Lake Como is truly one of the most beautiful places on earth. The pristine blue waters are shadowed by a scenic mountain backdrop with little lakeside towns scattered around the perimeter. In each enchanting town you will find villas decorated in greenery or little shops dotting the cobblestone streets.
I believe you could easily spend a week here, spending some days relaxing, some boating, and some exploring the towns. However, Lake Como can definitely be done as a day trip for those short on time. Here’s how to spend a day on Lake Como!
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About Lake Como
Nestled in the Alps of Northern Italy, Lake Como’s picturesque natural beauty and charming towns make it an incredible place to visit! When planning your trip to Lake Como, you will have to decide which towns to visit. For a day trip, I would recommend choosing two. You could potentially squeeze in three, but I don’t think you could really experience the towns in that short of a time. Here’s some of the best towns in Lake Como:
BELLAGIO | Referred to as the “pearl of Lake Como”, Bellagio is known for its charming beauty and winding cobblestone streets. It’s the most popular town in Lake Como for tourism.
VARENNA | My personal favorite! Varenna was originally a small fishing village and is much quieter than the other towns. It’s also one of the prettiest – the waterfront is lined with colorful buildings and enchanting villas!
MENAGGIO | Located right across the lake from Varenna and often considered to be one of the most beautiful. It’s larger than many of the other towns on Como.
COMO | The main city. I chose to skip Como because I wanted more of a small town vibe, but Como is a good option if you want to dive deeper into the history of the area.
For our day trip to Lake Como, we chose to visit Varenna and Bellagio!
How to Get to Lake Como
A day trip to Lake Como is best done from Milan via train.
Trains from Milano Centrale run to either Varenna or Como, but I would recommend taking the train into Varenna as I think it’s a more interesting town than Como. It takes about 45 minutes and is quite affordable at about 5-15€.
Another option is taking a day trip tour from Milan. This will generally include a private transfer, guided tours of the towns, and ferry/boat transportation across the lake. If you’re looking for something easy and don’t want to plan, this might be the best option for you!
Walk Along Varenna's lakeside promenade
We have arrived in Varenna! Begin your day with a walk along the promenade – nicknamed the Walk of Lovers. It’s quite easy to find your way to the pier from the train station – just follow the signs (and the people). The promenade begins from the pier and the views are beautiful. This street takes you along the edge of Varenna, so feel free to roam up into the hills of the town if you desire!
Explore the Villas
The lake is famous for its massive waterfront villas with lush botanical gardens. My favorites are here in Varenna: Villa Monastero and Villa Cipressi. The two are just a few minutes walk from one another, and an entrance ticket can grant you access to both. We chose to purchase a ticket to the gardens of both for 19€. Find their full pricing here.
Grab Lunch in Varenna
We will head to our next destination on Lake Como soon, but let’s grab a bite to eat first! I highly recommend heading to Bar Il Molo. This adorable spot serves signature cocktails, Italian specialties, and a really impressive charcuterie board. The decor is gorgeous and the views over the river can’t be beat!
Head to Bellagio
Now that we’ve gotten to explore Varenna, let’s head to another beautiful town – Bellagio. There are two ways to get here:
FERRY | This is the more affordable and quicker option. Ferry tickets can be purchased at the station or online for about 9€. They are open tickets, meaning once you purchase a ticket to your destination you can take a ferry at whatever time you’d prefer. The ferry from Varenna to Bellagio takes about 15 minutes. Here’s the timetable for weekdays and Sundays/holidays.
WATER TAXI | The more expensive but much more fun option. You can book a group taxi to save money or a private taxi if you’d like a more exclusive experience. A few different tours are offered with Taxi Boat Varenna, starting at about 40€.
Explore the Streets of Bellagio
Bellagio is so charming, and one of the best things to do is simply get lost in the streets. The winding cobblestone roads are lined with colorful bars, restaurants, shops, gelaterias, and everything in between.
Aperitivo et Al | a wine bar on a famous street. You’ve likely seen photos of this street before on Instagram! They offer wine tastings and food, but we just stopped for a glass and some excellent people watching.
Gelateria del Borgo | a fantastic gelato shop at the top of the hills of Bellagio. I always recommend the Nocciola (hazelnut)
Enjoy a lovely dinner in Bellagio
There are so many restaurants here to choose from! Here’s a quick list of a few I recommend:
LA DOLCE VITA | Tucked away in a little cave, offering delicious pastas and pizzas. The truffle pasta was incredible!
BARCHETTA | A classic Italian spot on a terrace framed with greenery. I highly recommend making a reservation here to avoid waiting in a long queue!
TRATTORIA SAN GIACOMO | Located on one of the most famous streets of Bellagio, yet serves very authentic food! They don’t take reservations, so get here early to secure a spot.
Watch the sunset over the lake
Before you leave, make sure to not miss the sunset over the water. This was one of the best sunsets I saw during my entire month in Italy, so it should not be missed!
Head Back to Milan
Now it’s time to head back to the city. Note that there is no train station in Bellagio, so you will need to take a ferry back to Varenna or over to Como to board a train back to Milan.
I hope you’ve found this day trip guide to Lake Como helpful, happy traveling!