How to Get to Lake Como: Flights, Airport Transfers and Driving from the US

The simplest way to reach Lake Como from the US is to fly to Milan Malpensa, 31 miles (50 km) from the lake. From there a train to Milano Central takes 54 minutes, and a bus takes 60.

At a glance

• Closest airport: Milan Malpensa, 31 miles (50 km) from the lake
• Other airports: Milan Linate, 38 miles (61 km); Milan Bergamo, 54 miles (87 km)
• Malpensa Express to Milano Central: 54 minutes, about €20 per person, roughly every hour
• Malpensa Express via Saronno or Milano Cadorna: 17 or 38 minutes, about €18 per person
• Autostradale bus, Malpensa to Milan Central: every 20 minutes, 60 minutes, €10
• Lake boats: Como to Colico, Bellagio to Lecco, and a car ferry linking Bellagio, Cadenabbia, Varenna and Menaggio

How do you fly to Lake Como from the US?

Fly into Milan Malpensa. Milan Linate (38 miles, 61 km) and Milan Bergamo (54 miles, 87 km) are the other Milan airports.

Lugano Agno Airport is another option. It sits 25 miles (40 km) from Bellagio, with a travel time of 1 hour 30 minutes. For comparison, Bellagio is 59 miles (95 km) from Malpensa, about 1 hour 40 minutes, 47 miles (75 km) from Linate, about 1 hour 20 minutes, and 40 miles (65 km) from Bergamo Orio al Serio, also about 1 hour 20 minutes.

Trenord trains also serve Malpensa. The S50 line links Malpensa with Varese, Lugano, Bellinzona and Biasca, and it runs every 60 minutes. Gallarate is also on the S50 line. Check the Lake Como timetables again before you travel, since they change with the season.

How do you get from the airport to Lake Como?

From Malpensa, the Malpensa Express leaves Terminal 1 for Milano Central Station roughly every hour and takes 54 minutes. A ticket costs about €20 per person. The line also reaches Saronno in 17 minutes and Milano Cadorna in 38 minutes, for about €18 per person. The Autostradale bus to Milan Central runs every 20 minutes, takes 60 minutes and costs €10. After a long flight, the bus is the cheaper choice and the frequent departures save waiting.

From Bergamo airport, shuttle buses to Bergamo railway station run every 20 minutes. A ticket costs €2.60. At Lugano Agno Airport, a shuttle bus runs to Lugano downtown. If you’re heading for Bellagio, build in the 1 hour 20 minutes to 1 hour 40 minutes of travel time from the Milan airports.

Can you get to Lake Como by train, bus or car?

Como is a city on the shores of the lake, surrounded by mountains. By train, the Como to Rome route covers 320 miles (515 km), with a regional train from Como to Milan and an Italo high-speed train from Milan to Rome.

When ferry stops at Como, Tavernola, Cernobbio and Blevio are suspended from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., replacement buses run by ASF Autolinee connect Como and Moltrasio in about 25 minutes. They leave Como at 12:00, 12:15, 1:30, 2:25, 3:00, 3:40 and 4:00 p.m. The stops are Como (Piazza Cavour, near the ticket office at Pier 3), Tavernola, Cernobbio (Largo Visconti) and Moltrasio (Hotel Imperiale).

How do you get around Lake Como once you arrive?

Boats are the natural way to move around. Navigazione Laghi runs ships and fast services between Como and Colico, plus ships between Bellagio and Lecco. Arrive at the ticket office about 20 minutes before departure. At ports without a ticket office, you can buy tickets on board at no extra cost. Routes may be suspended in bad weather, so call the free number 800-551801 (Italy only) for updates. Always check times before leaving, since they can change.

Vehicle ferries link Bellagio, Cadenabbia, Varenna and Menaggio, with service on weekdays and a separate schedule on Sundays and holidays. Cars can only be carried between stops marked Traghetto, and vehicles must not exceed 10 tonnes. At Varenna, departures and arrivals are handled by the Varenna passengers terminal, and the car service there is suspended on Monday, October 26, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Several piers have temporary changes. Service to Musso has been suspended since October 6, and service to Faggeto Lario since October 5. Current timetables run from October 5 to November 1. Online ticket sales are temporarily suspended, so buy at ticket offices or with the Navitap system. The Varenna info point is at Via 4 Novembre 7.

What documents do you need to board a flight to Italy?

U.S. citizens do not require a visa for short stays in Italy up to 90 days. Travelers visiting Italy for business, tourism or study up to 90 days must fill out a “dichiarazione di presenza”.