Getting around Lake Como – Ferries
The Lake Como ferry service is primarily a public transport system for the tourism industry. It doesn’t really do ‘pleasure cruises’ but because of the beauty of the scenery that the boats travel through, a ride on a ferry is also the definitive Lake Como holiday leisure experience.
As public transport the Lake Como ferry service runs dozens of boats of various types to over thirty towns and villages around the 170 kilometres of lake perimeter. For visitors based on the popular western side of the Lake, for example, a ferry ride is the only convenient way of getting to Bellagio or Varenna, two of the most popular mid-lake visitor attractions.
Because the Lake has an irregular perimeter, varies in width and divides halfway down into two branches (one with a dog leg) a boat ride through some sections is characterised by a succession of new views being opened up, as if the boat were part of nature’s own slideshow.
The Lake Como ferry service has a complex timetable, with information on a number of different, though often overlapping routes. And the staff at ferry points don’t necessarily speak English. This prompted us to rework the information in the timetable. It’s still a bit bulky but that’s inevitable given the nature of the service. Click here to see our simplified but complete ‘Ferry Departure Times’.
Fares charged by the Lake Como ferry service are based on stages, with a supplement for the fast service, which uses quicker boats and stops less often than the standard service. To find the fare for a journey between two points around the Lake you can consult the charts on the ferry service website.
Incidentally, there is no saving in buying return tickets other than having to queue once only, because they are simply twice the price of singles.
Gallery – click on images to enlarge
For more detailed information, see:
- Summer 2009 Lake Como Ferry Timetables for Visitors – Our re-working of the official timetables
- A guide to the Lake Como ferry timetables – A link to the official timetables, with commentary
- How and why we re-worked the ferry timetables – If you’re really interested
Staying in Hotel Britannia Exdcelsior Cadenabbia. Going to wedding in Hotel Royal Victoria, Verenna. How long does it take? what time are the ferries? Whar is the price of the crossing?
Thanks Sandra
There are winter and spring timetables and fares in English on the ferry operator’s web site. Those headed ‘ferries’ (as opposed to Motorships or Fast Services) give details of services – for vehicles and pedestrians – between the mid-lake ports of Cadenabbia, Bellagio, Menaggio and Varenna. You have to look not only at direct services, which are intermittent, but also, for example at Cadenabbia – Bellagio and then Bellagio –Varenna.
It takes about ten to fifteen minutes to cover one ‘leg’, so half an hour on the water on an indirect route. The fare from Cadenabbia to Varenna is €3.50 one way.
Hi, Interesting post, I think ferries are a great way to travel and you can get some great scenery along the way as well.
Hi,
I will be visiting Italy next May, and I am confused about the timetables that are listed on the website. What is the best way to get to Lenno and visit the Villa de Balbianelle by Ferry? Also if anyone has suggestions on a town to stay in on Lake Como, which will give me reasonably quick access to Milan and Turin it would be greatly appreciated!