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Lake Como & Lugano: 2 Countries, Boat Cruise & Mountain Views

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/48

Duration9h–11h

GroupUp to 12

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Two Lakes, Two Countries — and You Don't Drive Once

You walk through Como's historic center with a local guide, cruise past lakeside villas including Versace's former home, then slip into the quiet village of Torno before heading into Switzerland. After lunch, you take a train and funicular into Lugano for free time on the Swiss lakefront. Train tickets, boat cruise, and the funicular ride are all included; you just show up at 8:15am at the Milan train station square.

9h–11h

Step-by-step itinerary

Walk historic center of Como
Enjoy Como lakefront and squares
Boat cruise past famous villas
Pass Villa Le Fontanelle
Pass Villa Erba in Cernobbio
View Villa d’Este from lake
Stroll peaceful village of Torno
Cross border to Lugano, Switzerland
Explore Lugano lakefront and city
Shop and taste Swiss chocolate
Optional swim in Lake Lugano (summer)

The Experience

So you're standing in Como at eight in the morning, and your guide is already pointing out the villas sliding past on the water — Gianni Versace's place, the one from Ocean's Twelve, the hotel where Sinatra stayed. The boat's already moving, and you haven't had to book a single ticket or figure out which train to catch. That's the whole thing right there. Lake Como and Lake Lugano in one afternoon, plus Switzerland, and all the logistics just... handled.

The boat cruise on Lake Como lasts about an hour, and it's the kind of slow that actually lets you see things. You pass Torno, this tiny village where the cobblestone streets are narrow enough that cars probably gave up trying, and the crowd thins out fast once you step off the water. There's Villa d'Este across the bay — the real one, not a photo — and your guide tells you the actual history instead of just the celebrity names. After Como, you catch a train into Switzerland, cross the border (bring your passport), and suddenly you're in Lugano, which feels like Como's more organized, slightly richer cousin. The funicular from the train station takes you up into the city proper, and then you've got free time to walk the lakefront, find the chocolate shops, or if it's summer, swim in water so clear you can see the bottom.

The walking is real — cobblestones, stairs, some uneven surfaces — so you need to be comfortable on your feet for a few hours. The group stays small enough that you're not herding through the famous spots with two hundred other people. And because everything's booked ahead — the boat, the trains, the funicular — you're not standing in a ticket line while the afternoon disappears. You're actually moving through two countries instead of just thinking about it.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel or train station pickup at 8:15am, a 1-hour Lake Como boat cruise with pre-booked tickets, an English-speaking local guide, entry to the historic center of Como and the village of Torno, a train ticket to Switzerland, a funicular ride from Lugano station to the city center, and free time to explore Lugano's lakefront and shops. All transportation between Milan and the lakes, plus the boat and funicular, is handled for you.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Abroads Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see two countries and two lakes in a single afternoon without renting a car, planning train connections, or standing in ticket lines — the small-group format and pre-booked transport are what make it possible to move through Como, Torno, and Lugano without losing hours to logistics.