From the airport to Lake Como, without a confused first day.

There is no airport on Lake Como itself. The three main airports used for Lake Como are Milan Malpensa (MXP), Milan Linate (LIN) and Milan Bergamo/Orio al Serio (BGY). Which is most convenient depends on where around the lake you are staying.

A direct transfer can be the simplest option for a late arrival, a group or heavy luggage. Public transport usually involves at least one handover before the central-lake ferry or final shore journey.

It can work well when you are staying beyond the central villages or continuing into the wider region. For a short Bellagio–Varenna–Menaggio stay, arrive once and use passenger ferries where possible before committing to a car.

For many international travellers, Milan Malpensa (MXP) is the most practical choice because of its flight network and rail connections. Linate can work well for European flights, while Bergamo is particularly useful for low-cost flights. The best choice also depends on whether you are travelling to Como, Bellagio, Varenna, Menaggio or another part of the lake.

Which airport is best for Bellagio? Malpensa, Linate and Bergamo can all be used for Bellagio. By public transport, one useful route is to travel to Milano Centrale, take the train to Varenna-Esino and cross from Varenna to Bellagio by ferry. Bellagio’s official tourism information also lists all three Milan-area airports as gateways to the town.

Varenna is particularly convenient for travellers using public transport because Varenna-Esino station sits on the railway from Milan toward the eastern shore of Lake Como. From Milan, regional trains provide the onward connection toward Varenna.

There is no railway station in Menaggio, so the final part of the journey normally involves road transport or a ferry connection. When travelling by public transport, compare routes via Como with routes reaching the central lake and continuing by ferry.

A private transfer can remove several changes and may make sense for families, groups, heavy luggage or late arrivals. Public transport is usually cheaper, but reaching central-lake destinations can involve airport transport, a train and potentially a ferry.

Check the final train, bus and ferry connections before choosing a public-transport itinerary. A flight landing late enough can make the final lake connection difficult or impossible the same evening, particularly when the journey requires a ferry. In that situation, a private transfer or overnight stop may be more practical.

Bergamo Airport does not have its own railway station. By public transport, first connect to Bergamo station or Milan and then continue toward the appropriate Lake Como rail gateway. Teravia’s current page already identifies this as the key first decision from BGY.