Day Trips from Lake Como
The best excursions and trips you can do in a day
Full-Day Trips
Worth dedicating a whole day to explore.
Varenna & Castello di Vezio
$25-30This fishing hamlet glows gold at dusk; carrugi alleysways squeeze between walls that leak lemon scent and lake damp. Above, the castle runs falconry shows where eagles dive over terraces that drop 200 m straight to the water.
Lugano, Switzerland
$35-40Step across the border and Switzerland snaps into focus like a retouched postcard: neater, colder. The promenade smells of roast chestnuts in October, and chocolate shops line up truffles like gemstones.
Bergamo Città Alta
$30-35Medieval Bergamo hovers above the new town like a stone snow-globe. Inside the Venetian walls, laundry flaps between ochre houses and every bend throws up another chapel with sun-bleached frescoes.
Valtellina Wine Road
$60-80Vineyards claw up slopes so steep you wonder how the Nebbiolo stays put. Family cellars pour tastes under stone arches that reek of oak and fermenting juice, slicing homemade salami to keep you upright.
Locarno & Centovalli Railway
$45-50Swiss watches and Mediterranean palms share Locarno’s piazzas. The Centovalli train threads 100 valleys, rattling over stone bridges while waterfalls soundtrack the ride.
Milan's Navigli District
$25-30Milan’s canal quarter gives Lake Como’s polish the finger. Graffitied warehouses hold painters’ studios, and bars pour spritzes as sunset smears the water.
Half-Day Options
Shorter excursions when time is limited.
Isola Comacina
$20-25Lake Como’s lone island squeezes 1,500 years into a 20-minute crossing. Olive roots knot above Roman stones while the restaurant’s risotto alla Comacina hums with saffron.
Orrido di Bellano
$15-20On the eastern shore this gorge funnels river water between limestone walls, carving pools where spray traps rainbows. Boardwalks amplify the roar.
Como Silk Museum
$10-15Como’s silk heritage survives inside this ex-factory. Looms still hammer and the air hangs with dye and machine oil older than most visitors.
Brunate Funicular
$8-12The red funicular climbs 500 m through chestnut woods, popping out at a ledge where the lake spreads like a blue butterfly pinned against the jagged Alps.
Day Trip Tips
Make the most of your excursions.
- ✓ Flash the IO VIAGGIO card at any Lombardy ticket window—regional trains to Lake Como drop 20%.
- ✓ Ferry timetables swing hard between seasons; check the night before for first and last sailings.
- ✓ Swiss trains keep to the minute but sting on euro change; pull Swiss francs from the ATM at Lugano station.
- ✓ Como’s Wednesday market folds at 1 PM—ideal if you’re heading out after lunch.
- ✓ Varenna’s car park is full by 10 AM on summer weekends—come by train or use the paid lot above the cemetery.
- ✓ Museums shut Monday mornings and some wineries want 24 hours’ notice for tastings.
- ✓ The final Milan–Como train leaves at 10:43 PM on weekdays—late dinner in Navigli is still on.
Need a base for your day trips?
Our accommodation guide helps you pick the best area to stay in Lake Como.
Where to Stay →