The simplest way from Milan to Lake Como is the train from Milano Centrale to Como S. Giovanni: about forty minutes, roughly €5–15, no traffic, no parking. But it is not the only sensible option, and the right choice depends on where in Milan you start, where on the lake you are heading, and and how long you are staying. This guide lays out every route with honest times and 2026 prices, including the Malpensa connection and the ferry hops you will need once there.
The train: the default choice
Direct trains run from Milano Centrale to Como S. Giovanni roughly every half hour, taking about 40 minutes and costing €5–15 depending on train type. From the station it is a ten-minute walk to the lakefront and the ferry dock. A second line, from Milano Cadorna to Como Nord Lago, takes about an hour and drops you directly on the water — handy if you are near Cadorna. For a day trip, the train beats driving every time: no tolls, no parking hunt, and the schedule runs late enough for an evening return.
Driving: when it makes sense
A car takes 50 minutes to an hour and a half from Milan depending on traffic, via the A9 motorway with a small toll. Driving makes sense if you are heading beyond Como town, staying several days, or carrying serious luggage. The catch is parking: lakeside towns have few spaces, and in summer they fill by mid-morning. Bellagio and Varenna are reachable by car ferry with your vehicle, but for a simple day trip to those towns, leave the car and take the passenger ferry instead.
From Malpensa airport
Malpensa is about 50 minutes from Como by car or private transfer, and it is the most convenient airport for the lake. By public transport, the Malpensa Express train to Saronno with a change for Como takes around an hour and a half. A taxi or pre-booked transfer costs €100–150 depending on destination and time of day. If you land late or travel with family and luggage, book the transfer ahead — arrival-day improvisation at Malpensa is nobody's idea of a holiday start.
Getting around once you arrive
The lake works by boat. Ferries link Como with the central towns — the crossing from Como to Bellagio takes 45–60 minutes depending on the service — and a fast shuttle connects Bellagio, Varenna, and Menaggio in minutes. A day pass costs roughly €15–30 and pays for itself after two crossings. Buses run along both shores, cheap but slow. For the classic day trip — Como, Bellagio, Varenna — the ferry network plus your own feet is genuinely all you need.
Day trip or overnight?
A day trip works and thousands do it happily: early train, ferry to the central lake, two towns, back by evening. What it cannot give you is the lake at its finest — early morning and sunset, when the day-trippers are gone. One night changes the trip entirely, and two lets you add a private boat tour without rushing. If you want help sequencing trains, ferries, and a boat tour into one smooth day — or planning the overnight version — message us on WhatsApp and we will map it with you.