Nesso Lake Como: The Hidden Waterfall Village Most Tourists Miss (2026 Guide)

There is a village on Lake Como where you can swim under a waterfall, in a leafy scenic gorge, and from a stone bridge that sits between the houses, swim in Lake Como with the locals for the best summer for your life.

Most visitors stick to the usual route which are Bellagio, Varenna, or Villa del Balbianello and to be fair, they are all worth it. I have proper guides on what to do in Varenna, Bellagio and Como City if you are building out your itinerary.

But Lake Como has more to it than just those three places.

Nesso Lake Como is almost an untouched, unknown town in Lake Como. It is free to visit, easy to reach, and feels completely different from the rest of the lake.

And if you fancy swimming in Lake Como, Nesso is one of the best swimming spots here if you time it right, which most guides do not really explain properly.

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What is the Orrido di Nesso?

Nesso is a small village on the eastern shore of Lake Como, sitting between Como and Bellagio.

What makes Nesso different is what’s hidden inside it.

There are two mountain streams meet right in the middle of the village, creating the Orrido di Nesso and because of this, you get rushing streams of water like a waterfall..

At the bottom, you’ve got the Ponte della Civera and this is the view everyone comes for. You get the waterfall behind you and the lake in front of you.

It’s one of those spots that doesn’t really feel real until you’re standing there. And you can literally jump off the bridge (it’s not very high) into the water and swim around.

Even Leonardo da Vinci wrote about it, which tells you this Lake Como town has been impressing people for a long time.

How to get to Piazza Castello

To get to the bridge is simple enough but it’s not as easy as I thought.

There are around 340 stone steps from the top down to the water. And you know with stone steps, it can get slippery when wet and sometimes uneven, and some points steeper than they look.

The walk down takes around 10 to 15 minutes. And walking up can get harder than walking down sometimes, though I always prefer walking up, it’s more stable for me

I am thinking it’s probably not best to bring a pushchair, and if anyone in your group has significant mobility difficulties, the steps are not accessible in either direction.

And it does get super busy during Summer, especially the bridge, and you probably have to wait your turn if you want to take a swim from the bridge.

In spring, the water level is at its highest and the sound at the bridge can get loud. The highest water flow runs from March through June. In August the flow is lower and calmer. Late summer gives you a quieter one.

Swimming at Nesso Lake Como

During summer, people would swim at the base of the gorge. There are stone steps into the lake near the Ponte della Civera, and in July and August locals use the bridge itself as a jumping point.

If you are here during summer and you want to swim (which you should), bring a towel, swimsuit (of course) and water shoes for the rocky entry.

The water is cold. It is Lake Como water fed directly from mountain streams.

If you’re visiting in July or August, it’s so refreshing and worth doing.

Oh and just so you know, this spot is not a beach as you’re getting in from stone steps and the bottom is rocky. And you sit on the steps on the sides (if there’s space).

Personally, I’d only swim here in peak summer when it’s nice and warm.

Is it safe to swim in Lake Como at Nesso?

This is one of the most common questions people ask before visiting Nesso or Lake Como as a whole.

Lake Como water quality is monitored regularly by the regional health authority and by ARPA Lombardia, which publishes test results throughout the swimming season.

Earlier when I mentioned that most guides get the swimming question wrong. Here is what I mean.

In summer, people swim at the base of the gorge. As I mentioned earlier, there are stone steps into the lake near the Ponte della Civera and the only thing I say is that the water is generally cold except possibly during peak summer times.

Most Lake Como guides will tell you swimming here is fine and leave it at that. But the timing matters more than most people realise.

Nesso’s Rosina beach ranked as the single cleanest swimming beach on all of Lake Como in the most recent official water quality data, published by The Como Companion using figures from the local health authority (ASL). The eastern shore near Nesso consistently tests among the cleanest sections of the lake.

Across the lake, most bathing beaches meet EU standards and test as clean to very clean.

The areas near the southern end of the lake, around Como city itself, are the exception and are not recommended for swimming. Nesso is far enough from Como on the eastern shore that this does not affect it.

The eastern shore between Nesso and Bellagio is generally considered the cleanest section of the lake for swimming.

This is partly because the mountain streams feeding into the lake here bring in constantly refreshed alpine water, which is exactly what you are jumping into when you swim at the Ponte della Civera.

What to know before you swim at Nesso Lake Como:

• The water is cold even in peak summer. Lake Como surface temperature reaches around 23 to 24 degrees Celsius in July and August, which feels refreshing rather than warm when fed by mountain streams.
• There is a current where the streams meet the lake. The Tuf and Nose streams come in with force, especially from March through June. Do not swim close to where the waterfall hits the water during high water season.
• There are no lifeguards at Nesso. Swimming here is unsupervised. If you are not a confident swimmer, stay close to the stone steps rather than going further out.
• Avoid swimming after heavy rainfall. Mountain streams increase runoff temporarily after a storm. Wait a day after significant rain before swimming here.
• Wear water shoes. The stone steps into the lake are slippery and the lake bed near the entry point is rocky. Water shoes make entry and exit easier.

When is the best time to swim at Nesso Lake Como?

July and August are the best months for swimming. The lake has warmed to its peak temperature, the waterfall flow is lower making swimming near the bridge safer, and the days are long enough to swim and still have the afternoon for other things.

If swimming is your priority, come in July or August. If you want to see the waterfall at full force, come in April or May and skip the swim.

Things to do in Nesso

Most visitors see the gorge and leave. If you have more time, let’s explore more in Nesso

Piazza Castello

The upper village main square sits on the ruins of an ancient castle, with views down to the lake and the C30 bus stop. There is also a Roman watchtower remnant, the Torre della Nessesità, one of a chain built to guard the lake.

It is a quiet, unpolished village square. Worth ten minutes before you head down to the gorge or after you come back up.

Chiesa dei Santi Pietro e Paolo

The village church has a bell tower and old frescoes inside. The square it faces is quiet. Not a major sight, but a calm contrast to the gorge and worth a few minutes if you pass it.

Careno Hamlet

About fifteen minutes walk from the main village, Careno is a cluster of stone houses arranged in a triangular formation up a hillside. There is a small Romanesque church, the Chiesa San Martino, and the nearby Trattoria del Porto apparently holds the key to it if you want to look inside.

The hamlet is quiet, and almost nobody makes the walk from Nesso. Worth doing if you want twenty minutes of Lake Como without any crowds at all.

Valle di Nossee Loop Trail

A two-hour loop from the village, climbing around 430 metres, with a Romanesque bridge partway along the Nosee stream and old stone houses at the higher sections. There are no facilities on the trail. Bring water. This is a proper hike with some unmarked sections, not a casual walk. Check conditions before you go.

See the gorge from the water

The Orrido di Nesso looks completely different from a boat on the lake. Several Lake Como boat tours departing from Como pass the gorge during their route toward Bellagio, and from the water you can see the full scale of the gorge from the outside in a way the steps do not give you.

Seeing the gorge from the water is a completely different experience. You actually understand how stunning it is seeing it from eye level.

📍 If you’re only doing one paid experience on Lake Como, make it a boat day. This is the one I’d book again, the Lake Como: 2h Small-Group Boat Tour with Prosecco & Villas) is probably the one.

This tour passes directly by Nesso on the way to Bellagio, so you get the view without needing to plan it separately. If you’re already doing a boat day, and want to include Nesso, this is probably the one.

Where to eat in Nesso

Nesso is a small village with limited restaurant options, here are some recommendations. Most people default to pasta and pizza around the lake, but this is one of the few places where it’s actually worth ordering the local fish.

• Trattoria da Eugenio is at the top of the village with a terrace overlooking the lake. It is known for grilled meat and local lake fish, pike, perch, and missoltino, which is dried agone and a Lake Como specialty. The terrace view is one of the better ones on this stretch of the eastern shore.
• Trattoria del Porto is in Careno, about fifteen minutes walk from the main village. It serves traditional lake fish in a setting that feels far removed from the tourist circuit. Small, does not take advance bookings easily, and worth the walk#

Where to stay near Nesso

Most people do not stay in Nesso overnight, and this is the sensible approach. The village has Hotel Tre Rose as its main accommodation, a small simple hotel near the gorge. It is fine, but the village has little in the way of evening activity.

The better option is to base yourself in Varenna or Bellagio and do Nesso as a morning trip. Varenna in particular is one of the quieter, less-touristed bases on the lake, and the C30 bus connects both towns to Nesso directly.

My recommendation is to base yourself in Varenna and do Nesso as a morning trip. The C30 bus takes about thirty minutes from Bellagio and roughly an hour from Como. You will have the rest of the day for the lake from a better-connected base.

Most people don’t stay in Nesso overnight, and honestly that’s the right call. It works best as a half-day trip. If you’re deciding where to base yourself, I’ve compared Varenna, Bellagio, and Como properly in my Lake Como guides, but the short version is this:

• Varenna is quieter and easier for transport
• Bellagio has more hotels and restaurants
• Como is the most practical if you’re arriving by train

How to get to Nesso

Getting to Nesso without a car is easy and the better option for most visitors. The parking during summer is terrible, I probably suggest just taking the bus or renting a boat if you already planning to.

By Bus

Take the C30 bus (operated by ASF Autolinee), this one runs along the eastern shore road between Como San Giovanni and Bellagio, stopping at Nesso Piazza Castello. This is the same line sometimes listed as the C130 in older guides, the route and stops are the same. From Bellagio the journey takes about 30 minutes. From Como it is about 40 minutes.

The bus runs roughly every 60 to 90 minutes depending on season, with more frequency in summer. Services start from around 6am and run until around 9:50pm from Bellagio and 10pm from Como in summer. Check the current timetable at asfautolinee.it before you travel as Sunday frequency drops significantly.

You can buy tickets at most tobacco shops or newsstands in Como or Bellagio, through the Arriva MyPay app (note: the app requires an Italian phone number, so you will need a local SIM or eSIM), or on the bus itself at a slightly higher price with cash only.

Tip: The bus stop in Nesso is Piazza Castello, the upper village square. From there, the path to the gorge and steps is signed. Buy your return ticket before boarding if you can, the bus driver takes cash only and exact change is helpful.

By Ferry (limited)

The slow battello ferry stops at Nesso on some services, but frequency is low, roughly two to three services per day in each direction. The ferry is a scenic way to arrive but the timetable requires careful checking. Use the Navigazione Laghi website for current timetables. Do not plan a day around the ferry without confirming the afternoon departure time in advance.

Note: The Torno ferry pier, which is on the route between Como and Nesso, was closed from November 2025 through March 22 2026 for structural works. If you are visiting in early April 2026, check whether services have fully resumed before planning a ferry-based itinerary on this section of the lake.

By Car

Nesso is on the SS583 eastern shore road, about 20 minutes from Bellagio and 30 minutes from Como by car. Drive slowly and watch for the small Orrido sign that marks the parking area.

Parking is difficult in summer. Multiple visitors report waits of two to three hours in July and August. There is a small car park near the Orrido sign and some additional spaces uphill toward the sports ground. If you must drive, arrive before 9am in summer. The C30 bus is the better option for most visits.

If you’re renting a car for the rest of your Lake Como trip, it’s still worth leaving it for this part and taking the bus instead.

Rent a car If you are renting a car for Lake Como more broadly, Discover Cars compares all the main companies with free cancellation on most bookings. Just park the car for the Nesso morning and take the bus.

Best time to visit Nesso

Spring and early summer give you the highest water levels and the most dramatic version of the gorge. The snowmelt from the mountains above runs from March through June, driving the Tuf and Nose streams at full force. The roar at the Ponte della Civera is at its peak during this period.

Late summer is better for swimming. August weekends on the steps are busy! Weekday mornings at any point from May through October are the best balance.

April is a particularly good window. The water is still running strong, the trees are coming into leaf, and the tourist volumes have not yet reached peak levels. The light in April at Lake Como is also very good for photography.

FAQ about Nesso Lake Como

If you’re planning Lake Como, don’t skip Nesso. It’s one of the few places that still feels a bit untouched, and it takes less than half a day to see it properly.

Courtney xx

If you’re planning your trip around Lake Como, these will help you connect everything properly:

Take a look at the rest of the Lake Como cluster below:

Best things to do in Varenna, Lake Como Italy 2026 + One Day Itinerary

Best things to do in Como City, Lake Como Italy + One Day Itinerary

Best things to do in Bellagio, Lake Como Italy 2026 + One Day Itinerary

Lake Como Travel Guide 2026: Your Next Dream Summer Vacation

Villa del Balbianello: Is It Actually Worth the Hype? (2026 Guide)

9 Best Towns in Lake Como (2026): Where to Visit + The One Most Tourists Miss

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