Lake Como One Day Itinerary: No Car
- April 16, 2023
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Seung
Lake Como is one of the world’s most sought out destinations and it’s not hard to see why. We had the opportunity to stay in Lake Como for a month this past February and it was something we’ll never forget. Ari and I lived in a small village called Abbadia Lariana. This place was definitely a village as there was only one real restaurant in town that was regularly open and a small market. However; we were able to see the most beautiful places in Lake Como by utilizing the train system and ferry. Many people opt to rent a car, but this can be quite expensive and then you have to deal with the parking situation and the crowds. Fortunately, the Lake’s train system is actually really well structured and you can easily see the main highlights in one day. Some of our friends came to visit and we used this exact method we’re about to tell you all. So let’s dive right in. This is the BEST one day itinerary in Lake Como without renting a car.
Most people start their journey to Lake Como from Milan as this is the closest city with an airport. If you are in the city of Milan, go to either Milano Centrale or Porta Garibaldi station. Download the Trenord app as this will be your best friend throughout this itinerary.
Varenna
Start early in the morning and take the first train out from Milano Centrale or Porta Garibaldi to Varenna Esino station. Varenna is one of the most famous places in Lake Como and you should start here since it does get very busy. The journey takes about 1-1.5 hours. This is honestly one of our favorite places in Europe and you have to go to Bar Il Molo for a drink or meal. Here is where you will find the iconic shot of Lake Como that’s all over Google. While we were there in the winter, we couldn’t check out Villa Monastero but you have to see it if you’re there in the right season.
Bellagio
To Bellagio, you will have to take a ferry from Varenna. The journey only takes about 20 minutes. Make sure to buy a round trip ticket as you’ll have to come back to Varenna to continue your journey. The views from the ferry itself are stunning, and we recommend standing in the back of the boat where the cars are parked for the best views. Bellagio has many high end hotels and stores and is a much larger place than that of Varenna. We didn’t spend too much time here as it was the off season, but make sure to visit Villa Melzi. After you finish in Bellagio, go back to the ferry station and take the ferry back to Varenna. The views of Varenna on the way back are absolutely unreal.
Mandello del Lario
Now back in Varenna, get on the Trenord app and buy a ticket to Mandello del Lario. This is a very residential part of the lake but offers a unique getaway from the crowds. It is about 30 minutes from Varenna. We loved this town and it truly offers an authentic experience compared to that of Varenna and Bellagio. An amazing place to eat and drink here is Galli & Gufi! Make sure to walk along Lido Mandello del Lario for some amazing views of the lake.
Abbadia Lariana
At the end of your time in Mandello del Lario, you have two options. You can either take the train to Abbadia Lariana or hike 35 minutes there on an ancient path named Sentiero Del Viandante. In the past, locals used this route from Abbadia Lariana to get all the way to Varenna (where you started today). However, this hiking route can take upwards of 9+ hours so many opt to just do the hike from Mandello del Lario to Abbadia Lariana or vice versa. Abbadia Lariana is a small village but has some beautiful views of the lake. Head down to the beach area behind our favorite restaurant in town, Baba du Lac. Here you can truly live your Dolce far Niente.
Lecco
To end your day, hop on the train from Abbadia Lariana to Lecco which takes about 5 minutes. Unfortunately, there is no way to hike it as there really isn’t a walkable road so you have to go up in the mountains. We’ve seen it could take up to 4+ hours so better to take the 5 minute train. You most likely changed trains in Lecco in the morning from Milan if you came from Porta Garibaldi station. Lecco is what we like to call the Eastern gateway to Lake Como. Ending your day here is perfect as this is where you have to catch the train back to Milan, there are tons of food options, and the sunset is absolutely stellar here. It’s a bigger city than the rest on the list today, but it is pretty unknown among international tourists. Most people go to Varenna and Bellagio and head back to Milan, but it’s so beautiful to be able to see some hidden gems along Lake Como.
There are tons of more beautiful places in Lake Como but we truly believe the Eastern part of the lake has some of the best places. There is no reason to rent a car or book accommodation, you can easily do this whole itinerary in one day. We HIGHLY recommend getting the Trenord app as you can easily see the timetables, pay by card, and the train system is honestly pretty reliable. Most of these train routes only cost between 3-10 euros and the ferry round trip to Bellagio is 8.80 euros at the time of writing. Let us know in the comments your thoughts on Lake Como. Thank you for reading and we hope this was helpful!
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