Practical guide

Can you swim in Lake Como, and where?

It is a swimmable lake, and also an Alpine lake more than 400 metres deep.

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The short answer

Yes: for example at Riva Bianca in Lierna, the Menaggio lido, the wide shores of the upper lake between Domaso and Gera Lario and the Villa Olmo lido in Como. Water quality is tested point by point by the health agencies (ATS), and the results are on the Ministry of Health's Portale Acque.

In short

Riva Bianca, Lierna: a large beach of pale pebbles, reachable by train.
Lido di Menaggio: pool, lawn and facilities, five minutes from the pier.
Domaso and Gera Lario: the widest and most accessible shores, with the afternoon wind.
Villa Olmo lido, Como: a pool in the city, useful on a hot day without travelling.
The water is comfortable from mid-July to early September.

You can swim in the permitted areas of Lake Como, respecting local restrictions. Before entering the water, check sampling results, municipal notices and lake conditions.

The bottom can drop away quickly even near the shore.

Safety in the water

Assess your swimming ability in relation to wind, waves, currents and water temperature. The bottom can change quickly near the shore. Enter gradually and do not dive into unfamiliar or murky water.

Check whether a lifeguard service is provided. Swim in designated bathing areas where available, keep clear of boats and do not go far from the shore alone. Always supervise children near the water.

Water quality

In the bathing season the health agencies, ATS Insubria on the Como shore and ATS Brianza on the Lecco shore, take samples near the busiest beaches, and the results for each sampling point are published on the Ministry of Health's Portale Acque. The results change through the season, and the latest are always there.

In general, quality is good across most of the lake. When a result is unfavourable the mayor bans bathing by ordinance, lifted at the first favourable result that follows.

Frequently asked

How warm is the water in summer?

Water temperature varies with the season, depth and weather. In summer the surface layers warm up, but air temperature alone does not tell you the water temperature. Enter gradually and consider wind, waves and currents too.

Are there free beaches?

Yes, especially on the upper lake and the Lecco branch. Almost always without lifeguards or facilities.

How do I know whether the water is clean?

There is an official classification, by law: every bathing point is sampled through the season and classified at the end of it on the basis of four years of samples. Lario has sixty-four official points and fifty-one are classed excellent; the ones that are not are listed, with their name and their village, on the summer page, and every village page carries the points around it. Two cautions: it is the classification of the last published season, not a reading of the water today, and it does not replace a comune's temporary ban.