremony has to happen in a town hall.
What is the best month to elope at Lake Como?
May, June and September. July and August are hot and crowded, October is quiet but rainier, and from November to March much of the lake is closed.
Can we take wedding photos at Villa Monastero without booking the villa?
Yes. It’s a public park: the garden ticket is about €10, and a private photo shoot is a booked slot of about €300 per hour during opening hours, requested by email from the villa.
How far ahead should we book a Lake Como elopement?
Six to nine months is comfortable for a symbolic elopement in May, June or September; three months often works outside those. A legal ceremony needs nine to twelve months.
Is Lake Como good for just the two of us, or a vow renewal?
Yes. The whole day in this guide works with no guests at all, and a vow renewal follows the same plan minus the paperwork.
Planning an elopement at Lake Como?
Tell me your month and which shore you’re leaning toward, and I’ll tell you straight whether the boat should be at five or six. Here’s how I work as a Lake Como wedding photographer, and what couples say about the day on my Google reviews. Write to me and I’ll reply within a day.
Related weddings
Villa Monastero Lake Como Wedding – Arta & Edgars: the vintage boat from Menaggio and the Varenna terraces in this guide.
Positano Boat Session – Shelby & Calvin: what a boat hour looks like when the photographer is on board.
HI !
I’m MIKS
I am incredibly thankful to be the husband to my beautiful wife and father to my two children. Education? I am a real estate manager and worked in the industry for almost a decade, but 10 years ago I discovered my real passion: photography. Since then, I’ve photographed 350+ weddings across Europe and still look forward to new adventures and meeting the coolest people on the planet.
Why do I love weddings? I love to be near happy people. There are always loads of good vibes and good moments at weddings. I’m the solution guy, and it does not matter where the wedding is planned – you will need the wedding visual arts service solution.
It would be a real honour to meet you in person and work on your wedding day, whether it’s a small family wedding or a massive luxury event. I work with a team of up to 4 people – other wedding pro photographers, assistants and wedding videographers with various editing styles. A full wedding visual art service from idea to delivery!
I’m happy for some crazy nominees and features in the wedding photography world, but nothing is better than a real and enjoyable wedding like yours. Please let me know if you have any questions – I want to make sure you have all the answers, solutions & safety!
Hope to see you soon!
Take care!
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