Attending to Lake Como from Milan is easy to plan and makes for an unbelievable addition to a Milan metropolis break. Spanning a formidable 146 sq. km, Lake Como is the third largest lake in Italy, providing breathtaking views and numerous charming spots to discover. However with such an enormous space, you’re in all probability asking: Which half ought to I go to? How do I get there? What’s the price? Don’t fear, I’ve obtained you coated! On this publish, I’ll share all the pieces you have to know to plan your good Lake Como journey.
The Golden Triangle
The center part of Lake Como is called the “Golden Triangle”, made up of three lake facet cities; Bellagio, Varenna and Menaggio. That is undoubtedly probably the most picturesque a part of the lake and a very good place to begin to your day journey. Trains run frequently between Milan and Varenna, so it is a nice possibility for the beginning of your journey. Alternatively you will get the practice to Como, the biggest city on the lake. Positioned on the southern tip of probably the most westerly fork, there’s a lot to discover right here. Arguably not as picturesque because the cities within the Golden triangle however it has many extra eating places, bars and issues to do. Additionally be aware that throughout the winter months, there will likely be much more happening in Como in comparison with the smaller cities of the Golden Triangle.
Attending to Lake Como from Milan
You’ll be able to learn extra about attending to Milan and discovering lodging on a price range on our Weekend in Milan weblog publish. Check out our search characteristic coming into Milan as the precise vacation spot for an incredible worth journey! Accessing the lake as soon as in Milan could be very simple because the trains run frequently and are cheap. Trainline is a superb app for researching practice occasions and costs.
Two nice choices for a day journey to Lake Como:
Possibility 1) Discover the Golden Triangle. Buy a return train ticket to Varenna from Milan. Spend the entire day exploring the Golden Triangle by boat after which return again to Milan from Varenna on the finish of the day. You should buy a ship ticket for round €15 that permits you to discover the golden triangle all day. Check out Trainline to search out occasions and costs for the practice journey.
Possibility 2) Alternatively you possibly can see just a little extra of the lake and go to Como after you could have seen the Golden triangle. A a lot busier day however you do get to see extra. Purchase a a technique practice ticket to Varenna. Discover Varenna after which take a ship to Bellagio. Discover Bellagio for a few hours after which take a ferry on to Como. You’ll be able to then purchase a practice ticket again to Milan from Como. That is the choice we did.
Prepare to Lake Como from Milan
Trains to Varenna go away Milan Central station each hour and tickets may be purchased on the day. Search for the Trenitalia ticket machines within the station to buy your tickets or purchase them upfront on Trainline. Trainline is nice for checking practice occasions and understanding the timings and pricing of every journey. Tickets between Milan and Varenna are round £7 every manner. Throughout busy months it’s possible you’ll want to reserve a ticket forward of time to make sure you get the practice you need. The practice takes round an hour, with some incredible views in the direction of the top of the journey.
Arriving in Lake Como from Milan
You’re going to wish to arrive in Varenna as early as doable. Your Lake Como day journey goes to be an extended and busy day, so the sooner you begin the higher. The primary direct practice from Milan leaves at 06:20 and will get you into Varenna at 07:24. In case you are trying to benefit from the city with no crowds, this will likely be your best choice. There wasn’t an opportunity on the planet of us getting up and prepared that early. We had deliberate to get the 08:20 practice however even that proved too tough with a baby, and we ended up on the 09:20 practice arriving in Varenna at 10:24. We visited in October so had been capable of simply purchase tickets on the day.
Varenna is superbly pictureque from the second you step off the practice. The station has a ravishing mountainous backdrop with a number of brightly colored flowers and completely pruned timber. It was much more stunning than I imagined. There are indicators indicating the place to go for the “Ferry Boat” and the swarm of individuals leaving the practice will all be heading in that path.
What to do in Varenna
First purchase your boat tickets to your subsequent cease. In case you are doing possibility 1 it would be best to purchase the day ticket for exploring the center lake and this at present prices €15 for the day. In case you are doing possibility 2, you will have a ticket to Bellagio. The queue for boat tickets will probably be lengthy all day, so it’s higher to get the ticket early after which go off and discover Varenna. The boat ticket to Bellagio is at present €4.60 and so they run frequently. It is just a brief 20-30 minute journey on a big ferry that additionally carries automobiles.
Take some footage
After getting your ticket, take the lake facet stroll method to the Centre of Varenna. An incredible place to take some images as you cross ornate partitions, vibrant blooms of flowers and incredible lake views.
Get a lakeside espresso
We stopped by the lake to have a espresso, some croissants and simply soak up the place we had been. To be able to get monetary savings, we didn’t wish to eat any meals in eating places while right here. By having fun with a espresso and pastry, we obtained to expertise sitting at a desk, subsequent to the lake, and feeling just a little bougie for half an hour.
Piazza San Giorgio
Stroll in the direction of Piazza San Giorgio, the centre of Varenna. The Piazza is ignored by the church of San Giorgio, a 14th century church. Discover the cobblestone alleyways main too and from this Piazza. There’s a little seaside by the Resort Royal Victoria, an incredible place to go for a swim within the hotter months.
Villa Monastero
Lake Como is legendary for its villas, and that is the one to see in Varenna. Discover its ornate botanical gardens and benefit from the stunning views over the lake, bear in mind it’s only open between March and November.
Varenna to Bellagio
In case you are planning on travelling on to Como after Bellagio, head to the ticket workplace on arrival in Bellagio. You will notice a ticket workplace as you get off the boat, don’t do what we did and wait on this queue, it’s the fallacious counter. You wish to observe the lake spherical into the busier space of city the place you will see one other ticket counter reverse the Resort du Lac. There are each quick and sluggish boats between Bellagio and Como. The quick boat takes round 45 minutes and at present prices €14.80 throughout the week. The sluggish boat takes 2 hours and prices €10.40 within the week. We obtained the quick boat as we had been restricted on time. The boats go away each hour, with a 2 hour hole between some companies. Probably the most perfect time was offered out, so we ended up leaving Bellagio just a little sooner than we’d have preferred. I’ve hooked up the present quick boat timetable from our go to under. It could have modified since then however it offers you an concept of what to anticipate.
What to do in Bellagio
Stroll across the city – get some Gelato at Salita Serbelloni.
The primary centre of city is comparatively small and you’ll simply stroll round in an hour. Head in the direction of Salita Serbelloni, a well-known picturesque alleyway taking you from the lake facet to the higher road degree. We obtained some Gelato from a store on the backside and loved mooching round for some time.
Go to the Basilica of San Giacomo
When you get to the highest of the steps, flip left and head in the direction of this twelfth century Romanesque church. You will notice its tower as you method earlier than coming into the cobbled sq. in entrance of it.
Go to the botanical gardens of Villa Melzi
Probably the most fashionable sights in Bellagio, villa Melzi was constructed within the early nineteenth century as the summer season residence of Francesco Melzi d’Eril, vp of the Italian Republic. Though the villa is closed to the general public, you’ll be able to nonetheless take pleasure in its spectacular gardens. Tickets to enter the gardens are €8 and kids aged 11 and beneath enter free of charge. The ticket permits entrance to the gardens, chapel and museum. The gardens are open between March – November and shut throughout the winter months.
Take the vacationer practice
Most likely greatest for these with youngsters, however an effective way to see extra of Bellagio with a brief period of time. Our son Leo was getting just a little bit bored however the “choo choo practice” undoubtedly cheered him up! It’s €5 for adults and €2.50 for youngsters age 3-12 and takes half-hour to do the complete circuit. You may get on and off (it stops by the Melzi Gardens which I discussed above) or simply take pleasure in the entire route. You’ll be able to pay with card or money and it departs near the place you bought off the boat from Varenna.
Get a road meals lunch by the lake!
As I discussed earlier, we had been on a good price range and so determined we weren’t going to eat lunch at a restaurant. There’s a road meals stall near the place you’ll get the vacationer practice which is a incredible low-cost various. Panini’s had been €5 and a margarita pizza was €3.50. A bottle of Peroni was €3.50 or €4 for an Aperol Spritz. There are just a few benches round there looking onto the lake, I might argue a a lot better (and price range pleasant) expertise than sitting in a flowery overpriced restaurant!
Bellagio to Como
We headed to the pier fifteen minutes earlier than the boat was as a result of depart Bellagio and already a giant queue had fashioned. The quick boat requires everybody to be seated so you’ll get a seat whether or not you’re the first or final on. The service was very quick and really solely took round 40 minutes. Our son was capable of keep sleeping in his pram and I merely parked it up subsequent to the place I used to be sat. We stopped at just a few different cities en path to drop off passengers and loved some pretty views of the lake.
What to do in Como
Take the Funicular to Brunate
The doorway to that is fairly near the place you’ll get off of the ferry, so a very good first exercise. The Como-Brunate Funicular has operated since 1894 and connects Como to the city of Brunate. It’s utilized by each locals and vacationers. It runs each half-hour and the journey solely takes round 7 minutes. It’s just below €6 for the return journey so is a superb price range pleasant exercise. As soon as in Brunate you’ll get to take pleasure in panoramic views of the lake.
Go to the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta (Como Cathedral)
The cathedral is situated within the spectacular Piazza Duomo inside Como city. It is a pretty place to stroll round and possibly cease for a chew to eat. The cathedral is magnificent and stated to be one of the vital essential non secular buildings in northern Italy. Additional into city you could have ‘The Basilica of San Fedel’ which can also be value testing.
Discover Villa Olmo
Set this as your vacation spot on google maps however stroll alongside the lake entrance passing Tempio Voltiano, a museum and spectacular constructing and a World Warfare 1 memorial. There are some little seashores to cease by and admire the views. It’s a pretty stroll permitting you to benefit from the cities greatest facet.
Villa Olmo is a formidable lake entrance neoclassical villa with stunning gardens. It was designed to be a summer season retreat for the aristocracy. Admission to the villa is free and it’s open Tuesday – Sundays 10am – 6pm.
After visiting Villa Olmo it was getting late so we began strolling again in the direction of the San Giovanni practice station to get our practice again to Milan. En route we handed a kebab store and spent €12 on dinner for us all. Not very Italian, however we’re on a good price range and simply wanted our bellies filling!
Lake Como again to Milan
The practice again to Milan from Como takes one hour and value €5 per grownup. We obtained the 19:36 practice however the final one isn’t till 22:49 (You’ll be able to verify practice occasions on Trainline)