The Perfect Lake Como Golden Triangle Itinerary

Last Updated on 20th May 2025

This post about the ultimate one day in Lake Como Golden Triangle itinerary contains affiliate links.

Are you planning an epic day trip to Lake Como from Milan? You’ve come to the right place as my ultimate Lake Como Golden Triangle itinerary includes everything you need to know!

In my guide below, I’m sharing the ultimate one day in Lake Como Golden Triangle itinerary, including how to get to Lake Como from Milan, what to do in Varenna, Bellagio and Menaggio and how to get around the Golden Triangle from Lake Como!

Please note, this one-day Lake Como itinerary only includes things to do in the Golden Triangle area of Lake Como (Varenna, Menaggio and Bellagio). If you want to spend longer exploring the other towns and villages around Lake Como, I’d recommend staying in Como itself and then exploring from there.

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Find the best hotels in Como here!

How to get to Lake Como – from Milan

The best way to get to Lake Como from Milan is by train. You can purchase tickets online at The Trainline or at Milano Centrale Station on the day of your trip (I’d always recommend booking in advance!).

Tickets to Como Station start at €5 one-way (€10 return) but I’d highly recommend getting the train from Milan to Varenna-Esino so that you can complete the Golden Triangle itinerary below in just one day. Return tickets to Varenna-Esino cost around €14-€15 per person.

Book your tickets on the Milan to Lake Como train here!

You could also hire a car in Milan and drive to Como (1 hour), Bellagio (1 hour 30 minutes) or Varenna (1 hour 30 minutes).

It’s important to note that parking options around Lake Como are very limited, especially in the peak summer months, so I’d personally recommend taking the train to Varenna and then exploring the nearby towns of Lake Como via ferry.

Hire a car in Milan here!

How to get around Lake Como – Golden Triangle map

Once you’ve taken the train to Varenna-Esino, you can get the ferry between Varenna, Bellagio and Menaggio.

A one-way ticket costs €4.60 per person (e.g. Varenna to Menaggio, Menaggio to Bellagio and Bellagio to Varenna all cost €4.60 each).

You can also buy a day ticket that offers unlimited travel between the Golden Triangle towns for €15 but it’s unnecessary if you only want to travel to each place once.

Ferries between each town run very frequently, even in the winter months and some routes even run until 10.30 PM so you can rest assured that you can spend a whole day exploring the Golden Triangle at Lake Como.

The ferry schedules change depending on the season and specific holidays, so check online before you visit or get a timetable from the ticket kiosks at each town (you can buy ferry tickets on the day of your visit just before you board).

Milan to Lake Como Golden Triangle day trip itinerary

If you’re planning the perfect Lake Como Golden Triangle itinerary, take a look at the best things to see and do in just one day!

Varenna – what to do in one day

Varenna - what to do in Lake Como for one day

If you get the train from Milan to Varenna-Esino, the first stop of your Lake Como Golden Triangle itinerary will be the lovely town of Varenna. As soon as we stepped off the train and took in the breathtaking surroundings of the mountains, I just knew I was going to fall in love with Lake Como!

A short walk from the train station takes you towards the lake where you can join the pedestrian path known as the “Walk of Lovers”. This cantilevered pathway affords stunning views of Lake Como and the surroundings and it’s an idyllic place to take pictures as the views are simply breathtaking.

We visited Lake Como in mid-February, so everything was relatively quiet, but I imagine that the paths around Varenna (and most places in Lake Como) get incredibly crowded in the peak summer months.

There are numerous places to stop for gelato or coffee and there are several spots where you can lean against the wall and take in the views as you enjoy a scrumptious ice cream or a hot cup of coffee.

Best things to do in Varenna

Villa Monastero
Villa Cipressi
Church of San Giorgio
Castello di Vezio
Lovers’ Walk

Want to enjoy Lake Como for longer? Check out hotels in Varenna here!

Menaggio – one day in Lake Como Golden Triangle itinerary

Once we’d spent an hour or so exploring Varenna, we boarded the ferry to Menaggio which took around 15 minutes. As we were there in mid-February, the weather was a little foggy and quite chilly at first, but it started to brighten up as the day went on.

The views of the lake and surrounding towns as you cruise from one town to another are truly breathtaking, even in foggy conditions. The lake was so calm and serene and I actually never realised just how many mountains and hills surround Lake Como; it was truly a sight to see!

Menaggio was probably my favourite place in the Golden Triangle as it felt like it had a bit more going on and there were lots of adorable cafes and restaurants to enjoy.

We ate at a gorgeous restaurant called Cafè del Pess where we enjoyed the most heavenly pasta dishes as part of a lunchtime special menu. Dining al fresco when abroad never gets old for me and even though the weather wasn’t exactly 30°C, it was still such a dreamy place to eat lunch.

Best things to do in Menaggio

Church of Santa Marta
Piazza Garibaldi
Lunch at Cafè del Pess
Walk along the lakeside promenade
Villa Carlota

Prefer to spend longer in Lake Como? Check out hotels in Menaggio here!

Bellagio

Bellagio was actually my least favourite stop on our Lake Como itinerary as I felt that there wasn’t quite as much to do there as opposed to Varenna and Menaggio. A lot of the town was also under construction when we visited, which meant that it didn’t have quite the same charm as the other towns.

It is still a truly beautiful place to explore and wander along the cobblestoned streets and there are plenty of coffee shops and cafes to grab a bite to eat or a refreshing cocktail.

As we visited Lake Como in the winter, we were lucky to see it almost completely empty, which was great on the one hand as we didn’t have to push our way through crowds of tourists, but it also meant that many shops and cafes were closed due to the off-season.

If you’re planning a day trip to Lake Como, I’d recommend visiting in the shoulder seasons of September/October or March/April so that you can still enjoy the peace and quiet, but you can also benefit from seeing more things open.

Top things to see/do in Bellagio

Piazza del Chiesa
Swim at Lido di Bellagio
Basilica of San Giacomo
Villa Melzi Gardens
Pescallo fishing village

Want to spend longer in Bellagio? Check out hotels in Bellagio here!

Best day trips and tours to Lake Como from Milan

If planning your own Lake Como itinerary in one day seems a little overwhelming, there are plenty of day trips and tours you can take that will organise everything for you.

Take a look at some of the best Lake Como day trips from Milan below!

How many days do you need in Lake Como?

Lake Como can be explored and enjoyed in as little as one day up to one week (or even longer!).

We spent just one day in Lake Como and managed to experience the best of the “Golden Triangle” (Varenna, Menaggio and Bellagio).

One day in Lake Como on a day trip from Milan is a great amount of time to see the top sights, enjoy a delicious lunch and cruise around the lake.

Is Lake Como worth visiting?

If you’re still on the fence as to whether to take a day trip to Lake Como from Milan, I would say that it’s definitely worth doing!

Some people like to visit Como for a longer period of time, but I think one day in and around Lake Como gives you the perfect opportunity to visit the three “Golden Triangle” towns, as well as to experience the beautiful lake itself.

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