Getting from Milan Linate Airport to Lake Como

If you’re travelling on a tight budget, the best way to get from Linate to Lake Como is to use public transport. There isn’t a direct train or bus from the airport so you’ll need to take a combination of both, with at least two connections. 

Firstly, you’ll need to travel to Milan Central Station by shared shuttle bus which takes 25 minutes. Two companies currently provide this service: Air Pullman and Airport Bus Express (Starfly).

From Milan Central Station you have two options:
Option 1: Bus and train
After the shuttle bus ride to Milan Central Station, board a regional Trenord train towards Tirano or Sondrio, stopping at Lecco. Direct trains take just 40 minutes, however, non-direct trains run frequently throughout the day which can take up to 90 minutes. From Lecco train station take public bus number 10 to Bellagio which should take around 45 minutes. In total, the bus and train option takes about 110 minutes, not including wait and transfer times. 

Option 2: Train and ferry
The second option once at Milan Central Station is to take a Trenitalia train towards Tirano or Sondrio, stopping at Varenna-Esino Station after approximately 1 hour. At Varenna-Esino Station, make your way to the boat dock to catch the 15-minute ferry across to Bellagio. The combined shuttle bus, train and ferry option takes around 100 minutes, excluding wait and transfer times.

Shared shuttle bus services cost between €5 and €7, depending on the company, and tickets can be purchased online, from the service counter at the airport, or on the bus from the driver.

For option 1, one-way train tickets to Lecco start at €5.20 for second-class tickets and the bus from Lecco costs about €3.30 bringing the total to €13.50 per traveller.

For option 2, the regional train to Varenna-Esino Station costs €7.40 for a single journey and tickets can be purchased online or from ticket machines and service desks at the station. Ferry tickets cost approximately €4.60 and can be purchased on the day with card or cash; plan to arrive 15 minutes before departure. The total cost for this option is around €17 per traveller.

Using public transport to reach Lake Come from Linate Airport is a very cost-effective option if you’re not under any time constraints and if you’re comfortable making a couple of transfers. Wait times can sometimes be up to one hour so ideally you’ll want to time the bus and train to match your flight schedule, otherwise it can take considerably longer. 

If you’re arriving at night or travelling on the weekend, a less stressful and far more straightforward option is to pre-book a private transfer. That way you can relax knowing your transfer will be taken care of by a local English-speaking driver and your holiday can start as soon as you step off the plane.