Villas in Dongo
Dongo is a small town on the north-west shore of Lake Como, suited to families who want a lake base away from the famous central villas. Bellagio and the grand gardens are a boat or road trip away, not a walk.
- Villas
- 38
- From, per week
- £449
About Dongo
Dongo sits at 208 metres where the Albano stream meets the lake, between Gravedona and Musso, with about 3,400 residents. The main lakefront square is overlooked by Palazzo Manzi, now the town hall, whose ground floor holds a museum of the end of the war: Mussolini was captured in Dongo on 27 April 1945. The 17th-century Palazzo del Vescovo houses a music school and the International Piano Academy Lake Como. Our homes lie close to the town rather than strung along the shore. Most sleep around four, some sleep up to twelve, a fair few have a garden and some have air conditioning, but only a handful have a pool. Evenings are quiet, with a weekly market and an August food festival.
Is Dongo right for you?
- Best for
- Families wanting a quiet upper-lake town and room to spread out
- Not for you if
- You want the grand villas and gardens on your doorstep, because those are well down the lake.
Near Dongo
Gravedona
The neighbouring town, which hosts summer Lake Festivals with fireworks reflected on the water, plus the Mostra Zootecnica livestock fair.
Domaso
A western-shore town known for its Fiera di San Carlo agricultural fair, and a worthwhile stop on a boat trip.
Colico
Near where the Adda enters the lake; trains run up the eastern shore to Colico, and another line continues to Chiavenna.
Menaggio
The main town on the western shore, attractive and less touristy than Bellagio, though parking there is a nightmare.
Bellagio
The promontory dividing the lake's two southern branches, where Franz Liszt stayed in 1837 and Villa Serbelloni stands.
Getting to Dongo
Fly to Milan: Dongo is about 70 km north of the city and 40 km north-east of Como. Trains run up the eastern shore as far as Colico, across the water, so a car is far easier for the west shore. Boats and hydrofoils run from Como to Colico, calling at most towns.
When to go to Dongo
Summer is the lake season, with Gravedona's Lake Festivals and Dongo's food festival, the Sagra dei Missoltini, in August. The Breva wind blows from the south in the afternoon and the Tivano from the north in the morning, so expect breezes on the water. In winter, skiing is possible in nearby valleys.
Villas in Dongo
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Dongo villa holidays: questions answered
Is Dongo worth visiting for history?
Yes, if you are interested in the Second World War. Mussolini was captured here on 27 April 1945, and the museum in Palazzo Manzi covers the partisan movement and the end of the war. The 17th-century Palazzo del Vescovo is also here.
Dongo or Gravedona for a lake villa?
Both are on the same upper west shore, a short drive apart. Dongo has the war museum and the piano academy. Gravedona hosts the summer Lake Festivals and a livestock fair, so it suits a livelier summer.
Is there a market in Dongo?
Once a week, though the guides do not fix the day, so ask locally. In August the town also stages the Sagra dei Missoltini, its summer food festival.
Is it windy at Dongo?
Usually in the afternoon. On Lake Como the Breva blows from the south in the afternoon and the Tivano from the north in the morning, so mornings are often calmer.
Can I take a boat from Dongo to Bellagio?
Possibly. Boats and hydrofoils run the length of the lake between Como and Colico and call at most towns, but check whether Dongo's landing is on your timetable. Bellagio is a longer trip, since the regular ferry from Como alone takes about two hours.
Nearby towns to Dongo
Written by the TrustedVillas team. Last reviewed October 2026.
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