Start well
From the airport to Lake Como, without a confused first day.
Pick the first handover before you book the rest of the journey. The right answer changes with your airport, arrival time, luggage and where on the lake you are staying.
Choose the first handover
Arrival changes the whole lake plan.
Selected route shape
Malpensa to the central lake
For public transport, get into Milan first and then use the Milan-to-Varenna connection. A pre-booked transfer is the calmer choice for late arrivals, luggage or a group.
See practical optionsPublic transport
Good when you can absorb handovers and your arrival has enough daylight and buffer.
Private transfer
Most valuable when timing, luggage or a group makes a direct arrival worth more.
Airport rental
Choose it for a wider driving itinerary, rather than automatically for the central lake.
A useful arrival rule
Protect the first connection, then let the lake take over.
Do not treat the airport, Milan and the lake as one uninterrupted journey. Keep a margin for the first handover. Once you reach Varenna, Bellagio or Menaggio, the central ferry planner can shape the rest of the day around published crossings.
Editorial review
Built from published operator information.
Teravia turns the sources below into route decisions, mapped terminals and timetable checks. They remain the source of truth for live changes on the day.
- Milan Malpensa Airport · ground transport
Official airport information for the first connection from Malpensa before the Lake Como leg.
- Milan Linate Airport · ground transport
Official airport information for the first connection from Linate before the Lake Como leg.
- Milan Bergamo Airport · ground transport
Official airport information for buses, rail handovers, taxis and car rental at Bergamo airport.
- Navigazione Lago di Como · summer 2026 timetable
Active published timetable for July 1, 2026–October 4, 2026. It replaces the prior timetable source when this route is republished.
Published schedules, fares and service conditions can change. Re-check the operator immediately before travel.
Questions people ask
Before you leave the terminal.
Which Milan airport is best for Lake Como?
The best airport depends on your flight and where you are staying. Malpensa, Linate and Milan Bergamo all need a deliberate first handover; compare the arrival time, luggage, group size and whether you plan to use public transport, a car or a transfer.
Can I go straight from the airport to Bellagio?
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.
Should I hire a car at the airport?
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.