Three ways to reach the lake from Milan
Milan has direct trains to the lake from three different stations, and each one ends in a different town. Choose by what you want to see, not by the shortest ride. Varenna is the best base for a ferry day. Como is the better choice if you want a town, a cathedral and the funicular to Brunate.
From Milano Centrale a direct train reaches Varenna-Esino in about 64 minutes, roughly once an hour and about 16 times a day. Another direct train from Milano Centrale reaches Como San Giovanni in about 40 minutes, also roughly hourly. From Milano Cadorna a direct train reaches Como Lago in about 60 minutes, with single tickets from €5.40 in 2026. The S11 suburban line runs from Milano Porta Garibaldi to Como and is a different service from both. For Milan itself, see the day trips from Milan guide.
Train routes compared
Direct services only. Times are approximate.
| Route | Milan station | Ride | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Varenna-Esino | Milano Centrale | About 64 minutes, about hourly | Ferry day, Varenna, Bellagio |
| Como San Giovanni | Milano Centrale | About 40 minutes, about hourly | Como town, cathedral, Brunate |
| Como Lago | Milano Cadorna | About 60 minutes | Lakefront, boat piers |
| Como (S11) | Milano Porta Garibaldi | – | Arriving from the Garibaldi side of Milan |
From 2 to 28 November 2026, some late S11 trains between Como and Porta Garibaldi run on selected days with changed arrival times. That does not close the line. Check the day and train before you plan a late return. Do not build a tight connection between a train arrival and a ferry departure, because the ride time does not guarantee one.
Our picks: day trips from Milan
A small-group day with train and boat, or a long day by boat to Bellagio and Lugano.
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.
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 →
From Milan by boat to Bellagio and Lugano
Round-trip transport from Milan, a guide, radio headsets and a boat reserved for your group. Food, drinks and tips are not included, and you need a travel document for the Swiss border.
Check availability →Lake Como day trips from Milan
Guided days, boat trips and villa visits with live prices and availability.
The ferry on your day trip
What to know before you reach the pier.
Buying tickets
Arrive about 20 minutes before departure. Larger towns have a ticket office near the pier. Where there is none, you buy on board. On the summer timetable (1 July to 4 October 2026) the on-board purchase adds €1 per traveler when the pier office was closed.
Crossing times
On weekdays from 5 October to 1 November 2026, Bellagio to Cadenabbia takes 10 minutes and Menaggio to Varenna 15 minutes. Bellagio to Varenna takes 15 or 30 minutes depending on the sailing. These are timetable values, not a fixed frequency.
Fares
Adult single fares run in eight tiers from €3.00 to €14.50, valid from 1 April 2026. Day tickets for adults run from €8.00 to €32.00 by tier, and fast boats add €1.50 to €5.50. Children aged 4 to 11 pay a reduced fare. A day ticket depends on the area it covers, so there is no single price for the whole lake.
Season
The summer timetable ended on 4 October 2026 and the autumn timetable runs to 1 November 2026. For winter, check the current timetable before you go. Waves and weather can cancel sailings.
Ferry guide →Three day plans
Each fits one day. Add a villa only if you accept a shorter walk.
Varenna and Bellagio
Take a morning train from Milano Centrale to Varenna-Esino. Walk the short Passeggiata degli Innamorati from the pier to the center. The Villa Monastero garden costs €13, or €15 with the museum (2026), and is open daily from 10:00 to 18:00 in October, with the museum closed on Tuesday. Then take the ferry to Bellagio. Villa Melzi costs €10 and has no reservation for normal entry.
Varenna →Como and Brunate
The ride is the shortest. Visit the cathedral, walk the lakefront and ride the funicular to Brunate. The ride takes 7 minutes and the funicular runs daily from 06:00 to 24:00. An adult single costs €3.60 or €3.70 and a return €7.20 or €7.40, depending on which tariff is current, since a new tariff took effect on 1 September 2026.
Como →Add a villa
Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo costs €17.50 for adults (2026) and is open from 10:00 to 18:00 between 19 October and 8 November, with last tickets at 17:00. Villa del Balbianello needs a reservation, costs €15 for the park or €25 with the villa, and is normally closed on Monday and Wednesday. The booked time is your entry to the grounds, and a wait of up to 60 minutes for the interior tour is possible.
Villa Carlotta →If you drive
The train is simpler for a day trip.
Como's historic center is a restricted traffic zone, and entry needs a permit for eligible categories. A tourist visit is not one of them. One car park on Via Colombo 30 charges €1 per day or €5 per week in 2026, applies its tariff from 08:00 to 19:00 and is free on public holidays, with a maximum stay of 11 hours. That is one example, not the price of every car park in town.
Only piers marked traghetto take cars. The central car ferry network links Bellagio, Cadenabbia, Varenna and Menaggio. A car with driver costs €10.10 one way up to 3.50 m in length (2026), and €12.70 up to 4.50 m and €16.80 above that. Passengers pay their own fare. The price list does not promise a reserved space.
Lake Como from Milan: frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get from Milan to Lake Como?
About 40 minutes from Milano Centrale to Como San Giovanni, about 60 minutes from Milano Cadorna to Como Lago, and about 64 minutes from Milano Centrale to Varenna-Esino. All three are direct trains.
Is Varenna or Como better for a day trip?
Varenna suits a day with ferries, because the central crossings to Bellagio and Menaggio start there. Como suits a town day with a cathedral, the lakefront and the funicular. You can do both on separate days.
Can I see Bellagio, Varenna and a villa in one day?
Bellagio and Varenna fit together because the ferry takes 15 or 30 minutes. A villa on top makes the day long, and Villa del Balbianello needs a reservation. Pick one villa and keep the timings loose.
Do I need a car?
No. Trains and ferries cover the main towns. A car adds restricted zones in Como and Bellagio and a ferry fare when you cross.
Are there tours from Milan that bundle everything?
Yes, guided days exist that combine train, boat and guide in one booking. Compare what each one includes, since entry to villas and gardens is not always part of it.