Milan to Como day trip

Sorry, but A local guide to do what? It's just a nice place to visit, not a museum that needs somebody to explain you what you are looking at.

Go to the Centrale or Cadorna railway station, get a ticket to Como S, Giovanni or to Varenna-Esino, stamp it and leave.

When you are on the Lake take a ferry for a couple of hours, look around for George&Friends and you are done with the lake. I usually arrive in Varenna and depart from Como, but it's just a matter of taste. You could also stop in Bellagio, that's been elected Most Boring Italian Village since 1900.

If you are in the city of Como, take the funicular to Brunate for an amazing view of the lake and the alps.

To expand on this topic, I would suggest that you purchase round trip tickets to Varenna-Esino at Milano Centrale train station. Be sure to validate your ticket at the machine on the platform. You can ask someone where it is specifically. ( We did.) Sit on the left side of the train for the best scenery. When you arrive in Varenna, walk down the hill to the shore and stroll the promanade from the ferry dock to the cafes. Investigate ahead of time Varenna Taxi boat tours, and schedule an early afternoon group tour of the mid lake region. This is a 2 1/2 hour tour that will also take you to Villa Balbianello (cost of the Villa tour included in the boat tour price---about 60 euros when we did it in May) When I went online to rebook this tour, they offered it every day but Mon and Wed. The views from the water of the Alps and the villages hugging the coast is gorgeous. The boat will bring you back to their dock in Varenna where you can stroll down to one of the outside cafes for a drink or a meal and just take in the beauty of this charming place, Walk back up to the train station (having checked the departure time that fits your schedule), validate your ticket, board and take all those pleasant memories back with you to Milan!

Thank you so much for taking the time with this great Reply!

Happy to help. After all, no question is a stupid question. You were just unsure about what to do. You deserved a reply that wasn't sarcastic. Have a wonderful trip. You will LOVE Varenna and the mid Lake area.