Escape the chaos and embrace tranquillity as you embark on a day trip to Lake Como from Milan by train. You’ll visit charming towns, picturesque villas and have the most 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 worry-free.

Nestled amidst the picturesque Italian Alps, Lake Como, with its crystal-clear waters, lush greenery, and charming towns, offers the perfect antidote to bustling city life. Imagine strolling along the lake-front promenades, having a drink with splendid views, admiring the elegant villas that line the lake, or even taking a leisurely boat ride. As you immerse yourself in the breathtaking scenery, you’ll understand why Lake Como has been a favourite retreat for artists, writers, and celebrities.

With this one-day Lake Como itinerary, forget about the city rush and let the lake’s serene 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 for July 5 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 in Lake Como on your Italy trip.

• 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 starting 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 beautiful town located in the mid-lake area, very close to the other two towns you’ll be exploring later in this itinerary along with Varenna.

The first train departs every day at 6:20 AM 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 dates, the last train was at 8:20!

The way I’d recommend planning is to first see the Ferry timetable and accordingly book your train. You have to take the first ferry from Varenna to Bellagio. At the moment of checking, this is at 8:30 AM. In that case, instead of taking the first train to Lake Como, I would take the 7:20 AM one. 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.

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.

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. Getting to the train station on time and being ready to board the train first would mean 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. 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 have buy them in person

Lake Como Itinerary for a 1 day trip

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!

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.

What to do in Bellagio?

Walk around and enjoy the beautiful streets, shop, and sit down at a lakeside cafe for some breakfast. Start by walking down the corniche and up the stairs called Salita Serbelloni until you reach Via Giuseppe Garibaldi. Or simply look for Apertivo et al. in Google Maps. Go to the top of the starcase, 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 phtoto 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.

I haven’t mentioned a lot of activities to do in Bellagio because I think it is best to spend time enjoying the vibe of Lake Como. However, if you’re not the type to simply sit and enjoy a place and would like to see more, then there are two options:

• Visit Villa Melzi: The gardens are stunning, and it costs only Euro 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. 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 on a hot, sunny day.

After a few hours, when you’ve had your fill of Bellagio’s beauty, head to your next stop!

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?

So after reaching Lenno, walk along the promenade towards Villa Balbinello. 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).

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. You can book your ticket beforehand on this website or even on the site itself.

Villa del Balbianello will be the highlight of your Lake Como day trip from Milan. It is an elegant 18th-century mansion that was set against the backdrop of lush greenery and the sparkling waters of Lake Como. The villa’s appeal has been further amplified by its appearances in popular films like Star Wars: Episode II: Attack of the Clones and Casino Royale, making it a must-see destination. You’re basically going to see utterly romantic terraced gardens, the villa, of course, and breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.

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 Lido di Lenno Beach. It’s up to you. Don’t forget to grab a gelato at La Fabbrica Del Gelato! 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.

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 to Varenna 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 one and all. 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, take a 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 were 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, especially in Lenno and Varenna. However, I do not think Bellagio should be missed on your first visit, as it is picturesque and the most popular town for a reason!

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