No trip to Milan is complete without visiting the nearby Lake Como. The great thing about Lake Como is how easy and affordable it is to reach from Milan not to mention the fact that it is absolutely beautiful. It is a great option to do and while there are many villages in around Lake Como, I am going to focus specifically on Como itself as unfortunately I had trouble trying to reach the other towns due to train strikes and it was off season when I visited (more on this later on) In this guide I will take you on my journey and things to look out for your Milan day trip to Como.
Exploring the Charms of Como Town
Como may be called a city, but it feels more like a storybook Italian village with its narrow lanes, historic piazzas, and relaxed vibe. I wandered into the centro storico (historic center) through medieval stone gates, ready to just roam around for a while. The town has a rich history (settlements here date back to ancient Roman times), and every corner seemed to unveil another beautiful building or cozy café.
Como Cathedral
My first stop had to be the Como Cathedral (Duomo di Como), which dominates the main square Piazza Duomo. This cathedral absolutely wowed me – it’s an architectural gem that took centuries to build, resulting in an eclectic mix of Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque styles all in one stunning structure. The façade is ornate with sculptures and a rose window, and its blue-gray dome towers over the town’s rooftops. I decided against taking a peek inside as visiting the Duomo’s interior currently requires an €11 ticket.
Stepping out of the cathedral, I found myself amid the lively buzz of Piazza Duomo. The square is lined with outdoor cafés and stylish shops, all watched over by the Duomo and the adjacent Broletto (a medieval town hall building with a distinctive white-gray-red marble façade). Grabbing a quick espresso at a café here feels like a must but unfortunately I’m not a coffee lover.
Piazzas San Fedele, Volta, Mazzini
From Piazza Duomo, I meandered north into a warren of cobbled pedestrian streets. In just a few minutes I reached Piazza San Fedele, another charming old square named after the 12th-century Basilica di San Fedele that stands here. The basilica’s Romanesque architecture and stone bell tower transport you back in time.
Continuing my stroll, I explored Piazza Volta and Piazza Mazzini, twin squares at the edge of the old town (these were the ones I encountered when I first walked in from the station). By late morning, these piazzas were getting lively too and they’re actually a focal point for Como’s restaurants and nightlife in the evenings but by day I found a few boutiques and bakeries open, and tourists meeting up for guided walks. I was visiting in December and there were some small Christmas markets going from relatively early in the morning
The streets around here, like Via Bernardino Luini and Via Vitani, are some of the prettiest narrow lanes you will see. There are also wrought-iron signs hanging above small artisan shops and wine bars, shaded by centuries-old buildings. It’s definitely worth taking your time to wander and get a little lost.
Lakefront Walk
Eventually, I navigated back toward the lakefront promenade. Como’s lakefront area is gorgeous and very accessible – basically an elongated park and walkway along the shore, with benches, gardens, and views for days. I had to also check out Como football stadium which is dubbed one of the prettiest in the world and I have to agree with the surrounding lake and mountains. During my walk I took a peak of the ferries times but I did decide against it as my return to Milan was not guaranteed due to the train strikes. I will briefly mention the possible combinations from Como though at the end.
Funicular to Brunate and the Hike to the Faro Voltiano
After deciding against my original plan I searched quickly on whether there are anything else that I missed and I found the hike to Faro Volitano via the Brunate funicular.The base station is near Piazza Alcide de Gasperi. The entire ride is only about 7 minutes from bottom to top and I bought a round-trip funicular ticket for about €6.60. In summer it’s advised to buy tickets in advance or come early, as lines can get long. Luckily, on a weekday outside of peak holiday season, I had the funicular almost all to myself.
The funicular runs frequently (every 15–30 minutes) starting around 6:00 am until late eveningitalia.it, so it’s a very convenient option whenever you visit. We packed into the vintage red carriage, I grabbed a window spot, and soon we were off, clanking up the incline. As the funicular climbed higher and higher, the views of Como and the lake expanded beneath us. In what felt like no time, we arrived at the hilltop station in Brunate.
Brunate is a little village often nicknamed the “Balcony over the Alps” – and I immediately understood why. Stepping out from the station, I was greeted with a balcony viewpoint near the funicular station that literally takes your breath away. All of Como and the southwestern branch of Lake Como lay spread out far below, shimmering in the midday sun. Mountains surrounded us on all sides; to the north, the high Alps were visible. (On very clear days, they say you can even see the Matterhorn or Monte Rosa in the distance, and sometimes even the skyline of Milan to the south)
While many visitors take the funicular up just for this immediate view and maybe a leisurely lunch at one of the hilltop restaurants, I was here to hike to Faro Voltiano (the Volta Lighthouse) which is known as the best viewpoint in the area. The lighthouse is a short hike from the Brunate station, and I was eager to stretch my legs and get a break from the cities and take a walk surrounded by nature.
The hike to Faro Voltiano is moderate and about 20–30 minutes one-way on a well-marked path. It’s uphill but not technically difficult mostly a mix of paved lanes and footpaths. I followed a small road that winds through Brunate’s quaint hillside neighborhood. If you’re not feeling up for the walk, note that there are also taxis/shuttles in Brunate that can take you closer to the lighthouse, but for me, hiking was half the fun and made the ultimate viewpoint feel earned.
At last, the white cylindrical lighthouse came into view through the trees. Faro Voltiano was built in 1927 in honor of Alessandro Volta, and it stands about 29 meters tall at the summit of the hill. I finally reached the base of the lighthouse, a little sweaty but very excited. Just beyond the lighthouse, there’s a terrace and panoramic lookout area – and the scene that greeted me was nothing short of awe-inspiring.
From this perch high above Lake Como, I had a 360-degree view of the region. The town of Como lay directly below, looking like a miniature model of itself – I could see the Duomo’s dome, the grid of streets, and tiny boats making gentle wakes on the lake’s surface. Looking further out, the lake’s sparkling waters stretched toward the horizon, framed by verdant mountains rising on either side. I could trace the shoreline and spot other towns in the distance. And of course, surrounding it all were the majestic Alps.
Eventually, I began the walk back to Brunate. The return hike down was much easier on the lungs and there are certain other viewpoints along the way which are also pretty spectactular as you make your way down. Back at the Brunate funicular station, I rewarded myself with a hot chocolate from the only open shop there was.
Ferry Options from Como (If You Have Time)
By the time I returned to Como, it was late afternoon in which I made my way back to the train station to not be caught out from the strikes as I already saw some trains getting cancelled. However if you do have the time and energy to catch a train back to Milan from another town consider adding these options to your Milan day trip to Como.
The 2 other picturesque towns on the lake are most notably Bellagio and Varenna.
The ferries on Lake Como operate year-round, and Como is a main hub where you can reach all the major lake towns by boat. There are two types of services: the regular slow ferries and the fast hydrofoils (sometimes called aliscafi). For example, a ferry from Como to Bellagio can either be a leisurely cruise of about 2 hours (regular ferry with many stops) or a faster 45-minute ride on the express service. Services are fairly frequent, especially in summer. In peak season, departures might be hourly, whereas in off-season it could be every 2–3 hours. Always check the posted schedule at the ferry ticket office or the official Navigazione Laghi website for the latest times.
The ticket office was open and had a signboard with fares. As of now, a one-way ticket from Como to Bellagio costs around €10.40 per person. If you plan to visit multiple towns in one day, they offer a day pass for the mid-lake area (Como–Bellagio and nearby stops) at about €23 which allows unlimited hop-on/hop-off for that day. Fast ferries have a small surcharge, but the convenience of saving over an hour of travel time can be worth it.
My original plan was to do a triangle: Como to Bellagio, then Bellagio to Varenna, then train from Varenna back to Milan. Keep in mind, though, that adding those towns means a very full day. In my case, I couldn’t achieve this but sticking to Como and the Brunate hike was the perfect alternative and I never felt rushed and could savor and enjoy the experience.
How to Get to Como from Milan
Trains connect Milan Centrale to Como San Giovanni (the main station in Como town) in about 40 minutes, with direct departures roughly every hour. The ticket cost was pretty cheap in around €5 each way for a second-class ticket You can buy tickets on the TreNord website. This makes it a fantastic budget-friendly escape from the city I bought my ticket at the station (you can also buy online via Trenord’s website or app) and boarded a regional train just after 8 AM.
From Como’s train station, it’s an easy walk into town. I followed the flow of locals and day-trippers heading east toward the lakefront. In about 10 minutes I found myself in the heart of Como’s historic center, emerging by the waterfront near Piazza Volta and Piazza Mazzini.
Important: I was not aware but apparently in Italy they make a habit of doing public transport strikes a lot and this usually happens on a Friday. As my luck would have it this was the only day I had time for and since Como is relatively near I decided to risk it anyways but did not venture further north to Varenna and Belagio.
Final Thoughts: A Day Well Spent
If you find yourself in Milan with a day to spare, I highly recommend you to go on this Milan day trip to Como. Whether you’re chasing panoramic views or simply have a day to spare then Lake Como does not disappoint. You can do this without breaking the bank as my expenses for the day (train + funicular + a few eats) were very reasonable, well under €30. The experience of seeing Lake Como from that Brunate lookout was well worth every penny.
If you’re planning a Milan getaway there are plenty of other day trips from Milan. You can read our other post and if you have any questions, feel free to reach out or drop a comment. And if you’re ready to experience it for yourself happy hiking! For more things to do in Italy, consider checking out Trieste a small coastal city right on the border of Italy and Slovenia!
