2026-07-26 · 8 min read
Como to Bellagio: how to actually get there (times & prices 2026)
You are in Como and you want to reach Bellagio, the point where the lake splits in two. There are five ways: slow ferry, hydrofoil, bus, car or speedboat. Here are the real times and prices — verified on 26 July 2026 — and honest advice on which to pick.
The 30-second answer
| Option | Time | Price pp | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slow ferry | ~120 min | €12.40 | enjoying the lake on a budget |
| Hydrofoil (fast) | ~45 min | €18.80 | in a hurry |
| Bus C30 (ASF) | ~63 min | ~€5-6 | lowest budget, strong stomach |
| Car | 60-75 min + parking | fuel + parking | not recommended in high season |
| Salimar speedboat | 3h with 1h free in Bellagio | see prices below | when the ride IS the day trip |
The slow ferry: the classic that never fails
The Navigazione Laghi slow ferry takes about two hours from Como to Bellagio, stopping at the villages along the shore: Torno, Nesso, Lezzeno and more. It is not wasted time: it is the cheapest cruise on the lake, €12.40 one-way. Tickets are sold at the pier counter (arrive 15-20 minutes early in season - the queue is real) and families get the Happy Family deal: two full-fare adults bring up to two kids aged 4-11 for free.
Mind the timetables: they are seasonal (summer timetable in force from 1 June to 14 September) and change several times a year. Check the official PDF before you go - and note the LAST return departure: missing it is the classic mistake that ends in a taxi.
The hydrofoil: 45 minutes, zero romance
The fast service covers Como-Bellagio in about 45 minutes for €18.80. You travel inside, the windows catch the spray and the view is half the experience: it is transport, efficient and punctual. Practical note: fast-service tickets are sold at the counter only, not on board.
The C30 bus: the cheapest
The C30 (ASF) leaves from the Como station area and reaches Bellagio in about an hour, roughly hourly, for around €5-6. The route is the SS583 lakeside road: narrow and all bends at the water's edge. Great views - but if you get carsick you will remember it. In that case, take the lake.
By car: possible, but think twice
Same road as the bus, 60-75 minutes on a good day. Driving is not the problem - arriving is: Bellagio's car parks in high season are few, pricey and full by mid-morning. The local trick: leave the car in a Como garage (Valduce or Auguadri, minutes from the lakefront) and take the lake. You arrive relaxed, and Bellagio is best explored on foot anyway.
And the speedboat? When the ride IS the trip
Then there is the fifth way, ours: the shared speedboat tour from Como. Three hours in total: cruising past the villas - Villa Olmo, George Clooney's villa in Laglio seen from the water, Villa del Balbianello in the distance - one hour free ashore in Bellagio for gelato and staircases, and the ride back with prosecco. It is not a ferry: it is the day.
| Shared tour · 1 hour | 1 hour | €50 per person |
| Shared tour · 2 hours | 2 hours | €120 per person |
| Sunset + aperitif · 1 hour | 1 hour | €50 per person |
| Bellagio tour · 3 hours | 3 hours | €120 per person |
| Private tour · 1 hour | 1 hour | €250 per boat |
| Private tour · 2 hours | 2 hours | €500 per boat |
| Private tour · 3 hours | 3 hours | €700 per boat |
Seats are booked online in a minute from the Bellagio tour page; and if you are after the golden hour, there is the sunset tour.
Tips from people who do this lake every day
- Hydrofoil out, slow ferry back: save time in the morning, enjoy the cruise home.
- Start early: Bellagio at 9:30 is a different town from Bellagio at noon.
- Families: the ferry's Happy Family deal is real money saved.
- ALWAYS check the last return departure of your chosen option: summer ticket queues eat minutes.
- Prone to motion sickness? Skip the bus and the SS583: the lake has no hairpins.
Data verified on 26 July 2026. Navigazione Laghi and ASF fares and timetables may change: check the official channels before you travel.
Official sources: Navigazione Laghi · ASF Autolinee.