How to Plan a Day Trip to Lake Como

Lake Como is widely known in popular culture as a vacation destination for the rich and famous, but this stunning glacial lake can actually be visited easily and cheaply as a day trip from Milan.

Sitting at the foot of the Alps close to the Swiss border, Como is one of the largest lakes in Italy and one of the deepest in Europe. Its distinctive Y-shape comes from the old glacier that formed it, which extended around the large mountains to form three distinct branches.

Lake Como is most famous as a summer destination, but it is a wonderful place to visit year-round, with marvelous views of snow-capped mountains and clear, glassy water available in every season. Read on for a guide to how to plan your visit as a day trip.

Varenna

Take the train from Milan north to Varenna, a small, charming town located roughly along the middle of the lake.

Take a quick stroll around and be sure to check out Villa Monastero, a lovely botanical garden on the grounds of a former convent filled with all manner of plants that are able to grow here thanks to the relatively milder and humid climate that prevails around the lake.

Bellagio

From Varenna, hop on the ferry for a 15-minute ride to Bellagio, one of the lake’s most famous towns.

Located at the tip of the promontory that divides the lake’s two legs, Bellagio is a place of unbelievable natural beauty, with incredible sweeping views of the Alps and the lake in all directions.

For this reason, it has long been one of the centers of tourism in the region and is home to a number of historic, sprawling villas, notably the Villa Serbelloni and Villa Melzi. Go for a leisurely walk around town and stop for a coffee or a drink at a cafe along the shore of the lake, soaking up as much as you can of this unforgettable scenery.

Como

From Bellagio, take the ferry down the western leg of the lake all the way to Como. The journey takes about an hour, which is great as this is your best chance to enjoy the scenery from the water.

Once you arrive in Como, be sure to check out the town’s fabulous Gothic Duomo, and take a ride up the Funicolare to the small village of Brunate for a spectacular panorama of the lake and the Alps beyond it.

Take your time enjoying Como and, when you’re ready, head back on the train to Milan.