Take the train from Milan: to Como (about an hour) or to Varenna on the east shore (≈ 1 h 05, hourly, €7.40). From Varenna the boats cross to Bellagio and Menaggio — the classic car-free triangle. Pick one base on the shore you’ll use most and screenshot the last boat back; boats don’t run late. To swim, use a lido — Menaggio, Bellagio, Lenno, Cadenabbia, Moltrasio or Bellano — rather than a random jetty: the water is cold and boats pass close to shore.
Checked 2026-09-24 · Lake Como · Nature
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Milan → Varenna | ≈ 1 h 05 · hourly · €7.40 (Trenord) |
| Milan → Como | ≈ 1 h |
| Car-free triangle | Varenna · Bellagio · Menaggio by boat |
| Last boat | Check before dinner · screenshot it |
| Swim | Lidos: Menaggio, Bellagio, Lenno, Cadenabbia, Moltrasio, Bellano |
Which base without a car
| Base | Arrive by | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Varenna | Train from Milano Centrale | The easiest car-free base: rail + boats |
| Como city | Train from Milan (two stations) | Day trip, city sights, rainy-day plan B |
| Bellagio | Boat from Varenna or Menaggio | Gardens, evenings on the water — final leg by boat |
| Menaggio | Boat, or bus from Como | West shore, lido, walks |
From the EmweGo Lake Como guide + Trenord · checked 24 Sep 2026
Boats and day plans
Boats connect the villages
Day trip: fewer villages
If the train line is suspended
Where to swim
Lidos
Swimming off jetties
Quick answers
Can you do Lake Como without a car?
Yes — train from Milan to Varenna or Como, then boats between the villages.
What is the best base on Lake Como without a car?
Varenna: a direct train from Milan and boats to Bellagio and Menaggio.
Can you swim in Lake Como?
Yes, best at a lido (Menaggio, Bellagio, Lenno and others). The water is cold and boats pass close to shore.
Go deeper in our guides
Related answers
Sources: Trenord · Milano Centrale–Varenna ↗ · Navigazione Laghi · Lake Como ↗ · in-Lombardia · Lake Como lidos ↗