Lake Como by boat and train: the back story

About Lake Como by boat and train: the back story

By the ULTIMATE Lake Como Editorial Team

Editor-in-Chief: Jai Michael

Lake Como is best travelled on the water. Navigazione Laghi runs the boats and fast services between Como and Colico, the boats between Bellagio and Lecco, and the car ferry that links Bellagio, Cadenabbia, Varenna and Menaggio. On land, Trenord’s regional trains reach Como from Milan, and Varenna, Lecco and Colico on the line to Sondrio and Tirano; Milan’s airports are about an hour away.

The boats

Navigazione Laghi publishes separate timetables for the Como–Colico boats and fast services, the Bellagio–Lecco boats and the car ferry between Bellagio, Cadenabbia, Varenna and Menaggio; vehicles travel only between the ferry stops. Tickets are sold online, at the offices by the main piers and, where there is no office, on board at no extra cost. The winter timetable runs from 2 November 2026 to 14 March 2027.

The trains

Trenord runs trains from Milano Centrale to Varenna-Esino in about 64 minutes, on the line to Sondrio and Tirano; trains for Como leave Milano Cadorna for Como Lago, and Milano Centrale for Como San Giovanni. Check trenord.it before you travel: works sometimes replace trains with buses.

Check the timetable on the day: it changes with the seasons.

The airports

Milan Malpensa and Linate are run by SEA, Milan Airports; Mandarin Oriental puts Malpensa about 55 minutes and Linate about 70 minutes from Blevio by car.

Our advice: stay near a ferry stop, and use the boats rather than the narrow lakeshore roads.

Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Lake Como by boat and train: the back story before you go.