Lake Como Design Festival 2025: A Journey Through Design, Memory & Landscape

This September, Lake Como—renowned for its shimmering waters and elegant villas—will once again transform into a vibrant stage for creativity. From September 14 to 21, 2025, the Lake Como Design Festival returns for its seventh edition, this year under the poetic theme “Fragments”. This theme invites visitors to embrace imperfection, explore memory, and see how individual pieces can come together to form a renewed narrative in design and art.

Far from being just another exhibition, the festival unfolds across the city’s most beautiful spaces—from historic villas to leafy parks—encouraging attendees to explore both the celebrated and the hidden sides of Como. The “fragmented” here is not about what is broken, but about what is ready to be rediscovered.

Immersive Programming Beyond Exhibitions

One of the most captivating aspects of the Lake Como Design Festival is its multi-location approach. It’s a curated journey that seamlessly blends contemporary creativity with the area’s historical and architectural treasures.

• Villa del Grumello will host Fragments of Memory, where designers and publishers present works in richly decorated rooms overlooking the lake, bridging heritage with a modern vision.
• The Kilometre of Knowledge (Chilometro della Conoscenza) turns the city’s greenhouses, lemon houses, and botanical gardens into a series of open-air art spaces. Curated by Giovanna Massoni, this route offers a meditative walk through design, nature, and history.
• At San Pietro in Atrio, the exhibition Aldo Rossi: Architecture of Fragments will showcase architectural drawings, films, and archival materials, exploring the beauty and meaning of architectural incompleteness.
• The Ico Parisi Archive on Via Diaz reopens with Edifying Collapses, a surreal collection of paintings reflecting on domestic identity, decay, and transformation.
• Rationalist Como Tours will guide visitors through the city’s rationalist architecture, showing how form and function have shaped—and reshaped—Como’s identity over time.
• The Serra del Grumello will become The Social Table in the Greenhouse, offering a café, pop-up restaurant, and bookshop. By day, it’s a peaceful retreat; by evening, it turns into a lively spot for mixology and conversation.

How to Enjoy the Festival Like a Local?

To make the most of your visit:

1. Start early to catch exhibitions before crowds arrive, especially at Villa del Grumello.
2. Take the Kilometre of Knowledge route at a leisurely pace—it’s not just about design but about absorbing the lake’s atmosphere.
3. Book guided tours for Rationalist Como in advance, as spots fill quickly.
4. Spend evenings at Serra del Grumello to mingle with artists, designers, and locals.
5. Mix cultural exploration with scenic breaks, perhaps enjoying a lakeside aperitivo between exhibitions.

How to Reach Lake Como for the Festival?

Lake Como is just 40 minutes from Milan by train, making it an easy day or weekend trip.

• By Train: Trains run frequently from Milan to Como San Giovanni (western shore) and to Varenna-Esino (eastern shore). However, it’s important to note that trains only run along the eastern shore.
• By Bus: On the western shore, buses connect towns such as Como, Cernobbio, Menaggio, and Tremezzo.
• By Boat: Ferries link major towns across the lake, offering one of the most scenic ways to travel during the festival.

About Voye Global: Your Digital Travel Companion

Attending an event as multi-venue as the Lake Como Design Festival requires more than just curiosity—it requires reliable connectivity. This is where Voye Global comes in. By offering instant-activation eSIM plans for Italy and beyond, Voye Global ensures you can navigate, book, and share your festival journey without worrying about roaming fees or SIM card swaps.

How Voye Global Helps You at the Festival?

• Navigate between venues using Google Maps without draining your data on international roaming.
• Book guided tours and ferries instantly without relying on slow or unsecured public Wi-Fi.
• Stay connected for work if you’re combining the festival with business travel.
• Share high-quality photos and videos in real time with friends, family, or followers.

How to Use Voye Global eSIM?

1. Choose your Italy eSIM or Europe travel plan from the Voye Global website.
2. Receive your eSIM QR code instantly via email.
3. Scan the code on your smartphone and activate your plan in minutes.

Benefits of Using Voye Global

• Instant activation—get connected before you even land.
• Multiple network access—switch to the strongest local signal automatically.
• No physical SIM swap—keep your home number active for calls and texts.
• Flexible data plans—choose what matches your travel style.
• Secure browsing—ideal for booking tickets or accessing banking on the go.

Where Design Meets Timeless Beauty?

The Lake Como Design Festival 2025 is more than an art event—it’s an invitation to see design as a living dialogue between history, place, and imagination. Whether you’re wandering through fragrant gardens, sipping cocktails at sunset, or standing before an architectural fragment that stirs your curiosity, every moment is part of a larger story. And with Voye Global eSIM keeping you seamlessly connected, you’re free to immerse yourself fully in the festival’s creative energy.

FAQs: Lake Como Design Festival 2025

1. When is the Lake Como Design Festival 2025?
It runs from September 14 to September 21, 2025.

2. Where do most festival events take place?
Events are held across multiple locations in Como, including historic villas, parks, and cultural venues.

3. Do I need tickets for all exhibitions?
Some exhibitions and tours require advance booking, while others are free and open to the public.

4. Can I use public transport to get between venues?
Yes, but note that trains only run along the eastern shore, while buses connect the western shore. Ferries are also a scenic option.

5. How can Voye Global help during the festival?
Voye Global provides seamless eSIM connectivity, helping you book tickets, navigate venues, and share experiences instantly.

6. Is the festival suitable for children?
Yes, many installations and events are family-friendly, though some contemporary art pieces may be more suited to adults.

7. What’s the best way to travel from Milan to Lake Como?
The fastest way is by train to Como San Giovanni or Varenna-Esino, depending on which side of the lake you plan to explore.

8. Can I activate my eSIM before arriving in Italy?
Yes, Voye Global eSIMs can be activated before you travel, so you’re connected as soon as you land.

9. Are there food and drink options at the festival?
Yes, several venues have on-site cafés or pop-up dining spots, including the Social Table in the Greenhouse.

10. Does Voye Global offer plans for multiple countries?
Yes, you can choose European regional plans if you plan to travel beyond Italy.