We're staying in Varenna for 5 days in mid September. I have pulled up the pdf of the "summer" ferry schedule. Now I'm trying to confirm ferries will be running when I need them to. Specifically, we'll go to Bellagio one day and then have dinner around 19:00. I want to make sure there are ferries that run late enough to get us back to Varenna. The schedule says there are ferries at 21:00, 22:10 and 23:20. But if I try to run this through the official online website, I get nothing. Plus it keeps getting hung up. The website seems very quirky. I don't need to buy tickets now, but I want to make sure we can make dinner reservations and have a way back. Anyone have experience taking the ferries at night during the summer? Do they run late and are they regular ferries or car ferries? Also, if I buy tickets at the ticket office do I have to do it the same day or can I buy them the day before to avoid the line? Is there an app that works better than going to the official website? Lastly, if we're only going to one location each day, is it still best to get a day pass and where do I buy those? Thanks!
Posted by
San Diego, California
6519 posts
The app generally doesn't work.
Get to the ticket office when it opens around 7:30am to buy tickets for the day. Buy the ticketsfor all day middle lakes travel. I know of no way to buy ferry tickets in advance unless you buy the six-day pass. The ferry lines have been crazy ! Plan to board the ferries around 9:00 am and return to your lodging area around 2-3:00 pm to avoid hour-plus ferry lines. We didn't try the evening outings because of the ferry problems.This was our experience this past May, 2025. Good luck!
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/is-lake-como-getting-crowded-like-the-ct-and-ac
Posted by
OP
San Diego, CA
52 posts
Thanks. So are the tickets for a certain time or anytime that day. What do you think about the 1 day passes? That way I don't have to worry about the ticket office at all. Online those are 15euro vs the 9.20 for a roundtrip ticket.
Posted by
San Diego, California
6519 posts
You buy an all-day ferry ticket that covers the Middle Lakes area.
Posted by
San Diego, California
6519 posts
Again, I have never gotten the online system to work.
Posted by
Minneapolis
1318 posts
Yes, the ferries run late; your info from the schedule seems accurate. All ferries take passengers; many also take cars. We were there a couple of years ago, and had taken several ferry rides during the day, but since I had an all day pass, I went on one of the late ferries from Varenna to Bellagio and then back. It was great. Ferries are often packed during the day, but at that time of night, lake was pitch dark except for town lights on lake shore, and very few passengers. A fun and peaceful way to end the day. Enjoy!.
Posted by
OP
San Diego, CA
52 posts
Thanks all! We are also planning to go from Varenna to Menaggio one day. But the posted ferry schedule and the website don't seem to correspond. Printable schedule shows Varenna to Menaggio only has 3 times (7:35, 12:55, 13:50) and the returns from Menaggio to Varenna only show three times (7:55, 13:10, 14:10). But the when I put the destinations in the search on the website, it shows additional sailings. I was hoping to go to Menaggio in the mid morning and return late afternoon. Is this possible?
Posted by
Washington DC
29162 posts
I think you're looking at the "ferry boat" schedule; those are car ferries and don't run terribly frequently. Also check the "ship and fast service" schedules.
Posted by
189 posts
We were there in the middle of October in 2023. We stayed in Varenna and one day we got there right when the ferry ticket office opened and bought a one day pass. We headed to Menaggio that morning, wandered around and had lunch there. Then we headed back to our hotel and freshened up and got the ferry to Bellagio at about 3:30. We wandered Bellagio, lightly shopped and then went to a Happy Hour. We had dinner reservation at 1900, and the 2100 ferry seemed the most appealing. We wanted to have some backups in case there were any issues and they did offer the other two times you mentioned. We got on the 2100 and thought it was a perfect day for us. Enjoy!
We loved this fabulous bar in Bellagio at the Villa Serbelloni Hotel!
https://www.villaserbelloni.com/en/our-bars.html#image_1275