Lake Como: 10 Locations for a Photoshoot
1. Como Cathedral
Majestic lakeside Gothic cathedral
Accessibility: Moderate
Popularity: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Best time: Morning / Evening
Duration: 30 min | 60 min
Entry: Paid
Ideal for: Travel / Couples / Family / Portraits
The majestic Como Cathedral astonishes with its architecture and historic atmosphere. It’s a perfect setting for classic portraits or experimental shots with light and shadow play.
📍 Wowtographer Tip: The ideal time for shooting is early morning or golden hour. The soft light and tranquility allow you to capture the unique details of the façade and interiors while avoiding crowds of tourists. Entrance to the cathedral is free, making it an accessible location for photoshoots without additional costs. Pay attention to the rich decor and carved details that add a special charm to your photos.
📍 Wowtographer Tip: The ideal time for shooting is early morning or golden hour. The soft light and tranquility allow you to capture the unique details of the façade and interiors while avoiding crowds of tourists. Entrance to the cathedral is free, making it an accessible location for photoshoots without additional costs. Pay attention to the rich decor and carved details that add a special charm to your photos.
2. Villa Olmo
Elegant lakeside neoclassical villa
Accessibility: Easy
Popularity: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Best time: Morning / Sunset
Duration: 30 min | 60 min
Entry: Free
Ideal for: Panoramic views / Landscape
The elegant Villa Olmo, with its spacious gardens and historic atmosphere, provides the perfect backdrop for stylish portraits. Every corner of this villa is infused with art and history, inspiring creative ideas.
📍 Wowtographer Tip: For the best shots, we recommend early morning or golden hour when the soft light highlights the architectural lines of the building and creates a romantic ambiance. Gentle shadows and warm tones will give your photos a unique depth.
The villa’s grounds are free to explore, but we suggest visiting on weekdays for a quieter atmosphere and a more personalized approach to your shoot.
📍 Wowtographer Tip: For the best shots, we recommend early morning or golden hour when the soft light highlights the architectural lines of the building and creates a romantic ambiance. Gentle shadows and warm tones will give your photos a unique depth.
The villa’s grounds are free to explore, but we suggest visiting on weekdays for a quieter atmosphere and a more personalized approach to your shoot.
3. Lake Como Promenade
Scenic lakeside promenade
Accessibility: Easy
Popularity: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Best time: Morning / Sunset
Duration: 30 min | 60 min
Entry: Free
Ideal for: Panoramic lake views / Strolling
Wake up with the first rays of sunlight and take a stroll along the picturesque promenade by Lake Como! The expansive views of the blue water, framed by majestic mountains, create a fairytale-like atmosphere for romantic shots.
📍 Wowtographer Tip: The best time for shooting is early morning or sunset. During these hours, there’s enough light for beautiful reflections, and the flow of tourists is minimal, allowing you to create in peace. The natural beauty and reflections in the water will give your photos a magical quality. It’s an ideal location for those who love street romance and dynamic portraits.
📍 Wowtographer Tip: The best time for shooting is early morning or sunset. During these hours, there’s enough light for beautiful reflections, and the flow of tourists is minimal, allowing you to create in peace. The natural beauty and reflections in the water will give your photos a magical quality. It’s an ideal location for those who love street romance and dynamic portraits.
4. Bellagio
Picturesque cobblestone waterfront village
Accessibility: Easy
Popularity: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Best time: Morning / Evening
Duration: 30 min | 60 min | 2 hours
Entry: Free
Ideal for: Strolling / Waterfront / Boat rides
Bellagio is a small town known for its narrow streets, colorful facades, and cozy cafes. Its atmospheric lakeside promenade and historic Piazza San Giacomo create a unique style and authentic ambiance for a photoshoot.
📍 Wowtographer Tip: Take a walk down the famous Via Garibaldi, where historic buildings stand next to modern cafes, and every turn hides a new picturesque corner. Here you can capture amazing moments of city life, while the central Piazza San Giacomo makes a perfect backdrop for portrait shots. For the most natural photos, we recommend choosing the morning or late evening when the sun casts a soft glow on the architecture and streets, and tourist activity is low. Enjoy the Italian charm and every moment of your shoot!
📍 Wowtographer Tip: Take a walk down the famous Via Garibaldi, where historic buildings stand next to modern cafes, and every turn hides a new picturesque corner. Here you can capture amazing moments of city life, while the central Piazza San Giacomo makes a perfect backdrop for portrait shots. For the most natural photos, we recommend choosing the morning or late evening when the sun casts a soft glow on the architecture and streets, and tourist activity is low. Enjoy the Italian charm and every moment of your shoot!
5. Villa Melzi in Bellagio
Charming lakeside botanical gardens
Accessibility: Easy
Popularity: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Best time: Afternoon
Duration: 30 min | 60 min | 2 hours
Entry: Paid
Ideal for: Couples / Solo / Family
Villa Melzi, with its magnificent gardens and well-maintained alleys, is a true paradise for tourists. Here you’ll find exquisite statues, exotic vegetation, and beautiful landscapes that inspire the boldest ideas.
📍 Wowtographer Tip: The optimal time for shooting is late afternoon or golden hour, when the soft sunlight brings the garden’s every detail to life, and golden tones create an enchanting effect. Note that entrance to the park is typically paid, but the price is well worth it for the quality and uniqueness of the shots. Be sure to plan your visit on weekdays for a more peaceful experience and privacy during your shoot!
📍 Wowtographer Tip: The optimal time for shooting is late afternoon or golden hour, when the soft sunlight brings the garden’s every detail to life, and golden tones create an enchanting effect. Note that entrance to the park is typically paid, but the price is well worth it for the quality and uniqueness of the shots. Be sure to plan your visit on weekdays for a more peaceful experience and privacy during your shoot!
6. Varenna
Quaint pastel lakeside village
Accessibility: Easy
Popularity: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Best time: Morning
Duration: 60 min | 2 hours
Entry: Free
Ideal for: Café hopping / Lakeside dining / Travel
Charming Varenna is perfect for leisurely walks and stylish photoshoots. Start your journey along the Lungolago di Varenna lakeside promenade, where the azure water reflects the first rays of the sun, and the bright facades of old houses create the perfect backdrop for romantic shots. Then, head to the historic center, where you'll find the picturesque Via XX Settembre street. The narrow alleys and cozy cafes, located near San Giorgio Church, immerse you in authentic Italian charm. Every corner of this area is a treasure trove of inspiration, where architectural details tell their own unique story.
📍 Wowtographer Tip: The best time for shooting is in the morning, when the town is just waking up, and the soft light highlights the intricacies of the local color.
📍 Wowtographer Tip: The best time for shooting is in the morning, when the town is just waking up, and the soft light highlights the intricacies of the local color.
7. Villa Monastero in Varenna
Historic lakeside botanical gardens
Accessibility: Moderate
Popularity: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Best time: Afternoon
Duration: 30 min | 60 min | 2 hours
Entry: Paid
Ideal for: Couples / Solo / Family / Architecture
Villa Monastero, with its architectural grandeur and picturesque gardens stretching along the lake’s shore, is ideal for fine art photoshoots, where each shot tells a story.
📍 Wowtographer Tip: For the best photos, choose late afternoon or golden hour when the sunlight softly illuminates the architectural details and natural landscapes, creating a magical atmosphere. The entrance to the villa grounds is usually paid, but this investment is well worth it for the unique experience and unmatched aesthetic of the shots.
📍 Wowtographer Tip: For the best photos, choose late afternoon or golden hour when the sunlight softly illuminates the architectural details and natural landscapes, creating a magical atmosphere. The entrance to the villa grounds is usually paid, but this investment is well worth it for the unique experience and unmatched aesthetic of the shots.
8. Tremezzo
Picturesque lakeside villa town
Accessibility: Easy
Popularity: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Best time: Sunset
Duration: 30 min | 60 min | 2 hours
Entry: Free
Ideal for: Panoramas / Romantic strolls / Nature
This viewpoint offers you breathtaking views of the endless sea and picturesque island landscapes. Belvedere di Tragara is famous for its romantic atmosphere, and the panoramic views here will captivate every visitor. Locals say that it was here that artists and poets found inspiration to create their masterpieces.
📍 Wowtographer Tip: The best time for shooting is during sunset when the sky is painted in incredible shades of pink and gold. The viewpoint is open to everyone for free, and the enchanting atmosphere will surely add magic to your photos.
📍 Wowtographer Tip: The best time for shooting is during sunset when the sky is painted in incredible shades of pink and gold. The viewpoint is open to everyone for free, and the enchanting atmosphere will surely add magic to your photos.
9. Villa del Balbianello
Elegant lakeside historic villa
Accessibility: Moderate
Popularity: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Best time: Early morning
Duration: 30 min | 60 min | 2 hours
Entry: Paid
Ideal for: History & architecture buffs
The famous Villa del Balbianello, with its gardens and lake views, has become a symbol of romance and Italian elegance. Every detail here seems designed to create an atmosphere of love and beauty.
📍 Wowtographer Tip: We recommend visiting early in the morning when tourist crowds are minimal, and the soft light turns the villa into a real fairy-tale castle. This approach will allow you to capture the magic of the location in all its glory. Note that visiting the villa is usually paid, but it’s a small price to pay for the opportunity to capture shots that will delight you for years. Plan your visit in advance to avoid queues and enjoy a peaceful photoshoot!
📍 Wowtographer Tip: We recommend visiting early in the morning when tourist crowds are minimal, and the soft light turns the villa into a real fairy-tale castle. This approach will allow you to capture the magic of the location in all its glory. Note that visiting the villa is usually paid, but it’s a small price to pay for the opportunity to capture shots that will delight you for years. Plan your visit in advance to avoid queues and enjoy a peaceful photoshoot!
10. Brunate
Picturesque hillside funicular village
Accessibility: Easy
Popularity: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Best time: Early morning
Duration: 30 min | 60 min | 2 hours
Entry: Paid
Ideal for: Couples / Solo / Family
Brunate is a cozy mountain village accessible by funicular. From here, you’ll have breathtaking views of Lake Como and the surrounding landscapes, making it a perfect spot for panoramic photos.
📍 Wowtographer Tip: The best time for shooting is at dawn or early morning when the sun’s rays gently paint the sky, and the freshness of the morning adds a sense of peace and beauty to the shots. A small fee for the funicular ride is worth it for the unique views and the chance to take "rooftop" style shots. This is an ideal location for dynamic and inspiring photos that tell the story of your journey!
📍 Wowtographer Tip: The best time for shooting is at dawn or early morning when the sun’s rays gently paint the sky, and the freshness of the morning adds a sense of peace and beauty to the shots. A small fee for the funicular ride is worth it for the unique views and the chance to take "rooftop" style shots. This is an ideal location for dynamic and inspiring photos that tell the story of your journey!