FERRY & BOAT TOURS
Boat trips and tours on Lake Como are something that I’d definitely recommend to anyone who wants to experience their holidays at its best.
Whether you are visiting Lake Como for a day or staying longer, jump aboard a boat, relax and reach your favourite destination: Bellagio, Varenna, Como, or maybe one of the historical villas on the shores of the lake.
Boat tours are basically of two types: public or private. You can choose the experience you prefer based on your needs, especially the time and budget you have available.
Public tours
The local public navigation service (Navigazione Laghi) provides several routes that connect all of the most popular towns along Lake Como’s shores, at a convenient price.
Private tours
With a driver at your disposal you have the chance to choose your favorite itinerary and the length of your cruise. The best to experience Lake Como at your own pace.
The public boat service is provided by Navigazione Laghi.
The service operates all year round (with the exception of the southeastern branch, where it only operates in the summer), although in the low season it has a reduced frequency of service.
Below I collected the most useful information that will help you organize your transfers, but if you don’t find what you are looking for, or if you have specific questions, please contact Navigazione Laghi directly through their website.
What kind of information are you looking for?
About the routes
There are three main routes:
Como - Colico (and back)
The most popular route (for passenger transport only) that connects Como, on the southwestern tip of the lake, to Colico, in the north, and makes stops along the way.
Yes, this is the route that takes you from Como to Bellagio and that also connects Bellagio and Varenna. You can choose between two types of services:
- Regular service (Corse battello in the map above): this one stops in all towns with a pier along the route and is perfect for those who want to enjoy the trip and take many photographs.
- Fast service (Corse rapide): this one makes fewer stops, although the major destinations are always guaranteed (Argegno, Bellagio, Varenna, etc.). It costs a little more than the regular service but is perfect for those who have little time.
Ferry in the central part of Lake Como
Ferries in the central area (Corse traghetto in the map) allow the transport of vehicles, but they only operate between the towns of Bellagio, Varenna, Menaggio, and Cadenabbia.
Lecco - Bellagio (and back)
This route (for passenger transport only) connects Lecco, on the southeastern tip of the lake, to Bellagio, on the promontory between the three branches of the lake. It only operates in the summer.
Schedule & timetables
Below you can find the PDF timetables currently provided by Navigazione Laghi. However, I invite you to use the timetable search form on their website for the most up-to-date schedules.
Como - Colico (and back)
Ferry in the central part of Lake Como
Lecco - Bellagio (and back)
Tickets & fares
Remember to buy your ticket before getting on board!
Fares of Lake Como’s public boat service
You can buy different types of tickets, the rates of which vary depending on several factors: length of the trip, presence of intermediate stops, surcharges for fast service, etc.
The best thing you can do to know the exact price of your trip is to visit the website of the company and use their search form. However, below is an overview of what you can get.
Types of tickets
- One-way tickets: buy this ticket if you want to travel to a specific destination, without intermediate stops (you can sail from Como to Bellagio but without getting off at Argegno for a coffee).
- Free-circulation tickets: holders of these tickets are entitled to make intermediate stops between the piers for which the ticket was issued (if you want to visit multiple destinations by lake in a single day, this is probably the best choice).
Fares for most common routes
- One-way ticket Como-Bellagio: €10.40
- Free-circulation ticket Como-Bellagio (valid 1 day): €23.30
- One-way ticket Bellagio-Varenna: €4.60 (this price applies to all one-way passenger transfers between towns in the central area of the lake)
Surcharge for fast service varies by route (see on the company's website). Discover more about:
Where to buy tickets
Currently, you can only buy tickets online (on Navigazione Laghi's website) for one-way or round-trip travel, without intermediate stops and for regular service (no vehicle transportation, no express service).
Otherwise, tickets can be purchased at the ticket office near the dock of almost any town (onboard purchase – with cash/credit card and without any additional cost – is allowed in case of towns with no ticket office). People with disabilities can always buy the ticket on board without extra charge.
If you are going to buy your ticket at the ticket office, just make sure you get there about 20-25 minutes before the departure.
Travel times for popular journeys
Regular service
- Como - Argegno: 1h 05 min / 1h 15 min
- Como - Bellagio: 1h 30 min / 2h
- Bellagio - Varenna: 15 min
- Bellagio - Menaggio: 15 min
Fast service
- Como - Argegno: 20/25 min
- Como - Tremezzo: 40/45 min
- Como - Bellagio: 45 min / 1h
- Como - Varenna: 1h 15
Disabilities, Covid-19, etc.
Green Certificate: Access to local public transport services is allowed to holders of green certification with the obligation to use FFP2 type respiratory protection devices until the end of the state of emergency.
People with disabilities: Important information for people with disabilities.
In case of any other doubts, please consult the FAQ page of Navigazione Laghi.
Some ferries of the fleet
Some ferries of the fleet:
Places to stay in Lake Como
Top reviewed on Booking.com from travelers
Want to see more hotels, apartments or villas?
Check out my entire selection of the best places to stay in Lake Como!
Most of the towns will give you the chance to take a private boat tour on Lake Como at your own pace, maybe at sunset and with a fine bottle of prosecco.
If you are looking for a private tour with a driver at your disposal, here are some options that may be right for you!
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This Post Has 10 Comments
You need to make your fares more easily understandable. We have paid for the multi stop only to find out it is not possible to go to Calico unless you pay an extra supplement. This should even made far easier to interpret
Hello Glenn, thank you for your suggestion. Lake Como Travel’s goal is to try to gather, in the simplest way possible, all the information that can help anyone who wants to visit Lake Como. However, I would like to remind you that this is a personal project and not an institutional website: that is why I always recommend visiting the official websites of the various companies to get the most accurate information possible, so that you can plan your trip without any surprises. Sorry for the inconvenience!
Dear lake como trip
We are a group of 20 people that would like to go from Varenna to Bellagio and return on the 11 of November 2022. Do you have timetable and price list for this route?
Thank you so much for your soonest replay.
Best regards Sara
Hello Sara, the new schedules will be posted on Navigazione Laghi’s official website in late September-early October. You can contact the company directly to ask for more information. I hope this helps!
Great help many thanks
Thank you very much, Ron!
Thanks for providing such a well-organized web site. This was so much easier to understand than the official Navigazione Laghi web site.
Thank you very much Vivek, feedback like yours is a source of satisfaction for me 🙂
Could I ask if eurail global pass can be used within lake Como ? Eg ferry, bus, train etc
We are traveling from Grindelwald to Lake Como
Tks!!
Hello Amy, since I do not want to give you incorrect information, please contact the transportation operators directly.