The 5 Most Beautiful Cycling Climbs Around Lake Como
A tour of the most iconic climbs around Lake Como: elevation gain, difficulty and practical tips for tackling them on a road or gravel bike.
Written by the editorial team at Velunite
Lake Como has long been beloved training ground for cyclists, professionals included: water on one side, steep mountains rising on the other, and a network of side roads that lets you build loops of any length and difficulty. Here are five climbs worth putting on your list.
Il Ghisallo, cycling's symbolic climb
It's impossible not to start here: the climb to the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Ghisallo, patron saint of cyclists, is short but has demanding stretches, especially in the middle section. It's not the toughest climb in the area, but it's probably the most steeped in history, with the small cycling museum at the top making it an almost mandatory stop for anyone riding here.
Civiglio, the pros' training ground
A short climb with gradients that make themselves felt, made famous by the Giro di Lombardia. It's the kind of climb where pacing matters more than raw endurance: starting calmly and spreading out your effort keeps you from struggling on the steeper sections near the top.
Sormano and the famous Wall
Sormano is best known for its 'Muro' (Wall), a stretch with gradients touching 25%, tough enough that a gentler alternate route exists for those who'd rather avoid it. Tackling it requires easy gearing and the awareness that, on gradients like these, seated pedaling technique matters just as much as raw leg strength.
Colma di Sormano, views that repay the effort
Less crowded than the more famous climbs, it offers a more even up-and-down ride and wide views over the surrounding mountains. It's a good choice for anyone wanting to rack up elevation gain without facing extreme gradients, perhaps on a loop connecting several climbs in the area in one ride.
San Fermo della Battaglia pass
Close to the city of Como, it's a more accessible climb but still demanding, often used as a warm-up or to close out a bigger loop in the area. It's also a good way to get a taste of the area's tougher climbs before tackling them all in one go.
Practical tips for the area
Roads around the lake are often narrow and busy on summer weekends: it's best to choose early morning slots or weekdays when possible. An easy gear at the back (a wide-range cassette) makes the Muro di Sormano and the steeper ramps of the Ghisallo much more manageable, and it's a sensible choice rather than a limitation.
Whether it's a single push up the Ghisallo or a loop connecting several climbs in one day, Lake Como remains one of Italy's most fascinating areas for anyone who loves climbing on a bike, with views that stick in the memory just as much as the effort in your legs.
Recommended products
For climbs like the Ghisallo and the Muro di Sormano, an easy-ratio cassette for climbing with light gears matters more than any diet.
To stay on track through the lake back roads, a GPS bike computer with maps guides the loop with no need to pull out your phone at every junction.
Between tunnels and low sun on the lake, photochromic cycling glasses adapt on their own without lens swaps.
For the busy lakeside highway stretches, a bright flashing rear bike light switched on even by day greatly increases visibility.
On a 170 km loop you do not want to walk home: a lightweight mini pump plus a spare tube fit anywhere and save the ride.
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