# Lake Como day trip from Milan > Lake Como is one of Italy's loveliest lakes, at the foot of the Alps an hour by train from Milan. Its shores hold the elegant towns of Como, Bellagio and Varenna, villas with gardens and mountains that drop straight into the water. The lake itself is free; you pay for trains, ferries and villas. Allow a full day. Web page: https://yesgo.io/italy/milan/lake-como - City: [Milan](https://yesgo.io/italy/milan), Italy - YesGo score: 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 8 h - Opening hours: Year-round; ferries and villas on seasonal timetables - With kids: Fine with kids - Entry: Free; trains, ferries and villas are paid - From Milan: Train ≈ 40–60 min to Como or Varenna - Ferries: Between towns on a timetable - Highlights: Bellagio, Varenna, villas, the Brunate funicular - When: April–October; villas open spring to autumn - Time needed: A full day - Coordinates: 45.81130, 9.08530 - Facts checked: 11.11.2026 ## Key facts - **≈ 146 km²** — area of the lake (source: English Wikipedia) - **≈ 410 m** — maximum depth — among Europe's deepest lakes (source: English Wikipedia) - **Y shape** — three arms form an upside-down Y (source: English Wikipedia) - **Glacier** — the basin was carved by a glacier (source: English Wikipedia) - **Brunate** — a funicular from Como climbs to a lake view (source: English Wikipedia) ## About Lake Como Lake Como, called **Lario** locally, lies at the foot of the Alps north of Milan. Carved by a **glacier**, it's long, narrow and very deep — down to about **410 m**, one of Europe's deepest lakes — and shaped like an **upside-down Y**: the two southern arms, at Como and Lecco, meet in the middle at the Bellagio headland. Its shores have drawn holidaymakers since Roman times, and from the 16th to the 19th centuries Milan's nobility built villas with gardens tumbling to the water. Today it's one of Italy's most famous resort areas, with lakefront promenades, cafés, boat-filled harbours and mountain views of snowy peaks. ## The lakeside towns **Como**, at the southern tip, is where trains from Milan arrive: a marble cathedral, an old town, a promenade and the **funicular to Brunate**, which climbs in minutes to a view over the whole southern lake. **Bellagio**, the "pearl of the lake", sits on the headland where the arms meet, with stepped lanes, the gardens of Villa Melzi and views three ways. **Varenna** on the east shore is small and quiet, with colourful houses at the water's edge and a lakeside walk — and an easy train from Milan. **Menaggio** and **Tremezzo** on the west shore have promenades, hotels and villas. Short ferries link Bellagio, Varenna and Menaggio, so you can see three towns in a day. ## Top things to see - **Bellagio** — the headland between the arms, gardens and views. - **Varenna** — colourful houses and a lakeside path. - **Villa Carlotta**, Tremezzo — rhododendron gardens and sculpture. - **Villa del Balbianello** — gardens on a promontory near Lenno. - **Como–Brunate funicular** — the view over the southern lake. - **Como waterfront** — the cathedral and old town by the water. > **A one-day route from Milan** The easiest plan: an early train from Milano Centrale to Varenna, a short ferry to Bellagio, then on to Menaggio or Tremezzo for Villa Carlotta, and back by ferry to Varenna for the train. Heading to Como town instead? Start with the Brunate funicular, then take a ferry along the shore. ## How to get to Lake Como from Milan 1. Train from **Milano Centrale** to **Varenna**, about an hour. 2. Train from **Cadorna** or **Centrale** to **Como**, 40–60 minutes. 3. Stations to the piers, 5–10 minutes on foot. 4. Ferries and fast boats link the towns on a timetable. ## When to go The best months are **April to October**: azaleas and rhododendrons bloom in villa gardens in spring, summer brings swimming and boat hire, autumn fewer crowds and soft light. In winter many villas and some ferries close, though the towns and views stay lovely. Summer weekends are very busy on the ferries and in Bellagio — take an early train and head back before the evening rush. Check the ferry timetable the day before, as off-season sailings are fewer. ## Is Lake Como worth it? Yes — it's the best day trip from Milan. After the city, the lake feels like another world of mountains, water, gardens and quiet promenades. A day is enough for two or three towns, but many people stay a night to see the lake in the morning before the day-trippers arrive. ## Before you go Tick off what's ready — your ticks are saved in this browser. - [ ] Choose Varenna or Como town - [ ] Catch an early train - [ ] Check the ferry timetable - [ ] See whether the villas are open this season - [ ] Wear comfy shoes — Bellagio is all steps ## Nature near Milan: compare and choose Natural sights in and around Milan rated by YesGo. - [Lake Como](https://yesgo.io/italy/milan/lake-como) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 8 h · Free; transport and villas paid ## Lake Como in a day Train to the lake, ferries between the towns, back to Milan — and an evening on the Navigli canals. 1. [Lake Como](https://yesgo.io/italy/milan/lake-como) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 8 h · Free; transport and villas paid 2. [Navigli](https://yesgo.io/italy/milan/navigli) — YesGo score 41/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Free ## Don't mix it up Lake Como and the town of Como aren't the same thing — the town sits at the lake's southern tip. Lake Maggiore and Lake Garda are also popular day trips from Milan. ## Tips - Early trains are quieter. - Ferry between Varenna and Bellagio. - Villas are best in spring and autumn. - Brunate for the view from above. ## Questions ### How do I get from Milan to Lake Como? By train: Milano Centrale to Varenna in about an hour, or to Como town in 40–60 minutes. ### What can you see at Lake Como in one day? Varenna, Bellagio and Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo, hopping between them by ferry. ### Where is Lake Como? In Lombardy at the foot of the Alps, about 50 km north of Milan. ### When is the best time to visit Lake Como? April to October; some villas and ferries close in winter. ### Can you swim in Lake Como? Yes, in summer at small beaches and lidos by the towns. ## How we checked Geography, towns and villas from English Wikipedia. Ferry timetables and journey times are approximate — hence the 'checking' badge. ## Sources - English Wikipedia, Lake Como --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.