From Milan: Varenna and Lake Como Cruise Day Trip

Lake Como is best appreciated from the water, and this day trip gives you a long public-boat crossing between Varenna and Como, with villas and lakeside towns passing by along the way. I like that it pairs the cruise with time to wander Varenna, rather than making the lake itself the only stop.

I also like the practical bundle: your regional trains, boat ticket and Como-Brunate funicular ride are included. You can visit two towns without arranging each connection yourself, though you will still need to keep an eye on the clock.

The main drawback is the tight schedule. Varenna gets only an hour, and Como’s afternoon has to fit lunch, the cathedral, town streets and the funicular before the return train. This is a self-guided outing, not a guided tour, so you should be comfortable finding your way.

The essential points

• The boat is the scenic centerpiece: The public cruise from Varenna to Como takes about two and a half hours.
• Varenna gets one hour: That is enough for a short walk, but not a leisurely visit.
• Como has more afternoon time: You arrive around 13:40 on the listed 2025 schedule, with the return train at 17:36.
• The funicular is included: A round-trip ticket takes you between Como and Brunate for views over the surrounding area.
• You travel without a guide: A radioguide is included, but no in-person guide or lunch is provided.
• The price covers key transport: At $105 per person, the package includes both train rides, the boat crossing and the funicular.

From Milano Centrale to Varenna

The day begins at Milano Centrale, where you board a second-class regional train for Varenna. The listed timetable for June 16 through October 5, 2025, shows an 08:20 departure and a 09:24 arrival. Check the current schedule before you go, since boat times can change with Lake Como’s public navigation service.

The train leg is straightforward, but this is not a guided departure with someone leading the group through the station. You need to locate the correct train and manage your own boarding. I would arrive with time to spare, especially if you are unfamiliar with Milano Centrale.

A train delay can eat into an already compact day. One account of the trip described a late departure, so keep your plans flexible and avoid booking a fixed lunch or other activity in Como. The return train is scheduled for 17:36, and missing it would complicate the end of the day.

An hour among Varenna’s lanes

Varenna is a small lakeside town, and the limited stop gives you a quick taste rather than a full visit. The schedule allows about an hour to walk its quiet streets before you need to reach the pier. That is enough to stretch your legs, take in the setting and snap a few pictures, but not enough to explore at an unhurried pace.

The pier timing matters. You are due there at 10:45 for an 11:07 boat departure, so do not treat the full hour as time to wander far from the waterfront. The town is small, but the pier can be busy, and finding the right boat may take attention. Keep your ticket handy and check the signs rather than assuming every boat is going to Como.

This stop suits you if you enjoy a brief walk and are happy to leave a place with more still to see. If Varenna is your main reason for visiting the lake, a day trip with more time in town would be a better fit.

The long crossing from Varenna to Como

The boat leaves Varenna at 11:07 and reaches Como at about 13:40 on the stated timetable. At roughly two and a half hours, this is not just a quick transfer. It is the part of the day when you can settle in, watch the shoreline and see the lake’s towns and villages from the water.

That is also the trip’s strongest point. From a boat, you get a changing view of the lake rather than a single waterfront lookout. The crossing offers time for photographs and a slower pace between the two stops, a welcome contrast to train platforms and town schedules.

This is a public boat, not a private sightseeing cruise with a guide narrating the route. The package includes a radioguide, but no live guide is included, and the supplied details do not explain what the radioguide covers. If you want detailed commentary about the villas or towns, do not assume it will be provided.

The crossing takes up a substantial share of the day. That is a fair trade if you value the lake views and want to travel between Varenna and Como by water. If you would rather spend most of your time on land, the cruise may feel long, particularly when you reach Como and still have several sights to fit in.

Como: lunch, cathedral and a tight afternoon

You arrive in Como at about 13:40, with time for lunch and a town visit before the 17:36 train from Como San Giovanni. The schedule identifies a lunch break and afternoon time for the cathedral and town, but you will need to set your own pace. Lunch is not included, and there is no guide to organize the afternoon for you.

Como’s cathedral is one of the town’s principal sights and is included as a suggested stop. You can also spend time walking the streets and waterfront, but keep the departure from Como San Giovanni in mind. The train station is where your return journey begins, so leave enough time to get there rather than using every last minute in town.

The afternoon can feel compressed because the funicular also takes time. The schedule gives the Como visit and the funicular about an hour each, though the overall period between arrival and train departure is longer and includes lunch. In practice, you will want to decide what matters most instead of trying to linger everywhere.

A little planning helps. If the cathedral is a priority, visit it before heading for the funicular, or reverse that order if the panoramic views matter more to you. The exact order is not specified, so check how the day is being run and leave a buffer for getting back to the station.

Riding the Como-Brunate funicular

The included round-trip funicular ticket takes you from Como up to Brunate and back. The ride adds a different perspective after hours on the lake, with scenic views of the surrounding area from above. It is a useful way to see more of the region without arranging another transport connection.

The funicular is a real part of the day’s value, but it is not an extra block of free time. You need to account for the ride in both directions and any waiting, then return to Como for the train. If you are moving slowly or want a long meal, the afternoon may feel rushed.

Treat the funicular as a priority if the views are high on your list. If your preference is to linger in Como’s streets and cathedral, remember that fitting in every stop can mean giving each one only a short visit.

What $105 buys, and what it does not

At $105 per person, the price covers a useful chain of transport: a second-class regional train from Milano Centrale to Varenna, the public boat from Varenna to Como, the round-trip Como-Brunate funicular and a second-class train from Como San Giovanni back to Milan. The radioguide is included as well.

The value depends on how you like to travel. If you want the main connections bundled together and appreciate a long lake crossing, the price buys convenience as well as transport. You avoid booking each leg separately, while retaining the freedom to choose how you spend the town stops.

On the other hand, this is not a guided day with someone explaining the sights or managing every transition. Lunch is extra, and the short stops limit how deeply you can explore. If you are comfortable navigating independently and will use the boat and funicular, the package is easier to justify. If you mainly want a guide or a relaxed day in one town, you may find the cost harder to defend.

Who should book this day trip

I would choose this trip if you are staying in Milan, want to see Lake Como without arranging several transport legs yourself, and are content with a full day that runs to a timetable. The combination of train, boat and funicular makes it varied, and the cruise gives you a generous stretch of lake scenery.

It is especially suited to independent visitors who can read station and pier signs, watch the time and make quick choices about lunch and sightseeing. Comfortable shoes and clothes are sensible, since the day includes station transfers and walking in town. The experience is listed as unsuitable for wheelchair users.

I would think twice if your idea of a lake day is a slow lunch, long visits and time to wander wherever you please. Varenna’s hour is brief, while Como needs to share its afternoon with the cathedral and funicular. The tight schedule is the price of seeing two towns and crossing the lake in one day.

Should you book it?

Book if the lake crossing is your priority and you like having the main transport covered. The best reason to go is the long public-boat ride from Varenna to Como, with the funicular adding a worthwhile change of view.

Skip it if you want a guided explanation, a leisurely visit to Varenna or a generous amount of unplanned time in Como. For the right independent traveler, it is a practical way to combine Milan rail travel, a lake cruise and two town stops. Just keep your expectations, and your watch, in order.

FAQ

Where does the trip start?

It starts at Milano Centrale Railway Station, where you take a second-class regional train to Varenna.

How long is the day trip?

It lasts one day. The listed 2025 schedule runs from an 08:20 departure from Milan to an 18:17 arrival back at Milano Centrale.

How much free time is available in Varenna?

The schedule provides about one hour in Varenna before you need to reach the pier for the boat.

How long is the boat ride from Varenna to Como?

The public boat crossing takes about two and a half hours. The listed timetable shows departure at 11:07 and arrival at 13:40.

Is the boat ticket included?

Yes. The ticket includes the public boat from Varenna to Como.

Is the Como-Brunate funicular included?

Yes. A round-trip funicular ticket is included.

Is a tour guide included?

No. The activity is self-guided, and no guide is included. A radioguide is listed as included.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included, so you will need to pay for it separately.

What should I bring?

Comfortable shoes and comfortable clothes are recommended.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to seven days in advance for a full refund.