Lake Como tours and tickets
Lake Como is run by ferry timetables and villa opening days. Villa del Balbianello is the one to book ahead, and Villa Carlotta fills on summer weekends. Public ferries need no ticket in advance, but a private boat or a guide does in June to September. Milan, Lugano and Bergamo are day trips by train or boat, and rarely need a booking.
Book these first
- Rooms in Bellagio, Varenna and Tremezzo
- 2 to 4 months ahead for June to September. The villages have a limited number of rooms and fill first on weekends.
- Villa Carlotta and Villa del Balbianello
- 1 to 2 weeks ahead in season. Both limit entry and have set opening periods, so a missed slot can cost you the day.
- Airport buses and transfers
- A few days ahead. Direct buses link Como with Malpensa and Bergamo airports, and booking online is cheaper than turning up.
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Churches and palaces
Villa del Balbianello
A villa on a wooded point above Lenno, famous for its loggia, terraces and film scenes. Entry is by timed ticket, and the boat landing is part of the visit. It closes on certain weekdays.
Which to pick. Book a timed ticket and arrive by boat for the full effect. Check the closing days when you plan the week.
1 to 2 weeks ahead in seasonVisitor guideOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorVilla Carlotta
A villa in Tremezzo with a huge botanical garden of azaleas and rhododendrons, and rooms of sculpture and painting. Tickets are sold online and at the gate, and visits take two hours.
Which to pick. Go in April or May for the flowers. Buy ahead on summer weekends and arrive by boat or bus.
A few days ahead on weekendsVisitor guideOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorVilla Monastero, Varenna
A villa and garden on the eastern shore, with a long lakeside walk, a museum and a botanical garden. Visits take an hour and a half, and the garden is open for much of the year.
Which to pick. Pair it with a stroll in Varenna. Buy at the gate, and allow time for the terrace.
On the day is fineOfficial siteTours and tickets on Viator
On the water
Public ferry day pass
Ferries and fast boats run between Como, Bellagio, Varenna, Menaggio and Tremezzo, with day passes for unlimited trips on zones. Timetables are fuller in summer and thin in winter.
Which to pick. Buy a day pass for several stops. Check the last boats back, and avoid relying on them in the evening off season.
On the day is fineOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorPrivate boat tour
Classic wooden Riva boats and modern motorboats can be hired with a skipper for an hour or a day, with stops at villas and villages. Groups share the cost.
Which to pick. Hire for a group of four to six and plan a swim stop. Book a few days ahead in summer, and confirm what is included.
A few days ahead in summerTours and tickets on ViatorIsola Comacina
The lake's only island, reached by a short boat from Sala Comacina or Ossuccio, with Roman ruins and a restaurant. A walk around takes under an hour.
Which to pick. Go for lunch and a swim. Book the restaurant ahead on weekends and check the boat times.
A few days ahead for lunchTours and tickets on Viator
Outdoors
Greenway del Lago
A path of old roads and mule tracks along the western shore, linking Colonno to Griante. Sections take a few hours, and there are signs and stops.
Which to pick. Walk a section such as Lenno to Tremezzo, then take the boat back. No guide is needed.
Menaggio mountain walks
Paths above Menaggio lead to viewpoints, ridges and the Sentiero del Viandante route. Guided hikes are offered for different levels.
Which to pick. Take a guided day if you want a ridge walk with transport. Start early and check the weather and the cable car.
A day or two aheadTours and tickets on Viator
Day trips
Milan
A city of fashion and the Duomo, about an hour from Como by train. Day tours often cover the Duomo, the Galleria and the Last Supper, which needs its own booking.
Which to pick. Go alone by train, and book The Last Supper weeks ahead if you want it. Plan one or two sights.
A few weeks ahead for The Last SupperOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorLugano, Switzerland
A Swiss lakeside city with a promenade, a funicular and arcades, about an hour from Como by train or bus. You need a passport.
Which to pick. Go for a long lunch by the lake. Carry ID, and check the train schedule for the way back.
On the day is fineOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorBergamo
A walled upper town on a hill above a lower city, about an hour from Como with a change. It has a funicular, a basilica and cobbled streets.
Which to pick. Go for a day, taking the funicular up. Pair it with the airport if you fly out of Bergamo.
On the day is fineOfficial siteTours and tickets on Viator
Booking tours and tickets in Lake Como
Do I need to book the ferries?
Not for passenger boats, which sell tickets at the pier or on board. Car ferries are different and can have queues. Check the timetable for the last boat of the day.
Is Villa del Balbianello worth the effort?
Yes, for the setting and the terraces, but it has limited slots and sells out. Book ahead, check the closing days, and arrive by boat or by the walking path.
Is a private boat tour worth it?
For a group of four to six, yes. You see the villas and villages from the water and swim from the boat. Book a few days ahead in summer.
Can I see Lake Como without a car?
Yes. Trains reach Como and Varenna, and ferries link the main towns. Buy a day pass, check the last boats and avoid planning a late evening on the far shore.
Can I book The Last Supper from Lake Como?
Yes, but weeks ahead. The Milan viewing is by timed ticket and sells out. Plan the Milan day around that slot, and arrive early.
What can wait until I arrive?
Ferries, village walks, the Greenway and Lugano can be done on the day. Book Balbianello, a private boat and lunch on Isola Comacina ahead.