How to get from Milan to Lake Como?
Lake Como is the 3rd largest lake in Italy (after La Garda and Maggiore) and has been named several times as one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. Backdropped by the Italian Alps, a cruise at Lake Como and a visit to any one of the surrounding villages, especially Bellagio will bring you an unforgettable experience.
Although it’s common for tourists to visit this inverted Y-shaped lake as a day tour from Milan, we think Lake Como deserves more time to really appreciate its exquisite beauty. Lake Como is the perfect destination for slow days hopping from one small commune to another while marvelling at nature’s gifts.
2 ways to get from Milan to Lake Como
There are 2 ways you can travel the 85km distance from Milan to Lake Como: a 40-minute train or a 1.5-hour bus. Rates start from €6 ($7) and €5 ($6), respectively.
The train is the fastest way to get from Milan to Lake Como. Travel time is around 40 minutes and a ticket costs €6 ($7).
The bus is a bit cheaper than the train, but takes almost double the amount of time. Fares start from €5 ($6) and the bus journey from Milan to Lake Como takes around 1.5 hours.
Organized Tours from Milan to Lake Como
Do you only have one day to explore Lake Como? GetYourGuide offers various day trip packages from Milan to Lake Como.
Rates start from €89 ($106) for the 9 to 10-hour tour. Below is a summary of the tours available, but we explain more at the end of the article.
| Day Trip | Duration | Costs | Availability | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Como and Bellagio Cruise | 10 hours | €89 ($106) | Book a Day Trip | |
| Deluxe Lake Como Boat Cruise | 9 hours | €250 ($300) | Book a Day Trip | |
| Lake Cuomo and Lake Lugano Tour | 9 hours | €99 ($118) | Book a Day Trip |
Itinerary from Milan to Lake Como
Milan to Lake Como by Train
Duration: 40 minutes
Cost: €6 ($7)
Taking the train from Milan to Lake Como can be pretty flexible as you can choose to board the train from various railway stations: Milan Centrale, Porta Garibaldi, and Milano Cadorna, whichever one is nearest to your hotel!
Take note that your arrival point will vary depending on which train you take.
- If you’re coming from Milan Centrale or Porta Garibaldi, you are to get off at Como S. Giovanni Station. From here, you can simply walk 10 minutes north (800m) to get to Lake Como.
- If you’re taking the train from Cadorna, then your arrival point is at Como Nord Lago, the last station on that line. You can already see the beautiful lake as soon as you get out of the station.
Trains are available as early as 06:43 and depart every hour until 22:43. Travel time is 40 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes, depending on which train you take and from what station. A train ticket costs only €6 ($7) when you book with Omio.
Milan Malpensa Airport to Lake Como by Train
Duration: 2 hours
Cost: €20 ($24)
Are you heading straight to Lake Como from Malpensa Airport? There are no direct trains from Milan Airport to Lake Como, so you’ll have to switch trains in Milan. You’ll first have to take a Malpensa Express to Milan Centrale, and then transfer to a Trenitalia bound for Lake Como.
The airport train costs €14 ($17), while a train ticket to Como costs €6 ($7). Combined travel time is around 2 hours – 1 hour for each train ride.
Lake Como to Bellagio by Bus or Boat
Duration: 1 hour 40 minutes
Cost: €20 ($24)
Planning to stay a few days around Lake Como? You can choose from several villages surrounding the lake. The most famous of which is Bellagio, the so-called Pearl of Lake Como.
You can reach Bellagio by bus or boat from Lake Como.
If you opt for the boat, there are 2 types of boats you can choose for: the hydrofoil which takes 45 minutes to 1 hour and the slow boats that take 2 to 3 hours. Fares start from €8.50 ($10) and tickets can be bought at the port.
Buses, on the other hand, depart from the bus stop just in front of S. Giovanni Train Station. Take the C30 bus with ticket prices starting from €2.50 ($3). Travel time is around 1 hour 10 minutes.
Milan to Lake Como by Bus
Duration: 1.5 hours
Cost: €5 ($6)
FlixBus operates direct buses from Milan to Lake Como every day with bus tickets starting from €5 ($6).
A couple of notes: bus departures are often delayed and buses usually get stuck in traffic. That’s why travel time can take around 1.5 hours, double that of the train.
Schedules vary daily so we recommend that you check the FlixBus website for the latest departure times. Another option is to book with TrenItaly, but this will include a 5 minute change in Saronno.
Check Bus Tickets with FlixBus
Buses depart from the Central Bus Station in Milan city centre. They arrive at S. Giovanni Bus Stop, which like the train station, is 800m away from the lake.
Milan to Lake Como by Day Trip
Duration: 9 – 10 hours
Cost: €69.50 ($84)
Are you looking for a hassle-free way to enjoy Lake Como? Then you might want to consider joining one of the many day trips offered from Milan. Here are some of our top choices:
- With rates starting from €89 ($106), you can avail of a 2-hour cruise of Lake Como and visit the charming village of Bellagio.
- If you want to take the tour a more luxurious notch, you can kick off your cruise in Varenna and board a Venetian-style boat to Bellagio. This one costs €250 ($300) per person.
- Hoping to hit two lakes in one day? Also offered from Milan is a guided trip to both Lake Como and Lake Lugano. You can join this for €99 ($118).
Day trips from Milan to Lake Como take 9 to 10 hours. All tours include a roundtrip bus or train transfer from Milan.
