Milan Airport to Lake Como: Every Route, Time and Cost
Your plane lands in Milan. Lake Como doesn't. Here is every way to reach the lake from Malpensa, Linate and Bergamo — trains, buses, taxis, real times and prices — including the route that skips Milan entirely and the direct train to Varenna most guides forget.
Milan has three commercial airports. All of them sit 50–90 km from Lake Como. Each has several ways onward: express trains, buses, private cars. Picking the route that fits your schedule matters. But the real secret? Arrange luggage pickup in advance. Step off the plane, hand over your bags, and start your holiday. Nobody ever came home raving about the hour they spent dragging suitcases across train platforms.
Travel hack: add a BagMeHome airport pickup when you book. A local driver meets you at Arrivals, seals and tags your bags, and delivers them to your hotel or ferry pier once you've checked in. You cross Lombardy with a day-pack. Book here.
Which airport is closest to Lake Como?
Malpensa (MXP) is the closest major airport to Como town — about 40 km — and has the best onward links, so for the west shore (Como, Cernobbio, Tremezzina, Menaggio) it is the default answer. Two caveats worth knowing before you book:
- Heading to the east shore? For Varenna, Bellagio via Varenna, or anywhere near Lecco, Bergamo (BGY) is geographically closer and connects through Lecco without touching Milan.
- Linate (LIN) is the closest airport to central Milan, not to the lake. Fine if your fare is good — you will just change in Milan like everyone else.
There is no airport on Lake Como itself. Whatever you fly into, plan one ground leg of 1–2 hours.
Every route, compared
Times are per leg, not door to door — the rail routes need a change at Milano Centrale. Details for each airport follow below.
| From | Route | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| MalpensaMXP | Malpensa Express to Milano Centrale, change to Trenord for Como San GiovanniFastest | ~45 min + ~40 min | ~€20–€30 |
| MalpensaMXP | Malpensa Express towards Cadorna, change at Saronno for Como LagoSkips Milan; arrives by the pier | ~75 min total | ~€13 |
| MalpensaMXP | FlixBus from the airport forecourt to Como Autostazione, no changesCheapest & direct | 45–65 min | ~€6–€10 |
| MalpensaMXP | Private carMost comfortable | ~60 min | ~€120–€160 |
| LinateLIN | Airport shuttle to Milano Centrale, change to Trenord for Como San GiovanniNo direct rail link | ~25 min + ~40 min | ~€10–€24 |
| BergamoBGY, Orio al Serio | Airport bus to Milano Centrale, change to Trenord for Como San Giovanni | ~50 min + ~40 min | ~€16–€41 |
| BergamoBGY, Orio al Serio | FlixBus, often via Milan LampugnanoDirect | ~2.5 hours | ~€11–€25 |
1. Malpensa (MXP) to Como
Fastest — Malpensa Express + train
- Take the Malpensa Express from Terminal 1 or 2 to Milano Centrale (~45 min).
- Change to a Trenord train for Como San Giovanni (~40 min).
- Cost: ~€20–€30
One change, no Milan — via Saronno
- Take the Malpensa Express in the Milano Cadorna direction and get off at Saronno (~20 min).
- Change to the Trenord regional for Como Lago (~40 min).
- Why we like it: you never enter Milan, and Como Lago station is two minutes on foot from the ferry pier and the old town — unlike San Giovanni, which sits up the hill. ~75 min, ~€13 total.
Cheapest & direct — FlixBus
- One direct FlixBus from the airport forecourt to Como Autostazione. No changes, no platforms.
- Time: 45–65 min. Cost: ~€6–€10
Most comfortable — private car
- The smart move for late-night arrivals or travel with small children.
- Time: ~60 min. Cost: ~€120–€160
2. Linate (LIN) to Como
Linate is the closest airport to central Milan. It is also the one with no direct rail link to Como. Here is the workaround.
Standard — shuttle bus + train
- Airport shuttle to Milano Centrale (~25 min).
- Change to a Trenord train for Como San Giovanni (~40 min).
- Cost: ~€10–€24
Pro tip: most Linate arrivals reach Milano Centrale in under half an hour, and trains to Como run frequently. When the connections line up, door to door rarely tops 90 minutes.
3. Bergamo Orio al Serio (BGY) to Como
Flying a low-cost carrier? You are probably landing here. You saved on the fare; now budget for the longest ground transfer of the three.
Standard — airport bus + train
- Airport bus to Milano Centrale (~50 min).
- Change to a Trenord train for Como San Giovanni (~40 min).
- Cost: ~€16–€41
Direct — FlixBus
- FlixBus (often via Milan Lampugnano) to Como.
- Time: ~2.5 hours. Cost: ~€11–€25
Straight to Varenna or Bellagio (skip Como)
Most guides route everyone through Como town. If you are staying mid-lake, that is the long way round. The east shore has its own railway line, and Bellagio is a 15-minute ferry hop from it.
From Malpensa or Linate — via Milano Centrale
- Reach Milano Centrale (Malpensa Express ~50 min, or the Linate shuttle ~25 min).
- Take the direct Trenord train towards Sondrio/Tirano and get off at Varenna-Esino (~65 min, €7.40, hourly).
- For Bellagio: cross from Varenna by ferry, 15 minutes.
From Bergamo — via Lecco, no Milan at all
- Airport bus (ATB Line 1, ~15 min) to Bergamo railway station.
- Train to Lecco (~40 min, hourly), then either the Sondrio/Tirano train one stop to Varenna-Esino (~20 min) or the D10 bus from Lecco station to Bellagio (~50 min).
Mind the stairs at the end of it: Varenna's station sits above the village and Bellagio is built on steps. If your bags are the problem, we collect them at the airport or your first hotel and deliver them to your door in Varenna, Bellagio or anywhere else on the lake, from €5 a bag.
From Como to the Central-Lake Towns
Landed in Como town instead? Three ways onward to Bellagio, Varenna and Menaggio:
- Ferries: regular services to Bellagio, Varenna, and Menaggio (45–75 min, ~€10–€15). Check the Navigazione Laghi timetables before you go.
- Fast hydrofoils (aliscafo): roughly half the time for a small supplement.
- Buses (C10 / C30): your backup when ferries run reduced winter schedules.
Booked BagMeHome? Then you board the boat with just a day-pack. Your luggage is redelivered to your hotel reception or ferry pier at a scheduled time. The bags take their trip. You take yours.
Questions we get asked
Which airport is closest to Lake Como?
Malpensa, about 40 km from Como town with the best onward links. Bergamo is closer for the east shore (Varenna, Lecco). Linate is closest to Milan city, not the lake. No airport sits on the lake itself.
Is there a direct train from Malpensa to Lake Como?
No direct train, but one change does it: Malpensa Express towards Cadorna, change at Saronno, regional to Como Lago. About 75 minutes and €13, arriving two minutes from the ferry pier.
How do I get from Milan airport to Bellagio?
Train to Milano Centrale, direct train to Varenna-Esino (~65 min, €7.40), then the 15-minute ferry across to Bellagio. From Bergamo airport, go via Lecco instead and take the train to Varenna or the D10 bus to Bellagio.
How much is a taxi from Malpensa to Como?
Roughly €120–€160 for the ~60-minute drive. It makes sense late at night or with small children; otherwise the train wins on price by a wide margin.
What do I do with my luggage on all these changes?
Hand it to us. We collect at the airport or your first hotel and deliver to wherever you sleep next, anywhere on Lake Como, from €5 a bag, insured. You do the platform changes with a day-pack.
How to Book a BagMeHome Airport Pickup
- Send us your flight number and hotel on WhatsApp or request a quote online — you get a price back in minutes.
- Meet your driver at Arrivals and hand over the bags, sealed and tagged.
- Head straight to the lake by whichever route above suits you — hands free.
- Find your bags waiting at your accommodation, or delivered at an agreed time and spot.
From €5 a bag on the lake, insured, rated 5.0 on Google. Get your quote.
