Lake Como in a nutshell
Lake Como (Lago di Como) lies in Lombardy, in northern Italy. The towns people visit most are Bellagio, Varenna, Menaggio, Tremezzo and the city of Como at the southern end. Two famous villas sit on the western shore: Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo and Villa del Balbianello near Lenno. Villa Melzi is in Bellagio, and Villa Monastero is in Varenna.
Most trips combine a train from Milan with the ferries. Car ferries link Bellagio, Cadenabbia, Varenna and Menaggio, and passenger boats and fast boats serve the rest of the shore. This site is an independent guide, not run by a ferry company, a municipality, a villa or a tour operator. Prices are in euros as listed for 2026, and they change.
What this guide covers
Boats first, then the towns and villas.
The lake works best when you plan around the boats. A ferry ride is the cheapest way to see the shore, a shared or private boat tour gives you the villas from the water, and the train gets you to the lake from Milan in about an hour. Each page here gives prices and hours with the year they apply to, so you can see what is current. Lombardy as a whole, including Milan and Bergamo, has its own guide at Visit Lombardy. This site stays on the lake.
Our picks: Lake Como tours
A boat tour with Bellagio and Varenna, a day trip from Milan and Villa Carlotta.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Four-hour boat tour with Bellagio and Varenna
A shared boat tour past the villas with walks through Bellagio and Varenna and a prosecco tasting. Tips for the captain are not included.
Check availability →
Como, Bellagio and Varenna from Milan with a boat cruise
A small-group day with a boat ride, guided visits in all three towns, priority ferry access, reserved seats, first-class train and metro tickets. Food, drinks, hotel pickup and villa entries are not included.
Check availability →
Villa Carlotta museum and garden ticket
Entry to the museum and the garden. A guide and transport are not included.
Check availability →Lake Como tours and day trips
Boat trips, villa visits and day trips from Milan, with live prices and availability.
Plan your trip
Start with the boats and the main towns.
Tours compared
Public ferry, shared boat, self-drive boat and villa visits: how they differ and what they cost.
Boat tours
Shared cruises from Como, self-drive rentals and the water taxi to Balbianello.
Ferries
Fare bands, car ferry prices, timetable periods and the central network.
Bellagio
The point of the peninsula, Villa Melzi and the ferries to both shores.
Varenna
A lakeside walk, Villa Monastero, Castello di Vezio and the direct train.
Menaggio
A west-shore base with an 11 km circuit walk and a ferry link to Varenna.
Villa Carlotta
Tickets, hours and the walk from the Tremezzo and Cadenabbia piers.
More places, seasons and practical pages
Villas, the city of Como, walks and when to go.
Villa del Balbianello
Reservation rules, opening days and the walk from Lenno.
Como
The cathedral, the funicular to Brunate and the Villa Olmo park.
Lake Como from Milan
Train times to Varenna and Como, and what to check before you go.
Beaches and swimming
The swimming season, lido prices and why bans apply point by point.
Hiking
The Greenway on the west shore and the Sentiero del Viandante in the east.
Best time to visit
Monthly averages and the different opening seasons.
Where to stay
Choose a base by train and ferry access, plus tourist tax basics.
Which town for what
How to reach each place and what it is known for.
| Place | Main draw | Getting there |
|---|---|---|
| Varenna | Lakeside walk, Villa Monastero, Castello di Vezio | Direct train from Milano Centrale, about 64 minutes |
| Como | Cathedral, funicular to Brunate | Milano Cadorna to Como Lago, about 60 minutes; Milano Centrale to Como San Giovanni, about 40 minutes |
| Bellagio | Villa Melzi, ferry hub | Central ferry network, Cadenabbia in 10 minutes |
| Menaggio | Circuit walk, west-shore base | Central ferry network, Varenna in 15 minutes |
| Tremezzo | Villa Carlotta | Boat to Tremezzo or Cadenabbia, then a walk of about 450 m or 900 m |
| Lenno | Path and boat access to Villa del Balbianello | Reach Lenno by boat or road, then walk 1 km |
Ferry times are from the autumn weekday timetable and are not a guaranteed frequency. Train times are approximate. The ferry page and the Milan page have the details.
Good to know in autumn 2026
A few things to know before you plan.
New ferry fares since 1 April 2026
A new tariff sheet applies from 1 April 2026. Day tickets depend on the area they cover, and fast boats need a surcharge. There is no single day ticket for the whole lake at the central price.
Ferry fares →Villa Carlotta closes earlier
From 19 October to 8 November 2026 the villa is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the last tickets at 5 p.m. After that it opens on listed winter days only.
Villa Carlotta →Balbianello needs a reservation
The park needs a reservation too, not only the villa. In the regular season the grounds are closed on Monday and Wednesday.
Villa del Balbianello →No falcon shows at Vezio
The falconry shows at Castello di Vezio above Varenna have stopped for good.
Varenna →Villa Olmo is closed inside
The building in Como is closed for restoration. The park is open. Do not plan an interior visit.
Como →Pier closures
Single piers close for maintenance from time to time. Check the operator's notices before you set off.
Ferries →More independent guides to Lombardy
Separate guides from the same team.
Lake Como: frequently asked questions
How do I get to Lake Como from Milan?
By train. Milano Centrale to Varenna-Esino takes about 64 minutes, with roughly one train an hour. Milano Cadorna to Como Lago takes about 60 minutes, and Milano Centrale to Como San Giovanni about 40. The three stations are different starting points. See Lake Como from Milan.
Can I buy ferry tickets on board?
Yes, where the pier has no ticket office. The summer timetable lists a €1 surcharge for on-board sales, which does not apply when the pier office is closed. Where there is an office, buy there, and arrive about 20 minutes before departure. See the ferry page.
Do I have to reserve Villa del Balbianello?
Yes. The operator asks for a reservation for the park as well as the villa. The park costs €15 and villa and park €25 for adults in 2026. Details are on the Balbianello page.
Can I swim in the lake?
The official swimming season runs from 1 May to the end of September, and permission depends on the exact spot. A bathing ban can apply at a single point even when the water looks clear. Read the swimming page before you pick a spot.
Is there a ferry in winter?
The summer timetable ran from 1 July to 4 October 2026, and the autumn timetable runs to 1 November 2026. The winter timetable for the car ferries last year ran from 31 October 2025 to 22 March 2026. Check the winter 2026/27 timetable before you plan. See Ferries.
Is lake-como.org an official site?
No. This is an independent travel guide with no link to the ferry operator, the municipalities, the villas or any tour company.