How to get to Lake Como, Italy

The holiday hotspot of the Romans and modern-day jet setters alike, Italy’s Lake Como is the most revered of all in the northern lakes region. Scenes of opulence welcome visitors at every turn - from elegant villas to spectacular gardens and charming lakeside hamlets.

If there’s one thing I learned from visiting Lake Como, it is that it is worth more than just a day trip. I’d recommend a long weekend trip to take your time to visit each of the towns, explore the exquisite villas, and sip spritz by the shorefront.

Whether you choose to take a day trip from Milan or spend a long weekend soaking up the best of what Lake Como has to offer, it’s important to know that it’s actually very easy to reach.

Where is Lake Como?

Lake Como, or Lago di Como in Italian, is an inverted Y-shaped lake in Italy, approximately 40 km north of Milan and less than 30 km east of Lugano in Switzerland.

Nestled between the Swiss Alps jutting up from the horizon and the zeal of Italy’s capital of fashion, Lake Como is one of the most notable destinations of Italy’s Lombardy Region.

Lake Como is the third largest lake in Italy, after Lake Garda and Lake Maggiore, measuring around 146 km2 and it’s also one of Europe’s deepest lakes at 410m at its deepest point.

How to get to Lake Como from Milan

If you’re planning to visit Lake Como, you’ll be pleased to know that it is easier to reach than it might first seem. Making use of Italy’s excellent rail network, regular ferry services, and roads that snake around the lake’s edge, Lake Como is well-connected to both Milan and Lugano in Switzerland, as well as numerous other smaller towns.

By train

The train from Milan to Lake Como is both affordable and convenient. It’s an ideal way to make the journey from the north Italian city. From Milan, you have two options to reach Lake Como by train - either to Como or to Varenna. The option you choose will depend on your plans, where you’re staying, or which towns you plan to visit during a day trip.

If you’re travelling to Varenna, start your journey at Milan Centrale station and catch a train that makes its way north to Tirano. You will pass through Monza, one of the famed Formula 1 Grand Prix locations, then continue past Lecco at the base of the eastern branch of the lake. Varenna-Esino is the most convenient train station if you will be based around the central lake region. The journey from Milan Centrale to Varenna-Esino is approximately 1 hour and 5 minutes.

The alternative route is to travel to Como San Giovanni station, which is located in Como, the main lakeside town of Lake Como, situated at the base of the lake. These services depart from either Milan Centrale or Milano Greco Pirelli station with up to 60 services per day, departures are frequent. The fastest trains can take just 40 minutes, with average services taking around 50 minutes.

By train from Milan Malpensa Airport

If you’ll be making the dash straight from the airport, Malpensa is the best option and the train journey isn’t too difficult. There isn’t a direct train from Malpensa, so you will be required to make a change, usually at Saronno, before reaching Como Lago station.

Travelling by train is the most convenient, sustainable, and enjoyable way to reach Lake Como from Milan. Tickets from Milan to Lake Como start from just €5 per person. You can book your tickets in advance via Trainline or purchase them directly at one of the ticket machines at the train station. Queues can be long at times, so be sure to give yourself plenty of time before your train departs.

Bus

There is an infrequent coach service operated by Flix Bus between Milan and Lake Como. Running four services per day, there is one around 6:30am and three in the evening between 5pm-7:30pm. A one-way coach ticket starts from €6 and the journey takes 55 minutes on average. Though one service does take almost two hours.

Based on the cost and convenience factor, I’d recommend the train over a coach due to the number of services and frequency.

By car

If you fancy driving around the towns of Lake Como, you can hire a car either from one of the airports or from Milan and drive to Lake Como. The route you take will depend on which towns and villages along the lake you want to visit. Closest to Milan at the bottom of the upside-down Y-shaped lake are the towns of Como on the western branch and Lecco on the eastern branch.

Personally, I would recommend using public transport if you are only planning to visit Lake Como and/or Milan. The public transport connections are frequent, comfortable, and affordable. Public transport in Lake Como also spares you from the difficulty of trying to find parking. It can be hard to come by, especially during the busy summer months and on weekends, and it can also add up quite quickly if you are using several paid car parks.

Traffic can also build up during busy periods and the windy roads could be a little anxiety-inducing if you’re not used to driving on the right side. Though, if you feel up to the challenge or have hired a car for use on a larger regional trip through northern Italy, then don’t be discouraged.

How to get to Lake Como from Lugano, Switzerland

Lake Como is located close to the Swiss-Italian border, which makes it a popular day trip or a weekend getaway from Lugano. If you’re driving to Lake Como from Lugano, it’s easiest to reach the town of Menaggio, which takes around 40 minutes - one hour depending on traffic.

Train

Train services between the Swiss town of Lugano and Lake Como are convenient and frequent, making it a top choice if you are spending time in the charming Swiss town. The fastest trains from Lugano to Como can take as little as 33 minutes, but the journey time typically takes around 45 minutes.

Three companies operate train services between Lugano and Como; Trenitalia, SBB, and Regiojet. Tickets start from just €10 one way and can be purchased at the ticket machines or attendant booths at the train station in Lugano.

Bus

There are a few bus connections from Lugano to Como, running in the afternoon and evening. The journey takes between 45 minutes to an hour and prices start from €10 one way. Train services are more frequent than the coach, so I would recommend the train over a coach if you’re choosing between the two.

Using the ferries in Lake Como

Once you’ve reached the lake, the easiest way to move between towns is to hop on board the ferry. If you are staying in one of the towns further along the lane than Varenna or Como, you’ll need to catch a ferry to your destination once you’ve disembarked the train.

The ferry is one of the best and most beautiful ways to travel around Lake Como, and conveniently they operate year-round. There are several routes operating across the lake, depending on the stays you’re visiting or staying in. The most common ferry routes are:

Como at the southwestern tip to Colico in the north
Lecco in the southeastern tip to Bellagio in the central lake
The central lake operating between the towns of Bellagio, Varenna, Menaggio, and Cadenabbia

Depending on your preference for slow travel or reaching your destination quickly, you can choose between the faster hydrofoil service or the more leisurely-paced ferry service. The former does come at an increased ticket price for the benefit of speed.

Ferry fares for Lake Como vary depending on the route you’re taking and the regular stopping or limited stops service, as well as single and return day rates. Some examples of popular routes include Bellagio to Como from €10.40 or a single journey between Varenna and Bellagio from €4.60.

If you’re planning on hopping between towns on the central lake during a day trip, or staying in one of the towns such as Bellagio, Menaggio, or Varenna, the central lake day ticket is a great value option.

The ticket costs €15 for the day, and allows you to hop on and off the ferry between the central lake towns instead of buying individual tickets for every journey. Provided you take a minimum of four trips, you’ll get your money’s worth. You can find ferry timetables for Lake Como here.

You can purchase ferry tickets at the dock of most towns, though I recommend arriving 20-30 minutes before your departure time, as lines can get long.