Getting around Lake Como
From a Milan airport by train or shuttle to Como, then by city bus and funicular, and on the lake by boat.
- Gateway
- Milan
- Train
- train from Cadorna, about 1 h, €4.80
- Malpensa shuttle
- €9.99, about 50 min
Como has no airport of its own, so you enter through Milan: the train from Cadorna, about 1 h, or a shuttle from Malpensa. Beyond Como the lake is done by boat, and the town itself on foot, with one funicular ride.
1. To Como from Milan
From Cadorna station a Trenord train runs to Como Nord Lago, about 1 h. A one-way ticket is €4.80, and a return €9.60 (train, return). Milan has a hub covering all its airports and stations, so getting to Cadorna is read there.
2. The Malpensa shuttle
Anyone landing at Malpensa need not go into Milan. The Flibco shuttle runs to Como San Giovanni station, €9.99, taking about 50 min. San Giovanni is a station on the Milan–Zürich line; from there the waterfront is reached on foot or by city transport.
On foot and by bus
A city bus costs €1.50 (Area urbana, 90 min), and a day ticket for the whole urban network €3.50 (daily, whole urban network); the day ticket pays off only if you ride several times in a day.
4. The funicular to Brunate
For Brunate, the village above the town, take the funicular that opened in 1894, €3.60 (one-way), €6.60 (return). The ride takes 7 min, and it runs daily 6:00–24:00, departures every 12–15 min. The upper station is in the centre of the village.
5. By boat on the lake
Navigazione Laghi sails from Como. The ordinary line to Bellagio takes about 2 h 35 min by boat from Como (one-way, ordinary line); price: free (walking around); boat from Como €12 one-way, €24 return. A hydrofoil also links Como and Bellagio; timetables change with the season, so check them for the day of travel. From Bellagio, ferries cross to Cadenabbia, Varenna and Menaggio. Varenna can also be reached by train, on the Tirano–Lecco line, or by boat from Como, free (walking around); boat from Como about €13.50–14.50 one-way.
Villa del Balbianello at Lenno is reached by boat or on foot, and Villa Carlotta at Tremezzo lies on the same western shore. Booking for Balbianello is mandatory.
Before you go
Short answers to what people ask most before setting out.
How do you get from Milan to Como?
train from Cadorna, about 1 h; a one-way ticket is €4.80.
How do you get from Malpensa airport to Como?
The shuttle to Como San Giovanni station, €9.99, about 50 min.
Do you need a car on the lake?
Not for the basic trip: the town is on foot, and Bellagio, Varenna and the villas are reached by boat, plus the train to Varenna.
Ready for Lake Como?
Where to next
Lake Como in 3 days
→Day one stays in town with the cathedral, the waterfront and the funicular, day two goes by boat to Bellagio…
Milan · 39 km
→The Italian city that lives off next season rather than its own past
How well does Lake Como suit you?
→Six questions: a score for this place and others like it.
Front row for the next trip
Leave your email and we'll let you know when a new destination or story goes up.