4 ways to get from Milan to Lake Como 

Getting from Milan to Lake Como is quick, straightforward and it’s also one of the best day trips from Milan. 

In this post, I’ll be outlining 4 easy ways on how to get from Milan to Lake Como Italy. I’ll be answering all your questions on how to get to Lake Como from Milan and the best transport modes. 

Two ideal destinations in Lombardy for your Italy bucket list, this helpful resource will help you plan your Italy trip. 

4 easy ways to get from Milan to Lake Como 

---

1. Milan to Lake Como by car 

One popular way to get from Milan to Lake Como (Lago di Como) is by renting a car. The distance from Milan to Lake Como, and the journey time, depends on where you plan to visit on the lake. 

Lake Como is blessed with dozens of pretty towns, many of which we visited on our 3-day Lake Como visit. 

For this example, I’ll be using the town of Como as the final destination point.  

From the center of Milan (near the Duomo) to Como by car, the journey takes around 1hr and 7mins. In terms of distance this is approximately 51.3km (32mi). This doesn’t factor in any traffic or highway stops.  

You can use the following route to get from Milan to Como by car. 

---

From Milan’s center 

Follow directions from the Duomo and head towards Viale Alcide de Gasperi in the direction of the Overpass del Ghisallo. This will lead you out of Milan’s city center (approximately 24 minutes in total). 

Take the A8 and A9/E35 in the direction of Via Cecilio in Como. From here, take the Como Centro exit from A9/E35 (around 24 minutes in total). 

Continue on Via Cecilio. Take Via Pasquale Paoli and SS342 in the direction of Via Giovio until you reach Como (about 12 minutes in total). 

---

Why drive to Lake Como? 

The reason why driving is the best way to travel from Milan to Lake Como is flexibility.  

We began our journey at the north end in the town of Sorico but explored other towns with great ease. 

Another thing we didn’t find issue with was parking around Lake Como (unlike our experience driving around the Amalfi Coast). We usually found a space and luckily encountered no problems with traffic or having to pay for overpriced parking.  

---

2. Train from Milan to Lake Como 

The Milan to Como train is another easy way to get from Milan to Lake Como. Taking trains in Italy is a fast and affordable option and relatively stress free (except in cases of strikes). 

Where are the train stations in Lake Como? 

The following is a list of the Lake Como train stations. They’re useful to know and will help you understand which Milan to Lake Como train you should take.  

• Como Lago 
• Como San Giovanni 
• Fiumelatte 
• Lecco 
• Lierna 
• Mandello del Lario 
• Olcio 
• Varenna Esino 

Train journeys from Milan to Lake Como 

The following trains to Lake Como are operated by Trenord 

Milano Centrale to Como San Giovanni 

This journey takes approximately 39 minutes from Milan and has no changes, making it a quick choice. 

A single, and return, first-class (adult) ticket costs €7.80 ($8.42/£6.70).* The second-class option costs €5.20 ($5.61/£4.47). 

Milano Cadorna station to Como Lago 

The journey time from Milano Cadorna station to Como Lago is around 1 hour. A single, and return, second-class (adult) ticket, like above, costs €5.20 ($5.61/£4.47). 

Milano Porta Garibaldi to Como San Giovanni 

Like the above option, the journey time is also around 1hr 1min (no changes). A single, and return, second-class (adult) ticket also costs €5.20 ($5.61/£4.47). 

Milano Centrale to Varenna train station 

To get from Milan to the town of Varenna takes approximately 1h 4mins by train. A single, and return, first-class (adult) ticket costs €11.00 ($11.87/£9.46). The second-class option is slightly less at €7.40 ($7.98/£6.36).* 

Check Trenord’s website for the most up-to-date ticket prices and for Milan to Como train times. 

---

Lake Como map

---

Milan to Bellagio 

There’s no direct train that will take you from Milan to Bellagio. Given Bellagio’s location at the tip overlooking Lake Como, bus, ferry or car are the most viable options. 

One of the best routes to get from Milan to Bellagio is to take a train from Milano Centrale to Lecco. Get off here and walk to Piazza Lega Lombarda. Look for bus no. 10 that will take you to Bellagio. After around 45 minutes, you’ll arrive at Lungo Lago Marconi.  

The total journey for this route is approximately 1hr 40mins. 

Trains from Milan Airport to Lake Como 

The train from Milan Malpensa Airport to Lake Como follows a similar route to those outlined above.  

From Malpensa Aeroporto T1 train station, take the train towards Milano Cadorna. From here, get off at Saronno and switch to a regional train heading to Como Lago.  

Alternatively, take a train towards Milano Centrale and change to the Swiss train line heading towards Locarno. Get off at Como San Giovanni and continue your journey to Lake Como. 

3. From Milan to Lake Como by coach 

A third option to get to Lake Como from Milan is to travel by coach. The journey might take longer but traveling by bus is affordable and is also ideal for budget travelers. 

Below are some of the bus services that will take you from Milan to Como. 

Flixbus is one of the most popular and offer services on the following routes: 

---

Milano Lampugnano (Basel SBB (Meret Oppenheim Street) to Como 

Journey times and prices will vary according to the time of day (or night) you travel. To give you an idea, a weekday service departing at 06:20 from Milan will take around 45 minutes (no changes). Tickets cost a very purse-friendly €5.99 ($6.46/£5.15). 

Milano (Assago M2) to Como 

This Flixbus route from Milano (Assago M2) to Como is slightly longer at 1hr 40mins. Tickets, however, cost the same as above. 

Milano (San Donato M3) to Como 

The third Flixbus starting point in Milan is Milano (San Donato M3).  

There are no changes on this route of around 1hr 35mins and it will take you to directly to Como. Tickets are slightly more at €7.99 ($8.62/£6.87). 

---

4. Milan to Lake Como by tour 

The last best way to get from Milan to Lake Como is by booking a tour.  

Personally, I enjoy booking tours as it removes the hassle of having to plan everything myself. Transport is usually included as is a knowledgeable and friendly local that makes the tour more enjoyable. 

Below are some of my favorite Milan to Lake Como tours, many of which make an ideal Milan day trip. 

• Como, Lugano and Bellagio boat cruise – tour beautiful lakes and villages on an exclusive boat cruise in Switzerland and Italy 
• Best of Lake Como experience from Milan – enjoy a full day tour that also includes a cruise on Lake Como  
• Lake Como, Bellagio and Lugano from Milan – get a 2-4-1 deal by visiting the best of Lake Como as well as Lugano in Switzerland 
• Lake Como and Bellagio private boat cruise – visit Bellagio, stroll around the gardens at Villa Olmo and escape the crowds on two private lake cruises 

---

Is there an airport near to Lake Como? 

There are several airports close to Lake Como. They include: 

• Aeroporto di Varese-Venegono (35 minutes by car**)
• Lugano Airport (Switzerland) (38 minutes by car**) 
• Milan Malpensa Airport (40 minutes by car**) 

⏩️ See: 26 international airports in Italy

What do you think about these 4 ways on how to get from Milan to Lake Como? Is there one mode that most appeals to you? Let me know in the comments below. 

*information correct at the time of publishing 
**approximate timings  

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that I’ve recommended. Thank you for your support.

Like this post? Pin it!

You Might Also Like

• What to do in Lake Como: a resident's honest guide
• 3 days in Lake Como
• 35+ free things to do in Lake Como
• Where to stay in Milan Italy
• Lake Como or Lake Garda
• Where to stay in Lake Como