Lake Como Day Trip from Milan: One Day Itinerary (Self-Guided)

Lake Como, or Lago di Como in Italian, has been a popular retreat for the wealthy since Roman times. Several cities, towns, and villages line the upside-down-Y-shaped lake. They each offer different combinations of unreal views, swoon-worthy villas, and picturesque streets. But luckily, the most “must-see” sights are conveniently clustered in the middle area of the lake. This makes a day trip from near-by Milan very doable. Sure, it’d be ideal to spend as much time on Lake Como as possible. But whether you’re pressed for time, or pressed for cash, a day trip to Lake Como from Milan is still a worthwhile way to experience this magical place. Keep reading for a step-by-step itinerary on how to visit Lake Como on a Day Trip from Milan.

Here’s a quick preview of the day trip: Milan > train to Varenna > ferry to Bellagio > ferry to Villa > ferry to Varenna > train to Milan. Suggestion: This is a super-detailed post, with entry prices, direct links to ferry schedules, etc. I’ve provided a condensed summary at the bottom, but you’ll definitely want to bookmark or Pin this page to return to later if you’re planning a visit to Lake Como.

What to See on a Day Trip to Lake Como from Milan

Lake Como is a pretty large area! So you definitely will not be seeing “all of it” with just one day. But these are the main spots most visitors consider squeezing into a day trip from Milan.

Bellagio

Considered the crowd jewel of Lake Como, visiting the town of Bellagio is simply a must on your day trip from Milan. As you’ll see in this guide, I recommend that you get here first, in order to beat the bulk of the crowds. It has no train station, so getting here from Milan will require a ferry ride from a jumping-off point.

Varenna

After Bellagio, Varenna is probably the next “must-visit” town on Lake Como. Unlike Bellagio, Varenna has a train station with a direct connection to Milan. This makes it a common starting and/or ending point for visits to Lake Como.

Villas

Like I said up top, Lake Como has been a retreat for the wealthy for centuries millennia. So it’s no wonder that it boasts so many famous villas! I see some Lake Como itineraries that include none, and it’s truly mind-boggling to me! They are borderline synonymous with Lake Como, and seeing none on your day trip from Milan would be criminal such a shame.

Of all the villas in Lake Como, there are three that stand out; Villa del Balbianello, Villa Carlotta, and Villa d’Este. But with just one day in Lake Como, you won’t have time to visit more than one. And Villa d’Este is located too inconveniently to combine with the main villages. So your two options are Villa del Balbianello and Villa Carlotta.

Both these villas are equally popular, equally must-sees, and everyone has different opinions on which to see if you can only choose one. I recommend simply searching some images online beforehand and choosing what appeals to you more. Villa Carlotta is the more convenient one to visit on a day trip from Milan, but Villa del Balbianello was a film site for some famous films, so it’s a bit of a tough choice! In this guide, I provide full itinerary details on how to see either one.

Como (the City)

Como is the city which the lake is named after. So it might seem like a no-brainer to visit Como as part of the day trip. Actually, if you Google search “how to get to Lake Como from Milan,” you’ll probably even get a map of the direct train route from Milan to Como’s train station as a search result.

But I actually highly recommend against visiting Como city. While I objectively did love the city, I absolutely would not rank it anywhere near the top things to see with one day in Lake Como, or potentially even two days in Lake Como!

Yes, Como is more “real” compared to the villages and villas (I mean, it’s a proper city, after all!). And it definitely feels less touristy. But none of that is what Lake Como is known for. Remember how I said it’s been a retreat for the wealthy since Roman times? The whole draw of Lake Como is how dreamy its colorful towns, stunning villas, and majestic mountains are. So that’s what I believe your day trip should focus on!

There are only two situations in which I’d personally recommend including Como city in your itinerary if you only have one day. They are:

• If you want to spend significant time on a ferry. If one of the main reasons you want to visit Lake Como is to literally be on the lake, and if you don’t mind skipping a main site to do so, then visit Como city. It will allow you to take a long ferry ride from Como up to the center of the lake, which is where the main action is.
• If you are visiting Lake Como in the off season. As I explain in the weather section of this guide, Lake Como can be quite a seasonal destination. So if you are visiting in, say, winter, Como city might offer you more to do than the villages, which slow down in the off season.

Even though I recommend skipping Como city on a day trip from Milan, I do explain how to visit it in the adjustments section of this itinerary. And I do recommend visiting it as a stand-alone day trip from Milan if you have an extra day.

So, What Should You See on a Day Trip to Lake Como from Milan?

In summary, you should see Bellagio, Varenna, and one villa.

Step-by-Step Route to Visit Lake Como from Milan in One Day

Okay. Now that we’ve settled on which spots in Lake Como to visit on your day trip, let’s plot out your route. I personally spent four glorious days zipping around the lake via train, ferry, and bus. And with all those learnings, this is the perfect route to efficiently visit Lake Como’s top sites in one day:

1. Train: Milano Centrale train station to Varenna-Esino train station
2. Ferry: Varenna to Bellagio
3. Ferry: Bellagio to either Lenno (or Tremezzo)
4. Ferry: Lenno (or Termezzo) back to Varenna
5. Train: Varenna-Esino train station Milano Centrale train station

And if you’re more of a visual planner, I made this nifty little map to help you visualize your day trip route. 

How to Get Train and Ferry Tickets to Lake Como

Train Tickets

You can purchase the train tickets for this day trip in a couple different ways:

• Option 1: In person. You can do this from a TrenItalia ticket machine inside the Milano Centrale train station. You’ll select a departure time, but you can actually use the tickets for any same train journey that day. The train station at Varenna has NO ticket machines, (seriously? Yes seriously! I was very peeved…). So everyone wanting to buy a ticket needs to line up and buy it from a person with a computer and paper printer behind a desk inside the station. You definitely want to already have your ticket purchased beforehand. AND ALWAYS MAKE SURE TO VALIDATE YOUR TICKET BEFORE ENTERING YOUR TRAIN.
• Option 2: Online. If you prefer to print your paper tickets out yourself, or display them on your mobile phone, you can purchase them in advance online from the official TrenItalia website. The nice thing with this option is that the ticket is already validated! And you can use it within four hours after the original travel time. And if you have the official app (Apple and Android), it makes it easy to keep your tickets organized.

Ferry Tickets

You can also purchase your ferry tickets a couple different ways:

• Option 1: In person. This is what I did. I just waltzed up to the ticket office (typically located right by where each ferry departs) and bought my tickets. You can pay in cash, by card, and even with digital wallets.
• Option 2: Online. This is definitely a smart option if you are traveling in high season! You can purchase your ferry tickets in advance from the official website for the lake ferries. This site is also where you can confirm the timetables in advance for your specific day.

My Personal Tips to Make Your Day Trip to Lake Como Seamless

• Pro tip 1: Milano Centrale is a large station, so give yourself at least 20 minutes before your train leaves to buy your ticket if you don’t have it already, get upstairs to the platforms, and find a seat on your train. There’s nothing more stressful than getting to the station with just enough time, only to find long queues or a confusing train platform! 
• Pro tip 2: Check the train schedule at least the night before on the TrenItalia website. Pay attention not only to the time of the train you want, but also the time of the next train in case you miss it! Trains from Milan to Varenna leave once an hour, but every now and then, it’s a two hour gap. I missed my train by 5 minutes and was stuck sitting for two hours at Milano Centrale for the next one. *face palm*
• Pro tip 3: Buy your ferry ticket once you arrive at the ferry station. Example: When you ferry over from Varenna to Bellagio, get a ferry ticket from Bellagio to the next spot before leaving and heading off to explore Bellagio. This way, you keep on schedule for the day. Alternatively, you can of course purchase them online!

What About Joining a Guided Tour of Lake Como?

If the above sounds like way too much work for you, there is always the option of a guided tour. This one is super similar to what I lay out in this guide. And this one switches out a villa for Como city, but on the bright side, it is more budget friendly.

But if you want to try your hand at a DIY trip, I promise that it really is quite doable! And I’ve truly done all the planning for you in this guide. If you don’t believe me, just skim through some of the comments down below, where past readers have let me know how easy this itinerary was to follow.

Detailed Itinerary for a Lake Como Day Trip from Milan

Now that we’ve gotten all that background info out of the way, it’s time to get to the itinerary itself! First stop; Bellagio.

Bellagio

As previously mentioned, Bellagio is very touristy. Many call it the crown jewel of Lake Como. But personally, it was actually my least favorite. *gasp* I still enjoyed it overall! But It felt like a very pretty, very crowded, outdoor shopping mall to me. American pop songs were literally blasting from some restaurants. Yes, seriously.

Though if I try to picture what it would be like without the tourists and souvenir shops, I must agree that Bellagio is objectively the most beautiful town on Lake Como. From the Disney-like lanterns dotting the cobblestone alleyways, to the cute benches lining the park near the ferry station, Bellagio truly is a beautiful little place.

Try to focus on little details like these, and it might just increase your tolerance level for the tourist crowds, souvenir shopping, and pricey food.

How to Get to Bellagio from Milan

Start the day bright and early in Milan. Make your way to Milano Centrale (pronounced chen-TRAL-eh) train station, and purchase a round-trip ticket to Varenna-Esino for €13.40 (€6.70 one way) if you haven’t already.

An hour after your train leaves Milan, you’ll be in beautiful Varenna. But you’ll actually save Varenna for last and head straight to Bellagio first instead. Why? Three-fold. 

Firstly, Bellagio is the most touristy destination in the area, so the earlier you get there, the better.

Secondly, if you explore Varenna first, you won’t have time to complete the rest of the itinerary before the last ferry back to Varenna. By already being in Varenna before your train ride back to Milan, things will be a lot less stressful!

Thirdly, at this time in the morning, Varenna will be entirely covered in the shadow of the mountains behind it for a few hours still, while the other side of the lake will be receiving the direct sunlight. By the time you get back to Varenna, the opposite will be true. This way, you get great lighting all day. Perfect, right?

Anyways, once you get off the train, follow the crowd down from the train station down to the shore. Stop at the ferry station and catch the next one to Bellagio for €4.60. You can double-check with the ferry staff that you’re on the right ferry as you get on. The journey takes 15-20 minutes, and ferries depart two or three times an hour.

What to Do in Bellagio

Spend two to three hours in Bellagio, making sure to see Punta di Spartivento (a scenic viewpoint at the far northern tip of the peninsula) and where Via Guiseppe Garibaldi and Salita Serbelloni streets meet (for the famous, cliche Bellagio street view in the center photo below).

If you’re like me and welcome a chance to escape the crowds, also consider a walk to Pescallo. It’s a small, quiet village on the other side of the same peninsula as Bellagio, but with no shops or crowds. One kind local lady even popped her head out over her balcony and struck up a conversation with me in Italian! She noticed me snapping pics of her grapes hanging underneath the balcony, and cut off some grapes for me to catch. No exaggeration: they were the single tastiest grapes I’ve ever had in my life!

Bellagio was the priciest of all the towns and cities I visited while on Lake Como. So, especially since this is the first stop of the day and you hopefully aren’t too hungry yet, I recommend simply stopping for a coffee and pastry instead of having a sit-down meal in Bellagio.

Villa del Balbianello (or Villa Carlotta)

In my opinion, you can’t visit Lake Como without visiting at least one villa! And that is really the benefit of planning your own day trip to Lake Como versus joining a tour, since most tours leave out visiting any villas. There are two villas to choose from for this day trip; Villa del Balbianello and Villa Carlotta. I chose to enter Villa del Balbianello and only enjoy Villa Carlotta from the outside. But someone at my hostel visited both and really enjoyed both, so you really won’t go wrong either way!

Personally, I’m a gardens person and not a palace/villa person, so I only explored the gardens of Villa del Balbianello. They did not disappoint. Though smaller than the gardens at Villa Carlotta, Villa del Balbianello’s gardens have been featured in Star Wars and Casino Royal. So come prepared with a bit of patience if you’re keen on perfect photos without other people in them.

Below, I explain how to get to each villa from Bellagio.

How to Get to Villa del Balbianello from Bellagio

Take the ferry from Bellagio to Lenno for €4.60. This takes 25 – 30 minutes. Once at Lenno, head left/south towards the center of town and explore for a bit. Like Tremezzo, this is another one of the less-“must-see” towns on the lake, so appreciate the calmer vibe. If you haven’t eaten lunch yet, find a place to eat. Like Tremezzo, doing so here will be cheaper than in Bellagio.

After you’re finished eating, it’s time to see the villa. Continue walking along the rim of the water, until you reach Lido di Lenno (ten minute walk from the Lenno ferry stop). From here, you can take a taxi boat right up to Villa del Balbianello. I did not do this, but others say it is something like €5 one way and around €7 roundtrip, and takes under ten minutes one way. If you’re on a budget, a free walking path to villa begins from the street behind the Lido (called Via degli Artigiani). This walk takes thirty minutes and is mostly slightly uphill.

Entry is €10 for the garden, and €20 for the villa plus gardens. You may only view the villa via hour-long guided tour, which cannot be booked in advance. (If you opt for the tour, make sure you have enough time to still get back before the last ferry from Lenno to Varenna!) Visit the villa website to view seasonal hours. After between one and two hours of exploring the villa and/or gardens, get back to the Lenno ferry stop. Take the roughly-hour-long ferry to Varenna for €4.60.

How to Get to Villa Carlotta from Bellagio

Take the ferry from Bellagio to Tremezzo for €4.60. This takes 15 – 20 minutes. Once at Tremezzo, head left/south towards the center of town and explore for a bit. This is one of the less-“must-see” towns on the lake, so appreciate the calmer vibe. If you haven’t eaten lunch yet, find a place to eat. Doing so here will be cheaper than in Bellagio.

After you’re finished eating, head back north, towards the ferry, and continue walking along the promenade past the ferry stop. Five-minute’s walk north from the ferry stop will be the luxurious Grand Hotel Tremezzo, and five-minute’s walk north of that is Villa Carlotta. 

Entry costs €10 for both the villa and gardens. View seasonal hours at the villa website. After between one and two hours of exploring the villa and gardens, walk back ten minutes to the ferry stop at Tremezzo (or Cadenabbia further up north). Take the roughly-forty-minute ferry to Varenna for €4.60.

What to Do in Villa del Balbianello (or Villa Carlotta)

There isn’t much to do besides to explore whichever villa you choose, its gardens, and the stunning lake views!

Varenna

It’s finally time to head back to where your day on the lake first started; Varenna. It may not have the title of “crown jewel” like Bellagio, but the view of this equally colorful town nestled up against the mountain will wow you all the same as you pull up on the ferry.

How to Get to Varenna from Villa del Balbianello (or from Villa Carlotta)

Regardless which villa you decide to explore, be sure to get back for the last ferry to Varenna in time! This changes depending on the season (but tends to be between 4:00 – 4:30pm), so definitely purchase on arrival in town if you are buying tickets in person. In any case, carefully look up the schedule ahead and arrive at the ferry with buffer time.

If you visited Villa del Balbianello, make your way back to the Lenno ferry stop. Take the roughly-hour-long ferry to Varenna for €4.60. If you visited Villa Carlotta, walk back ten minutes to the ferry stop at Tremezzo (or Cadenabbia further up north). Take the roughly-forty-minute ferry to Varenna for €4.60.

What to Do in Varenna

Once you’re back to Varenna, it will be around 5pm, and you’ll be done with ferries for the day (yay!). Spend a few hours exploring as you please, dipping in and out of whatever streets, churches, and shops catch your eye. Later on, grab some dinner with a sunset view over the lake. 

While you explore town, be sure to stop by the square outside San Giorgio Church. Also be sure to see Villa Monastero. If you are visiting in April or October, Villa Monastero closes at 6:30pm and 6:00pm, respectively, so I recommend heading straight here from the ferry!

Adult entry into the garden is €6, while a combined villa and garden ticket is €11. Personally, having seen both, I recommend entering the garden and forgoing the villa. But if you are short on cash, time, or interest, you can just take a peek at the garden (and snap some pics!) from the beautiful entry area for free. 

How to Get Back to Milan from Lake Como

I know it will be hard to leave lovely Varenna, and Lake Como in general, but soon it will be time to head back to Milan. If you’ve bought your tickets in person, don’t forget to validate your ticket before getting on the train from the Varenna-Esino station. We wouldn’t want a hefty fine to ruin an otherwise lovely day trip!

One Day Lake Como Itinerary Summary

Phew! That was a lot of information – I know! It might be hard to visualize it all fitting into one day. So I’ve created this nifty overview schedule below for you to review before I get into answering some common questions I receive, as well as those itinerary adjustments I promised.

• 8:00ish – arrive Milano Centrale Station
• 8:20ish – train leaves Milano Centrale Station
• 9:25ish – arrive Varenna
• 9:40ish – ferry to Bellagio
• 10:00ish – arrive Bellagio, cafe/snack Bellagio
• 12:30ish – depart Bellagio
• 12:50ish – arrive Lenno/Tremezzo, lunch Lenno/Tremezzo
• 2:00ish – leave for villa
• 2:30ish – arrive villa
• 3:30ish – leave villa
• 4:00ish – depart Lenno
• 5:00ish – arrive Varenna, dinner Varenna
• 8:00ish – train back to Milan

This is NOT an exact schedule, but rather a rough schedule to provide an idea of what your day trip to Lake Como from Milan will be like. This rough schedule is only valid from the last days of March to the first days of October.

How Much Time is Enough for a Lake Como Day Trip from Milan?

As you can see above, I recommend around 12 hours or more for a day trip to Lake Como from Milan that fits “everything” in.

Should You Stay Overnight in Lake Como?

If you can swing a night (or two, or three!) in Lake Como, I think you definitely should. I was here four nights, and I still have a long list of things I didn’t have time to get to. So, needless to say, there is plenty more to see and do in Lake Como to justify staying the night instead of taking a day trip.

Where to Stay in Lake Como

If you stay just one night in Lake Como, I recommend basing yourself in Varenna or Como city. Both have train stations with direct trains to Milan. So that makes them really convenient as bases (no dragging your luggage onto ferries!).

If you would like to stick to the main things on the lake, I recommend Varenna over Como city, You can follow the same itinerary I’ve laid out above, but just take it much slower since you are not starting out in Milan. You could even visit both villas instead of one, or tack on a stop at Menaggio.

If you would like to provide some contrast to your trip, I’d recommend Como city over Varenna. Como is nowhere near the fast pace of many other Italian cities, but it is still a very different vibe to the towns in the middle of the lake. You would need to adjust this itinerary quite a bit, though, taking the ferry from Como up to the middle section of the lake where Bellagio, the two villas I mention, and Varenna are, before heading all the way back down. You can also consider visiting Villa d’Este, which isn’t too far from Como city.

Best Time of Year to Visit Lake Como

Lake Como is a rather seasonal destination. I actually chatted to a shop owner in Varenna, who said she would be closing up after that very week and heading back to her hometown until the next tourism season. And I had this conversation in the first few days of September!

So, needless to say, the best time to visit Lake Como is June – September. Earlier in the spring and later in the fall are also viable options. But you will have to adjust this itinerary a bit to fit the shoulder season ferry schedule. On the plus side, you will enjoy fewer crowds!

Should You Rent a Car in Lake Como?

The short answer is no. From what I saw, I would never want to rent a car to get around Lake Como’s main sites. Perhaps if you are staying in the northern or eastern part of the lake, or if you are visiting in low season, it could be an good option. But driving anywhere between Menaggio and Como city did not look like a good time to me.

Adjustments to this One Day Lake Como Itinerary

• Visiting Como city instead of a villa. If you are interested in seeing what Como the city is like, you can include that into your day trip. But it will require removing one of the three other stops. The most logical thing to from a logistical point of would be to remove would be a villa or Bellagio. And you probably want to see Bellagio, since it is the most famous part of the lake! So then your Lake Como day trip would look something like: a train from Milan to Como city > the fast ferry from Como city to Bellagio > ferry from Bellagio to Varenna > train from Varenna back to Milan.
• Visiting Menaggio instead of a villa. If you aren’t one for villas, you may want to squeeze another town into your day trip. Menaggio makes a great option, as it forms part of the “golden triangle” of Lake Como, along with Bellagio and Varenna. I actually based myself in Menaggio during my stay. So I can say from experience that it is a lot calmer than the other two golden triangle towns.
• Booking a guided tour that follows this exact itinerary. I hope this article has convinced you that a self-guided day trip to Lake Como to Milan is totally doable! But in case reading all the above has instead convinced you that you would rather have someone else lead the way, there are guided tours available. Most fit in fewer stops than my self-guided itinerary. But I did find this one tour that actually hits the same spots as my guide!

What Do You Think of My Itinerary for a Day Trip from Milan to Lake Como?

If you still have questions, definitely comment below. I spent four nights boating, busing, and walking around Lake Como, so I’ll respond with any itinerary help I can provide.

Have you done a Lake Como day trip from Milan before? Did you hit up the same places I recommend? Let me know in the comments below!

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