Lake Como is a large lake in northern Italy surrounded by picturesque towns along its shores. It has been a popular day trip destination for centuries.
With one day in Lake Como, you have enough time to enjoy the area’s idyllic scenery, blue lake water, villas, and beautiful gardens.
I took a day trip to Lake Como’s two most unique towns, and here, I share practical tips on planning a day trip there. This post covers:
- 🏰 Lake Como’s best towns/villages
- ⭐️ Top things to do in Lake Como
- 🗓️ 2 full-day itinerary options
- 📍 Lake Como map with key places
- 🚂 How to get around
Planning a trip? Here’s what to know about Italy.
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Lake Como at a Glance
Here’s some general information on Lake Como to help you plan your trip.
🏰 What Is Lake Como Known For?
Lake Como, or Lario or “Lago di Como,” is Italy’s deepest lake. It’s known for the charming towns surrounding its shores, the scenic natural beauty surrounding the lake, and the nearby magnificent villas.
Lake Como is also a popular film location featured in movies like Star Wars, Casino Royale, and Ocean’s Twelve. George Clooney has famously bought a mansion there.
Lake Como, Lake Garda, and Lake Maggiore are Italy’s largest lakes and are all well-known.
📍 Where Is Lake Como Located?
Lake Como is located in northern Italy, about one to two hours north of Milan, by train. Given the short train ride, Lake Como is one of the best day trips from Milan.
My train from Milan took an hour and a half to reach Varenna, one of Lake Como’s most popular towns.
🗓️ How Long To Spend in Lake Como?
Depending on how many towns you plan to visit, you can spend one to three days on Lake Como. Given Lake Como’s proximity to Milan, it’s a popular day trip destination.
A full-day trip to Lake Como, which is what I did, is enough time to visit two to three of its most famous towns.
Here’s how to efficiently plan a trip to Italy.
☀️ Best Time To Visit Lake Como
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 entire Lake Como trip.
💰 How Much Is a Day Trip to Lake Como?
The cost of a day trip to Lake Como depends on where you’re coming from, whether you’re taking a guided tour, and how many attractions you visit, as some have an entrance fee.
You can expect to spend $60 to $150 when visiting Lake Como for a day.
I spent $62 visiting Lake Como for a day. I took the train from Milan, took a ferry to different towns, visited an attraction with an entrance fee, and ate two meals.
See all my travel expenses in this Italy budget breakdown.
All prices mentioned here are in USD 💵 .
Best Towns and Villages in Lake Como
More than ten towns and villages surround Lake Como.
🗺️ Lake Como Map: Best Towns
This Lake Como map shows the best places around the lake, from most to least popular. From the map, you can see that Lake Como is a wishbone-shaped lake.
🥇 Most Popular Towns in Lake Como
The three most famous towns in Lake Como are Bellagio, Varenna, and the town of Como.
Bellagio and Varenna are known to be the two most unique and picturesque towns. The itineraries below focus on these two towns.
Another very picturesque place in northern Italy is the Cinque Terre.
🪴 Villa-Focused Towns in Lake Como
Some small towns and villages have only one main attraction, usually a villa. Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo, Villa del Balbianello in Lenno, and Villa d’Este in Cernobbio are good examples.
Each villa is beautiful and unique in its own way, but you may have a limited tolerance on how many you want to see. If you enjoy looking at villas, you can also take a highly-rated boat trip that passes by famous villas.
🤫 Lake Como Towns With Fewer Tourists
Some smaller towns will 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 of these types of towns.
3 Essential Tips for Visiting Lake Como
Here are three practical tips when visiting Lake Como.
🚂 1. Plan your transportation method.
There are several ways to get around Lake Como. Each transportation method has specific things to keep in mind (e.g., ferries don’t run late into the night, buses aren’t as frequent as you may think, trains are only available in some areas), so make sure to plan ahead.
💶 2. Bring small euro bills.
Several of Lake Como’s towns will have attractions with small entrance fees that are cash-only and will not accept credit cards. Paying with cash is also the easiest way to take the buses around Lake Como.
This Italy trip cost breakdown has more money and cash-related tips.
👟 3. Wear comfortable shoes.
To get some of the best views in Lake Como, you’ll need to walk up cobblestone stairs or hike up roads for up to 30 minutes (e.g., Castello di Vezio, which has breathtaking views, is located on a hill).
Getting Around Lake Como
Here’s how to get to Lake Como and get around once you’re there.
How To Get to Lake Como From Milan
Most visitors travel to Lake Como from Milan, which is the easiest and best way to get to the lake. From Milan, you can take direct trains to Como or Varenna.
I took a Trenitalia train from the Milano Centrale train station to the Varenna Esino train station. The train ticket cost about $7 one-way and took an hour and a half on a Wednesday morning.
How To Get Around Lake Como
Once you’re in Lake Como, you can move between the towns by public transport (which includes the ferry, bus, and train), taxi/Uber, or guided tour.
🛥️ Option 1: Ferry
Taking public ferries is one of the most efficient and affordable ways to get around Lake Como, especially if you’re trying to cross the lake in the central area.
The ferries are operated by Navigaziones Laghi. A one-way fast ferry journey between two of the most popular towns, Verenna and Bellagio, took me 15 minutes and cost €4.60 (about $5).
Double-check the departure gate with the ferry employees because the ferry port signs are not always accurate. A handful of visitors and I missed one of our boats because we were standing and waiting at the wrong gate, so we had to wait another 40 minutes for the next ferry.
🚌 Option 2: ASF Bus
The bus service around Lake Como is provided by ASF, and there are several routes you can take. Bus ticket prices vary by the length of the journey.
The easiest way to board a Lake Como 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. One of my friends had to ask a local on the bus to break her bill.
🚂 Option 3: Train
If you want to visit the eastern side of Lake Como (which includes Varenna and Como), you can travel by train. The western side, which includes Bellagio, is more challenging to get to by train.
🚕 Option 4: Taxi or Uber
Taking a taxi or Uber is the most expensive but the fastest way to get around Lake Como on land.
You can find taxis waiting at major bus stops and train stations, but remember that they might be rare in some areas around Lake Como. One of my friends staying in Cernobbio had to wait 45 minutes for a taxi after her hotel called it for her.
🗺️ Option 5: Lake Como Guided Tour
If you would rather minimize having to plan a Lake Como trip, you can also outsource all your planning by going on an organized tour.
This well-rated Lake Como day trip tour visits three of the most popular surrounding towns.
Lake Como Map
This map has all the Lake Como attractions mentioned in this post.
Lake Como Day Trip Itineraries
Below are two great ways to organize a day trip to Lake Como.
To help you plan efficiently, I’ve included suggested times for each activity based on my firsthand experience.
Itinerary Option #1: Varenna and Bellagio
This itinerary focuses on exploring the two most picturesque and unique towns around Lake Como.
| 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 in Bellagio’s town area 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 |
Itinerary Option #2: Varenna, Bellagio and Como
If you want to visit more towns in one day, below is a great way to see the three most famous towns in Lake Como.
Como is further away from Varenna and Bellagio, so you can alternatively visit a closer and smaller town, like Menaggio, to lessen your transportation time.
| Morning | ||
| 🚆 | Take the train from Milan to Varenna | 9–10:30 am |
| 🏰 | Explore Castello di Vezio | 11–12 pm |
| Afternoon | ||
| 👟 | Explore Varenna’s town area | 12:30–1:15 pm |
| 🛥️ | Take a ~1:30 pm ferry to Bellagio | 1:30–1:45 pm |
| 🍦 | Explore Bellagio’s town area | 1:45–2:45 pm |
| 💧 | Walk down Bellagio’s waterfront | 2:45–3:15 pm |
| 👟 | Walk to Bellagio’s east side | 3:15–3:45 pm |
| 🛥️ | Take a ~4 pm ferry to Como | 4–5 pm |
| Evening | ||
| ⛪️ | Explore the city of Como | 5–7 pm |
| 🚆 | Take the train back to Milan | 7–8 pm |
If you prefer to take the hassle out of planning a Lake Como trip, this guided tour takes you to Varenna, Bellagio, and Como.
Great Things To Do in Varenna
The town of Varenna is often described as Lake Como’s most romantic town with its narrow streets, colorful buildings, and breathtaking lake views.
Varenna is also one of the towns easily reached by train from Milan.
Here are the best things to do in Varenna, two of which are the town’s main attractions.
1. Walk Up to Castello di Vezio
🤔 Why: Located on a hill overlooking the town, Castello di Vezio is a medieval castle with spectacular Lake Como views.
🏰 Top Thing To Do: Walk up the hill to Castello di Vezio and enjoy the views of Lake Como from different angles in the garden. You can also go down underground tunnels that were used in WWII.
During the summer months, the castle hosts a “birds of prey” show on some days.
💰 Admission Fee: €4 (roughly $4.50). You don’t need to buy the tickets in advance, and they accept cash or cards.
⏰ Suggested Duration: 45 to 60 minutes
🍀 Lukiih’s Take: With its breathtaking lake views, Castello di Vezio was one of my trip’s highlights, even though I visited it on a cloudy day. I also enjoyed walking up to the castle after sitting on a train for over an hour.
2. Visit Villa Monastero
🤔 Why: Villa Monastero’s is one of Varenna’s most notable attractions. The villa features lake views and one of Lake Como’s best botanical gardens.
✨ Top Thing To Do: Villa Monastero has 14 rooms to look at and several lake viewpoints in its expansive botanical garden.
💰 Admission Fee: €10 (roughly $11)
⏰ Suggested Duration: 45 to 60 minutes
🍀 Lukiih’s Take: I didn’t make it to Villa Monastero since I spent more time walking around Varenna’s town center, but from afar, it looks like it has a stunning garden. It seems like a good place to spend extra time if you’re not in a rush to catch your next ferry ride.
3. Explore Varenna’s Town Center
🤔 Why: Varenna’s small town is picturesque and has several scenic spots that are pedestrian-friendly.
✨ Where To Visit: Varenna has two scenic, popular spots: the Walk of Lovers and Molo Riva Grande. The waterfront also has several cafes and restaurants where you can grab a quick bite.
💰 Admission Fee: Free
⏰ Suggested Duration: 10 to 30 minutes
🍀 Lukiih’s Take: I spent more time walking through Bellagio’s town than Varenna’s because the former is bigger and has more things to see, but I thought Varenna was more beautiful overall.
Great Things To Do in Bellagio
Bellagio, sometimes called the “Pearl of Lake Como,” is regarded as Lake Como’s most beautiful town and has more shops than Varenna.
A one-way ferry journey from Verenna to Bellagio takes about 15 minutes and costs €4.60 (about $5).
Here are three amazing things to do in Bellagio.
1. Explore Bellagio’s Old Town
🤔 Why: Bellagio’s town center, also called Old Town, is a highlight for visitors. Walking through the town’s traditional architecture and picturesque area is considered a worthwhile experience.
✨ Top Things To Do: Bellagio’s Old Town is a happening place lined with shops, restaurants, and cafes. Pick a street and start walking around to see what shops catch your interest. This famous street is particularly scenic.
💰 Admission Fee: Free
⏰ Suggested Duration: 1 to 2 hours
🍀 Lukiih’s Take: Bellagio’s Old Town has many winding and narrow roads, and while the famous street is worth visiting, I found it fun to walk around aimlessly while eating gelato.
2. Walk Along Bellagio’s Promenade
🤔 Why: Bellagio has a well-paved promenade with stunning views of Lake Como within a short walk.
✨ Top Things To Do: Walk along the waterfront and look out at Lake Como. The promenade has gardens, gelato shops, cafes, and benches to rest on. Start your promenade walk here on the north side and end it here on the south side. There’s a set of staircases around here that leads into the lake.
💰 Admission Fee: Free
⏰ Suggested Duration: 10 to 30 minutes
🍀 Lukiih’s Take: Leisurely walking down Bellagio’s flat and open waterfront promenade is a nice calm break after exploring the town’s narrow and stair-filled streets.
Had the weather been better when I visited, I would have liked to explore Lake Como by kayak from Bellagio’s shore.
3. Cross Over to Bellagio’s East Side
🤔 Why: Bellagio’s east side shows a calmer and quieter side of Bellagio. You also pass by colorful houses, gardens, and cobblestone stairs while making your way over.
✨ Top Thing To Do: Make your way down a set of stairs to this scenic spot on Bellagio’s east side.
💰 Admission Fee: Free
⏰ Suggested Duration: 20 to 30 minutes
🍀 Lukiih’s Take: I enjoyed walking to Bellagio’s quieter east side after exploring the bustling town and tourist-heavy waterfront. However, the views are not as spectacular on the east side.
Italy Trip Planner
To make your travel planning easier, download the trip planner below and use it as a starting point. The planner has country-specific travel information, an itinerary, a packing list, and a map with key places pinned.
The trip planner is built on Notion, which I use for all my travel planning (I genuinely love this tool). If you don’t have Notion, creating an account is free.
Thoughts? Questions? Leave a comment below.
Italy Travel Guides
- 🇮🇹 Planning A Trip to Italy: 11 Practical Things To Know
- 🍝 7-10 Days in Northern Italy: 2 Efficient Itineraries
- 🎭 Venice Day Trip: 8 Great Things To Do + 1-Day Itinerary
- 👨🎨 3 Amazing Days in Florence: Itinerary With Hidden Gems
- 🧀 Parma, Italy Day Trip: 13 Great Things To Do + Itinerary
- 🌷 Lake Como Day Trip: Itinerary & Firsthand Tips
- 🛶 Best Gondola Rides in Venice: Tips & What To Know
- ⛰️ Hiking Cinque Terre Practical Guide & Firsthand Tips
- 💰 My 2024 Italy Trip Cost: A Budget Breakdown
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