01
Ferry routes between the towns
Navigazione Laghi runs the lake's ferry network year-round. The mid-lake triangle — Bellagio, Menaggio, Varenna — forms the busiest crossing. Add slow boats, hydrofoils, and car ferries depending on the town.
Per-town at a glance
- Como: Main ferry terminal at the lungolago. Slow boats, hydrofoils, and car ferries all depart here.
- Bellagio: Mid-lake hub. Connects to Como, Varenna, and Menaggio. No direct ferry to Tremezzo — go via car ferry to Varenna, then catch the upper-lake boat.
- Varenna: Eastern shore hub. Trains arrive at the station above town; ferry pier is a short walk down.
- Menaggio: Western-shore terminal. Car ferry every 30 min across to Varenna. Gateway to Tremezzo and Villa del Balbianello.
- Tremezzo: Stops on the Como–Colico line. Walking distance from Lenno and Villa del Balbianello.
- Cernobbio: Several daily stops on the Como–mid-lake routes. Villa Erba visitors disembark here.
- Lenno: Mid-lake stop, on the Como–Tremezzo/Colico line. Pair with a short walk to Villa del Balbianello.
- Gravedona: Northern tip. Slow boats from Como (over 2 hrs) or the Como–Colico line. Often quieter than the mid-lake towns.
02
Public transit options
You don't need a car. Trenord regional trains reach Como, Varenna, and on to Colico. ASF and Autostradale coaches fan out from Como to the mid-lake corners the trains skip.
Train lines
- Trenord S1 (suburbana): Milano Centrale / Porta Garibaldi → Saronno → Como San Giovanni. Runs every 30 min, journey ~50 min. Tickets ~€5.
- Milano → Como via Seregno: Alternative S1 routing via Seregno. Slightly slower; useful if you missed the direct.
- Milano–Colico line: Direct regional from Milano Centrale to Varenna, Bellano, and Colico. ~1h 15min to Varenna. ~€7 one-way.
- Como–Lecco line: Cross-lake regional service, useful for transfers when the ferry isn't running.
- Frequency: Trains on both Como and Colico lines run roughly hourly; combined with the ferry you can stitch a full day between three towns without a car.
- Fare band: Regional tickets are distance-based but rarely exceed €10 within the lake network.
Bus & coach
- ASF Autolinee: Como–Cernobbio–Argegno buses run year-round, ~30 min frequency. Cheaper than the ferry for short hops along the western shore.
- Autostradale: Long-distance coaches linking Milan, Bergamo airports, and Como. Pre-book online for the cheapest fare.
- Como–Bellagio direct bus: ASF C30 runs Como → Bellagio via the hill road in ~1h 15min. Useful in winter when ferries reduce.
- Como–Menaggio coach: ASF runs along the SS340 western shore to Menaggio and beyond, ~1h 40min end to end.
- Local fares: Single tickets €2.50–5. Day passes available from Como's bus station.
- Tip: Winter timetables thin out. Always check ASF/Autostradale schedules in November through March.
Ferry seasonality — what /ferry tells you
- Summer (mid-Jun–mid-Sep): Full timetable. Hydrofoils every 30–60 min; slow boats on the same cadence. Car ferry runs across the central lake.
- Shoulder (Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct): Reduced hydrofoils — slow boats dominate. Crossings still run but with longer gaps.
- Winter (Nov–Mar): Slow boats only, often hourly. Some lines skip mid-lake stops; verify timetables before traveling.
- Always verify before travel: Service adjustments for weather, holidays, and lake-level changes are common.
03
Reaching the lake from Milan
Most travellers arrive at Milan Malpensa (MXP) or Milano Centrale. From either, you're at the lake's edge in under 90 minutes. Plan the route before you book.
Step 1
MXP / LIN / BGY → Milano Centrale
Malpensa Express (50 min, MXP), airport bus (LIN), or bus + train (BGY). All converge on Milano Centrale.
Step 2
Milano Centrale → Como San Giovanni
Direct Trenord S1 service every 30 min. Journey time 45 min. Tickets from €5.
Step 3
Lakeside → ferry out
From Como's lungolago, ferry or hydrofoil to Bellagio, Varenna, Menaggio, or Tremezzo.
~1 hour
from Milano Centrale
Tips for multi-town itineraries
- Park in Como: Leave the rental at one of Como's central car parks and ferry out — avoids the parking scramble in Bellagio, Varenna, and Menaggio.
- Bellagio + Varenna in one day: Train to Varenna (1h 15min), walk down to the ferry, cross to Bellagio (25 min), wander the peninsula, late ferry back to Varenna, evening train.
- Bellagio + Menaggio + Tremezzo: Take the car ferry Bellagio → Menaggio (25 min), then walk or bus to Tremezzo (~20 min). Return by ferry from Tremezzo to Bellagio in summer.
- Lenno + Villa del Balbianello: Best reached by ferry to Tremezzo plus a 20-min walk along the lakeside — or by stopping at Lenno on the Como–Colico line.
- Cernobbio day trip from Como: ASF bus (~25 min) or local ferry (~20 min). Villa Erba and the lakeside gardens are the draw.
- Gravedona: Best reached by car (SS340) or the slow Como–Colico line (~2h 30min). Slower than the mid-lake towns, but Quieter and worth the time.
- Same-day Milan round-trip: Milan Centrale → Como (45 min), Bellagio ferry (70 min slow / 35 min hydrofoil), lunch, return ferry to Como, evening train. Doable on a single long day.
For the full airport-to-lake picture, see the getting to Lake Como guide.
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.