Quick answer
Base yourself in Varenna (direct trains from Milan) or Bellagio (the ferry hub). Day 1: Varenna and Bellagio. Day 2: Villa del Balbianello in Lenno, Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo and Menaggio, all on the €17.50 central lake ferry day pass. Day 3: Como town and the Brunate funicular on your way back to Milan.
Ferry fares, villa hours and train times below were checked on the official sites on 5 October 2026.
How many days do you need for Lake Como?
Three days is enough to see the central lake, the two big villas on the west shore and Como town. The lake is shaped like an upside-down Y, and its three branches meet at Bellagio, so most of what you want to see sits within a few ferry stops of the middle.
| Time | What fits | Where you sleep |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | Varenna and Bellagio | Milan |
| 2 days | Add Villa del Balbianello, Villa Carlotta and Menaggio | 1 night in Varenna or Bellagio |
| 3 days | Add Como town and Brunate | 2 nights on the lake |
If you are combining the lake with the city, our Milan and Lake Como itinerary splits 3, 4 and 5 days between the two.
Where to base yourself
Pick the town by how you arrive.
| Base | Getting there from Milan | Ferry | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Varenna | Direct train from Milano Centrale, 64 to 65 min | Passenger and car ferry, Bellagio 15 min | Arriving by train |
| Bellagio | No train: ferry from Varenna, or bus C130 from Como (about 1 h 10 min) | Central lake hub | Ferry connections |
| Menaggio | No train: bus C110 from Como (about 66 min) | Passenger and car ferry | The west shore villas |
| Como | Trains to Milan about every 30 min | Slow boat to Bellagio about 2 h | Winter, short stays |
Varenna is the easiest base for this itinerary because you can arrive and leave by train. Bellagio puts you closer to everything once you are on the water. Our guide to where to stay on Lake Como names hotels in each town, and our guide to the best towns on Lake Como compares them for a visit. To see what is open on your dates, search hotels in Varenna or hotels in Bellagio on Booking.com.
How the ferries work
Navigazione Laghi runs the public ferries all year. On the central lake (Bellagio, Varenna, Menaggio, Cadenabbia and Lenno), every hop costs the same.
| Ticket (adult, 2026) | Price |
|---|---|
| Central lake single | €5.50 |
| Central lake day pass | €17.50 |
| Fast boat supplement, central lake | €3.00 |
| Como to Bellagio single | €12.00 |
| Whole lake day pass | €32.00 |
Buy the day pass on days with four or more hops. It does not cover the fast boat supplement. You can buy tickets at the pier office, online on navigazionelaghi.it or on board (€1 extra if the pier office was open). On slow boats and the car ferry you can also tap a contactless card when you board and again before you get off (NaviTAP), and the system never charges more than the day pass. If you forget to tap out, it charges the €32 whole lake pass. Our Lake Como day trip guide covers the trains and boats in more detail.
Day 1: Varenna and Bellagio
Take the train from Milano Centrale to Varenna-Esino. It leaves at 20 past the hour, takes 64 to 65 minutes and costs €7.40 to €7.70 one way. Leave your bags at the hotel and start in the village.
The lakeside walkway in Varenna, which runs over the water toward the old centre.
Walk the lakeside path into the centre, then visit the botanical gardens of Villa MonasteroMap (€15 with the house museum, €13 for the garden; in October the house museum is closed on Tuesdays) or Villa CipressiMap (garden €13). If you have the legs, climb about 30 minutes to Castello di VezioMap, the tower above the village (€7). Our Varenna guide has opening hours for all three.
In the afternoon, take the ferry to Bellagio (15 minutes, €5.50). Climb the stepped lanes of the old town, walk to Punta Spartivento at the tip of the promontory, and spend the last hour of daylight in the Villa Melzi gardensMap (€10, pay at the gate). On autumn weekdays the car ferry back to Varenna runs roughly every 30 to 60 minutes until about 10pm. Our Bellagio guide lists restaurants and the rest of the town.
Day 2: Villa del Balbianello, Villa Carlotta and Menaggio
Buy the central lake day pass and cross to the west shore. This is the day with the most hops, so the pass pays for itself.
Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo, with its terraced gardens facing the lake.
- Lenno, morning. Villa del Balbianello (FAI)Map opens at 10am. Book ahead with FAI: the park costs €15, and the park with the 50-minute guided tour of the villa €25. There is no car access. Walk 1 km uphill from Lenno (about 25 minutes) or book a taxi boat from Lido di Lenno.
- Tremezzo, early afternoon. Villa CarlottaMap has its own pier. It costs €17.50 and is open from 10am to 7pm until 18 October 2026, then 10am to 6pm until 8 November.
- Menaggio, late afternoon. End with a walk along the lakefront in Menaggio, which is on the central lake fare, then take the ferry back to Varenna or Bellagio.
Our guide to the Lake Como villas covers the other villas you can add.
Day 3: Como town and Brunate
Check out and head south to Como. From Bellagio, the hydrofoil to Como takes about 45 minutes (€12 plus a €5 supplement), the slow boat about 2 hours, or bus C130 about 1 hour 10 minutes. If you are staying in Varenna, take the ferry to Bellagio first. Each ferry passenger can bring one bag free if its longest side is under 60 cm.
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The lakefront in Como, at the southern end of the lake's western branch.
In Como, the Duomo di ComoMap has a free route along the side aisles (Monday to Friday 10:30am to 5:30pm for visitors). Then take the Brunate funicularMap up the hill: 7 minutes, every 15 minutes, €3.60 one way or €7.20 return. Back down, take the train to Milan. Como Nord Lago, next to the piers, has trains to Milano Cadorna about every 30 minutes (about 60 minutes, €5.40). Como San Giovanni, above the town, has trains to Milano Centrale (about 40 minutes). On weekdays in October 2026 the last regional leaves at 9:36pm.
In which order to see the villas
Book the villa that needs a booking first and fit the others around it.
| Villa | Where | Hours (autumn 2026) | Adult ticket | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Villa del Balbianello | Lenno | 10am to 6pm (park last entry 5pm); November 10am to 5pm | €15 park, €25 with villa tour | Required |
| Villa Carlotta | Tremezzo | 10am to 7pm until 18 Oct, then 10am to 6pm until 8 Nov | €17.50 | Optional: online or at the ticket office |
| Villa Melzi gardens | Bellagio | 10am to 7pm, earlier from 12 Oct; closes 1 Nov | €10 | Not needed |
| Villa Serbelloni park | Bellagio | Guided tours Tuesday to Sunday, 11am and 3:30pm | €13 | Required, online |
| Villa Monastero | Varenna | 10am to 6pm in October | €15 | Optional, online |
Lenno and Tremezzo sit next to each other on the west shore, so pair Balbianello with Carlotta on the same day. Bellagio’s two villas fit with day 1, or with a lazier day 2 if Balbianello is booked out. Check the Balbianello booking calendar for closing days before you plan around it.
2 days in Lake Como
Sleep one night in Varenna or Bellagio. Day 1 is Varenna and Bellagio as above. On day 2, do the west shore villas with the day pass, then ferry back to Varenna for an evening train to Milan. On weekdays the last direct train from Varenna to Milano Centrale leaves around 9:35pm.
1 day in Lake Como
From Milan, go to Varenna by train and spend the day between Varenna and Bellagio. Return train and a central lake day pass cost about €32 per adult before villa tickets. Our day trip from Milan guide has the full plan, including the alternative through Como.
Lake Como in winter and off-season
The plan above works best from April to October. From November the lake changes:
- Ferries run all year, with fewer boats. The autumn timetable runs until 1 November 2026, so check the next timetable on navigazionelaghi.it before you travel.
- Villa Melzi closes for the season on 1 November. Villa Carlotta’s regular season ends on 8 November, and in 2026 it then opens 10am to 4pm on the weekends of 14-15, 21-22 and 28-29 November and on 5 to 8 December.
- Villa del Balbianello opens 10am to 5pm in November and only on set days in December and early January.
- Castello di Vezio opens only at weekends and on holidays from December to February, in good weather.
- Hotels: many in Bellagio close from late October or early November until around April. Como town hotels stay open, so make Como your base in winter.
Summer weekends and August are the busiest times, and ferries carry only as many people as the boat holds. For weather by month, see our Lake Como travel guide.
Add a boat tour
The public ferry is the cheapest way to see the lake. A small-group tour adds commentary and gets closer to the villas: shared tours of 1 to 1.5 hours usually cost about €35 to €60 per person, and private classic wooden boats about €350 to €450 an hour. Our Lake Como boat tours guide explains the options.
How much 3 days on Lake Como costs in transport
| Per adult | Cost |
|---|---|
| Train Milan to Varenna | €7.40 |
| Two central lake day passes (days 1 and 2) | €35.00 |
| Hydrofoil Bellagio to Como (€12 plus €5 supplement) | €17.00 |
| Ferry Varenna to Bellagio on day 3 (Varenna base only) | €5.50 |
| Brunate funicular return | €7.20 |
| Train Como to Milan | €5.40 |
| Total | €77.50 |
On day 1 you may need fewer than four hops, in which case singles at €5.50 cost less than the pass. Villa tickets come on top: €32.50 for Balbianello’s park and Villa Carlotta on day 2. If you would rather join a group for the whole trip, our day trip guide explains what coach tours from Milan include, and for a stop across the border, see our Milan to Lugano guide.
Frequently asked questions
How many days are needed for Lake Como?
Three days cover the central lake, the villas at Lenno and Tremezzo and Como town without rushing. One day from Milan is enough for Varenna and Bellagio, and two days let you add Villa del Balbianello and Villa Carlotta.
Where should I stay for 3 days on Lake Como?
Varenna if you arrive by train, since direct trains from Milano Centrale take 64 to 65 minutes. Bellagio if you want to be in the middle of the ferry network and do not mind arriving by boat or bus.
Is the Lake Como ferry day pass worth it?
Yes if you take four or more hops on the central lake. A single costs €5.50 and the central lake day pass €17.50, so four singles (€22) already cost more. The pass does not cover the fast boat supplement.
Do I need to book the villas on Lake Como?
Villa del Balbianello needs a booking for both the park (€15) and the villa tour (€25). The Villa Serbelloni park in Bellagio can only be seen on a guided tour booked online. Villa Melzi sells tickets only at the gate, and Villa Carlotta sells them online and at its ticket office.
What should I do in Lake Como in one day?
Take the train from Milano Centrale to Varenna, walk the lakeside path, then take the 15-minute ferry to Bellagio for the old town and the Villa Melzi gardens. Transport costs about €32 per adult with a ferry day pass.
Is Lake Como worth visiting in winter?
Only if you accept a quieter lake. Villa Melzi closes on 1 November, many Bellagio hotels close until around April, and ferries run less often. Como town keeps its hotels open and the Brunate funicular runs all year.
Do you need a car for a Lake Como itinerary?
No. Ferries connect Varenna, Bellagio, Menaggio, Tremezzo and Lenno, and buses link the west shore and Bellagio with Como. Parking in Varenna costs €2 to €3 an hour.