about 15 min by ferry
about 15 min by ferry
about 12 min by ferry
about 40 min by ferry
What to do on Lake Como in one day? Take an early fast boat from Como to Bellagio, hop across to Varenna for lunch, then on to Menaggio and the gardens of Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo, and ride the ferry back to Como for a sunset walk and dinner.
Ferries are the best way to get around. Parking in the lake villages is limited, and the boats link Bellagio, Varenna, Menaggio and Tremezzo in 5 to 30 minutes. All boats from Como leave from the pier on Piazza Cavour, about a 15 minute walk from Como San Giovanni train station.
Is one day on Lake Como enough? It is enough for the four best known villages on this route. Stay longer if you want to visit both Villa Carlotta and Villa del Balbianello or spend more time in Bellagio.
From Bellagio back to Como, all by public ferry. Check the timetable the day before, as boat times change with the season.
Official ferry timetablesStart here · Area · Lake village
Start the day in Bellagio, often called the Pearl of Lake Como. The fast boat from Como takes about 40 minutes. Walk up the stepped lanes of the old town, go out to Punta Spartivento at the tip of the headland, where the lake splits into its branches, and have a coffee on the lakefront.
Tip: In summer the morning boats from Como fill up. Arrive early at the Piazza Cavour ticket office or buy your ticket in advance when you can.
Stop 2 · Area · Lake village
A 15 minute ferry ride from Bellagio. Walk the lakeside promenade from the pier into the colourful village, then visit the botanical garden of Villa Monastero on the water. At 12:30 have lunch by the lake and try risotto al pesce persico, risotto with fillets of perch from the lake, or fresh pasta.
Tip: For lunch, Al Prato on Piazza del Prato is a good pick. Book ahead in high season. Villa Monastero's house museum is closed on Tuesdays for most of the year.
Stop 3 · Area · Lake village
Take the ferry across to Menaggio on the western shore, about 15 minutes. Walk the lakefront, browse the small shops around the main square and stop for a gelato.
Stop 4 · Attraction · Lakeside villas
Villa Carlotta daily 10:00 to 18:00 from 19 Oct, 10:00 to 19:00 in spring and summer
A short ferry ride south. In Tremezzo, Villa Carlotta has a large botanical garden and a museum with sculptures by Antonio Canova and paintings by Francesco Hayez. Or get off at Lenno for Villa del Balbianello, the villa on a wooded headland that appears in Star Wars and Casino Royale.
Tip: Villa del Balbianello needs a booking and is closed on Mondays and Wednesdays. From Lenno you reach it on foot or by taxi boat.
Stop 5 · Area · Lake town
Ride the ferry back to Como, about 40 minutes by fast boat. End the day with a sunset walk along the lake promenade from Piazza Cavour and dinner in the walled old town around Como Cathedral.
Tip: Check the time of the last fast boat. In the autumn 2026 timetable it leaves Tremezzo at 17:10. Slow boats take close to 2 hours.
Recommended hotels
Bellagio lakefront
Best for: Luxury
Historic five-star hotel on the water in Bellagio, right by the ferry pier.
Check pricesVarenna
Best for: Village stay
Lakeside hotel in the centre of Varenna, a short walk from the ferry and Villa Monastero.
Check pricesComo, Piazza Cavour
Best for: Location
On the square where the ferries leave, so this route starts and ends at your door.
Check pricesMenaggio
Best for: Budget
Budget hostel with lake views and private rooms, close to the Menaggio ferry.
Check pricesRecommended activities
1 to 2 hours
See the villas along the shore from the water with a guide.
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Your own boat and skipper to reach villas and villages at your own pace.
BookFull day
Transport from Milan, a boat ride and free time in Bellagio, all organised.
BookBefore you go
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