Lake Como & Lugano day trip from Milan: Ferry to Bellagio

Two lakes, two countries, one ferry crossing through Alpine scenery

A full-day guided tour from Milan to Lake Como and Lake Lugano, departing by coach and including a 30-minute ferry ride from Argegno to Bellagio. You walk through Como's Cathedral and lakeside promenade, cruise past celebrity villas and the Villa del Balbianello (a James Bond and Star Wars filming location), have free time and lunch in Bellagio, then cross into Switzerland to explore Lugano's lakeshore and Parco Ciani before returning to Milan by evening.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Lake Como and Lugano

• Meet guide at Milan Central Station
• Travel by coach to Lake Como
• Visit Como Cathedral and Piazza Volta
• Walk along Como lakeside promenade
• Travel to Argegno
• Ferry ride to Bellagio
• See famous villas from ferry
• Take photos in Bellagio
• Enjoy lunch in Bellagio
• Travel to Lugano, Switzerland
• Explore Lugano lakeshore and Parco Ciani
• Sample Swiss chocolate in Lugano
• Return by coach to Milan Central Station

The experience

You start at Milan Central Station in the early morning and board a fully-fitted GT coach for the drive to Lake Como: about an hour and 15 minutes north. Your guide meets you there and walks you through Como's center, pointing out the Cathedral and Piazza Volta (named for the scientist who invented the electric battery), then lets you wander the lakeside promenade at your own pace before the group heads to Argegno.

From Argegno, you board a ferry for a 30-minute crossing to Bellagio. This is where the lake itself becomes the route: you see the water-facing villas of international figures like George Clooney and Richard Branson, and the Villa del Balbianello, which appears in James Bond films, Star Wars, and House of Gucci. Bellagio sits at the point where two arms of Lake Como meet, and the village is built for photos: narrow streets, pastel buildings, and views back across the water. You have free time to explore and eat lunch at a local restaurant, with the lake in front of you.

In the afternoon, the coach crosses into Switzerland and Lugano, a smaller lakeside city with a cultural blend of Italian and Swiss influences. You walk the lakeshore and Parco Ciani, and there is time to buy Swiss chocolate or simply sit by the water. The return journey to Milan takes about two hours by coach, arriving back at Central Station by evening.

What’s included

• Roundtrip transportation by fully-fitted GT coach from Milan Central Station.
• 30-minute panoramic ferry ride on Lake Como from Argegno to Bellagio.
• professional multilingual tour guide.
• free time to explore Como, Bellagio, and Lugano at your own pace.
• earphones for hearing the guide.

Options for this experience

3 options

Tour in Spanish08:00A full-day discovery trip to the famous Lake Como, Bellagio and Swiss Lugano, guided by an expert guide who speaks Spanish

Tour in English08:00

Small group tour to Lake ComoGuide in English · 08:00Duration: 10 hours. Menaggio, Bellagio & Varenna: Pick this option to join a small group tour (maximum 25 people) to visit the villages mentioned above. Como and Bellagio are not included.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Lasts 11h, runs every day at 08:00, from € 68 per person, with a live guide in English and Spanish and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 50

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

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 if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Ciao Florence Tours Srl

Is this one for you?Book the standard tour if you want to see both Como and Lugano in a single day. The small group option visits only Menaggio, Bellagio, and Varenna instead. Choose based on which lakeside towns interest you most, since the two options follow different routes and stops.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What is the Villa del Balbianello and why is it famous?

Villa del Balbianello is a lakeside mansion on Lake Como that has been used as a filming location for James Bond, Star Wars, and House of Gucci. You see it from the ferry during the 30-minute crossing from Argegno to Bellagio.

Do I have time to eat lunch in Bellagio, or is it included?

Lunch is not included in the tour price, but you have free time in Bellagio to eat at one of the local restaurants. The group stays long enough for you to sit down and have a proper meal with views of the lake.

Is a passport required for this tour?

A valid passport is required to cross into Switzerland for the Lugano portion of the day. EU citizens may enter using a valid identity card instead of a passport.

How long is the ferry ride on Lake Como?

The ferry crossing from Argegno to Bellagio lasts 30 minutes and is included in the tour. It is the main way to experience Lake Como from the water and see the villas and landscape from the lake itself.