How to Get to Lago di Como from Milan

Located about 50 kilometres north of Milan, Lago Di Como is one of the most beautiful landscapes in Italy and therefore one of the most popular excursions from Milan. The lake occupies a wide expanse in the shape of an inverted "y" and on its shores are some of the most beautiful villages you will see in the north of the country, such as Bellagio, Varenna or the city of Como, which gives its name to the lake.

The city of Como is precisely the main point of connection with Milan and to know how to move from one city to another I have prepared this post with the best options for travel, its advantages and disadvantages and everything you need to know.

Given its popularity as a tourist destination and its proximity to the city of Milan, taking an organised excursion to Lake Como is one of the most efficient and recommended ways to visit this place.

This type of excursion includes a bus from Milan to the city of Como, the main town on the shores of the lake and the usual starting point for visiting the lake. In addition, they usually include a cruise from Como to visit other beautiful towns on the lake, such as Bellagio.

The bus ride from Milan takes about 1.5 hours, mainly because of the usual traffic on the way out of the city. But the journey is very comfortable and the bus usually goes almost to the shore of the lake in the city of Como, which makes it easy to get around the city.

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• Price: from 104 euros approx.
• Duration: journey time to Como 1 hour and a half, and a total trip of about 9 hours to return to Milan.
• Advantages: ease of transport and convenience of having everything organised.
• Disadvantages: we are subject to the itinerary of the excursion and we do not have more freedom of movement as well as having a limited duration.

For comfort, speed and many other factors, the train has become the best way to travel between Milan and the city of Como. There are two types of trains departing from Milan:

• The first leaves from Milan Central Station and are the fastest and most comfortable. They are offered by the Trenitalia company and the journey takes about 40 minutes and costs between 10 and 20 euros to S. Giovanni station, a 10 minute walk from the centre of Como. There are departures every 20 minutes so there is a wide range of timetables. This is the most recommended and chosen option for this journey.
• The other option is to take another type of regional train from Milano Nord Cadorna station. These are cheaper, from 4.80 euros each way, although they take half an hour longer than the others. On the other hand, the route is nicer and if you don't mind a longer journey, it's an option to consider, especially if you want to save money.

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The disadvantage of the train is that we can only go as far as Como.

The car is the best means of transport if you want to move freely around Lago Di Como, since moving between the towns of the lake is complicated given its geography and the car is, besides the boats, the only option to move around the area.

Getting from Milan to the city of Como is quite easy and comfortable. It takes about 1 hour along the A9 motorway straight to Como.

However, in this case, I personally think that renting a car just to visit the lake is not worth it if you have other means of transport such as the train. But if you already have a car, it is an option to consider if you want to move as freely as possible around the towns of Lago Di Como.

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• Price: 4,50 of toll + consumption + parking.
• Duration: 1 hour.
• Advantages: maximum mobility
• Disadvantages: high costs compared to other means of transport.

Despite being a short and very touristy journey, there are hardly any bus options to travel from Milan to Como. There are only two buses a day with no fixed timetable and they are not direct. They correspond to the line that connects Milan with the city of Lampugnano and have a stop in Como.

However, there is another option for travelling by bus which is recommended in one particular case. If you are travelling to Milan by plane and your destination is Como, there is a direct bus from Milan Malpensa airport to the city of Como. This bus leaves at 7:50 am from T1 and at 8:00 am from T2.

Flixbus is the company that offers it at a price of 8 euros per ticket.

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• Price: from 6 euros approx. or from 3 euros if you choose the night option.
• Duration: between 1 and 1.5 hours.
• Advantages: it is an economical means of transport.
• Disadvantages: limited choice and variety of timetables.

If you are looking for an alternative to the means of transport we have reviewed above, there is always the option of resorting to car sharing through websites such as Blablacaror Uber. It is not a very common trip on these platforms as there are many alternatives but you can always find a ride.

However, these trips need to be booked in advance and are only recommended as a last resort as there are not always trips available.

Taxis are also available, although when you go outside the city limits of Milan, prices can go up to 100 euros. Therefore, except in emergencies, it is not advisable.

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• Price: from approximately 10 euros.
• Duration: 1 hour
• Advantages: you share expenses and have the convenience and speed of travelling by car.
• Disadvantages: availability is limited and needs to be planned well in advance.

• If you are travelling in high season, especially in summer, be aware that Lago Di Como is a very touristy region and demand is very high. It is always advisable to book tickets for any transport as far in advance as possible.
• Milan's central train station is located in the city centre and is best reached by metro. Lines 1, 2 and 3 connect directly to the station.
• If you are travelling by car, bear in mind that there is a toll on the direct route and above all you will have to leave your car in a car park as it is a very touristy destination and parking outside the car parks is almost impossible.
• The best way to get around the villages of Lake Como is by car. But if you don't have a car, you can travel by boat. A full-day boat ticket costs about 26 euros.