· 6 min read · by Salimar Boat Tour
Milan to Como by Train: Times, Prices and Which Station to Choose
Most Lake Como visitors sleep in Milan — and rightly so: the lake is forty minutes away by train. The only mistake you can make is picking the wrong pair of stations, because Milan has two that look towards Como and Como has two that welcome you back. Here is everything: lines, times, prices and the live departure boards.
The 30-second answer
| Route | Time | Price | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milano Centrale → Como S. Giovanni | ~40 min | €5.20 | roughly hourly (6:43–21:43) |
| Milano Cadorna → Como Nord Lago | ~1 hour | ~€5 | every 30–60 min — you step off at the lake |
| P.ta Garibaldi → Como S. Giovanni (S11) | ~1 hour | ~€5 | one useful train per hour |
| Malpensa → Como (bus) | ~55 min | €6–10 | Flibco ~every 2h + FlixBus |
Centrale → Como San Giovanni: the fastest
It’s the Trenord regional on the Chiasso–Locarno line: about 40 minutes non-stop, €5.20 in second class, no seat reservation — hop on and go. Departures are roughly hourly: first train 6:43, last 21:43. Buy the ticket in two taps on the Trenord or Trenitalia app, or at the machines.
One thing to watch
The train continues into Switzerland: your stop is Como San Giovanni, not Chiasso. From the station it’s a 15-minute downhill walk to the lakefront (or 5 by taxi).
Cadorna → Como Nord Lago: step off at the lake
The Trenord from Milano Cadorna takes about an hour, but pays you back with the perfect arrival: <b>Como Nord Lago</b> station is five minutes on foot from the lakefront, the Brunate funicular and our pier. If your goal is the lake — not the upper town — this is the right pair of stations. Trains every 30–60 minutes, around €5.
Why it often wins even from central Milan
Cadorna is right downtown, next to the Sforza Castle, on metro lines M1 and M2: for many Milan hotels it’s handier than Centrale. And on arrival: no climbs, no taxi — you are already where you wanted to be.
S11 from Porta Garibaldi: the neighbourhood option
The S11 suburban line links Porta Garibaldi to Como San Giovanni in just under an hour: trains run every 30 minutes but only one per hour goes all the way to Como. Worth it if you stay around Garibaldi, Isola or Corso Como — otherwise Centrale wins.
From Malpensa straight to Como
Landing at Malpensa? Skip Milan entirely: Flibco (about every two hours) and FlixBus (a couple of runs a day) link Terminal 2 to Como — Piazzale San Gottardo stop, next to San Giovanni station — in 55 minutes for €6–10. Alternatively, take the Malpensa Express to Saronno and change for Como Nord Lago.
Trenord stations — Cadorna and Como Lago, live times
ViaggiaTreno (RFI) — live rail traffic
As soon as you arrive: the lake in five minutes
From Como Nord Lago you are already on the lakefront; from San Giovanni it’s a fifteen-minute walk down through the centre. And if you want to turn arrival into an outing, our <a href="/en/como/" style="color:#1b7fd4;font-weight:700">boat tours from Como</a> leave two steps from the square: one hour among the villas, prosecco included.
Tips from lake commuters
- Buy tickets in the app: no queue at the machines.
- Summer weekends: aim for trains before 9am, later ones fill up fast.
- Always check the live board before moving: the Chiasso line has its moods.
- Frequencies drop in the evening: check the last useful run on the board before that one aperitivo too many.
Quick questions
How much is the Milan–Como train? €5.20 from Centrale to San Giovanni, about €5 from Cadorna to Como Nord Lago. Fixed price, no booking: buy it a minute before departure.
Centrale or Cadorna? Centrale for speed (40 minutes). Cadorna to step off right at the lake, by the funicular and the piers.
Do I need to book? No: these are fixed-price regional trains. Take the next useful one — the live boards above tell you which.
Read next: the perfect Milan day trip itinerary · Milan to Bellagio
Official sources: Trenord, Trenitalia. Facts checked on August 2, 2026: fares and times can change — always check the live boards.