🌷 Lake Como Day Trip: My Honest Review & Tips

Lake Como is a large lake in northern Italy surrounded by charming towns and one of Italy’s most popular day trip destinations. Using a clear rating system, I share my honest review of the experience, along with firsthand tips.

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🍀 Lukiih’s Verdict

I highly recommend visiting Lake Como when in Italy. The day trip is a lovely escape from the country’s bustling cities.

• A day at the lake is enough time to enjoy the idyllic scenery, blue water, villas, and beautiful gardens.
• After accounting for train and ferry transportation, food, and attractions, the day trip is moderately priced.
• Minimal preparation is required, as you only need to figure out transportation and don’t have to worry too much about getting advanced tickets.

Planning a trip? Here’s what to know about Italy.

🏆 Where Does It Rank?

Visiting Lake Como ranks as the #3 experience I had in Italy. Here’s how it compares to other things I did on my trip:

	Experience	Location	Overall Rating
1	⛰️ Cinque Terre Hike	Liguria	8.0
2	🥖 Cicchetti by Canals	Venice	7.6
3	💧 Lake Como Day Trip	Lombardy	7.3
4	🎨 Sistine Chapel / Vatican City	Rome	7.3
5	🍷 Tuscany Wine Tour	Florence	7.1
6	🌊 Trevi Fountain	Rome	6.8
7	🚣‍♂️ Gondola Ride	Venice	6.6
8	🖼️ Uffizi Gallery	Florence	6.5
9	🏟️ Colosseum	Rome	6.4
10	🏰 Brunelleschi’s Dome	Florence	6.4
11	☀️ Michelangelo Plaza	Florence	6.3
12	🏰 St. Mark’s Square	Venice	6.3
13	🌹 Rose Garden	Florence	6.1
14	🧀 Parma Day Trip	Emilia-Romagna	5.9
15	🍝 Pasta Making Class	Florence	5.7
16	🏃‍♀️ Spanish Steps	Rome	5.5
17	🌉 Rialto Bridge	Venice	5.1
18	🌳 Boboli Gardens	Florence	4.9

My Italy itinerary features the above experiences.

✈️ About My Trip

For context on my review, here’s what to know about my trip:

• I finance my trips and don’t receive sponsorship; this review reflects my honest opinions.
• This post has updated 2024 information, but I visited Lake Como in 2022.
• My Italy trip was in May when it was less crowded and expensive.

• Visiting Lake Como is a rare experience. I estimate that fewer than 10 comparable lakes exist worldwide. It’s one of the world’s most famous lakes, with stunning scenery and exceptionally picturesque towns.
• It’s known as Italy’s deepest lake and a popular film location. It’s been featured in movies like Star Wars, Casino Royale, and Ocean’s Twelve.
• It has several attractions, such as castles and villas, from which you can enjoy the natural scenery from a high vantage point. I visited Varenna and Bellagio, the two most unique towns, and found them exceptionally charming.

• Other lakes have breathtaking scenery and villages, but the villages vary in style. These include Slovenia’s Lake Bled, Austria’s Lake Hallstatt, Switzerland’s Lake Geneva, and France’s Lake Annecy.
• The lake is known for water activities, but many are unavailable during the low season.

See below for the best times to visit.

• Lake Como is really beautiful and lovely. The towns around the lake are all picturesque, and some have quieter environments.

• Due to the lake’s wishbone-like shape, the most efficient way to get around is by ferry. The journeys between towns can be unpleasant if you have motion sickness like me.
• It’s not a particularly rewarding experience (i.e., there are no challenges to overcome) because it’s primarily a place to enjoy and relax.

A day trip to Lake Como costs between $70 and $150, depending on your activities and the number of towns you visit. I spent $62. Here’s how my cost breakdown:

• 🍝 Food: $10-$30/meal – Food is not particularly cheap, but there are many restaurant options. I spent $33.
• 🚇 Train from Milan: $30-$50 – This depends on what train you take. I paid $44.
• ⛴️ Ferry rides: $5-$20 – This depends on how many towns you visit. I paid $10 to take the ferry twice.
• 🏰 Attraction: $5-$100 – The activities you choose to do can significantly impact your budget in Lake Como. I only spent $5 because I didn’t do any pricey boat rides or water tours.

If you prefer a hassle-free experience with less planning, consider booking a well-rated Lake Como day trip tour to the two most unique towns.

See my Italy trip expenses.

• No special skills or fitness are required. You’ll have to explore the towns on foot but can move at your own pace.
• Lake Como is located in the Lombardy region in northern Italy. Many of the lake’s small towns are accessible by train. Getting to the lake from Milan, the closest major city, takes 1-2 hours, depending on which town you’re going to. I took a Trenitalia train from Milan, and the journey to Varenna took 90 minutes.
• Some Lake Como attractions require tickets that you can pay at the door. You only need to book in advance if you’re considering a day trip tour. If you plan to explore a lot, wear comfortable shoes and bring a swimsuit for water activities in the summer.

How To Guide & Tips

Interested in visiting Lake Como after reading my review? Below is a practical how-to guide and firsthand tips.

When To Visit

The best time to visit Lake Como depends on what you want to prioritize.

Season	Months	Characteristics
🍃 Spring	Apr-Jun	– Great for fewer crowds – Weather hits highs of 70 °F
☀️ Summer	Jul-Aug	– Peak season, so crowded – Hot and humid (65-85 °F) – Great for water activities
🍂 Fall	Sep-Oct	– Great for fewer crowds – Temperatures of 50-75 °F
❄️ Winter	Nov-Mar	– Off-season – Some businesses are closed – Temperatures of 38-50 °F

I visited in May and had to wear a light puff jacket and long pants during my trip.

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Towns & Villages

More than ten towns and villages surround Lake Como.

• 🥇 Most popular – The three most famous towns are Bellagio, Varenna, and Como. The former two are known to be the most unique and picturesque towns.

• 🪴 Villa-focused – Some small towns and villages have only one main attraction, which is usually a villa. Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo, Villa del Balbianello in Lenno, and Villa d’Este in Cernobbio are good examples.

If you enjoy looking at villas, you can take a highly-rated boat trip that passes by famous ones.

• 🤫 Quieter towns – Some smaller towns do not have a must-see attraction, but they’re still beautiful and a good option if you want fewer crowds, especially during the high season. Menaggio, Lecco, and Nesso are good examples.

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How To Get Around

Aside from walking, there are four ways to get around Lake Como:

• 🛥️ Ferry – Public ferries, operated by Navigaziones Laghi, are one of the most efficient and affordable ways to get around, especially if you’re trying to cross the lake in the central area.

Double-check the departure gate with the ferry employees because the port signs are not always accurate. A handful of visitors and I missed one of our boats because we stood next to the wrong gate, so we had to wait another 40 minutes for the next ferry.

• 🚌 Bus – ASF provides bus service around the lake. There are several routes, and bus ticket prices vary by the length of the journey.

The easiest way to board an ASF bus is to pay cash on the bus, so make sure to have small euro bills or coins, as the driver won’t provide change.

• 🚂 Train – You can travel by train to mainly visit the eastern side, which includes Varenna and Como. The western side, which includes Bellagio, is more challenging to get to by train.
• 🚕 Taxi or Uber – This is the most expensive but fastest way to get around on land. Taxis are waiting at major bus stops and train stations, but they are rare in some areas. One of my friends staying in Cernobbio had to wait 45 minutes for a taxi after her hotel called it.

If you want to minimize planning, you can outsource all your planning by going on a well-rated Lake Como day trip tour.

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Itinerary: Varenna and Bellagio

This itinerary explores the two most picturesque and unique towns and is an improved version of what I did. I’ve included suggested times for each activity based on my firsthand experience.

	Morning
🚆	Take the train from Milan to Varenna	10–11:30 am
🏰	Explore Castello di Vezio	12–12:45 pm
	Afternoon
👟	Explore Varenna’s town area	1:15–1:45 pm
🌷	Visit Villa Monastero	1:45–2:45 pm
🛥️	Take a ~3 pm ferry to Bellagio	3–3:15 pm
🍦	Explore Bellagio’s town area	3:15–4:30 pm
💧	Walk down Bellagio’s waterfront	4:30–5 pm
👟	Walk to Bellagio’s east side	5–5:30 pm
🍦	Grab a snack before heading back	5:30–5:55 pm
	Evening
🛥️	Take the 5:55 pm ferry back to Varenna	5:55–6:10 pm
🚆	Take the train back to Milan	6:30–8 pm

📍 Varenna

Varenna is the lake’s most romantic town, with narrow streets, colorful buildings, and breathtaking views. Here are its top attractions:

• Castello di Vezio – A medieval castle with spectacular views and my favorite attraction in Varenna. Check the current price.

• Villa Monastero – One of Varenna’s most notable attractions. The villa features lake views and one of the area’s best botanical gardens. Check the current price.
• Varenna’s town center – The center has two scenic spots: the Walk of Lovers and Molo Riva Grande. The waterfront has cafes and restaurants where you can grab a quick bite.

📍 Bellagio

Bellagio, sometimes called the “Pearl of Lake Como,” is considered the most beautiful town. Here are its top attractions:

• Old Town – A highlight for visitors, the town center is a happening place lined with shops, restaurants, and cafes. This famous street is particularly scenic.

• Promenade – Bellagio’s promenade offers stunning views of the lake.
• East side – The east side shows the town’s calmer and quieter side. While making your way over, you pass by colorful houses, gardens, and cobblestone stairs. Here’s a scenic spot.

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Italy Trip Planner 2024

To make your travel preparation easier, download the trip planner below. It has destination-specific travel information, itinerary, map, and packing list.

My trip planners are built on Notion, which I use for all my travel planning. I genuinely love this tool and creating an account is free.