Lake Como offers a peaceful escape for the discerning traveler. Given its popularity, there are many options for traveling to Lake Como. This guide breaks down how to get to Lake Como from abroad and from other parts of Italy, with information sourced from a 2024 Fora travel advisor trip to the region.
For expert tips and recommendations planning your own trip to Lake Como, connect with a Fora Advisor. They’ll help you navigate all the logistics and arrange things like ground transportation if you need it. Plus, your advisor can matchmake you to a hotel that fits your travel style and help you build an idyllic Lake Como itinerary.
Where is Lake Como?
Lake Como is located in northern Italy’s Lombardy region, in the foothills of the Alps. From Como Town, the main gateway to the lake, it’s about 31 miles to Milan and around 15 minutes to the Swiss border by car.
How to get to Lake Como by plane, train or car
For international travelers, most paths to Lake Como first go through Milan, Italy’s fashion capital. Our article on how to get from Milan to Lake Como covers this in detail. Additionally, you can drive — or take a bus — to Lake Como from almost anywhere in Italy. Here’s how to get to Lake Como.
Virtually all flights land in the Milan metropolitan area
Lake Como doesn’t have a dedicated airport of any size. Instead, most Lake Como-bound international travelers land at one of Milan’s three major airports, then employ secondary travel to arrive at the lake. Milan-Malpensa (MXP) owns the lion’s share of through traffic, as it services all flights from outside of Europe, as well as a large percentage of flights from elsewhere in Italy and Europe. If you’re flying to Milan from the United States or Japan, for example, you’ll land here.
If you’re traveling from within Italy, Milano Linate (LIN) handles most remaining domestic flights. However, Bergamo Orio al Serio (BGY) services limited budget flights to Milan, which allow you to then travel to Lake Como. One more alternative: You can also fly into Lugano Airport in Switzerland, near the Italian border. This option, which only offers seasonal flights, typically only makes sense if you’re visiting Lake Como from elsewhere in Europe and don’t mind slightly longer secondary travel to the lake. You can drive from Logano to Mennagio, which takes about 50 minutes, or drive to Chiasso then take the train to Como Town, which takes over an hour.
Most trains are routed through Milan
Milan is the only city in Italy with direct railway connections to Lake Como, specifically Como Town. Whether you’re traveling east from Turin, west from Venice or north from Florence, you visit Milan first. In most cases, you don’t have to switch trains to get to Lake Como; it’s the same line.
There’s also a direct line between Como Town and Chiasso, which provides an indirect route from most of Switzerland. For example, if you’re in Zurich, you can take a train through various Swiss villages to Lake Como; this journey takes around seven hours.
You can get to Lake Como from almost anywhere in Italy — or Europe — by car or bus
If you’re renting a car to tour Italy, you can get to Lake Como from almost anywhere in the country, or even most of Europe.
Here are the driving estimates from popular destinations in Italy to Lake Como:
16 hours from Palermo (a bridge connects Sicily and the mainland)
9.5 hours from Sorrento
7–8 hours from Rome
4–5 hours from Florence
3.5–4 hours from Venice
Book your Lake Como getaway with a Fora Advisor
Connect with a Fora Advisor to plan and book your Lake Como trip. They’ll help you iron out the logistics, help you choose accommodations and, if you prefer, provide expert itinerary suggestions.
How to get to Lake Como: FAQs
Read on for more information on how to get to Lake Como.
How long is the journey from Milan to Lake Como?
Milan offers by far the most options for getting to Lake Como. There are three train routes, including a long scenic option, and several highways if you choose to rent a car or take a bus. Depending on your chosen route, it can take anywhere from 40 to 90 minutes to get from Milan to Como Town.
How do you get to Lake Como from Bergamo? How about Verona?
Driving from Bergamo to Como Town is the most direct and time-efficient route, and takes about an hour. You can also take a train, but the route is indirect: it stops in the town of Lecco before making its way to Como Town, and adds around 30 minutes of travel time. The drive from Verona to Lake Como takes twice as long. There are no direct train routes from Verona to the lake, so you’ll have to take the train to Milan first; the total journey takes around two to three hours.
More northern Italy travel inspiration
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