The ferry network on Lake Como is one of the great pleasures of visiting the lake. Gliding across the water between Bellagio, Varenna, and Menaggio — mountains rising on all sides, villages glittering in the afternoon light — is something you’ll remember long after you’ve come home. This guide breaks it all down.
📑 Contents
The Three Types of Vessel
Navigazione Lago di Como operates three different types of vessel, each with different speeds, routes, and purposes.
① Battello (Passenger Ferry)
The classic slow ferry. Battelli stop at almost every village around the lake, making them the most flexible way to explore. They’re the most affordable option and the best choice for sightseeing. Journey time from Como to Bellagio by battello is approximately 2 hours.
② Traghetto (Car Ferry)
The traghetto is the roll-on, roll-off car ferry that operates the central triangle: Bellagio–Varenna–Menaggio–Cadenabbia. Even if you’re not taking a car, you can ride the traghetto as a foot passenger. The Varenna–Bellagio crossing takes just 15 minutes and costs €5.50 as a foot passenger in 2026. Departures are frequent for much of the day, but they are not evenly spaced — check the current sheet rather than assuming there will be another one along shortly.
③ Aliscafo (Hydrofoil)
The high-speed hydrofoil connects Como at the south with Colico at the north. It’s the fastest way to cover long distances (Como to Bellagio: about 50 minutes vs 2 hours by battello), but more expensive and less frequent. Best used when you need to cover significant distance quickly.
Key Routes and Approximate 2026 Prices
The thing to understand first: every hop inside the central triangle costs the same. Bellagio to Varenna, Bellagio to Menaggio, Bellagio to Tremezzo, Bellagio to Lenno — all €5.50 one way. Journeys that start or end at Como cost roughly twice that.
- Anywhere inside the central triangle (Bellagio, Varenna, Menaggio, Tremezzo, Lenno, Cadenabbia): €5.50 one way, about $6
- Como → Bellagio (battello, ~2h): €12.00
- Como → Tremezzo (battello): €12.00
- Como → Varenna (battello): €13.50
- Fast services (aliscafo, catamaran): the ordinary fare plus a €5.00 supplement. So Como → Bellagio by hydrofoil is €17.00, Como → Varenna €18.50.
- Return trips are simply double the one-way fare.
- Children 4–11 pay a reduced fare. Over-65s get a reduction Monday to Friday only — not weekends or holidays.
Fares taken from the official Navigazione Laghi fare search at navigazionelaghi.it, checked August 2026 (tariff revision of 1 April 2026). Fares rose about 15% for 2026, so older guides understate them.
Day Pass: Is It Worth It?
The giornaliero (day pass) gives unlimited travel on ordinary boat and ferry services for one day. In 2026 it is €17.50 for the central area (children 4–11 €8.80), €27.00 if your day includes Como, and €29.50 for Como–Varenna. There is also a six-day pass at €81.00. Do the arithmetic before you buy: at €5.50 a hop, a single return trip from Bellagio is €11.00, so the central-area pass only pays for itself from about three hops onward.
Note: day passes cover ordinary boat and ferry services. To board a fast service (hydrofoil or catamaran) you still pay the €5.00 supplement on top.
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How to Buy Ferry Tickets
- Ticket offices at the main ferry piers (Como, Bellagio, Varenna, Menaggio, Tremezzo)
- Self-service ticket machines at larger piers
- On board some vessels (small surcharge may apply)
- Online at navigazionelaghi.it — recommended for day passes in peak season
Always validate your ticket at the yellow machines on the pier before boarding. Inspectors do check.
Reading the Timetable
Here is the thing that trips most people up: there isn’t one Lake Como timetable. There are three, and they are published as separate documents.
1. Como – Colico – Como. The main north–south line along the lake, covering both the ordinary battelli and the fast services. This is the one you want for anything involving Como, Tremezzo, Bellagio or Varenna.
2. Bellagio – Lecco – Bellagio. Lake Como is shaped like an upside-down Y, and this is the south-eastern leg that most guides forget to mention. If you are staying in Lecco, or you want to see the quieter arm of the lake, this sheet sets out the services in full — there are only a handful a day, so this branch needs planning rather than improvising.
3. The car ferry triangle (Bellagio – Cadenabbia – Varenna – Menaggio). Published separately again, and split into two versions: one for weekdays and one for Sundays and public holidays. This matters more than it sounds. If you plan a Sunday around the weekday sheet, you will be standing on a pier watching a boat that isn’t coming.
A few conventions worth knowing before you look at any of them:
- Feriale means weekdays. Festivo means Sundays and public holidays. Italian timetables use these words rather than listing days, and getting them the wrong way round is the single most common mistake visitors make.
- Timetables are reissued by season, and the editions are genuinely different. Before you plan anything, check that the sheet you are reading matches the dates of your trip. A PDF you downloaded in spring will not be correct in high summer.
- Not every boat stops at every pier. Columns with a gap mean that service sails straight past. Trace your specific column from departure to arrival rather than assuming.
- Services thin out considerably on Sundays and public holidays, and again outside the summer season.
The practical habit that saves the most trouble: on your first morning, photograph the timetable board at your local pier, paying attention to the last departure of the day. Everything else you can improvise. Missing the last boat is the one mistake that costs you real money.
Route by Route: What Each Journey Is Actually Like
Most people arrive at the pier knowing where they want to go but not which boat to get on. Here is how the main journeys break down.
Como to Bellagio
The classic run up the western shore. By ordinary battello it takes about two hours and costs €12.00, calling at Cernobbio, Moltrasio, Argegno, Sala Comacina and Tremezzo along the way. By fast service it is about 50 minutes and €17.00 — the ordinary fare plus the €5.00 supplement.
Take the slow boat if the journey is the point. Two hours on the upper deck watching the villas go past is genuinely one of the best things you can do on this lake, and it costs less. Take the fast one only if you are trying to protect an afternoon.
One thing to plan for: the ferry pier in Como is about a 20-minute walk from Como San Giovanni station. Fine unencumbered, considerably less fine with a suitcase.
Varenna to Bellagio
The workhorse crossing, and the one you will probably use most. The car ferry (traghetto) does it in 15 minutes for €5.50 as a foot passenger.
Do check the sheet before you rely on it, though. Services are frequent for much of the day, but they are not evenly spaced: there are longer gaps built into the timetable, including around the middle of the day, and the Sunday and holiday version is different again. Look up the crossing you want rather than assuming there will be another one along shortly.
If you are arriving from Milan by train, Varenna is the station you want, and this is how you finish the journey.
Bellagio to Menaggio
Inside the car ferry triangle, so €5.50 one way — the same as Varenna to Bellagio, and the same as every other hop in the triangle. A short crossing rather than a journey; check the current sheet for times, as they vary by season and by whether you are travelling on a weekday or a Sunday.
Menaggio is the practical corner of the triangle, with bus connections onward.
Bellagio to Tremezzo
Worth separating out, because this one is not on the car ferry. The traghetto triangle serves only Bellagio, Cadenabbia, Varenna and Menaggio — for Tremezzo you want an ordinary battello on the Como–Colico line, which runs to a different timetable entirely. The fare is still €5.50, as Tremezzo sits inside the central fare zone.
Tremezzo is where you get off for Villa Carlotta.
Varenna to Menaggio
The third side of the triangle, and the one people forget exists. €5.50 again. Useful if you are based on the eastern shore and want the western villas without going via Bellagio.
Bellagio to Lecco
The quiet branch, with its own separate timetable and only a handful of sailings a day. This one genuinely needs planning rather than improvising — but the south-eastern arm of the lake is beautiful and almost empty of day-trippers.
The rule underneath all of this: every hop inside the triangle is €5.50. Anything that touches Como costs roughly double. Once you have that, you can price a whole day in your head at the pier.
The Best Ferry Journeys on Lake Como
Como to Bellagio by Battello (The Classic Route)
This two-hour journey along the western shore is quintessential Lake Como. The ferry calls at Cernobbio, Moltrasio, Argegno, Sala Comacina, and Tremezzo (for Villa Carlotta). Sit outside on the upper deck for the full experience. Take a morning service to arrive in Bellagio for lunch.
The Central Triangle: Bellagio–Varenna–Menaggio
A day spent hopping between these three towns — arriving by ferry, exploring for a few hours, then catching the next crossing — is one of the very best ways to experience Lake Como. The 15-minute Varenna to Bellagio crossing is particularly magical.
Sunset Cruise
Take a late-afternoon battello from Bellagio south towards Tremezzo as the sun descends. The lake turns gold, the mountains turn rose-pink, and the villages seem to glow. Return on the last ferry (typically around 8–9pm). This is unforgettable.
🎒 What to Bring on the Ferry:
• 🕶️ Polarized Sunglasses (CARFIA) — polarized lenses are perfect for the glittering lake surface.
• 🤢 Sea-Band Motion Sickness Wristbands — the hydrofoil can be choppy; these are drug-free and discreet.
• 📱 Waterproof Phone Pouch (Hiearcool) — protect your phone from spray on the open deck.
Practical Ferry Tips
- Arrive 10–15 minutes before departure at busy piers in summer.
- Sit outside whenever possible. Bring a light layer as it can be breezy on the water.
- Large bags and suitcases are fine on the ferry.
- Check last ferries before making plans. Missing the last ferry from Bellagio means a long taxi or an unexpected overnight stay.
- Private boat hire is available at major piers from around €80–100/hour.
💡 My Real Experience: Reaching Bellagio with a Suitcase
I traveled solo and was staying in Bellagio, so before the trip I looked into the easiest way to get there while dragging a suitcase on my own. In the end I took the bus from Malpensa Airport to Como San Giovanni, then changed to the bus bound for Bellagio — and it turned out to be exactly the right call. Each leg takes about an hour. The airport bus drops you right in front of Como San Giovanni station, and the Bellagio bus departs from that very spot, so I was guaranteed a seat the whole way.
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When you’re moving alone with a suitcase, an easy, low-stress transfer matters more than anything, and this route delivered. By contrast, if you arrive by ferry you’ve to drag your suitcase roughly 20 minutes on foot from Como San Giovanni station (where the bus drops you) to the ferry pier — doable, but not much fun with luggage. So while the ferry is wonderful for sightseeing, for the airport-to-hotel leg with a suitcase, the bus was hands-down the most comfortable choice.
Ferry FAQ
Do I need to book ferry tickets in advance?
For foot passengers on standard battello services, booking in advance isn’t required. Online booking is available and recommended for day passes during peak season.
Can I take a bike on the ferry?
Yes — bikes are accepted on the battello for a small surcharge. The traghetto also carries bikes.
Is the ferry suitable for people with mobility issues?
The larger battello ferries have good deck-level access. The traghetto is very accessible. Staff are generally very helpful if you need assistance.
What happens if I miss the last ferry?
You are looking at a taxi around the lake, which is long and expensive, or an unplanned night where you are. The roads here wind, so a crossing that takes 15 minutes by water can take well over an hour by land. Check the last departure at the start of your day, not at the end of it.
Are Sunday timetables really that different?
Different enough to derail a plan. The car ferry runs to a separate Sunday and holiday timetable, and services across the whole network are less frequent. If your one free day is a Sunday, look at the correct sheet before you build the itinerary around it.
Your Lake Como Ferry Adventure Awaits
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There really is nothing quite like arriving at Bellagio by ferry on a clear morning. Once you’ve done it, you’ll understand immediately why Lake Como has been captivating travelers for centuries. The ferry isn’t just transport: it’s the experience.
Ready to plan the rest of your trip? Read our complete Lake Como guide, our Lake Como packing list (with a first-hand Malpensa-to-Bellagio transfer guide), and our advice on what to pack for Italy in June.
More Lake Como Guides
- Best Lake Como Boat Tours for Solo Travelers
- Villa del Balbianello: Tickets, Boats & How Long to Visit
- Lake Como: The Complete First-Timer Guide
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