Lake Como Airport Transfer Guide (2026) - All Options & Tips
Discover smooth airport transfer options to Lake Como, ensuring a stress-free start to your Italian escape. Arrive in style and comfort, ready to explore.
Airport transfers
Trains, buses, and shuttles from the airport, compared in one place.
Helpful Tips
Take the Navigazione Lago di Como public ferries between lakeside towns like Bellagio, Varenna, and Menaggio, they run frequently and are far more scenic than driving the narrow lake roads.
Arrive by train from Milan directly to Varenna-Esino station for the central lake, or to Como San Giovanni for the southern shore, both are served by Trenord regional trains.
Skip renting a car unless you're exploring remote valleys, lakeside roads are narrow, one-lane in places, and parking in towns like Bellagio is extremely limited and expensive.
Ride the Como, Brunate funicular from the lakefront in Como town for panoramic views, it departs every 15 to 30 minutes and the ride takes about seven minutes.
Common Scams to Avoid
Unlicensed taxi touts at Milan Malpensa regularly approach arriving passengers inside the terminal, offering private car rides to Lake Como at inflated, non-negotiable rates. These 'abusivi' drivers operate without meters or official licensing, and passengers have limited recourse if something goes wrong. Always use the official taxi rank outside the arrivals hall or pre-book a licensed transfer service, this is a well-documented problem across major Italian airports, not unique to the Como route.
Some licensed taxi drivers on the Malpensa-to-Como route may propose a fixed fare that significantly exceeds the metered cost, counting on tired arrivals not knowing the typical rate for the journey. Others may take a longer route via local roads rather than the direct motorway. Pre-research the approximate transfer cost before landing, and confirm the driver will use the meter or agree to a fare consistent with current published rates before departing.
Unofficial 'shuttle' or 'shared transfer' operators occasionally set up near the arrivals area at Malpensa or Bergamo, mimicking the look of legitimate airport transfer services. They may charge per-person rates that add up to far more than a standard taxi or genuine shared shuttle. Book transfers through your accommodation or a well-reviewed transport platform rather than accepting solicitations in the terminal, this tactic is common at busy Italian airports generally.