· 8 min read · by Salimar Boat Tour
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 1 August 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 |
First things first: getting to Como
Coming from Milan, the train is the smart move: Milano Centrale to Como San Giovanni in about 40 minutes, or Cadorna to Como Nord Lago in an hour — the latter drops you five minutes on foot from the lakefront. From Malpensa airport there is also a direct bus: Flibco and FlixBus link Terminal 2 to Como, Piazzale San Gottardo stop next to the station, in just under an hour.
Connections to Como in detail
Train: Milano Centrale → Como S. Giovanni, about 40 minutes, hourly (Trenord/Trenitalia); Milano Cadorna → Como Nord Lago, about an hour — that station sits right on the lake. From S. Giovanni it is a 15-minute downhill walk to the lakefront.
Bus from Malpensa: Flibco roughly every 2 hours, FlixBus a couple of runs a day, 55 minutes, €6–10 — arriving at Piazzale San Gottardo, next to S. Giovanni. Book online.
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.
All the possible ferry stops Como → Bellagio
The ferry leaves from the Como pier (piazza Cavour) and works its way up the first basin calling, depending on the run, at these landings on the two shores:
West shore: Tavernola, Cernobbio, Moltrasio, Carate Urio, Laglio, Brienno, Argegno, Colonno, Sala Comacina, Isola Comacina, Lenno, Tremezzo (Villa Carlotta), Cadenabbia.
East shore: Blevio, Torno, Faggeto Lario, Pognana Lario, Careno, Nesso, Lezzeno.
No single run calls at all of them: each departure stops at a different subset (a typical Bellagio run calls at Tavernola, Cernobbio, Moltrasio, Argegno, Lezzeno, Lenno and Tremezzo). Check your exact run on the Navigazione Laghi timetable before boarding.
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.
Where the fast service stops
Hydrofoils and catamarans skip almost every landing: depending on the run they only call at the main ones — usually Argegno, Lenno, Tremezzo or Cadenabbia — and some runs are direct Como–Bellagio.
Two things to know: fast-service tickets do not allow intermediate stops (you board and get off only where your run calls), and you pay the ferry fare plus a supplement. Again, check the exact run on the official timetable.
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.
Exactly where the C30 bus leaves from
The C30 (ASF, Como–Nesso–Bellagio along the east shore) departs from Como San Giovanni railway station and stops right after at Como Lago station (piazzale Matteotti) — handy if you arrive by train.
Useful detail: one stop is right on Lungo Lario Trieste, steps from our boarding point. Terminus in Bellagio near the Lido. Tickets on board or at kiosks; roughly one bus per hour.
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.
Parking in Bellagio: where and how much
Blue-line street parking is paid every day 8:00–20:00: about €2.50/hour in the central zone (from the Loppia junction to the town hall), €1.50/hour in the outer areas. Spaces are few and in high demand; the historic centre is a camera-controlled ZTL from April to October.
Best places to try: Lungolago Marconi (about forty spaces near the centre), the Lido area and via Valassina just before the ZTL.
The real trick: leave the car in Como and go by lake. Auguadri multi-storey car park (800 spaces, ~€1.50 the first hour then €2/hour) or the Valduce car park: the pier is a 5–10 minute walk away. Rates are indicative: check on site.
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 | Book now Details › | |
| Shared tour · 2 hours | 2 hours | €120 per person | Book now Details › |
| Sunset + aperitif · 1 hour | 1 hour | Book now Details › | |
| Bellagio tour · 3 hours | 3 hours | Book now Details › | |
| Private tour · 1 hour | 1 hour | €250 per boat | Book now Details › |
| Private tour · 2 hours | 2 hours | €500 per boat | Book now Details › |
| Private tour · 3 hours | 3 hours | €700 per boat | Book now Details › |
| Boat rental without licence · 1 hour | 1 hour | €150 per boat | Book now Details › |
| Boat rental without licence · 2 hours | 2 hours | €250 per boat | Book now Details › |
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.
Things to do in Como before or after the trip
Como is worth a few hours in its own right: the Duomo, Piazza Cavour and the lakefront, the funicular up to Brunate with its balcony over the lake, the Life Electric out on the breakwater, the Tempio Voltiano and the walk towards Villa Olmo. Full details on our Como page.
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 1 August 2026. Navigazione Laghi and ASF fares and timetables may change: check the official channels before you travel.
Quick answers
What is the cheapest way to reach Bellagio? Bus C30: a few euros and about an hour on the road. The ferry costs more, but the view is part of the ticket.
Ferry or hydrofoil? With time to spare, take the ferry: two hours of villas and villages seen from the water. If you are counting minutes, the hydrofoil halves the trip for a supplement.
Do I need to book tickets? Not for the ferry or the bus: you buy on the spot, though on summer weekends arrive early. Our boat tours, instead, can be booked online in a minute.
Official sources: Navigazione Laghi · ASF Autolinee.