How to travel from Milan to Lake Como by Day Trips, Train & Car

If you are planning a Milan itinerary and wondering if you should travel by train from Milan to Lake Como, you are in the right place! After tripping around Italy many times, and learning how to move around using different transportation options, I am here to share all my best insider tips to help you plan your trip of your own!

This is the most complete guide you will find on the internet about how to travel from Milan to Lake Como. It covers pretty much every mode of transportation possible, including how to travel by train from Milan to Lake Como, driving, ferry, and tours. You will also find tips on how to visit Lake Como on a day trip and the best places to stay.

The cheapest and easiest way is to travel by train from Milan to Lake Como. For this reason, in this comprehensive guide, I cover all the details for you! I also share information about getting to Lake Como from Milan or Switzerland. So, without further ado, let’s find out about the best options to travel from Milan to Lake Como.

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If your first question is “How far is Milan to Lake Como?” the answer is: It is very close. The southern tip of the Lake, where the city of Como is located, is just 31 Miles (50 kilometers) from Milan, while the town of Bellagio is over 50 Miles (80 kilometers) away. It is very easy to add a day visit to Lake Como to your Milan Itinerary.

Trains can take anywhere from 30 minutes to over one hour to reach Milan to Lake Como, depending on where you’re getting off, so plan accordingly if you have set plans once you get to your destination. If you are driving or traveling by bus, it will take approximately 1 hour.

Lake Como is a perfect option for an easy day trip from Milan. All the transportation options for the route from Milan to Lake Como are full of beautiful sights with blue waters, winding roads, and postcard-worthy views.

Read More: 30 Incredible Landmarks in Italy

Lake Como is located in Northern Italy, and it is not far from the Swiss border, and it is very close to Milan and Lugano. Personally, I decided to take the train from Milan to Lake Como, but there are other options for transportation that I am also including in this guide. 

Lake Como is big, and if you have only a day trip, it won’t be enough time to explore the other villages of Bellagio, Varena, and Menaggio. I would recommend instead, just exploring Lake Como at a slower pace if you have only one day in the Lake Como region. And the best way to explore Lake Como villages is by taking a private or group boat tour.

Transportations Options to Get from Milan to Lake Como:

• The best way to explore Lake Como is by taking a boat tour – check here for the top-rating boat tours in Lake Como
• You can explore Lake Como on a private sailing charter. 
• What about taking a kayak tour on Lake Como from Pescallo di Bellagio beach to see the Rockefeller cliffs from the lake. 
• Enjoy a romantic experience in the middle of the lake, surrounded by nature and the colors of the sunset with this Lake Como romantic sail and sunset experience. 
• If you want to experience the amazing lake Como from above and see the aerial view, it is possible to take a scenic helicopter tour. 

There are three main train stations in Milan – Cadorna, Centrale, and Garibaldi. If you’re planning to go on day trips from Milan, I recommend staying in a neighborhood by the main stations. Below in this guide, I am providing the best options for accommodations. 

PRO-TIP:  Make sure that before boarding any train in Italy, you VALIDATE YOUR TICKET – otherwise you can get a fine. On the train platform, you can find the brightly colored box with a slot on the top for you to insert and validate your ticket.

There are 2 railway lines connecting Milan to Como – from Milano Centrale/ Milano Porta Garibaldi, and from Milano Nord Cadorna. 

The trains departing from Centrale and Porta Garibaldi use the same railway line – the difference is that the trains departing from Centrale make fewer stops, with also, fewer departures – and the trains departing for Porta Garibaldi stop in every single local station, but with more departures.

The Milan Nord Cadorna to Como Nord Lago is a slower but also, more scenic alternative.

These are the options for the train from Milan to  Como:

• Milano Centrale Station ⇒ Como San Giovanni Station
• Milan Porta Garibaldi ⇒ Como San Giovanni Station
• Milano Centrale Station ⇒ Varenna=Essino Station
• Milan Nord Cadorna ⇒ Como Nord Lago

Taking the train from Milan to the Lake Como region is a fairly straightforward process. If you are heading to Como, the journey should last no longer than 1-hour, depending on which type of train you select.

You don’t need to book your train in advance. I arrived at the station and bought my ticket to Como.

There are different services you can use to book your trip from Milan to Lake Como by train:

The Como San Giovanni train station is only a 10-minute walk from the Lake Como front. The trains departing from the two stations in Milan travel along the same railway line and the only difference is that the trains from Milano Centrale make fewer stops, while the trains from Porta Garibaldi stop in every single local station, and as you can imagine, it takes double the time.

PRO-TIP: There are 2 train stations in Lake Como: Como Lago and Como San Giovanni, and they are only a 17-min walk apart. Make sure you purchase the ticket for the correct station.

If you are planning to visit Bellagio, please note that there is no train station. You will need to take a train to Varenna or Como first, and then transfer to Bellagio by ferry.

The train from Milano Centrale to Varenna-Esino gets you to Varenna in one hour. From there, you can visit Varenna or take a Navigazione Laghi ferry to Bellagio, a 15-minute trip.

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Driving to Lake Como is a straightforward trip. Because of the proximity of Milan to Lake Como, taking a taxi or hiring a private driver can also be a good option.

• Milan to Lake Como by car: The 50 km (31 miles) trip will take approx. 1 hour.
• Milan to Varenna by car: The 80 km (50 miles) takes approx. 1.5 hours. Arriving there you can park the car near Villa Monastero (Parcheggio Multipiano).
• Milan to Bellagio by car: it takes 75 km (47 miles) approx. 1.5 hours. Parking is limited, and you will need to arrive early to be able to park. You can find options to park in Bellagio here. 
• You can save on your rental car when you book through this site. I use and recommend Discover Carsbecause it is the most reliable rental car source, and it allows you to compare the prices of different places.

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You can take a slow boat or a fast boat (hydrofoil) to go visit Varenna and Bellagio – Check here for options. 

The ferries run frequently, at least once an hour, and to get between each town the rides are about 15 minutes. There is no need to buy the tickets in advance, you can buy the ticket at the ferry terminal. 

• Slow-boat (Batalla): To visit all towns takes approx. 2-3 hours and a one-way ticket for each ferry cost €10.40 
• Fast-boat (hydrofoil): Visiting all towns takes approx. 45 min to 1 hour and a one-way ticket for each ferry costs €14.80 

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While it’s very easy to take a train from Milan to Lake Como, and to self-explore for a day, it is also possible to hire an organized Lake Como day tour from Milan.

If you prefer avoiding having to arrange the transportation and you don’t want to worry about the timing to visit the main sites, and prefer to have a professional guide sharing all the insights about the history, I have listed great options below: 

• Lake Como, Bellagio, and Varenna Full-Day Tour from Milan
• Lake Como – Luxury bus from Milan to visit Lake Como and Bellagio
• Lake Como: Cruise and Experience from Milan

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Visiting Lake Como straight from the Malpensa Airport (MXP) by car is very convenient too. You can rent your car at the airport, or take a private taxi for around €100 or book a private tour.

You can also reach Lake Como from Milan airport by train, traveling along two different routes. You can take one of the 9 direct TILO trains, from the airport to Como San Giovanni and the total trip takes 1.5 hours. Trains operate from 7:12 am to 11:12 PM, once every 2 hours and it costs €17 each way.

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If you are planning to have an Itinerary in Milan and add Lake Como as a day trip, it is a perfect option.

Most day trips from Milan to Lake Como start with seeing the town, then taking a ferry up to Bellagio and visiting the charming villages by the shore – you have the options to hop on a slow ferry, the fast ferry, or the hydrofoil.

The cost of this trip is about €10.40 and the length of this trip will depend on which ferry you decide to take. The fast ferry takes about 1 hour and the slow ferry takes about 2 hours since it makes at least 10 stops.

If your budget allows, you can also book a private or group boat tour in Lake Como, as it is the best way to explore the villages around and catch the most stunning vistas.

If your option is to take the hydrofoil the journey takes about 45 minutes, but it will cost you about €15 more for this trip. Lake Como is larger than Varenna and Bellagio, so if you decide to just explore one place Lake Como can entertain you for a whole day trip.

Lake Como has an extensive shoreline with stunning mansions facing the lake, and you can easily spend hours just admiring the architecture and taking pictures. You can stop for lunch in some of the cafés by the lake, or just as the locals do, have a picnic in any of the parks while admiring the views of the lake. 

You can also walk in Como city center, visit the cathedral, cafés, and shops and explore the narrow cobblestone alleys.

There is also a cable car that can take you up the mountain to a community called Brunate, and from there, you have exceptional views of the lake and the Alps. If you are looking to spend an overnight or a few days in Lake Como, check my Complete Itinerary and Travel Guide here.

If you are planning to stay in Lake Como, I have selected the best hotel options for all budgets: 

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If you are planning to go on day trips from Milan, I recommend finding accommodation close to the Milano Centrale Station. The city has many different options for accommodations, from budget to luxury, it depends on your style and budget. I have selected some great options to make your trip as fun and easy as possible:

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I recommend traveling from Milan to Lake Como by train. It is fast, cheap and very easy and you can make your own itinerary.

A single-day trip from Milan to Lake Como is worth it because there is no place like Lake Como. The stunning landscape is scattered with colorful houses, fascinating history, and incredible people. Explore the villas and towns, go on boat trips across the lake and enjoy the great laid-back lifestyle of Lake Como.

Another option if you are planning a trip to Lake Como from Milan, is to take a train to Varenna, and take a ferry to travel to Bellagio. To return to Milan, you can take a train from Varenna or take a ferry to Como and then take a train from Como to Milan. 

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