Best Bike Tours in Lake Como

There's no better way to see places than by bike. I show you some of the best experiences on two wheels in Lake Como.

Andressa García

Andressa García

11 min read

Best Bike Tours in Lake Como

Cycling and Lago di Como | ©Wayne

With lush landscapes and secluded spots, Lake Como has a lot to offer tourists, so one of the best things to see and do in Lake Como is definitely a cycling tour.

It is advantageous to hop on a bike to tour this region of Lombardy because this way you will get to see places that you wouldn't be able to see by any other means of transport. You will also have time to explore the region at your leisure and at your own pace.

1. Electric bike tour to the Italy-Switzerland border

Cycling in Como| ©Federica Bianchi
Cycling in Como| ©Federica Bianchi

If there's one thing you'll love about this electric bike tour, it's the spectacular countryside around Lake Como. On two wheels you 'll get to see places you wouldn't be able to visit if you signed up to ride the country roads with a map.

Part of what you will see along the way will be the hills that can be seen from Lake Como, as well as some of the more picturesque villages, not forgetting the vineyards. All this will be in the company of a qualified tour guide.

When you arrive at the destination of this tour, you will have the opportunity to admire the border between Italy and Switzerland, with its beautiful views. The best thing about the tour is that it is completed at a relaxed pace and in small groups.

Interesting details

  • Price: You can participate in this activity for a price of approximately 110 euros per person.
  • Duration: It can take around three hours to complete the tour.
  • Means of transport: The whole tour is done by bike, but you must make your own way to the meeting point.
  • Advantages of this option: Bicycle hire is included, only if you select this option.
  • Disadvantages of this option: People over 65 years old cannot participate in the experience. Good weather is required to go on the excursion.

Book your Lake Como Bike Tour

2. Como City Bike Tour

Getting to know Como| ©. Ray in Manila
Getting to know Como| ©. Ray in Manila

This interesting tour takes you all over the city, in the middle of one of the best tours of Lake Como. On this half-day adventure on two wheels you will learn all about the culture and gastronomy of the region.

In addition, you will be able to appreciate a beautiful and privileged view of the city and its surroundings. In the middle of this experience, your guides will take you through the historic centre of Como, where you will see some of the most emblematic places, as well as unusual and fun alleys, where elegant boutiques and restaurants stand out.

Your journey will then take you along the shores of Lake Como to the picturesque village of Cernobbio. You'll love photographing the imposing peaks you'll see during the bike ride, not to mention the panoramic views from the lake.

Before finishing the experience, you'll ride to some hidden spots in town and stop at an authentic pasticceria for a typical snack, which you'll want to learn how to prepare in one of the best cooking classes in Lake Como.

Interesting details

  • Price: You will have to pay around 95 euros per person for this experience.
  • Duration: It can take up to four hours to complete the tour.
  • Means of Transport: The whole tour is done by bike, but to get to the meeting point you will have to get around on your own, either by private car or public transport.
  • Advantages of this option: There will be a maximum of twelve people on the tour, so it will be a select experience. Tastings at the pasticceria are included.
  • Disadvantages of this option: Transfer to and from the hotel is not included. Drinks and meals are not included, except for what is offered in the package.

Participate in a cooking class at Lago di Como

3. Tour of the hidden places in Lake Como

Cycling around Como| ©kc21queenstreet
Cycling around Como| ©kc21queenstreet

During this bike tour, you will get to see some of the most enchanting sights of the lake, and you will also be able to ride up and down the surrounding hills to discover the hidden passages to the villages that stand on its shores, so this tour is definitely one of the best things to do in Lake Como.

With this tour you will be able to make different stops to take pictures of the beautiful lake and mountain views. The best thing about this itinerary is that it's suitable for anyone, you just need to know how to ride a bike to venture out and discover places you wouldn't be able to get to otherwise.

Interesting details

  • Price: This activity costs approximately 90 euros per person.
  • Duration: It can take between four and eight hours to complete this experience.
  • Means of transport: The whole tour is completed by bike, but to get to the meeting point, you will have to travel on your own by private car or public transport.
  • Advantages of this option: The tour guide is included and will accompany you throughout the experience. Bicycle hire is also included.
  • Disadvantages of this option: It is not a wheelchair friendly experience. No food, drinks or snacks are included.

Do some of the best activities at Lake Como

4. Electric bike ride with audio guide

Cycling Tour| ©Rebel Yell 82nd
Cycling Tour| ©Rebel Yell 82nd

This tour takes you on an effortless ride around Lake Como on an eco-friendly electric bike. For the duration of the experience you will be able to explore every single spot that this breathtaking landscape has to show you.

You won't have to pedal at all, because the bike will do all the work for you. All you have to worry about is riding through the most beautiful and busy streets of Como, while the audio guide on the iPad Mini will help you discover the details of each of the monuments and learn about the history of the city.

I like to recommend this experience because it offers an original way of getting to know the lake, thanks to technology, which will allow you not only to listen to the audio guide with interesting details of the beauties of Como, but also to see on the iPad images of those places you will be visiting.

Interesting details

  • Price: You can find this experience at an approximate cost of around 75 euros.
  • Duration: It will take you around 3 hours to complete this tour.
  • Means of transport: The whole tour is done by electric bike, but you have to make your own way to the meeting point, either by private car or public transport.
  • Advantages of this option: The use of the bicycle is included and it is also equipped with an iPad Mini and Bluetooth headphones, with which you will be able to know all the details of each of the places you visit.
  • Disadvantages of this option: The tour is not suitable for people who have recently undergone surgery.

How to book a bike tour of Lago di Como

Book Online| ©Glenn Carstens-Peters
Book Online| ©Glenn Carstens-Peters

To book this type of tour, the first thing you need to do is find the option you are most comfortable with. Once you have identified which type of tour you want to book, it's time to search online.

Booking these tours online is much more advantageous because you can make the booking and forget about the queues on the day of your tour, plus you can pay a lower amount of money than you can pay if you book physically on the day of the tour.

When you make your booking, the company offering the bike tour should tell you everything you need to know about the itinerary and all the other details of the tour. At that time the agent should also inform you about the cancellation policy, which usually works up to 24 hours before the start of the tour.

They also inform you about the time when they will confirm the activity, which is usually about 24 hours before the start of the activity.

Duration of the Lago di Como bike tours

Clock| ©Cats Coming
Clock| ©Cats Coming

These tours can last as long as you want, however, on average these bike tours usually last between 3 to 4 hours. It also depends on the number of places you visit on each of these experiences.

There are tours that can last a little longer than 4 hours, between 5 and 6. In the latter case, these are tours in which you will get to know more than just Lake Como, all by bike. It should also be noted that these tours are generally done on electric bicycles, so you don't have to worry about how long it will take you to pedal.

On the other hand, there are other shorter routes in which you will only visit places close to the city of Como, and have a duration of no more than two hours. These tours can be done by electric or mechanical bicycle. With these city tours you will be able to see the most incredible monuments and places of interest in the city.

What will I see on these types of bike tours?

Sunset at Lago di Como| ©Gaspar Torriero
Sunset at Lago di Como| ©Gaspar Torriero

On these must-do tours, even if you visit Lake Como in one day, you will see much more than just beautiful landscapes, you will put your body into action to get to know the mountains, the lake shores and even the whole historical centre of the city of Como.

During your experience you will visit different iconic places within the city, you will be delighted by the many luxury shops, bearing in mind that Como is not only a lush region, but also a wealthy and luxurious one.

You will be able to see the most representative monuments of the city and beyond Como, some of these experiences will take you to the border between Italy and Switzerland, where you will be able to photograph beautiful alpine landscapes.

If there is something that you will love about this type of tour, it is the culture and the rich history of the region, without forgetting that you will also be able to taste some of the Italian gastronomy in some of the stops during your bike tour.

Tips for a bike tour in Lake Como

Comfortable shoes| ©Alexandra Tran
Comfortable shoes| ©Alexandra Tran
  • Although it is not a mandatory requirement, you should be in stable physical condition to undertake this experience.
  • It is important that you wear comfortable shoes because as well as pedalling hard on most of these tours, you will also have to walk a few kilometres.
  • I recommend you to wear warm clothes, so you can include this tour among the things to do in Lake Como in summer.
  • Most of these tours do not include drinks and snacks, so you will need to bring money to buy some along the way.
  • If you are going with children, remember to ask the company you book the experience with what age they must be to take a bike. If you are travelling with babies, you should ask if they have adaptive seats available for them to travel on the bike.

How much does a bike tour of Lake Como cost?

Money in Euro| ©Ibrahim Boran
Money in Euro| ©Ibrahim Boran

You can find these types of bike tours for a variety of prices, however, most of them cost between 70 and 100 euros per person. The price changes according to the services offered by each of these tours.

In some cases, the price of the experience includes the rental of bicycles, and in other cases it does not, so the price may vary. It also varies according to how long the experience lasts and whether it is a private or shared tour.

Another thing that can change the price of the experience is whether it is a guided or self-guided tour. In the first case, you will be accompanied by an expert and professional guide, while in the second case, you will have to go on your own with the company of an audio guide in which you will get relevant information about each place to visit.

What are the must-see places in Lake Como?

Laglio| ©pascalrossini
Laglio| ©pascalrossini

There is no doubt that Lake Como is a magical place where you can find very beautiful and picturesque villages and places to visit, that's why during this kind of bike tours, you shouldn't miss to visit some of them. Among the places that you should not miss to include in your list of places to visit are:

  • Laglio: In this place you will find the narrowest point of the lake, as well as it is possible to discover different monuments and places of cultural and historical interest of the region of Lago di Como. In the village you can enjoy beautiful views of the forest, the mountains and above all the lake.
  • Moltrasio: You can also reach this place by boat, but there is nothing like a nice bike ride through all the little streets, and discover each of the most special places in this town. Without a doubt, it is an incredible place to take pictures and get good panoramic views of the landscape of Como.
  • Cernobbio: It is a very interesting place to visit because its temperature invites you to stay. It is a warm and colourful place in the middle of the Alps. Moreover, the great touristic interest of the area makes it one of the most visited villages in the Lake Como region.

In addition to these places, you can also visit Bellagio, Nesso and the city of Como itself, all with plenty of culture, history and above all gastronomy to show tourists.

Why is it advisable to take a bike tour of Lago di Como?

Streets of Bellagio| ©. Ray in Manila
Streets of Bellagio| ©. Ray in Manila

It is highly recommended to do a bike tour of Lago di Como because it is a region with a lot of special places to visit, and the best way to do it is without a doubt to get on two wheels and cycle around it.

One of the biggest advantages of doing this tour is that you'll get to see places you wouldn't be able to see if you came by boat or private car. These bike tours also allow you to get to know each one of those forested places around the region.

The landscapes to be admired on a bicycle are not limited to the lake and its shores, but you will also have the opportunity to climb the mountains, from which you can see the whole region from a different perspective.

On two wheels you can also get to know the vineyards of the lake, which are one of the most striking attractions of the region, places that you would not be able to see if you travel only by boat.