🗺️ Best Self-Guided Lake Como Day Trip from Milan (by Train + Ferry)
💶 Budget: from €30 per person (food & drinks not included)

(Varenna → Bellagio → Como Loop)

Only one day for Lake Como?
Here’s the route that actually works — the one locals use when they want real views, not ferry chaos or tourist traps.

⚡ Quick Summary

Route: Milan → Varenna → Bellagio → Como → Milan
Total duration: ≈ 12 hours
Train time (one way): ≈ 1 hour

You’ll get mountains, ferries, villas, and real Italian charm — without wasting your day.

This itinerary is part of the complete and most detailed Milan to Lake Como guide written by a local tour guide.
Read the full insider guide here:

🚆 Step 1. Early Train from Milan to Varenna

• Depart Milan Centrale around 7:00 AM — buy tickets online at trainline.com
• Train ≈ 1 hour direct to Varenna-Esino
• Sit on the left side for the best lake views

☕ Don’t linger too long!
If you sit down at the bar by the lake and spend an hour enjoying your coffee, the next ferry to Bellagio will already be packed.

🎟️ Important: buy your ferry day pass as soon as you reach the pier.
The Varenna → Bellagio ferry fills up after 10 AM, so board strictly before 10 to skip the chaos and enjoy a calm crossing.
Check the official ferry schedule at 👉 Navigazione Laghi.

🌿 Step 2. Quick Stop in Varenna (15 – 20 min)

Get off the train, head straight to the harbour to buy your tickets, then take a short walk along the promenade — quick photos, fresh air, that’s it.

No villas, no coffee breaks.
If you spend more than 20 minutes here, you’ll hit the Bellagio ferry crowd.

💡 Goal: catch the first ferry before 9:30 AM — smartest move of the day.

⛴️ Step 3. Ferry to Bellagio (≈ 15 min)

• Boats depart frequently
• Ticket ≈ €5 (if you didn’t get the day pass)

Sit outside for the mountain views.
Arrive in Bellagio around 9:30 – 10 AM — just before it turns into a human traffic jam.

☕ Step 4. Morning in Bellagio (10 AM – 12 PM)

Wander the stone steps, browse silk shops, and enjoy the view from La Pergola Café.
Avoid the tourist-menu restaurants on the main street.

💡 Tip: have a proper lunch later in Como — better quality and half the price.

🍝 Step 5. Ferry Bellagio → Como Town

(ask at the Bellagio ticket office for fast vs slow ferry)

This is the scenic stretch — villas, gardens, and mountain curves.
If you’re short on time, take the fast hydrofoil (~50 min).
Ticket ≈ €10 – 15.

Sit on deck (left side) and treat it like a mini-cruise.

🏛️ Step 6. Explore Como Town (≈ 2 hours)

Arrive around 2 PM — time for a walk and a drink.

• Stroll the promenade and old town
• Visit the Cathedral (Duomo)
• If lines aren’t crazy, take the funicular to Brunate for the view
• 🍹 Enjoy a Spritz or Mito cocktail with a lake view
• 🍦 Get gelato at Gelab — best in Como

If the funicular line is huge, skip it — not worth an hour of waiting.

🚉 Step 7. Train Back to Milan

• 10 min walk to Como S. Giovanni Station (faster but busier)
  or Como Nord Lago (slower but quieter)
• Trains every 30 – 40 min
• Ride ≈ 1 hour
• Leave around 7 PM → arrive in Milan by 8:30 PM

💶 Approx Budget (per person)

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Starting late (9 AM = crowds everywhere)
❌ Spending an hour in Varenna for coffee or photos
❌ Trying to see too many towns
❌ Not checking ferry times
❌ Eating in Bellagio’s main street

✅ Start early, keep it simple, and enjoy the views.

💡 Local Advice

Hate lines and timing stress?
Take a small-group tour that follows this exact route — we handle trains, ferries, and schedules for you.

See our Lake Como Small Group Tours from Milan

🧭 Final Recap

Milan → Varenna → Bellagio → Como → Milan
Leave 7 AM, return 8:30 PM.
Three beautiful towns, zero stress — the real Lake Como experience.

❓ Quick FAQ: Lake Como Day Trip from Milan

🕐 Can you really do Lake Como in one day?

Yes — if you start early.
Take the 7:00 AM train from Milan and follow the Varenna → Bellagio → Como route.
You’ll see the best of the lake without rushing — just avoid long lunches and slow ferries.

🚆 What time is the first train from Milan to Lake Como?

The first good train leaves Milan Centrale around 6:20–7:00 AM and reaches Varenna-Esino in about 1 hour.
Buy tickets online at trainline.com or directly at the station.

⛴️ Is the Lake Como ferry day pass worth it?

Yes — if you’re visiting more than one town.
The “Free Circulation” day ticket (~€23) lets you hop between Varenna, Bellagio, Menaggio, and Como without buying separate tickets each time.
It’s cheaper, faster, and saves a ton of stress.

📍 Should I start from Como or from Varenna?

Always start from Varenna.
It’s peaceful early in the morning and connects perfectly with the first ferries to Bellagio.
After 10 AM, Varenna fills up fast — and if you start from Como, you’ll hit that same crowd head-on.

🧳 Do I need to book a tour in advance?

If you’re visiting in spring, summer, or early fall, yes.
Ferries and small-group tours sell out quickly — booking ahead means no waiting in line and no last-minute stress.