Hi,
My wife and I will be spending 3 days in Milan and plan to take a day trip to Lake Como. I'm thinking of taking the train from Milan to Varenna, spending some time there, taking a ferry to Bellagio, spend some time there, and then ferry to Como and catch the train back to Milan. Is this doable? Is it advisable? Is there a better way to experience the area? Any advice is appreciated. Also, it will be on Easter; will that present any problems?
Thank you
Easter (and most spring and summer holidays) brings crazy crowding to Lake Como. The week before and after Easter will also be extremely busy.
The regional trains to/from Lake Como/Varenna and Milan are commuter trains, no reserved seats, and probably standing room only. Then the crowds from the trains walk down the hill, and stand in the very long lines to buy ferry tickets. We witnessed lines that were over an hour long. This is followed by lines to get on the next ferry. You cannot buy ferry tickets the day before or online.
Repeat this once you're in Bellagio. You will probably have a RT ticket, but the lines for the return ferries could be over an hour, from mid-afternoon on.
Sorry for the bad news. We experienced the above for the May 1 holiday, this past spring 2025, and Easter will be the same. This beautiful area has been ruined by the influencers.
Your only option is to go really early, get to Varenna and buy the all-day ferry tickets as soon as the ticket booth opens, around 7:30am. Then ride the ferry to Bellagio. Explore the area, and return to Varenna around 1:00pm. This still doesn't guarantee that the regional trains back to Milan aren't SRO. In addition, the regional train schedules are somewhat of a suggestion, in our very real and recent experience. Good luck!
It is doable, and it is advisable, don't be discouraged, it is worth any amount of effort. Varenna is a wonderful destination, and I suggest visiting the terrace at the Hotel du Lac to enjoy the view and a beverage! There are gardens to enjoy and shops to peruse. I understand the desire to go to Bellagio, but you could take it in from the ferry and keep on going, thereby skipping lines to leave Bellagio. Across the lake from Bellagio is the Grand Hotel Tremezzo, and it is a wonderful place to stop, and the views from the gardens behind the hotel are spectacular.
Thank you. Considering the Easter crowds, perhaps a daytrip to Bergamo, which I understand is often overlooked by tourists, might be a better idea and save Lake Como for a future visit
hey hey Tom
happy to hear you have changed your mind from lake como, which is a bummer. like Pat mentions it has been ruined by influencers and packed to the gills like a can of sardines. friends went and says it was beautiful but so upset about the crowds, long lines to ferries/trains, waiting for tables at restaurants, nasty/grumpy people. it will be busy in so many places for easter, many are waiting last minute booking trips to italy for "USA spring breaks, holidays and monday people taking off"
if a lake you want to see, you could look at lake garda or lake maggiore.
lake garda is pretty, we stayed in bardolino for an annual wine festival "fabulous", many go to very touristy sirmione on tours and it gets so crowded. gardavisit.it/ villages to visit
rossiwrites.com/ 20 best towns to visit
others on the forum love stresa on lake maggiore. take train to either (about an hour) roam around, boat/ferry ride on lake, lunch and back to milan. thecrowdedplanet.com/ things to do on lake maggiore discovernorthernitaly,com/ 10 beautiful towns on lake
gpsmycity.com
download app for self guided walking tours. pick your city and look what is offered
guruwalks.com
some are free, some in english
milantips.com
sam bernadino alle ossa bone church in milan
museoauto.com
history and museum of iatalian cars through the years in turin/torino. train ride away from milan
eatwith.com/ milan dates and # people
click headers, some are dinners/lunch in residents home, cooking classes or food tours.
doeatbetterexperience.com
food tours in milan
eatingeurope.com/ milan food tours
bbc.com
milan: italy's lost city of canals
tripsavvy.com
galleria vittorio emanuelle II. center of fashion and culture, stunning shopping luxury arcade
wantedinmilan.com
history of risotto & places to eat it. milan has many places within area with rice patties and known for it's many dishes
so many things to see and do, just giving you some options to check out. nice to research and be prepared before you get there
good luck, enjoy and have time fun exploring. if you plan on last supper, book early.
aloha
