Why Lake Como
Lake Como lies in Lombardy, about 45 km north of Milan. It is shaped like an upside-down Y, around 46 km long and up to 4.5 km wide, and it is one of the deepest lakes in Europe. Como and Lecco are the main towns. Bellagio sits on the promontory where the two southern branches meet, which is why so many visitors make it the centrepiece of a day out.
You cannot see all of it in a day, so pick a short list. The usual choices are Como itself, Bellagio and Varenna. Wikipedia lists Menaggio and Tremezzo among the other lakeshore towns, and names villas with gardens, including Villa Melzi d’Eril and Villa Serbelloni in Bellagio and Villa Carlotta at Tremezzo.
Which town to choose
- Como: one of the two main towns on the lake and the easiest to reach, with a station on the Milan to Chiasso line. A good choice if you want the shortest train ride and a town to wander before you board a boat.
- Bellagio: on the headland between the two southern arms, with Villa Melzi d’Eril, which Wikipedia describes as having a large park, an orangery and a Japanese garden. Villa Serbelloni, which houses the Rockefeller Foundation’s Bellagio Center, is also here.
- Varenna: on the eastern shore, with direct trains from Milan and a ferry across to Bellagio. It makes the neatest independent day out, because the direct train and the cross-lake ferry connect without a detour.
- Tremezzo: Villa Carlotta, known for its azaleas and rhododendrons, is here. The wooded peninsula of Villa del Balbianello is another villa stop. Neither is in Bellagio, so check how to reach them before you plan around them.
If you are planning around the castle, note that its museums are closed on Mondays, and the Last Supper is open Tuesday to Sunday (both checked October 2026). Monday is therefore a sensible day for the lake. See visiting Sforza Castle and the Last Supper page.
Going independently
You need a train, a ferry ticket and a timetable you trust.
Trains. Trainline lists the fastest Milano Centrale to Como San Giovanni journey at 39 minutes and a typical one at about 44, with trains from 05:22 until 23:09. It names Trenitalia and Trenord as operators. For Varenna-Esino, Trainline’s fastest direct journey is 1 hour 4 minutes and its typical figure is about 1 hour 25, with trains from 05:22 to 23:22. Wikipedia says the Tirano to Lecco railway follows the eastern shore with regional Trenord services. These are aggregator figures, so confirm times and fares on Trenord or Trenitalia before you go.
Boats. Navigazione Laghi runs the public lake services. Its timetable tool has an option to include fast services, and it lists a Como to Colico route, a Bellagio to Lecco route and a ferry linking Bellagio, Cadenabbia, Varenna and Menaggio. Timetables change by season: when we checked, the site listed separate ones for 1 July to 4 October and 5 October to 1 November 2026. Check which boats stop where before you plan around one.
Ticket offices are near the docks, and staff suggest arriving about 20 minutes before departure. At piers with no ticket office you can buy on board at no extra cost. You can also search and buy through the company’s website.
Two simple plans:
- Varenna and Bellagio: take the train to Varenna-Esino, cross by ferry to Bellagio, explore, then return the same way. It is the easiest independent version because the cross-lake ferry connects the two towns directly.
- Como and Bellagio: take the train to Como San Giovanni, spend time in Como, then take a boat up the lake. Check which boats on the Como route call at Bellagio.
Whichever you pick, find the last sailing back before you leave Milan. Missing it can cost you your train home. Weather can also stop boats: Navigazione Laghi lists a freephone number for suspension updates, 800-551801, which only works from within Italy.
Going on a tour
A tour makes sense if you would rather not manage tickets and timings, or if you want Lugano. These three Lake Como trips are the main options on this site. Compare what is included below, and see tickets and tours for other Milan tours.
| Tour | Length | Includes | From | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Como, Bellagio and Lugano Day Trip with Boat Cruise | 11 hours | Return transport from Milan, Professional guide, Boat cruise | £63 | 4.8 (11,554) |
| Lake Como, Bellagio and Lugano by Coach and Ferry | Full day | Return coach from Milan, Lake Como ferry, English-speaking guide, Free time in Bellagio and Lugano | £58 | 4.9 (2,639) |
| Small-Group Como, Bellagio and Varenna by Train and Boat | 10 to 10.5 hours | First-class train tickets, Lake Como boat cruise, Ferry tickets, Guided tour of Como, Bellagio, Varenna | £101 | 4.8 (1,251) |
We earn a commission if you book through these links, at no extra cost to you (disclosure). Prices, ratings and review counts are from GetYourGuide, checked 14 October 2026. They change often, so check the live price before you book.
What each one includes:
- Boat cruise with guide (11 hours): return transport from Milan, a professional guide and a boat cruise, meeting at Milano Centrale. It also visits Lugano.
- Coach and ferry (full day): a return coach from Milan, a Lake Como ferry and an English-speaking guide, with free time in Bellagio and Lugano.
- Small group by train and boat (10 to 10.5 hours): first-class train tickets, a boat cruise, ferry tickets and guided walks in Como, Bellagio and Varenna. It is the one to pick if you prefer a train to a coach and want Varenna.
Our view: if you only want Como and Bellagio, going independently is straightforward and gives you control. The tours earn their place when you add Lugano, or when you do not want to read ferry timetables.
The Lugano add-on
Lugano is in Switzerland, so take your passport. Entry rules depend on your nationality, so check the Swiss State Secretariat for Migration before you travel. Two of the three tours above include Lugano.
We have not checked independent rail times to Lugano, so we do not give them here. Adding Lugano also splits your free time between two places, because the day lengths in the listings are similar with or without it. If your main interest is the lake itself, choose the Como, Bellagio and Varenna trip and leave Switzerland for another day.
