How do you get to Lake Como?
Getting there
Como is north of Milan and very close to Switzerland.
Como is on Italy's main railway network, and trains run from Milan to Como frequently, taking around 40 minutes. They depart from Milan's Stazione Centrale and Stazione Porta Garibaldi, and arrive at San Giovanni, Como's main station. From here you will need a taxi or bus to get down to the lake or directly to your hotel. It is a downhill 20 min walk if you choose to walk from the train station to the lake.
If you are arriving at Malpensa or Linate airports in Milan and then travelling directly to Lake Como then it is easiest to pre book a taxi or mini van if there are enough of you. It is truely money well spent if you have just travelled on a long international flight.
malpensa.taxido.net/Book-Online charges 85 euro or there are others that offer a similar service. You want to be sure to negotiate the price directly to Moltrasio to where you will be staying. Travel time is approximately 1 hour - 1 and a half hours. Alternatively you can catch the Malpensa Express from the airport and change trains at Saronno to the slower domestic train which you take to the end of the line Como Nord Lago.
If you are already staying in Milan, it is easy to catch the slower domestic train from Milano Nord Cadorna ( this station is situated a short walk from the Castle · Piazza Castello in central Milan). It takes 40 mins. It arrives directly in front of the Lake at the town of Como, Como Nord Lago station. This will be the same train to catch on a day trip to Milan to shop :-) From there you can choose to catch a boat or taxi to Moltrasio which is the 3rd lake stop on the ferry or hydrofoil.
If you are renting a car, just remember that the roads around the lake are scarily narrow and can be challenging.
Once you are on the Lake you will be mostly travelling around by boat and foot.
NEWS FLASH!!
THERE IS NOW A DIRECT TRAIN FROM MALPENSA AIRPORT TO COMO !
Use this interactive map to find you way around Lake Como, Milan and
airports etc