One Day Lake Como Itinerary From Milan: Varenna & Bellagio

On By saar.decosterIn Europe, Italy

If you’re staying in Milan but really want to see Lake Como, do it as a day trip. You absolutely do not need a car, and honestly, I think taking the train and ferries makes the whole day much more fun.

This is the route I’d recommend if you only have one day:

Milan → Varenna → Bellagio → Tremezzo/Cadenabbia → Milan

You’ll get to see some of the most beautiful parts of Lake Como without trying to squeeze the entire lake into one day. And yes, it’s a busy day, but a very good one.

The best part? The train from Milano Centrale to Varenna-Esino takes roughly an hour and costs around €7–8, making Varenna one of the easiest Lake Como villages to reach from Milan without a car.

If you’re still wondering whether Lake Como is actually worth adding to your Italy trip, I’ve also shared my honest opinion on whether Lake Como is worth visiting.

One Day Lake Como Itinerary at a Glance

TimeWhat to do
Early morningTrain from Milan Central to Varenna
MorningExplore Varenna + Villa Monastero
Late morningViewpoint + drink at Bar Il Molo
Around middayFerry from Varenna to Bellagio
AfternoonExplore Bellagio + Villa Melzi
Late afternoonFerry to Tremezzo/Cadenabbia
AfternoonVisit Villa Carlotta
EveningFerry back towards Varenna + train to Milan

Important: Ferry schedules change depending on the season, so check the official Lake Como ferry timetable for your exact travel date before planning the day around specific departure times. In busy periods, it’s also worth arriving at the ticket office around 20 minutes before departure.

1. Start Early: Milan Central → Varenna

Get yourself to Milano Centrale early in the morning and take the regional train towards Varenna-Esino.

The journey takes roughly one hour and is direct, so this is probably the easiest part of your day. A standard ticket is around €7–8 one way, although fares can change.

And this is exactly why I recommend starting in Varenna rather than Como if you’re doing Lake Como from Milan in one day. You can get straight from the train onto the lake and start exploring.

My tip: Don’t leave Milan at 10 or 11 AM and expect to fit everything in comfortably. If you want to visit the villas as well as explore the villages, I’d aim for one of the earlier trains.

If you’re spending a few days in Milan before your Lake Como day trip, check out my guide to the best things to do in Milan for ideas on what to see in the city.

2. Explore Varenna

Once you arrive in Varenna, you’re immediately in the Lake Como postcard everyone came for.

Varenna is definitely touristy. I’m not going to pretend otherwise. But it is also really, really pretty, and I think it’s worth embracing the touristiness for a few hours.

Walk around the little streets, follow the lakefront and just explore without trying to tick off every single viewpoint.

If you have more than one day, I’ve also broken down exactly how many days you need in Lake Como and what I’d do with 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 days.

Visit Villa Monastero

One of the main things I’d add to your Varenna stop is Villa Monastero.

The villa sits right on the lake and has beautiful botanical gardens stretching along the waterfront. If you love pretty gardens, old villas and that classic Lake Como aesthetic, this is definitely one to add to your day.

Just keep an eye on the time. You’re doing Lake Como in one day, so this is not the moment for a three-hour villa visit.

Walk to the viewpoint near Hotel Royal Victoria

After Villa Monastero, walk back towards the centre of Varenna and make your way to the viewpoint near Hotel Royal Victoria.

This is one of those places where you’ll probably stop every five minutes because the view keeps getting better.

And honestly, this is what I loved about Varenna. You don’t necessarily need some huge attraction every five minutes, walking around the village with the lake right next to you is the attraction.

View over Lake Como from Varenna Italy

Have a drink at Bar Il Molo

Before leaving Varenna, grab a drink at Bar Il Molo.

It’s right by the water, so this is the perfect place to sit down for a little while, have a drink and enjoy the view before catching your ferry.

And yes, this is touristy. But sometimes the touristy thing is touristy for a reason.

Bar Il Molo overlooking Lake Como in Varenna Italy

3. Take the Ferry from Varenna to Bellagio

Next stop: Bellagio.

The ferry ride from Varenna to Bellagio is short, around 15 minutes, but this is one of those journeys where you’ll want to be outside looking at the lake rather than staring at your phone.

The central Lake Como ferry network connects Varenna, Bellagio, Menaggio and Cadenabbia, although exact services and timings depend on the seasonal timetable.

And honestly, the ferry is part of the Lake Como experience. I wouldn’t try to avoid it just to save a few minutes.

4. Explore Bellagio

Welcome to the village that probably convinced you to book Lake Como in the first place.

Bellagio is beautiful, but it’s also busy. So again: embrace it, walk around, take your photos and explore the little streets rather than expecting to have the place completely to yourself.

You’ll find plenty of restaurants, cafés, shops and little streets to wander through.

If you’re hungry, this is also a good place to stop for lunch before continuing your itinerary.

But don’t spend the entire afternoon sitting down, there’s still another villa waiting for you.

Bellagio is also where I’d personally stay if I had more time, and I explain why in my guide to where to stay in Lake Como.

Visit Giardini di Villa Melzi

One of my favourite things to do in Bellagio is visit the Giardini di Villa Melzi.

The gardens sit right along the lake and are honestly gorgeous. You get beautiful views, greenery, sculptures and little paths along the water.

If you only have a few hours in Bellagio, I’d choose Villa Melzi over trying to see absolutely everything.

Navigazione Laghi also highlights Villa Melzi as one of the main attractions to visit when travelling to Bellagio.

Giardini di Villa Melzi in Bellagio Lake Como

5. Ferry from Bellagio to Tremezzo or Cadenabbia

Now it’s time to cross over to the western side of Lake Como.

From Bellagio, take the ferry towards Cadenabbia or Tremezzo.

These are very close to each other, and the best stop for your next attraction is Tremezzo, because that’s where Villa Carlotta is located.

This part of the journey is another reason I love doing Lake Como this way. You’re not just travelling between attractions, you’re actually seeing the lake from the water as you go.

The official ferry network includes Bellagio, Cadenabbia, Varenna and Menaggio on the central lake route.

Visit Villa Carlotta

Your final big stop of the day is Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo.

If Villa Monastero and Villa Melzi weren’t enough gardens for one day, here we go again.

Villa Carlotta combines an historic villa with beautiful botanical gardens overlooking Lake Como. It’s one of the most famous villas on this side of the lake and makes a really nice final stop before heading back towards Milan.

I’d give yourself enough time here to actually enjoy the gardens rather than rushing through them just so you can say you visited.

At this point, you’ll probably also be very ready to sit down for a drink.

6. Head Back to Milan

And now comes the slightly less glamorous part: getting yourself back to Milan.

From Tremezzo/Cadenabbia, you’ll need to use the ferry connections to get back towards Varenna, and from Varenna you can take the train back to Milano Centrale.

This is the part of the itinerary where I would not wing it.

Check the ferry timetable for your exact date before leaving Milan and make sure you know which ferry you need to catch to get back to Varenna in time for your train. Ferry schedules change seasonally, and services can also be affected by weather.

If you miss the last convenient connection, your very aesthetic Lake Como day trip can suddenly become a slightly less aesthetic logistical nightmare.

So: check the return times.

Is One Day Enough for Lake Como?

Yes, if you know what you want to see.

No, you obviously cannot explore the entire lake in one day. And I wouldn’t try. Lake Como has way too many villages, villas and viewpoints to properly see everything in a single day.

But if you’re staying in Milan and only have one free day, you can absolutely get a really good taste of Lake Como.

This itinerary gives you three different parts of the lake in one day:

Varenna for the cute village streets and lake views
Bellagio for the famous Lake Como experience and Villa Melzi
Tremezzo for Villa Carlotta and the western side of the lake

And honestly? That’s a pretty good day.

If Lake Como is just one stop on a bigger Northern Italy trip, my Northern Italy Travel Guide covers the other cities and destinations I visited around the region.

My Tips for a Lake Como Day Trip from Milan

Start early. This itinerary is much more enjoyable when you have the whole day rather than trying to squeeze everything into six hours.

Wear comfortable shoes. You’ll be walking a lot, and Lake Como is not exactly flat.

Check the ferry timetable beforehand. The schedules change seasonally, and you don’t want to discover that your next ferry isn’t running after you’ve already arrived at the dock.

Keep some flexibility. If you absolutely love Varenna, stay a little longer. If Bellagio feels too busy, move on. The point is to enjoy the lake, not complete a military operation.

Don’t try to see everything. Varenna, Bellagio and Tremezzo are already plenty for one day.

Bring a swimsuit in summer. You never know when you’ll spot a beautiful swimming spot and decide that your carefully planned itinerary can wait.

Final Thoughts

If you’re staying in Milan and wondering whether Lake Como is worth giving up a day for, my answer is yes.

This is probably one of the easiest day trips you can do from Milan without renting a car. The direct train to Varenna gets you from the city to the lake in about an hour, and from there you can use the ferries to move between the villages.

And while the day is definitely busy, I actually like this route because you get to experience Lake Como from several different angles instead of spending the entire day in one village.

If you have more time, though, I’d stay overnight. Bellagio is my personal favourite base for exploring Lake Como, and having a few days means you can slow down and visit places like Bellano, Nesso, Menaggio and Como without constantly checking the clock.

But if Milan is your base and you only have one day?

Take the early train to Varenna, get on the ferries and go. Lake Como is absolutely worth it.

Planning Your Trip to Italy?

Planning a trip to Italy can be surprisingly difficult, especially when you’re choosing between huge historic cities, beautiful coastlines, charming smaller towns, mountains, lakes and islands.

That’s why I’ve created my Italy Travel Guide, where I share destination guides, things to do, local tips and my personal experiences from travelling around Italy.

→ START HERE: Italy Travel Guides

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→ Northern Italy Travel guide
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FAQ

Can you do Lake Como in one day from Milan?

Yes, you can! If you start early, you can visit Varenna, Bellagio and Tremezzo in one day using the train and ferries. You won’t see the entire lake, but you can experience several of the most beautiful villages and villas.

How do you get from Milan to Lake Como for a day trip?

The easiest option is to take a direct train from Milano Centrale to Varenna-Esino. The journey takes around one hour and costs roughly €7–8 one way. From Varenna, you can continue around Lake Como by ferry.

Is Lake Como worth visiting from Milan for one day?

Absolutely. Lake Como is one of the easiest day trips from Milan, especially if you travel by train to Varenna. Even with only one day, you can see beautiful villages, take ferries across the lake and visit famous villas.

Is Varenna or Bellagio better for a day trip from Milan?

I would visit both if you only have one day. Varenna is the easiest place to reach from Milan by train, while Bellagio is one of the most famous and beautiful villages on the lake. The ferry between them makes it easy to visit both in the same day.

How long is the ferry from Varenna to Bellagio?

The ferry from Varenna to Bellagio takes around 15 minutes, although exact journey times and schedules can vary depending on the service and season.

Can you visit Villa Monastero, Bellagio and Villa Carlotta in one day?

Yes, but it will be a busy day. If you start early and plan your ferry connections in advance, you can visit Villa Monastero in Varenna, explore Bellagio and its Villa Melzi gardens, and finish at Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo.

Do you need a car for a Lake Como day trip from Milan?

No. You can easily do this itinerary without a car. The train takes you from Milan to Varenna, and ferries connect many of the main villages around the central part of Lake Como.

How early should you leave Milan for Lake Como?

I recommend taking one of the earliest trains you can. Starting early gives you enough time to explore Varenna, Bellagio and Tremezzo without having to rush between every ferry connection.

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