On this day trip to Lake Como from Milan by train, you’ll visit charming towns, picturesque villas, and take in beautiful vistas, making for a wonderful day. All details of how to get there, buy tickets, and get around are mentioned so you can enjoy your Lake Como day trip without worrying about how its all going to work out.
Lake Como is a serene destination with clear water, lush greenery, and beautiful towns with a backdrop of the stunning Italian Alps. Imagine taking a leisurely boat ride, admiring elegant villas, enjoying a drink while taking in the breathtaking views, or simply wandering along the lakefront promenades. You’ll soon understand why Lake Como is popular with celebrities and artists!
With this one-day Lake Como itinerary, forget about the city rush and let the lake’s beauty captivate you.
Why take a day trip to Lake Como from Milan?
The best way to visit Lake Como is to spend a few days there, visiting different villages at a slow pace. It’s true. But its not always practical. Here are a few reasons why a day trip to Lake Como is a good option:
- The accommodations on Lake Como can be really expensive and sell out fast, depending on the season. Trust me, I tried to find an accommodation for two nights in July (one of the busiest months) 5–6 months prior, and I could not find a single Airbnb or hotel that fit my budget. I decided to spend two nights in Milan instead, and everything worked out perfectly.
- You might not have more than a day to spend at Lake Como on your vacation in Italy.
- The highlights of Lake Como can be easily seen in one day, so it is a very practical option that helps you make the most of your time in Italy.
- Lake Como is just a one-hour train ride from Milan, making for an easy, self-guided day trip. If you’d like to take a day tour and let someone else handle all the logistics, then there are several options listed below that start in Milan, with this tour being the most popular.
How to reach Lake Como from Milan?
You can reach Lake Como from Milan by train quite easily.
You have to take the train from Milano Centrale to Varenna-Esino. Varenna is a village located in the mid-lake area. It makes for the perfect spot to start and end your Lake Como trip, as it is very close and very well-connected by public transport to the other two villages you’ll be seeing on this itinerary. But the best bit is that it is in itself a beautiful gem waiting to be explored! A lot of people wonder if Como would be a better idea, as I did myself, but Como is actually very far from famous spots worth seeing if you only have one day in Lake Como, like Bellagio and Villa Balbianello.
The first train departs every day at 6:20 a.m. from Milan and takes about an hour to reach Varenna-Esino. The last train back to Milan departs Varenna-Esino at 9:20 p.m. However, do note that these times keep changing, so refer to the Trenitalia website for updated times. On our date, the last train was at 8:20 p.m.!
The way I’d recommend planning is to first see the ferry timetable and accordingly book your train because the first train in the morning might make you reach Varenna much before the first ferry. Just ensure that you take the earliest possible transport to Lake Como and the last train back to Milan, so you have plenty of time to explore Lake Como at a leisurely pace.
However, it may happen that you aren’t able to do that; after all, you’re on vacation, which is okay. We ourselves only started exploring Bellagio at 11:45 AM and yet were able to see all three villages, though we did have to rush to get to the train station in Varenna.
You can book your train ticket costing €7.4 one way (2nd class) at the kiosk on Milan Station or do it beforehand at the Trenitalia website to save time. We were about to miss our train because we were running late and had not booked the ticket beforehand. Sometimes, the Trenitalia website doesn’t work very well, in which case you can use the following two websites to book tickets – Trainline and Omio.
Tips:
1. If you’re buying a ticket at the train station, don’t forget to validate it through the green machine at the station; otherwise, you may be heavily fined. If you have an e-ticket, then validating it is not mandatory at the moment.
2. Get to the train station on time and be ready to board the train first so that you get a seat. There are no seat reservations on these trains, so you will have to stand on the journey to Como or back to Milan if you don’t arrive on time.
3. Don’t end up on the 1st class coach by mistake if you don’t have 1st class tickets. We made this mistake, but thankfully, our tickets were not checked, even though the conductor checked everyone’s tickets around us. We just got lucky!
How to get around Lake Como?
To get from one town to another on Lake Como, you will have to take a ferry. The ferry cost depends on the route, but typically starts at 4.6 euros one way. Two-way tickets do not have a discount, so it doesn’t really matter.
You can book your ticket at the ticket counter after arrival (but so will everyone on your train), so it is best to book the ferry ticket online at the official Navigazione Laghi ferry website a few minutes before you have to board the ferry. The website is also a great way to check the ferry timings for all the stops on your itinerary, as these change according to season!
Alternately, you can buy the one-day Middle Lake pass, which costs €15 per person. The online passes aren’t always available, so you may have to buy them in person. This pass will give you flexibility, but it will not save you any money if you follow this itinerary.
Lake Como Itinerary for a 1 day trip
On this day trip to Lake Como, you’re going to visit three picturesque villages in central Lake Como. They are very close to each other and therefore make for the perfect combination of villages to visit in one day.
Village 1: Bellagio
Why Bellagio?
Nestled at the intersection of Lake Como’s three arms, Bellagio is a small town that boasts excellent views of the surrounding mountains. The town is renowned for its vibrant cafe culture, boutique shops, and narrow cobblestone streets that wind through historic neighbourhoods. And that is exactly what you’re here to enjoy.
How to get to Bellagio from Varenna?
As you reach the train station in Varenna, walk 400 metres (5 minutes) to the Varenna Ferry Terminal. Buy your ticket or pass if it has not already been purchased, and take the ferry to the most popular town in all of Lake Como, Bellagio!
What to do in Bellagio?
Walk around and enjoy the beautiful streets, shop, eat, and sit down at a lakeside cafe for a cup of coffee. That’s the perfect way to enjoy Bellagio!
Start by walking down the corniche and up the stairs called Salita Serbelloni until you reach Via Giuseppe Garibaldi. Or simply look for ‘Famous Street of Bellagio‘ on Google Maps (marked in the map above). Go to the top of the staircase, and now look down for that view of Bellagio that you’ve seen all over Instagram. Do this first because it’ll get crowded soon—everyone wants a photo here.
You can also choose to head to the Basilica of San Giacomo for a quick look since it is close by.
Grab a bite around the area and then head back to the lake to sit under a tree and sip some wine or coffee.
Other things to do:
I haven’t mentioned too many activities to do in Bellagio because I think it is best to take it slow and enjoy the vibe of Lake Como. However, if you’re not the type to simply sit around and would like to see more, then here are a few options:
- Visit Villa Melzi: The gardens are stunning, and it costs only €10 to enter.
- Take a Boat Ride: Everyone who does a boat ride on Lake Como always highly recommends it. However, these start at around €120 per person. The one-hour tour takes you to all the same spots you can see from the ferry, which is why we didn’t do it and have no regrets. But you can consider it for yourself if it interests you.
- Rent a Kayak: Instead, I would recommend renting a kayak in Bellagio and checking out the beautiful villas around Bellagio that you wouldn’t be able to see from the ferry anyway. This is a much cheaper option than going for a boat ride, but obviously you won’t be able to cover as much ground as a boat tour would.
Where do I eat in Bellagio?
We had some pasta at Dai Viga Pasta Fresca because someone recommended it to us. It is a fast-food restaurant with decent pasta. Nothing extraordinary, though, but not expensive, so we were happy with it. Other well rated eateries are Trattoria San Giacomo and La Grotta. Later, we went to a lakeside bar, Bar Sanremo. It is very close to the ferry terminal and has seats under the trees, so it makes for the perfect place to relax and have some drinks/coffee on a hot, sunny day, while enjoying a view of the lake.
After a few hours, when you’ve had your fill of Bellagio’s beauty, head to your next stop! I expect you would spend about 3 hours in Bellagio if you didn’t do the extra activities and about 4–5 hours if you did.
Village 2: Lenno
How do I get to Lenno from Bellagio?
Take a ferry from Bellagio to Lenno, which takes about 30 minutes. Ferry rides on Lake Como are always a pleasure because of the views of the villages along the way.
Why visit Lenno?
Lenno is a gem of a village, very close to Bellagio. It offers a tranquil escape if you’re seeking a quieter experience on Lake Como. The charming village has an absolutely delightful lakefront promenade, which is a pleasure to walk on. That being said, Lenno is best known for the captivating Villa del Balbianello, which is why it’s on this itinerary.
What to do in Lenno?
After reaching Lenno, walk along the promenade towards Villa Balbianello. Now you have two options: to walk 1 km up a hill to the villa or to take a paid boat. The boat runs every 20 minutes and costs 12 euros per person return (credit cards are accepted onboard). I will suggest either taking the boat both ways or taking the boat to the villa and walking back from the villa to the village. The reason is that the walk to Villa Balbianello has very steep sections that will leave you huffing and puffing.
Villa del Balbianello
Timings: 10 AM to 6 PM from mid-March to October, and 10 AM to 5 PM from November to early January.
Closed on Mondays and Wednesdays
Cost: You have two options for your visit: a ticket for just the gardens, costing Euro 13 per person, or a ticket for a 45-minute guided tour of the house, costing Euro 24 per person, which also includes access to the gardens. Tours are available in English and Italian. If you’re only visiting the garden, then you can buy the ticket after reaching it, but if you’re doing the tour, I recommend buying the ticket beforehand on this website.
Villa del Balbianello will be the highlight of your day trip to Lake Como from Milan. It is an elegant 18th-century mansion with romantic terraced gardens and breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. The villa’s appeal has been further amplified by its appearance in popular films like Star Wars: Episode II: Attack of the Clones and Casino Royale!
We chose to take the boat to the villa and walk around the gardens, which were an absolute delight. Wear your best clothes, as you’ll feel out of place if you’re not well dressed, but wear comfortable shoes, as there is plenty of walking around.
Did you know?
Bollywood stars Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh got married here in Villa Balbianello
Lenno village
After visiting Villa Balbianello, spend some time in the charming village. You can go for a swim, hire a kayak or paddle board, sit by the promenade, or go to the Lido di Lenno beachfront. It’s up to you. Before heading back to the ferry terminal, quickly see the church and baptistery, Chiesa di Santo Stefano e Battistero. It has interesting frescoes from the 14th and 16th centuries. Don’t forget to grab a gelato at La Fabbrica Del Gelato!
Again, expect to spend about 3 to 4 hours in Lenno.
Village 3: Varenna
How do I get to Varenna from Lenno?
Take the ferry from Varenna to Lenno, which will take about 45 minutes. Ensure you inquire about the ferry timings from Lenno to Varenna beforehand so you don’t miss the last ferry out!
Why visit Varenna?
Varenna is an enchanting village that effortlessly combines old-world charm with breathtaking natural beauty. With its narrow cobblestone streets, colourful houses, and inviting lakeside promenade, Varenna captivates. It offers stunning views of the lake and the surrounding mountains, which makes it the best place to see the sunset before heading back to Milan.
What to do in Varenna?
After you get to the Varenna ferry terminal, go right and keep walking. You’ll notice a red railing separates the village from the lake. That’s when you know you’re walking on the “passeggiata degli inamorata,” which loosely translates to Lover’s Lane.
We chanced upon this walk while looking for a place to grab dinner and were absolutely delighted. The lane is actually a walkway that skirts along the shore a few metres above the water. It takes you from the ferry terminal, along the lakefront, to the old town. The views are spectacular.
If you have enough time (since you’ve got to catch the last train out and even grab dinner), head up and away from the lake to the town centre, ending at the church of San Georgio.
Where to eat at Varenna?
We were getting late for the last train out, so we ate at the first decent place we could find that was closest to the train station, Alma. It was right by the shore, and the food was nice. However, if you have enough time and are looking for better food, go to one of the following restaurants: Il Cavatappi or Al Prato. Both are very well rated!
Just remember that you do have to walk all the way back towards the ferry terminal to reach the train station on time!
And that brings us to the end of this beautiful day trip to Lake Como from Milan. It was a very long day, but we loved our time on Lake Como. If you follow this itinerary, do tell us which of the three villages is your favourite. We especially enjoyed Lenno and Varenna, even though Bellagio is the most famous!
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