Choose Lake Como if…
- you want special-occasion restaurants for a splurge night
- you love the setting: villas, gardens and ferries crossing between pastel villages
Choose Rome if…
- you want plenty of casual, inexpensive places to eat
- your date is outside peak summer: fewer activities here depend on the season
- you love the setting: ancient ruins, Baroque piazzas and long dinners in Trastevere
Side by side
| Lake Como | Rome | |
|---|---|---|
| Best season | May to September | April to June, September to October |
| Getting there | Milan Malpensa (MXP) or Milan Linate (LIN), both about 1h15 by car to the central lake. | Rome Fiumicino (FCO) is 45 minutes by car or 32 minutes on the Leonardo Express train to Termini. |
| Car needed? | Not usually | Not usually |
| Activity prices | Mid-range | Mid-range |
| Group-friendly activities | 11 of 12 | 11 of 12 |
| Relaxed activities | 6 | 5 |
| Foodie activities | 4 | 3 |
| Adventure activities | 4 | 4 |
| Full-day trips | 2 | 2 |
| Seasonal activities | 3 | 0 |
| Budget eats on our list | 1 | 5 |
| Currency | Euro (EUR) | Euro (EUR) |
| Tipping | Not expected. Many restaurants add a small "coperto" cover charge per person. Rounding up or leaving 5 to 10% for great service is appreciated. | Not expected. Many restaurants add a small "coperto" cover charge per person. Rounding up or leaving 5 to 10% for great service is appreciated. |
| Dinner time | Dinner usually starts between 8 and 9:30 pm. Many kitchens close between lunch and dinner. | Dinner usually starts between 8 and 9:30 pm. Many kitchens close between lunch and dinner. |
Top group activities in Lake Como
- Private speedboat tour: Bellagio, Varenna and Villa del Balbianello. See the famous villas from the water on a classic wooden boat. Fits small groups.
- Villa del Balbianello and Villa Carlotta gardens. Two of the lake's most beautiful gardens with a guide and ferry hops in between.
- Italian cooking class in a lakeside home. Make risotto and fresh pasta with a local cook, then eat on the terrace.
- Greenway del Lago guided hike. An easy walk through villages and olive groves above the western shore.
Top group activities in Rome
- Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill tour. Skip the line with a guide who brings ancient Rome to life.
- Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel tour. Michelangelo's ceiling and St. Peter's Basilica without the long wait.
- Trastevere food tour. Supplì, cacio e pepe, pizza and gelato in Rome's most charming neighborhood.
- Pasta and tiramisù making class. Roll fettuccine and make tiramisù with a Roman chef, then eat with wine.
Questions couples ask
Is Lake Como or Rome better for a destination wedding?
Choose Lake Como if you want special-occasion restaurants for a splurge night. Choose Rome if you want plenty of casual, inexpensive places to eat.
When is the best time for a wedding in Lake Como and Rome?
Lake Como: May to September. Rome: April to June, September to October.
Which is easier for guests to reach, Lake Como or Rome?
Lake Como: Milan Malpensa (MXP) or Milan Linate (LIN), both about 1h15 by car to the central lake. Rome: Rome Fiumicino (FCO) is 45 minutes by car or 32 minutes on the Leonardo Express train to Termini.
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