How to Plan a Day Trip to Lake Como from Milan

Would you like to plan a day trip to Lake Como from Milan? Of course, you do!

This northern Italian lake is one of Italy’s crown jewels. Its natural beauty combined with the opulence of grand villas and vibrant lakeside villages makes Lake Como a one-of-a-kind place!

In this guide, you’ll find everything you need to know to plan an unforgettable Lake Como day trip including transportation options and the best things to see and do.

Let’s dive in!

Why You Should Plan a Milan to Lake Como Day Trip

Does anyone really need convincing to visit Lake Como?!? It’s one of the (many) iconic images that come to mind when picturing Italy’s beauty, glamour, and tranquility. It’s a total must when planning a trip to northern Italy and perfect add-on to your Milan itinerary.

Located in the Lombardy Region, Lake Como is the most famous of the Italian lakes in the country’s north. The city of Como is along the southern tip of the lake and is just 30 miles north of Milan.

Lake Como is Italy’s 3rd largest lake and is shaped like an upside-down “Y.” Its shores are surrounded by mountain peaks, cinematic villages, and stunning lakeside villas. It’s even home to many celebrities from Madonna to George Clooney. A day trip from Milan to Lake Como is the perfect way to experience Italian luxury and the awe-inspiring natural landscape on and around the lake.

And if you’re still debating between which lake you should visit, Lake Como or Lake Garda, this guide helps you decide!

How to Plan a Day Trip to Lake Como From Milan

So, what’s the best way to plan an unforgettable one-day visit to Lake Como?

Luckily, a one-day trip from Milan to Lake Como can be done by train, bus, guided tour, and even by car. The important thing is to plan all the details beforehand so you can experience the best of Lake Como without worrying about the logistics. After all, it’s possible to plan an entire Lake Como itinerary all on its own! So, on a Lake Como from Milan day trip, you’ll want to make the most of your day enjoying the beauty and ambiance of this northern Italy destination.

Just a quick tip! Lake Como has many villages along its shores. The most popular towns to visit are Bellagio, Varenna, and Menaggio. Fortunately, they are close to each other and easily accessed by the ferries that carry people to points along the lake. You’ll see these 3 towns on the map below, as well as the town of Como and Milan, so you can orient yourself before visiting.

For reference, Lake Garda is east of Lake Como while Lake Maggiore is to the west. You can also look at a more detailed map of northern Italy here.

Below, you’ll find all the information you need about the different transportation options so you can seamlessly get from Milan to Lake Como.

How to Take the Train from Milan to Lake Como

In my opinion, taking a Lake Como train from Milan is the best way to get to Lake Como. Trenitalia operates many regional trains to Lake Como from different stations in Milan including Milano Centrale, Milano Porta Garibaldi, and Milano Cadorna.

The city of Como has two train stations: Como Lago and Como San Giovanni. Trains depart from Milano Centrale and Milano Porta Garibaldi to Como San Giovanni Station multiple times within a given hour. Trains departing from Milano Centrale arrive in just 40 minutes! From the station, it’s about a 10-15 minute walk to the lakeside where you’ll find boats to other lakeside towns.

Trains for Como Lago Station depart from Milano Cadorna. The upside is this station is just a couple of minutes from the shores of Lake Como, but there are fewer trains departing for this station throughout the day compared to the other train routes.

In Como, you will see buses heading to towns along the western and eastern sides of Lake Como. However, skip these in favor of a boat to where you want to go. The views are so much prettier from the water!

Varenna has just 1 train station, called Varenna-Esino. From Milano Centrale, you can be in Varenna in just 60 minutes. Even better, the train leaves you directly in the town, only a short walk to the shore and the ferry that connects to the town of Bellagio and Menaggio. To be clear, there is no direct train from Milan to Bellagio. Going straight to Varenna and then taking the ferry from there is the quickest way to get to Bellagio.

You can easily search for and purchase train tickets on Omio. All your tickets (for Italy and throughout Europe) can be stored in the Omio app and accessed even without an internet connection. Tickets are just a few Euros each way.

The best way to organize your DIY day trip to Lake Como from Milan is to arrive in Varenna. Spend time enjoying Varenna, Bellagio, and Menaggio. Then, if you’d like, you can take the hydrofoil (the fast boat) from Bellagio to Como to depart from a train station in Como. The boat ride takes about an hour and the views are a great way to end your day trip to Lake Como. Just remember to give yourself time to make the walk to Como San Giovanni if you’re departing from this station to return to Milan.

Of course, you could reverse the advice from above and take the train to Como first. However, if you’ve never been to Lake Como, I recommend going straight to Varenna-Esino Station to focus on Bellagio, Varenna, and Menaggio first. A day goes by quickly and it would be a shame to miss the chance to see any of these gorgeous spots along Lake Como. And if time runs short, you can always take the train back to Milan from Varenna.

How to Take the Bus from Milan to Lake Como

You can also take a bus from Milan to Como. However, given the access to and frequency of the trains from Milan to Lake Como, they are a more convenient option for most travelers.

Flixbus, which is also bookable through Omio, is the most popular company that organizes daily rides from Milan Lampugnano bus station to Lake Como. The bus will take you just near Como San Giovanni Station in Como in as little as 60 minutes (depending on traffic conditions, of course).

From there, you could take a boat or another bus to reach other points along the lake. The C10 bus route travels from Como to Menaggio along Lake Como’s western side. The C30 goes between Como and Bellagio along the shoreline directly opposite the lake’s western side.

The Flixbus coaches are comfortable, offering air-conditioning and free Wi-Fi. You should always reserve your seat in advance to get lower prices and ensure a ride: consider that in summer, tickets for the buses that run 1-2 times a day sell out fast.

How to Drive from Milan to Lake Como

It’s possible to go from Milan to Lake Como by car. This is a great way to explore the many gorgeous towns along Lake Como’s shores, especially those like Argegno, Bellano, Tremezzo, and Lenno which see fewer tourists than popular Bellagio, Varenna, and Menaggio. Naturally, the further north you want to be the longer it will take to get there from Milan. But as a reference, driving from Milan to the city of Como will take approximately 1 hour.

I would especially recommend driving if you’re spending a day in Lake Como and then moving on to other northern Italy destinations outside of Milan. If your plan is a simple day trip from Milan to Lake Como’s popular spots, skip driving and rely on public transportation. Also, as you plan your Lake Como visit, keep in mind that some ferries carry cars across the lake. For example, you could go from Varenna to Menaggio with your car on board the ferry and avoid the long drive around the lake itself.

There are several reasons for this. First, heavy traffic is more than possible leaving Milan, so the drive can easily become longer than 1 hour.

Second, you need to be aware that many heavily-touristed towns along Lake Como fall under a Zona Traffico Limitato (ZTL). This means you cannot drive in many areas around the town unless you’re a resident.

You also could spend some extra time looking for parking spots in each town you decide to visit during your day trip to Lake Como. As you can probably imagine, finding parking can be particularly challenging in the summer when Lake Como is packed with tourists. The better scenario is staying at least 1 night at a hotel that has parking.

If you prefer the freedom and flexibility that comes what having your own car, here are a couple of tips.

Since you’re already in Milan and not renting a car from one of the airports, use one of the rental car locations in the vicinity of Milano Centrale and Milano Porta Garibaldi. There are numerous rental car agencies here. You’ll already be on the northern side of the city. And importantly, you’re outside of Milan’s traffic limitation zone (ZTL).

Also, if you’re planning on driving, get an International Driving Permit before leaving for Italy. For American travelers, this is easily done through AAA. Canadians should contact the Canadian Automobile Association. While not necessary to actually rent a car, if you are pulled over and don’t have it, you could wind up with a hefty fine depending on the officer.

Once you’re a few miles outside the city, the drive from Milan to Como is straightforward on the A9/E35 highways. These are toll roads. At the toll station, simply take a ticket. Then, use this ticket to exit the highway. Cash and credit cards can be used to pay the toll. The price is based on the distance you travel.

Plan a Milan to Lake Como Tour

Adventuring on a DIY trip is exciting, but sometimes the only thing we want on a vacation is to relax and not stress about planning too much. If this is you, then the best way is to book one of the many Lake Como day trips from Milan.

I recommend and use Get Your Guide to book activities and excursions while traveling in northern Italy and elsewhere. Not only do they offer a lot of tour options, but you can also cancel up to 24 hours before the tour for a full refund. Store all your bookings in their app for easy access to all your tickets whether you have an internet connection or not.

This Lake Como day tour is one of the most popular day trips from Milan and for great reason! It includes a combination of guided time and free time with all the logistics handled for you. Visit the towns of Como, Bellagio, and Varenna, while also cruising along Lake Como on a private boat just for your tour group. On this full-day tour, you’ll have a tour guide to show you the city of Como and Villa Olmo. Later, enjoy free time in Bellagio and Varenna before eventually returning to Milan via a comfortable bus.

This Lake Como from Milan tour changes with the seasons. In summer, you’ll visit Como, Bellagio, and Varenna similar to the above tour. However, in winter, the itinerary changes. Instead of Bellagio and Varenna, travel up the mountainside along the lake via the Brunate Funicular to the town of Brunate to enjoy the alpine views surrounding Lake Como.

And if you’re trying to see as much as you possibly can while in and around the Milan area, this Milan to Lake Como tour includes a visit to Lugano just over the border in Switzerland before heading to Lake Como.

How to Get Around Lake Como

Once you have arrived at Lake Como, a great option to go from one town to another is by ferry. The ticket fare and the time you will stay on the boat vary depending on the towns you travel between and the type of ferry you pick.

The battello (slow ferry) is cheaper and requires more time to reach the final destination, while the aliscafo (hydrofoil) is considerably faster. You’ll arrive at the town of your choice in approximately half the time but tickets are also a bit more expensive.

For example, let’s consider Bellagio, one of the most beloved destinations at Lake Como.

Departing from Como, the aliscafo ride will last 45 minutes and cost 15€ one-way. The battello will lead you to Bellagio in 2 hours for 10€ one-way. In my opinion, paying a bit more for the faster boat is worth the time saved, especially when you have just 1 day at Lake Como.

If you depart from Varenna, your only option is the local ferry, Corse Traghetto. The ferry takes about 15 minutes to arrive in Bellagio and costs about 5€.

Getting around Lake Como by ferry is a fantastic experience. You’re out on the water enjoying the views and easily getting to where you want to be all at the same time!

Just note, you’ll need to buy your ferry tickets when you’re there on-site. There is no advance purchase. Therefore, I recommend buying your ferry tickets as soon as you arrive at each town, especially if you travel to Lake Como during peak times. For current timetables and prices, check Navigazione Laghi.

What to Do in Lake Como for One Day

There are numerous towns along the perimeter of Lake Como, each with dazzling villas surrounded by flowers and greenery, ancient churches, striking views of the lake, and, of course, restaurants serving drool-worthy regional dishes like risotto with perch and polenta. However, it’s impossible to visit everywhere and do everything on a day trip!

Plan your day to maximize your time depending on the time of year and what you’re looking to get out of your Lake Como day trip. Below, you’ll find a few planning ideas.

Focus on the Lake Como “Three.”

As discussed, the popular Varenna, Bellagio, and Menaggio trifecta are where most first-time Lake Como visitors set their sights. Fortunately, each of these lake towns is small and can each be explored in as little as a few hours before moving on to the next. Know, too, the charm of Lake Como comes from enjoying the lake and its beautiful surroundings.

In this scenario, you could take the train from Milan to Como or Varenna and head straight to Bellagio. Plan to depart back to Milan from Varenna.

Bellagio is considered the “pearl of Lake Como,” and it should definitely be included on a Milan day trip to Lake Como. One of the best things to do in Bellagio is to wander through the old town. With the water at your back, climb the stairs in the narrow alleyways leading to the upper level of the old town center.

Luckily, these alleys go past a few shops and gelaterias and reveal colorful houses and flowery displays seemingly everywhere you look. So, there are plenty of places to stop, catch your breath, indulge in a gelato cone, and add to your library of drop-dead gorgeous photos of northern Italy. Salita Serbelloni is without a doubt the most photographed alleyway in all of Bellagio!

Also, take the opportunity to visit the Chiesa San Giacomo. This small church dates back to the 11th century and has Romanesque works of art and architectural detail, along with pretty mosaics. Then, make your way to Punta Spartivento. From this ending land point, you can see Lake Como’s branches and across to its different shores.

And don’t miss the beautiful gardens of Villa Melzi! The combination of the manicured gardens with their architectural elements and the views of Lake Como are absolutely stunning.

After Bellagio, it’s hard to imagine anywhere prettier. Yet, there is postcard-perfect Menaggio just across Lake Como from Bellagio. Having stayed in Menaggio on one of my visits to Lake Como, I fell in love with Menaggio’s lakefront and nearby Piazza Garibaldi. If you’re a Lake Como daytripper and you’d like to spend time sitting or strolling lakeside enjoying the lake’s ambiance, Menaggio has what you’re looking for.

ProTip: If you spent the morning in Bellagio and plan to visit Varenna in the afternoon, Menaggio is a great mid-day spot for lunch and gelato.

Colorful Varenna sits on Lake Como’s eastern shore opposite Menaggio. Arriving by ferry, don’t miss the opportunity to snap some photos of the pretty harborscape!

Walk the so-called Lovers’ Walk (Passeggiata degli innamorati) along Varenna’s lakefront toward Piazza San Giorgio. The romantic pathway is perfect for admiring the stunning landscape of Lake Como! This pathway will also lead you to Varenna’s main waterfront area in the Riva Grande and Riva Garibaldi areas. Once near Riva Grande, you can grab a drink or something to eat in one of the many restaurants, cafes, or gelaterias…if you can stop taking photos because the scenery is breathtaking.

In the Piazza San Giorgio, you will find Chiesa di San Giorgio, a Gothic-style 14th-century church with a striking black marble floor. Varenna is also home to a couple of Lake Como’s decadent villas. Villa Monastero is a can’t-miss! You can visit the ornate rooms inside, as well as tour the gardens which have some of the most stunning lakeside views in all of Varenna.

After having enjoyed the visit to the villa, consider stopping at the Castello di Vezio. This ancient medieval fortress overlooks Varenna and offers sweeping views of Lake Como. It’s a bit of a hike to reach the castle’s vantage point but the views are well worth the effort!

Include the City of Como with Time in Bellagio and Varenna.

Como is the closest town to Milan, so it makes a perfect starting point for your Lake Como day trip.

Como is the largest town along the shores of Lake Como. It has a lively city center with plenty of history and beautiful villas. Begin in the Centro Storico, making your way to Piazza del Duomo. Here, you’ll see the Chiesa di San Giacomo, the Duomo di Como (Como Cathedral), and the Cathedral’s bell tower.

The Duomo is one of the most impressive buildings you will see in Lake Como. The Cathedral is renowned for its beautiful Gothic architecture and the amazing central dome covered with gold artwork. The Duomo di Como is free to enter. In Piazza del Duomo, you’ll also find many restaurants and cafes where you can stop for a coffee or gelato break.

Before leaving Como, head to Piazza San Fedele, where you can visit the Basilica di San Fedele, a Romanesque church with over 900 years of history. Take a lakeside walk to admire the views. Walk up the lake’s western side to admire the elegant, neoclassical mansion, Villa Olmo. The villa is open to visitors.

Close to Como’s eastern lakeside shoreline, you’ll see the funicular train that goes between Como and the village of Brunate, atop a hill overlooking Lake Como. The ride to the top takes just 7 minutes and is a great way to get a birds-eye view of Como and the lake.

Once in Brunate, there are many walks you can take to enjoy the views of the entire western Alps, the Po Valley, and the Apennines. In the old town of Brunate, you can also see the beautiful Art Nouveau villas the village is known for, as well as hike up to the Faro Voltiano, a lighthouse with a spectacular vantage point over Lake Como.

ProTip: Keep an eye on the time. If you’ve made an early start from Milan, it should still be before midday. If you’re running short on time, it’s better to make Como a quick stop before moving on to Bellagio.

From Como, take the hydrofoil to get to Bellagio. The boat ride will take just about an hour and is a great opportunity to get on the water. Once in Bellagio, use the tips above to plan your visit and then head to Varenna before taking the train back to Milan.

To avoid a hectic pace, choose a few of the things you’d like to see and do in Bellagio and Varenna. For example, if walking up to the castle in Varenna is something you’d like to do, perhaps skip walking to Punta Spartivento in Bellagio.

Combine a Top Spot (or Two) and a Less Visited Village (or Two)

There are so many beautiful Lake Como towns to visit. Yet, the majority of travelers spend their time between Bellagio, Varenna, and Menaggio. Even with just a day trip from Milan to Lake Como, you can craft you’re own Lake Como experience.

You’ll likely want to keep Varenna and/or Bellagio on your Lake Como itinerary. But nearby Tremezzo and Lenno are also fantastic villages to consider. They’re home to the famous Villa Carlotta and Villa Balbianello. Outside of these sights, these villages have gorgeous lakeside locations with piazzas, public parks, historic sites, hiking trails, and luxurious places to enjoy lunch or an afternoon treat. Not to mention, Tremezzo has been named one of the most beautiful villages in all of Italy.

Both villages are easily accessible by boat from Bellagio and Varenna. With even just a few hours, you can spend time in 1 or even both of these villages depending on what’s of interest to you.

What’s Next? Your Day Trip to Lake Como!

Lake Como is one of northern Italy’s most iconic destinations! Whether you go from Milan to Lake Como by train, bus, rental car, or guided tour, the lake’s beautiful landscape, colorful villages, elegant lakeside villas, and glamourous ambiance will be an unforgettable part of your northern Italy travels!

So, what questions do you have about planning a Milan to Lake Como day trip?

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