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Plan your trip
Pick your dates and pace — we'll lay out a day-by-day timeline using the same ferries, towns, and seasonal events as the sample plans below.
Your generated itinerary will appear here.
Pick a start date, end date, and pace above to generate a custom itinerary built from the existing ferry legs, six destination towns, and seasonal events on this site.
01
The Classic Lake Triangle
The quintessential Lake Como circuit: arrive in Como, ride the slow boat to Bellagio, then hop the triangle ferry to Varenna before finishing in Menaggio. Every major landmark, two ferry crossings, and a jazz evening included.
Day 1
Day 1 — Como to Bellagio
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→
Como
Begin at Piazza Cavour — espresso at a lakeside bar before the ferry.
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Como → Bellagio (slow boat)
Approx. 2 hrs, stops at Cernobbio, Tremezzo, Lenno.
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→
Bellagio
Check in, explore the stepped lanes of the Salita Serbelloni.
Estimated spend per person · Budget / Mid-range / Splurge
| Tier | Ferries | Meals | Attractions | Lodging | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BUDGET | €14 | €35 | €12 | €75 | €136 |
| MID-RANGE | €18 | €60 | €18 | €140 | €236 |
| SPLURGE | €22 | €95 | €25 | €290 | €432 |
Day 2
Day 2 — Bellagio to Varenna to Menaggio
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Bellagio ↔ Varenna ferry
Triangle crossing, approx. 15 min.
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→
Varenna
Villa Monastero gardens and Castello di Vezio hillside walk.
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Villa Monastero Evening OpeningsJUN–SEP
After-hours visits to the lakeside gardens with candle lighting — aperitivo at the loggia café.
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Menaggio ↔ Varenna ferry
Car ferry, approx. 15 min.
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→
Menaggio
Lakefront promenade, evening drinks on the piazza.
Estimated spend per person · Budget / Mid-range / Splurge
| Tier | Ferries | Meals | Attractions | Lodging | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BUDGET | €14 | €35 | €14 | €75 | €138 |
| MID-RANGE | €18 | €60 | €22 | €140 | €240 |
| SPLURGE | €22 | €95 | €30 | €290 | €437 |
02
Western Shore Weekend
Trace the western shore from Como through Cernobbio and Tremezzo before crossing to Varenna. Timed to the bloom season, this itinerary catches the Villa Carlotta azaleas and the Sagra di San Giorgio in Varenna.
Day 1
Day 1 — Como to Cernobbio to Tremezzo
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→
Como
Morning walk along the city walls and cathedral square.
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Cernobbio ↔ Como ferry
Short hop south of Como, approx. 20 min.
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→
Cernobbio
Villa Erba gardens and the waterfront piazzetta.
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Como → Tremezzo (slow boat)
Continue north along the western shore.
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→
Tremezzo
Villa Carlotta, Villa del Balbianello, and the Grand Hotel terrace.
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Villa Carlotta Spring BloomAPR–MAY
Azaleas and rhododendrons in full bloom across 70,000 m² of gardens.
Estimated spend per person · Budget / Mid-range / Splurge
| Tier | Ferries | Meals | Attractions | Lodging | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BUDGET | €16 | €35 | €12 | €75 | €138 |
| MID-RANGE | €22 | €60 | €20 | €145 | €247 |
| SPLURGE | €28 | €95 | €28 | €295 | €446 |
Day 2
Day 2 — Menaggio to Varenna
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→
Menaggio
Breakfast on the piazza, morning stroll along the lakefront.
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Menaggio ↔ Varenna ferry
Car ferry crossing, approx. 15 min.
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→
Varenna
Lakeside village lunch, gardens, and the old harbour.
Estimated spend per person · Budget / Mid-range / Splurge
| Tier | Ferries | Meals | Attractions | Lodging | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BUDGET | €10 | €35 | €10 | €75 | €130 |
| MID-RANGE | €14 | €60 | €16 | €140 | €230 |
| SPLURGE | €18 | €95 | €22 | €290 | €425 |
03
Grand Tour: Three Days on the Lake
The complete Lake Como circuit — Cernobbio and the southern shore on day one, Bellagio and Varenna on day two, then a western-shore finale through Menaggio and Tremezzo on day three, ending with chamber music above Lenno.
Day 1
Day 1 — Como to Cernobbio
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→
Como
Arrive, check in; explore the old town and lakefront promenade.
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Cernobbio ↔ Como ferry
Short hop to the village, approx. 20 min.
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→
Cernobbio
Villa Erba, lakeside bars, and the piazzetta at dusk.
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Festival del LagoJUN
Lakeside cultural weekend with food stalls, artisan markets, and a fireworks finale over Villa Erba.
Estimated spend per person · Budget / Mid-range / Splurge
| Tier | Ferries | Meals | Attractions | Lodging | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BUDGET | €10 | €35 | €8 | €70 | €123 |
| MID-RANGE | €14 | €60 | €16 | €130 | €220 |
| SPLURGE | €18 | €95 | €24 | €280 | €417 |
Day 2
Day 2 — Bellagio to Varenna
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Como → Bellagio (slow boat)
Morning departure, approx. 2 hrs.
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→
Bellagio
Lunch on the point; walk the stepped lanes in the afternoon.
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Villa Melzi Spring Azalea BloomAPR–MAY
The lakefront garden's azalea-lined paths reach their peak — swans, magnolias, and rhododendrons.
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Bellagio ↔ Varenna ferry
Triangle crossing, approx. 15 min.
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→
Varenna
Evening in the village; dinner at a harbour-side trattoria.
Estimated spend per person · Budget / Mid-range / Splurge
| Tier | Ferries | Meals | Attractions | Lodging | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BUDGET | €18 | €35 | €12 | €75 | €140 |
| MID-RANGE | €22 | €60 | €20 | €145 | €247 |
| SPLURGE | €28 | €95 | €28 | €295 | €446 |
Day 3
Day 3 — Menaggio to Tremezzo (return via Como)
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Menaggio ↔ Varenna ferry
Morning car ferry, approx. 15 min.
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→
Menaggio
Lakefront coffee, old town wander, and the golf club viewpoint.
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→
Tremezzo
Villa del Balbianello and Villa Carlotta; lunch on the Grand Hotel terrace.
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Balbianello Music EveningsJUL–AUG
Chamber music on the villa's lakefront loggia at sunset — small audience, exceptional setting.
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Como → Tremezzo ferry (return)
Return south to Como for onward connections.
Estimated spend per person · Budget / Mid-range / Splurge
| Tier | Ferries | Meals | Attractions | Lodging | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BUDGET | €16 | €35 | €14 | €75 | €140 |
| MID-RANGE | €22 | €60 | €22 | €145 | €249 |
| SPLURGE | €28 | €95 | €30 | €295 | €448 |
04
Seasonal fit
Match your itinerary to the lake's event calendar — most festivals run April through September.
Which months suit which plan
- Classic Triangle (any time) — best June–July to catch Bellagio Jazz Nights and Villa Monastero Evening Openings.
- Western Shore Weekend — April–May for Villa Carlotta Spring Bloom; April also brings the Sagra di San Giorgio in Varenna.
- Grand Tour — April–May for the Villa Melzi Azalea Bloom; July–August for Balbianello Music Evenings. The Festival del Lago in Cernobbio falls in June.
- Off-season (Oct–Mar) — all three routes still work for the ferry crossings and town walks; most event venues close, but prices drop and crowds vanish.
Plan your trip
Lock in tickets & tours before you arrive.
Ferry tickets, private boat hire, and curated day trips. Pre-book to skip queues and hold the right schedule — your itinerary is set before you board the train from Milan.