View of the town of Lecco in the country of italy near lake como with belltower, mountains, and boats in the harbor

7 Lovely Things to Do in Lecco (2025 Update)

Lecco is a lovely gem on Lake Como’s southeastern branch, and even though it’s the largest city in this particular part of the lake, it’s actually less busy than many cities on the lake, overshadowed by the more famous Como or smaller villages like Varenna and Bellagio. 

Despite this, it’s absolutely worth visiting Lecco if you have a few days while you’re traveling to Lake Como, as there’s quite a lot packed into this charming Como destination.

🇮🇹 Planning a trip to Lecco at the last minute? Here are my quick picks:

🏨 Best Lecco Accommodations
1. Luxury Suites Rocopom (enjoy lakefront views from your balcony!)
2. Verde Acqua (incredible penthouse apartment rental!)
3. Lecco Hostel & Rooms (best option for budget travelers)

⛰️ Best Lecco Tours & Activities
1. Sunset Shared Boat Ride (with free prosecco aperitif!)
2. Lecco Lake and Villa Tour (see the historic Como villas!)
3. Photoshoot with Private Photographer (for all those Lecco memories!)
Note: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission if you purchase something after clicking. Thank you for supporting the free content on this independent site! For more information on affiliate links and cookies, see my disclosure page for more details.
Two stone pillars stand on a lakeside promenade with a view of a turquoise lake, distant mountains, and a belltower in the background in the charming Northern Italian region of Lake Como on a sunny day.

On one of my most recent trips from Milan to Lake Como (which I frequent often, having lived in Milan for many years), I chose to spend a little extra time in Lecco — and it was such a fantastic choice.

Admittedly, Lecco may lack a bit of color and small-town charm of the other Como villages, it more than makes up for it with its beautiful lakeside promenades, small but intriguing selection of museums, and gorgeous hiking areas.

Lecco is perhaps best known as the setting of Alessandro Manzoni’s most famous novel, The Betrothed. As such, the city features various spots related to the novel, including an entire museum dedicated to the author.

While Italians are generally familiar with the novel, most foreigners are unlikely to have read it. However, it can still be interesting to check out the museum and places mentioned in the novel to learn more about it, and you might even decide to give the novel a try! 

Not convinced? Don’t worry! Even if you’re not interested in the book, there is plenty to do in Lecco.

Tips for Visiting Lecco

Lecco's iconic clock tower with red and yellow sailboats on the water during winter, surrounded by trees with bare branches, although none of the mountains in the background have snow on them yet, suggesting it's early enough in the season.

Any time spent in Lecco is time well spent, but the shoulder season (namely — April through may and mid-September through October) offer the best balance of good weather, lower prices, and smaller crowds.

While the city in the summer is undoubtedly lovely, it can get rather crowded (and prices quite high) during the peak tourist season, which runs from June until early September.

Winter has the fewest crowds, and despite its mountainous climate, it can be a bit milder than surrounding areas like, say, Milan in winter. So rather than snow, expect rain and gray skies.

As for how much time to spend in Lecco? Honestly, one day is enough to check out the city’s main landmarks. However, if you’d like to explore the museums and hike in the nearby mountains, it’s best to stay at least overnight (giving you two full days).

Best Things to Do in Lecco, Italy

Wander around town and enjoy the view.

Views of the Lecco area with churches and mountains and belltowers and boats on the water. There are some clouds in the sky but otherwise it is sunny.

Lecco may be one of the largest cities on Lake Como, but you can easily walk around the historical center and to all the important landmarks in a few short hours. It can be fun to amble along all the different pathways and form your own walking route, but I’ll also list the most important sights in case you prefer to set up a more structured Lecco itinerary.

While you’re wandering around, check out the lakefront Piazza XX Settembre, stroll along Via Roma (one of the nicest streets to wander around in Lecco), and look for the iconic Monument to Manzoni, the aforementioned literary giant of Lecco.

From Piazza XX Settembre, you can walk along the lakeshore on Lungolario Isonzo and stop off in the small lakefront park for some of the best views of the mountains and surrounding small towns of Como.

Two people walking on the lake promenade in the summer or shoulder season months wearing warm weather clothing. A few ducks and a swan are in the water of the lake.

The section of the lakeside promenade offers the most iconic view of Lecco’s bell tower, Campanile di San Nicolò, which looks specially striking against the stunning backdrop of the mountains.

North of the bell tower, you can continue walking along the pedestrian way, which merges into Lungolago di Lecco, while enjoying even more beautiful alpine views.

To make the day even better, book a sunset shared boat ride (complete with aperitif!) to admire the views of Lecco from the lake!

Visit the Church of Saint Nicolò and climb the bell tower.

Close-up of the clock on Lecco's bell tower, with detailed stonework and the surrounding cliffs and mountains in the background, partially covered in lush foliage.

Standing at 96 meters (315 feet), Campanile San Nicolò—also known as Lecco’s Bell Tower—is one of the tallest belltowers in all of Europe! Although the tower often takes center stage, the interior of the church is equally impressive.

A true Neoclassical architectural gem, the Church of Saint Nicolò, is just as striking on the inside as it is on the outside: think a gorgeous interior with pink marble columns and beautiful frescoes by Giotto.

If you want some of the best 360° views over Lecco, you can visit the bell tower on a guided tour — though the tower will make you work for that view, necessitating a climb of nearly 400 steps! But the rewarding view of Lecco, Lake Como, and the surrounding Italian Alps are more than worth the effort.

Plan ahead before your trip, though, since online booking is necessary to climb the tower. You can check the tower’s website and pick a date to book the guided tour. 

Opening days and times can vary depending on the season (as of February 2025, the only availability is on Sundays), so check all the details ahead of time. The entire guided tour lasts roughly 1.5 hours and costs €5 for a standard entry ticket.

Explore the open-air museum of Pescarenico.

Small boats floating on the turquoise waters of Pescarenico, Lecco, with the surrounding mountains towering in the background under a partly cloudy sky, illuminated by beautiful sunlight, suggesting a summer season or warm weather.

The neighborhood of Pescarenico is a small district of Lecco, made famous as the only place explicitly mentioned in Manzoni’s The Betrothed. Back in the 16th century, this part of town was a small fishing village centered around the main square, Piazza Era.

Despite the many changes to Lecco over the centuries, Pescarenico has maintained the charm of an old-time village, with historical, colorful houses and a small port full of charming small fishing boats.

Even if you haven’t read Manzoni’s novel, I promise that you’ll find this picturesque part of town and its lake views enjoyable.

Check out the exhibitions at Palazzo delle Paure.

A white building with brown arched windows and details of the setting's architecture with mountains in the background in Lecco, Italy

Palazzo delle Paure (literally translated — Palace of Fears!) is a neo-Medieval building from the early 20th century. But don’t worry, it’s not a particularly frightening or haunted place today; the name dates back to when the building housed the customs and finance offices (fearful indeed!).

Today, Palazzo delle Paure is home to one of the most important museums in Lecco. The second floor houses a permanent contemporary art exhibition, while the ground floor is dedicated to temporary exhibitions which rotate regularly.

The opening hours are Tuesday from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, and Wednesday to Sunday from 10:00 AM o 6:00 PM. It is closed on Mondays. Tickets cost €6 for standard entry.

Visit Villa Manzoni to understand the city’s historical legacy.

Villa Manzoni nestled among lush greenery, its elegant architecture standing out against a moody, cloudy sky.
Photo Credit: By luca_s – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

2025 Update: Villa Manzoni is currently closed for renovations, starting from July 9, 2024 and planned through December 31, 2025.

Villa Manzoni holds a significant place in both Lecco and the life and literary works of Alessandro Manzoni. The villa belonged to the writer’s family — and more importantly, it’s what inspired him to write the very first lines of his masterpiece!

If you want to learn more about the celebrated author, Villa Manzoni houses a museum entirely dedicated to his life and life’s work, set amongst his personal antique furniture and original artworks. 

Note: Since Villa Manzoni is closed for all of 2025, you might enjoy this Villa Tour of the Lake Como area, covering several historic villas

Hike to Crocione San Martino.

People hiking on a pathway above Lake Como in the summer wearing shorts and using hiking walking sticks

The Crocione San Martino is a large cross standing at the top of Monte San Martino, the iconic mountain that towers over Lecco and gives the town its distinctive backdrop. I’ll forewarn you though — while the scenic viewpoint has some of the best Como views around, the hike is rather challenging!

The loop trail is roughly 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) long and takes around four hours as it is quite intense the whole time in spite of its relatively short distance. Tthe trail isn’t for everyone, as it includes portions of actual rock scrambling, but it’s a great workout for experienced hikers who aren’t particularly afraid to get their hands dirty.

Don’t worry if you’re not feeling up for this intense hike, though! There are alternative trails to reach Crocione San Martino that are far easier. The pathway via Sentiero dei Pizzetti (starting from Via Stelvio) is the most difficult, while Sentiero da Rancio (starting from Via Paradiso) is still challenging but more accessible. 

Admire the view from Belvedere Parco Valentino.

A breathtaking view from a cliff, overlooking Lake Como with the surrounding Alps and mountains, bathed in sunlight with a few clouds scattered across the sky.

One scenic viewpoint close to Lecco that almost beats the one from Crocione San Martino is Belvedere Parco Valentino. This viewing platform extends out from the mountain reaching towards the lake, giving a panoramic view that, for my money, offers the best view in all of Lombardy (a rather high distinction!)

One thing to be aware of is that this viewing platform is quite high up, so it’s important to go on a clear day. On an overcast day, you may even find yourself above the cloudline, which is admittedly a unique experience… but not worth sacrificing the lake views for.

As you might expect, sunset is a great time to visit the Belvedere, as it’s quite special to see the gorgeous late afternoon light illuminates the lake before getting tucked away in a crevice of the mountains.

The only downside to this place is that it’s not very easy to reach, but there are a couple options! The easiest way is by car, if you happen to have rented a car during your time in Italy. You can drive about 40 minutes from Lecco, park at Piani Resinelli, and then walk for half an hour to the viewpoint. 

If you don’t have access to a car, you can also get there by bus number 7. The bus stops roughly 10 minutes away from the parking lot, so it’s pretty convenient. Just be aware of the schedule so that you don’t miss the last bus home… that would be a pretty costly mistake!

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