Lake Como’s beauty is undeniable, but for travellers aged 50–70, the real luxury is knowing you can handle a health hiccup without stress. This guide covers exactly where to find English-speaking doctors, how to manage medications, which pharmacies are reliable, and how to stay safe in the summer heat—so you can relax and enjoy the lake.
AI-editedWhere are the pharmacies, and which ones can I trust?
Como has twenty-five pharmacies (farmacia), but Bellagio and Menaggio have exactly one each and smaller villages often none, so find yours before you need it. The lakeside ones mostly run orario continuato with no midday closure, and outside their hours a rotating Farmacia di Turno covers each zone.
In Como, the Farmacia Santa Teresa at Viale Fratelli Rosselli 35 (+39 031 574630) is open straight through from 8am to 8pm, Monday to Saturday—about a fifteen-minute walk out from Piazza Cavour — a guest wrote on Google in July 2026 that it is “a super clean and quite big pharmacy” where “we had a whole conversation about what I needed and how I could use it best.” Bellagio has a single pharmacy, the Farmacia Bellagio Olivelli at Via Teresio Olivelli 8 (+39 031 950623)—older maps still give that street as Via Roma, so search the name rather than the address. Its Google listing shows 9am to 7.30pm on weekdays, from 10am on Saturdays, closed Sunday (August 2026). Varenna’s Farmacia Pedrani, Via Venini 2 (+39 0341 830203), is the useful one to note: its Google listing shows it open on Sundays too, 10.30am to 6pm (August 2026). For bulkier basics such as distilled water for a CPAP machine, plan ahead—there is no supermarket of that size in Varenna itself; the nearest Conad stores are in Bellano and Menaggio.
For Sunday or after-hours needs, Federfarma Lombardia runs a region-wide finder at farmacia-aperta.eu that shows which pharmacy is on duty; the rota still works by zone, with one pharmacy covering each. One warning from the operator is worth carrying with you: at night the duty pharmacy often works behind a closed door, so you ring the number displayed and wait for the pharmacist to come.
How do I find an English-speaking doctor quickly?
For non-urgent issues, start at a pharmacy—pharmacists are trained to assess whether you need a doctor. For English-speaking care, an online service such as Pyllola or Mobi Doctor puts a licensed doctor on screen in roughly fifteen minutes and issues an Italian e-prescription any pharmacy will fill. Both keep long daytime hours rather than a 24-hour line, so check before you rely on them.
Traditional walk-in English-speaking doctors are rare in small lakeside villages, but the digital alternative works well. Pyllola is a browser service rather than a place, so it reaches you in any village with a signal; it charges a flat 89 euro and books daily from 8am to 10.30pm. Mobi Doctor starts at 31 euro and runs 7am to 11pm, Sundays included. Guest reviews of pharmacies around the lake often mention that the pharmacist will take the time to assess a minor problem — an infected splinter, a rash, a sore throat — and say plainly whether a doctor is needed at all. For non-urgent medical advice, call 116 117, the free Lombardy-wide number that reaches the out-of-hours service (Continuità Assistenziale, the former Guardia Medica) and the Guardia Medica Turistica for visitors. It answers Monday to Friday from 8 PM to 8 AM, and around the clock on public holidays and the days before them—which is what covers your weekend.
An X-ray or scan does not have to mean the emergency room: the mid-lake hospital at Menaggio runs radiology on site alongside its Pronto Soccorso. For the northern lake the emergency department is at Gravedona, the Ospedale Moriggia-Pelascini (+39 0344 92111), which holds a Pronto Soccorso con DEA. Colico has no hospital at all, Bellano’s is a rehabilitation unit, and Morbegno runs only a first-aid point. In Como, Ospedale Sant’Anna (Via Ravona 20, San Fermo della Battaglia, +39 031 5851) and Ospedale Valduce (Via Dante Alighieri 11, +39 031 324111) provide comprehensive care. Recent guests at the Palace Hotel in Como (Google 4.3/5 from 1,054 reviews as of August 2026) note that staff are “friendly and professional”. Worth knowing before you name a destination to a driver: the Valduce is central, while the Sant’Anna sits out at San Fermo della Battaglia, west of the city.
What do I need to know about travelling with medication?
Carry all medications in their original, labelled containers in your carry-on luggage. Bring a copy of the prescription (with generic and trade names) and a doctor’s note explaining the necessity—especially for controlled substances like strong painkillers or ADHD stimulants, which require a formal certificate under Italian law.
Italy strictly regulates narcotics and psychotropic medications. According to the Government of Canada travel health guidelines, you should carry a copy of the original prescription with the generic and trade names and a doctor’s note explaining why you take the medication. Italian law then asks for more: under a 2007 ministerial decree, a visitor carrying controlled medicines needs a certificate or prescription issued by the competent health authority of the country they are travelling from, naming the patient, the medicine’s trade name, the active substance and its total quantity, and the number of doses. For regular medications (blood pressure, cholesterol, thyroid), a standard prescription copy suffices. If you lose medication, the e-prescription from a virtual doctor is accepted at any urban or lakeside pharmacy.
For medications requiring refrigeration (e.g., insulin), pack an insulated case with ice packs. Summer temperatures on Lake Como often reach 28°C (82°F) in July, and humidity is high. A small insulated cooler bag is worth the space in your luggage: it keeps medication stable through a long ferry day and does not depend on the hotel mini-fridge holding its temperature.
Do I need travel insurance, and what about EHIC/GHIC?
Yes, travel insurance is essential for all travellers, regardless of nationality. EU citizens with a valid EHIC or GHIC receive state-provided healthcare at reduced cost or free, but it does not cover private treatment, repatriation, or non-urgent care. Non-EU travellers must pay upfront and claim later.
The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or GHIC (for UK residents) covers you for medically necessary care in public hospitals—including emergency room visits and doctor consultations—at the same cost as Italian residents. However, it does not cover private doctors, virtual consultations, or ambulance transport back to your home country. For these, you need comprehensive travel insurance that includes medical evacuation.
Non-EU tourists (e.g., from the US, Canada, Australia) must pay regional fees for urgent and elective care unless covered by a reciprocal agreement. Keep all receipts and medical reports for insurance claims. Keep the paperwork in one place from the first day: without the receipt and the discharge report, an insurer will usually not settle an emergency-room bill at all.
For a detailed breakdown of insurance options, see our guide on How Accessible Is Lake Como for Older Travellers? which includes insurance recommendations.
How do I cope with the summer heat and stay safe?
Lake Como’s summer heat (average highs of 28°C/82°F in July) can be intense, especially with high humidity. Stay hydrated, avoid the midday sun (12 PM–3 PM), and plan activities for early morning or late afternoon. Wear a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, and light, breathable clothing like linen or cotton.
Heat exhaustion is the primary health risk for older travellers. Symptoms include dizziness, nausea, headache, and heavy sweating. If you feel unwell, find shade, drink water slowly, and apply a cool cloth to your neck and wrists. Many hotels provide air conditioning, but older properties may rely on fans—check before booking. For a calm, air-conditioned retreat, consider the hotels featured in The Quietest Hotels on Lake Como: A Calm-Seeker’s Guide for Light Sleepers (50–70).
Swimming in the lake is popular, but be aware of health hazards near urban centres. There is a better guide than hearsay: the local health authority samples every designated bathing site at least monthly from May to September, each site carries a published classification from scarsa to eccellente, and any temporary ban appears in real time on the health ministry’s Portale Acque. On the eastern shore Abbadia Lariana has three free beaches, and the grassy Parco Chiesa Rotta is listed by Regione Lombardia as accessible to visitors with disabilities, with a bar, cabins, loungers and toilets. Guest reviews of the eastern-shore lidos frequently mention that visitors are caught out by the water-quality notices near the towns and move on to Abbadia Lariana instead, where there is room to spread out.
Ferries are a great way to cool off, but some older vessels have limited accessibility. There is no single pass covering buses, trains and ferries together: Navigazione Laghi sells its own day tickets for the boats, and ASF Autolinee and Navigazione Laghi jointly offer a combined bus-and-boat season ticket at reduced rates for anyone repeating the same stretch. For more on transport, see our Choosing Your Base on Lake Como: A Town-by-Town Guide for Travellers 50–70.
What if I need a hospital—where are the nearest ones?
For serious emergencies dial 112—in Lombardy every emergency number lands at the same answering centre. Emergency rooms run around the clock in Como (Sant’Anna and Valduce), mid-lake at Menaggio, and in the north at Gravedona. Colico, Varenna and Bellagio have none, so know your nearest before you need it.
The table below summarises the key hospitals and their locations. Note that travel times can be significant: by road, Bellagio, Menaggio and Tremezzo all sit close to an hour from the Sant’Anna, and Varenna nearer seventy minutes. That is exactly why the 24-hour emergency room at Menaggio matters so much mid-lake.
| Hospital Name | Location | Phone | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ospedale Sant’Anna | Via Ravona 20, San Fermo della Battaglia (Como) | +39 031 5851 | 24-hour ER, DEA level II |
| Ospedale Valduce | Via Dante Alighieri 11 (Como) | +39 031 324111 | 24-hour ER, central |
| Ospedale Erba-Renaldi | Via Virginia Casartelli 7 (Menaggio) | +39 0344 33111 | 24-hour ER, mid-lake |
| Ospedale Moriggia-Pelascini | Via Moriggia Pelascini 3 (Gravedona) | +39 0344 92111 | Pronto Soccorso con DEA, north lake |
For non-urgent issues, the Guardia Medica is a better option than the ER—and on a Saturday or Sunday it answers around the clock. Call 116 117. “The doctor at A&E spoke good English, and at least one of the ambulance crew spoke English,” reported a traveller on TripAdvisor. This is consistent with guest reviews noting that English-speaking staff are available in Como’s hospitals, but less common in smaller towns.
“While it was a bit of a wait (4 hours) on a Sunday, everyone I dealt with after signing in was helpful and professional — my chart told them I only spoke English and … almost everyone helped in their best English.” — a review of Ospedale Sant’Anna left on Google in August 2025
How do I stay safe on the steep streets and cobblestones?
Lake Como’s terrain is challenging: steep hills, cobblestone streets, and narrow footpaths are the norm. Wear sturdy, low-heeled shoes with good grip, and use ferries to avoid long uphill walks. Rest benches are available in town squares but not on every incline.
Regione Lombardia publishes an official accessible-tourism itinerary for the lake in five stages—Como, Lecco, Bellagio, Varenna and Menaggio—and its access notes were checked on the ground by accessible-tourism specialists rather than copied from brochures. Public footpaths are another matter: they are frequently interrupted by steps. One Google reviewer summed up Bellagio in January 2024 with “many restaurants on steep slopes, dining on steps” — from the ferry terminal, the waterfront lane is the gentler choice. For a full assessment of walking routes and step-free options, read our dedicated guide: How Accessible Is Lake Como for Older Travellers?
Slips and falls are the most common injury. Pack blister pads in your first-aid kit, and consider a walking stick for extra stability. Reviews of Varenna regularly mention how slippery its cobbles become after rain, which is exactly when a stick or a pair of poles earns its place in the luggage.
For a comprehensive list of what to bring, see the packing section in our Choosing Your Base on Lake Como guide, which includes footwear and health essentials.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my UK or EU prescription at an Italian pharmacy?
An EU prescription is generally accepted if it names you, the prescribing doctor and the generic name of the medicine. A UK prescription no longer counts as an EU one after Brexit, so do not assume a pharmacy will fill it. For controlled substances, you need a formal certificate. If in doubt, use a virtual doctor service like Pyllola to get an Italian e-prescription, which is accepted everywhere.
What should I do if I lose my medication while travelling?
First, contact your hotel concierge—they can direct you to the nearest pharmacy. If you have a copy of your prescription, the pharmacist may be able to dispense a replacement. For controlled substances, you’ll need to see a doctor (virtual or in-person) to get a new prescription. Always carry a digital backup of your prescription on your phone.
Are there any health risks specific to Lake Como in summer?
Heat exhaustion and dehydration are the main risks. Also be aware of mosquitoes near the lake—pack insect repellent wipes. Before you swim, check the current classification and any temporary ban for that beach on the health ministry’s Portale Acque—the local health authority samples designated bathing sites at least monthly from May to September. Abbadia Lariana’s free beaches are a dependable eastern-shore option. The lake water can be cold even in summer, so enter slowly to avoid shock.
How do I call an ambulance from a remote village?
Dial 112. In Lombardy every emergency number—112, 113, 115 and 118—reaches the same single answering centre, which brings an interpreter onto the line when it is needed, so you do not have to pick the right number under pressure. If you’re in a remote area with poor mobile signal, ask a local to call for you. Many hotels have a direct line to emergency services—check with reception on arrival.
