Lake Como day trip from Milan: Como, Bellagio & Varenna

The villas George Clooney and James Bond made famous, seen from the water as your guide tells their stories.

A small-group day trip from Milan to Lake Como, limited to 15 guests, with a local guide who times your arrival in Como before the morning crowds, then takes you by train and skip-the-line ferry through Bellagio and Varenna. The guide points out the lakeside villas used in House of Gucci, The Devil Wears Prada 2, Casino Royale and Star Wars, and recommends lunch spots with lake views. Villa Melzi gardens in Bellagio are optional and not included. Train tickets and ferry boarding are arranged.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Lake Como towns and villas

• Visit Como town and Duomo
• See Villa Oleandra from water
• Pass Versace's villa
• View Villa del Balbianello
• Pass Villa Passalacqua
• See Villa d'Este and Villa Melzi
• Explore Bellagio and gardens
• Enjoy lunch at Bellagio
• Visit Varenna lakeside and Walk of Lovers
• Free time in Varenna

The experience

The timing is what sets this tour apart. Your guide knows exactly when Como's Duomo and cobblestone streets are quietest, and when the ferry queues build up, so you reach the town in the morning, explore at your own pace, then board the boat to Bellagio before the afternoon rush. The 10-hour day runs from Milan by first-class train, and the skip-the-line ferry boarding means you walk straight onto the boat instead of standing in a queue that can stretch for hours in summer.

On the water between Como and Bellagio, you'll see the villas that turned Lake Como into a global landmark: George Clooney's Villa Oleandra, Gianni Versace's former home, Villa del Balbianello (the Star Wars and James Bond filming location with gardens that cascade to the lake), and Villa Passalacqua, recently named among the world's best hotels. Your guide shares the stories behind each one (the films shot there, the history, the architecture), so the cruise becomes the tour itself, not just transport between stops. In Bellagio, you have free time to wander the steep stone staircases and boutiques, and your guide will recommend a lake-view restaurant for lunch. Varenna, your last stop, is a smaller village with pastel houses and the "Walk of Lovers" along the shore. Again, you explore on your own before heading back to Milan.

The group stays under 15 people, so you're not following a flag through a crowd. A professional English-speaking guide is with you all day, and if the boat is noisy, a radio whispering system keeps the commentary clear. Children are welcome from age 7.

What’s included

• Professional English-speaking guide for the full day.
• first-class train tickets between Milan and Lake Como.
• skip-the-line ferry boarding on the Como-to-Bellagio cruise.
• radio whispering system on the boat if needed.
• small group capped at 15 people.
• guided walks through Como, Bellagio and Varenna with free time to explore on your own in each town.

Before you book

Days and timesFriday and SaturdayDeparts at 07:30

Book up to6h before

AgesAdult (12 to 65 years) · Senior (66 and older) · Child (7 to 11 years) · Under 7: can't be booked

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Abroads Tours

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English throughout the day, so anyone comfortable following commentary in English will hear the villa stories and local history as they happen. If you prefer to move at your own pace without constant narration, the free time in each town lets you step away and explore solo.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (7 to 11 years). Children under 7 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's included in the Lake Como day trip from Milan?

The tour includes a professional English-speaking guide for the full day; first-class train tickets from Milan to Como and back; skip-the-line ferry boarding from Como to Bellagio and on to Varenna; and a radio system if needed for the boat. Your guide recommends lunch spots in Bellagio with lake views, but you choose and pay for your own meal.

How much free time do you get to explore Bellagio and Varenna on your own?

Bellagio and Varenna both include free time after the guided walk. In Bellagio, you can explore the gardens, shops and lakeside on your own. Villa Melzi's botanical gardens are optional and cost extra if you want to enter. In Varenna, you have time to walk the "Walk of Lovers" and the cobblestone lanes before the return train to Milan.

Which villas do you actually see on this tour?

You see the villas from the water during the ferry cruise from Como to Bellagio. These include Villa del Balbianello (the Star Wars: Attack of the Clones and James Bond Casino Royale filming location), George Clooney's Villa Oleandra, Gianni Versace's former villa, Villa Passalacqua (a 19th-century estate now a luxury hotel), and Villa d'Este in Cernobbio. Your guide explains the stories and films connected to each one.

What time does the tour start and end?

The tour runs for 10 hours total, departing from Milan in the morning by train. You'll reach Como early, before the crowds, and return to Milan in the evening. Your guide will confirm the exact departure time when you book.