Lake Lugano Vs Lake Como: Differences & Similarities

As you may already be aware, Lake Lugano is very close to Lake Como, so you might be wondering what the differences and similarities are with Lake Lugano vs Lake Como. Well you’ve come to the right place as we have listed as much as possible for you to understand what each lake has to offer. Both lakes are known for their stunning scenery, charming villages, and rich history, making them popular tourist destinations. However, while they share many similarities, they also have their unique differences.

In this blog post, we will be comparing Lake Lugano and Lake Como to help you decide which one to visit on your next trip!

The Differences with Lake Lugano vs Lake Como

There are many differences with Lake Lugano vs Lake Como, which we have listed here below:

The size – Lake Lugano is smaller than Lake Como, with Lake Lugano being approximately 66 square kilometers in size whereas Lake Como is approximately 145 square kilometers. So that’s quite a difference!

Lake Como is fully located in Northern Italy, whereas Lake Lugano is made up of 40% of Switzerland and 60% of Italy. So Lake Lugano is split with a border.

Lake Lugano is surrounded by all the local hills (including Monte Bre and Monte San Salvatore), whereas Lake Como is surrounded by the Alps.

Lake Como is officially more popular with international tourists, influenced by international films and famous people. So this means it can also be a lot more busy during the hot touristic Summer period.

Currency! Since Lugano is in Switzerland and Como is in Italy, they both officially have different currencies of Swiss Francs and Euros. So if visiting it will be good to have some local cash, but paying by card everywhere is also possible.

The Similarities with Lake Lugano vs Lake Como

There are many similarities with Lake Lugano vs Lake Como, which we have listed here below:

Same language spoken by locals surrounding the lakes – Italian!

Which also leads to the next point that most restaurants around both lakes have delicious pizza and pasta dishes on their menus.

Both lakes have crystal clear waters, which also have a beautiful turquoise colour tint when the sun shines specifically in the right angles.

Both lakes have shorelines dotted with numerous towns and villages, some of which are more well-known and tourist-friendly, while others are more remote and off the beaten path. For example Lugano has Gandria and Morcote, and Lake Como has Bellagio, Menaggio and Gravedona ed Uniti.

Both have a mild climate, with Summer temperatures during August Lake Lugano weather reaching 27°C and Lake Como reaching 25°C on average.

Both offer scenic views regardless of what part of the Lake you are on or near.

There are boat trips on each lake that you can take to either use to visit a specific destination on the lake, or to enjoy a boat tour cruise around the lake. Both lakes have many docking stations for the local boats, so it depends on where you would be starting from.

Personal Experience Of Both Lakes

Since living in Lugano ourselves, we love Lake Lugano for its peace, prettiness and easy access to other villages like Gandra and Morcote by boat. Lugano is a great place to visit with the lake making it idyllic on sunny days. Around the lake you will find numerous red benches to sit on, where you can sit with a book, coffee or just your sunglasses to enjoy the view. We have yet to explore the Italian sections of Lake Lugano, so thats something on our to do list for this year.

For Lake Como, we have also experienced the area a few times, which included a boat trip from one village to another. Even on cloudy days we noticed that Lake Como is very busy, and Summer time is crazy busy. The boat routes were easily full and so we saw many people turning up super early to get a spot starting at Como. Whereas the boat docking areas were less busy around the Lake Como, so it depends on your travel times and when you visit the lake.

If you have the time in your travels, we would recommend visiting BOTH! They are both pretty, scenic and enjoyable for all ages. So consider them both on your next travels to Lugano and Como.

Do you know any more Lake Lugano vs Lake Como differences or similarities? Let us know in the comments!