Lake Como vs Amalfi Coast: Which Italian Lakeside Destination is Right for You?
Breathtaking landscapes, vibrant culture, and rich history are just some of the renowned charms of Italy. Lake Como and the Amalfi Coast epitomize these charms further, making them popular tourist destinations.
So, which is the ultimate Italian destination between Lake Como vs Amalfi Coast?
Between Amalfi Coast and Lake Como, Lake Como is known for its peaceful retreat. It has a handful of activities and excursions for tourists to do. Amalfi Coast, on the other hand, is known for its lively and bustling environment with plenty of water activities and excursions.
Want a more in-depth comparison between these two locations? Then let’s dive straight into details-
Lake Como vs Amalfi Coast: A Quick Comparison of Two Italian Gems
Here’s a quick overview of these two dreamy destinations for you to decide which to pick for your summer holiday in Italy-
| Factor | Lake Como | Amalfi Coast |
| Location | Lombardy, Italy | Campania, Italy |
| Size | 146 square kilometers | 50 kilometers |
| English Speakers | More English Speakers | Fewer English Speakers |
| Activities & Excursions | Hiking, biking, boating, swimming, sightseeing, shopping, wine tasting | Hiking, biking, boating, swimming, sightseeing, cliff jumping, sunbathing, limoncello tasting |
| Attractions | Beautiful villas, gardens, natural scenery, Como Cathedral, and the Villa del Balbianello. | Stunning sea views, colorful towns, Amalfi Cathedral, and the Villa Rufolo. |
| Accommodation | Luxury lakefront hotels, villas,budget-friendly B&Bs, hostels | Luxury hotels, budget-friendly guesthouses |
| Transportation for Sightseeing | Ferry, bus, trains, rental cars | Bus, rental cars, ferry, boats, |
| Nightlife Spots | No nightclubs | Plenty of nightclubs |
| Purpose of Visit | Private & calm retreat | Energetic Getaway |
| Best Time to Visit | Summer (May-Sept) | Sept-Oct, April-May |
Lake Como vs Amalfi Coast: A Detailed Discussion
Now, let’s move on to a broader discussion of these two destinations-
Location & Accessibility
While Lake Como is in northern Italy, Amalfi Coast is in the south. Both of these destinations can be reached by land or cruise similar to modes of transportation in Greece.
Situated in the Lombardy region of northern Italy, Lake Como has three nearby international airports. Milan Malpensa Airport, Milan Linate Airport, and Milan Linate Airport have multiple flights coming in from all over the world.
Other than by airplane you can also reach Lake Como from Milan and other cities in Italy by train, ferry, and car.
Amalfi Coast on the other hand stretches alongside the Tyrrhenian Sea between the towns of Vietri sul Mare and Positano. It has two nearby airports, Naples International Airport, and Salerno Costa d’Amalfi Airport.
Positano and Praiano are two beautiful coastal towns along the amalfi coastline and deserve a visit.
Naples International Airport is the most convenient & closest airport to Amalfi Coast. You can also take the bus, ferry, and train to reach this number-one honeymoon destination in Europe.
You can take the rental cars from Naples to reach Amalfi Coast but the drive is known to be quite challenging.
Size
Lake Como has a much larger area than Amalfi Coast. Due to the smaller land area, Amalfi Coast tends to be more crowded.
Lake Como has an area of 146 square kilometers and is the largest lake in Italy. Amalfi Coast on the other hand has an area of 55 kilometers with 13 separate towns.
Bonus: Portofino vs Cinque Terre vs Lake Como-Which is better
Attractions
Amalfi Coast is known for its beautiful beaches, colorful towns, and dramatic cliffs. Lake Como is known for its opulent villas, picturesque villages, and stunning scenery.
| Features | Lake Como | Amalfi Coast |
| Beaches | Lido di Bellagio, Lido di Cadenabbia, and Lido di Lenno | Spiaggia Grande, Marina Grande, and Fornillo Beach |
| Historic Landmarks | Villa del Balbianello, Basilica di Sant’Abbondio, I Giardini di Villa Melzi, Sacred Mountain of Ossuccio | Villa Cimbrone Gardens, Villa Rufolo, Duomo di Ravello, Chiesa di Santa, Villa Romana, |
| Popular Towns | Bellagio, Varenna, Menaggio, Como | Positano, Amalfi, Sorrento, Ravello |
| Cultural Attractions | Museo della Seta, Tempio Voltiano, and the Como-Brunate Funicular | Pompeii, Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta e Cripta Medievale |
| Food | Traditional Italian cuisine like Risotto, Polenta Taragna, etc & fresh seafood | Fresh seafood and Mediterranean cuisine |
Both regions are also known for their wine production, with Lake Como producing wines in the Valtellina region and the Amalfi Coast in the Campania region.
Activities & Excursions
Both Lake Como and Amalfi Coast come with many water-based activities and scenic hiking possibilities and historic sites to visit.
While staying in Lake Como and Amalfi Coast you can look forward to these activities and excursions-
| Activities & Excursions | Lake Como | Amalfi Coast |
| Hiking | Sentiero del Viandante,Montepiatto,4 Valleys Trail, Pliniana Hiking Trail and many more | Path of the Gods (Sentiero degli Dei), Punta Campanella, La Baia di Ieranto, |
| Beaches for Swimming | Spiaggia Pubblica di Bellagio, Lido di Argegno, | Spiaggia Arienzo, Marina di Cetara, Santa Croce |
| Rowing | Canottieri Lario, Bellagio Water Sports Kayak Club, and Pusiano Rowing Centre. | No specific rowing place |
| Boat tours | Private Boat tours, Lake Como Boat Cruises Classic Speedboat Private Tour Water Tours | Private Boat Tours, Group Boat Tours, Speedboat Tours, Kayak Tours, Self-Drive Boat Tours |
| Exploring Villages | Bellagio, Varenna, Lecco, Menaggio, etc | Positano, Amalfi, Ravello,Atrani, etc |
There are many similarities between the activities and excursions in Lake Como and Amalfi Coast just like Lugano and Como. Both destinations offer stunning scenery, charming villages, and delicious food & wine tasting.
However, Amalfi Coast does come with more water activities like snorkeling and scuba diving
Accommodation
Amalfi Coast tends to be more expensive than Lake Como in terms of accommodations. But budget-friendly accommodation options are available.
Here are some of the accommodation options in Lake Como and Amalfi Coast:
| Accommodation Option | Lake Como | Amalfi Coast |
| Luxury Hotel | Villa d’Este Grand Hotel Tremezzo Mandarin Oriental, | Palazzo Avino Le Sirenuse Grand Hotel La Favorita |
| Villas & Apartments | Civenna View Villa Limonta Villa Angela Vassena Lake View Villa Sala Comacina, | Adagio Ravello La Valle Delle Najadi Villa Viceré Villa Affresco |
| Bed & Breakfasts | Relais Villino Rubini Hotel Garni Corona Villa Lina Hotel Orso Bruno | La Casa Del Melograno Residenza Luce Villa Maria Luigia |
| Hostels | Ostello Bello Lake Como Lake Como Hostel La Primula II Lake Como Beach Hostel | Agorà Hostel Deluxe – Pompeii HOPESTEL Secret Garden |
| Campsites | Camping Montorfano Camping Colle Vento Camping Villaggio Paradiso | Camping Salerno Selva Ranna Camping Cannaverde – Amalfi Coast Camp, |
Transportation for Sightseeing
Lake Como and Amalfi Coast have several options for transportation to get around towns and sightseeing.
Here’s an overview of the fare you will have to pay for each transportation service-
| Location | Car | Bus | Train | Ferry |
| Lake Como | 30-50 Euros(without gas & parking) | 2-3 Euros(One-way Ticket) | 4-6 Euros(one-way) | 5-10 Euros (One-way) |
| Amalfi Coast | 30-50 Euros(without gas & parking) | 10 Euros(One way) | 11 Euros(One-way) | 20-30 Euros(one-way) |
Nightlife Spots
Although there are a couple of wine bars and beach clubs in Lake Como, Amalfi Coast is mostly known for its best Nightlife Spots.
Here’s an overview of the Popular Nightlife Spots in Lake Como and Amalfi Coast-
| Name | Type of Nightlife Spot | Known For | Place |
| In Vinis Veritas | Wine Bar | Great selection of wines, cozy atmosphere | Como, Lake Como |
| Gelateria La Cueva | Ice cream shop | Delicious ice cream, lively atmosphere | Bellagio, Lake Como |
| Lido di Menaggio | Beach Cub | Two pools, a beach, and a brewery | Menaggio, Lake Como |
| Chiosco Villa Geno | Bar | Beautiful lake views, great cocktails | Tremezzo, Lake Como |
| Music on the Rocks | Nightclub | Lively atmosphere, great music | Positano |
| Bar La Scogliera | Bar | Beautiful Sea views, great cocktails | Amalfi |
| Franco’s bar | Bar | Great Cocktails, Sea views | Positano |
| Music Club 105 | Nightclub | Lively atmosphere, great music | Sorrento |
Best Time to Visit
Summer is the peak tourist season for both Lake Como and Amalfi Coast.
July- August is the best time to visit both these destinations but it is known to be very crowded. And the weather is known to be very hot and humid. But the sites are mesmerizingly beautiful around this time.
You can visit Lake Como in Spring (April-May) or during Fall (Sept-Oct) for mild weather and less crowd. This is the best time for hiking and biking around towns.
For less crowd in Amalfi Coast, you can visit during Spring (May-June) or during Fall.
Mild weather and fewer crowds during this time are perfect for destination weddings.
Cost
Overall, Amalfi Coast is more expensive than Lake Como. The budget may increase or decrease depending on the activities you plan on doing.
| Total Cost of 7-day Trip | Lake Como(Estimated) | Amalfi Coast(Estimated) |
| Solo traveler | $1000-$1500 | $1,205-$2,683 |
| Couple | $2500-$2700 | $2,610-$4,742 |
| Family of Four | $3000-$5100 | $3,818-$8,668 |
Lake Como vs Amalfi Coast: Which is the Better Destination for Your Next Vacation?
If you want a more relaxed atmosphere with a serene lake setting, then Lake Como is the perfect choice for you.
On the other hand, if dramatic coastal towns with vibrant nightlife and a mix of beach relaxation are your preference then pick Amalfi Coast.
FAQs
How to Reach Lake Como from Amalfi Coast?
You can take the bus, train, plane, and ferry to reach Lake Como from Amalfi Coast. The cheapest option will be to take the bus but the journey will be of 17 hours.
How Long Should You Plan to Stay on Amalfi Coast?
5 days on the Amalfi Coast is the perfect amount of time to experience the best of this stunning region. You’ll have enough time to relax on the beaches, explore grottos and secluded coves, and wander through historical towns.
What is Better for Vacationing Lake Como or Positano?
Both of these destinations are great for summer holidays. Surrounded by mountains and hills, Lake Como is more of a relaxed and romantic destination for travelers. Positano on the other hand is known for its vibrant nightlife.
End Words
That’s the end of our discussion regarding Lake Como vs Amalfi Coast. Both of these lakeside destinations are the absolute best in Italy, so it’s ultimately a win-win situation.
We suggest visiting both destinations if you can manage the time and money. Lake Como and the Amalfi Coast are both unforgettable places that will leave you with lasting memories.
Until next time!
