Lake Como Without a Car: Is Public Transport Enough?

Here is our honest opinion, why one doesn't need a car around Lake Como, Italy.

29 August 2026 · by Krisztofer & Dávid · 2 min read

Lakeside Italian villa surrounded by lush gardens, sailboats and moored boats on calm water, with distant mountains under a blue sky.

One would think having a car in the Lake Como area is essential, but after spending a long weekend there, we’re confident that the opposite is true. This is Italy, which doesn’t only mean good food, but also excellent public transport and walkable towns.

We actually arrived by car on a hot July weekend, so we cannot claim to have done the whole trip without one. But during our stay, we quickly realised that our car was also going to have a short rest.

Walking to Varenna

We stayed in Fiumelatte, a tiny village just south of Varenna. From our accommodation, we simply walked to Varenna in about 20 minutes. There is also a train connecting the two places, taking just four minutes.

If you’re in a terrible hurry, the train is a better option — unless you have to wait ages for the next one. In that case, you might actually get there faster on foot. The walk is short, easy and gives you a chance to wander along the coast of the lake.

Sunny Lake Como villa on a lush, cypress-lined peninsula, with terracotta roofs, blue water, and rugged mountains beneath a clear sky. — On our walk to Varenna

Taking the ferry

For us, the real star of Lake Como's public transport system was the ferry.

From Varenna, we took a boat to Bellagio. The one-way ticket costs €4.40 in 2026, while a day ticket costs €17.50. Since we only planned to visit Bellagio and return, the single ticket made more sense.

There was just one small problem: we somehow managed to board the wrong boat.

Instead of going directly to Bellagio, we first stopped in Menaggio. Sightseeing by boat: tick.

View from a boat across a sparkling alpine lake toward green, village-dotted mountains beneath a vivid blue sky; peaceful summer scene.

Bellagio itself was considerably busier than Varenna, but getting there by boat was half the fun. After exploring the town and the gardens of Villa Melzi, we simply took the ferry back to Varenna.

Sunlit botanical garden with a towering leafy tree, bamboo-like grasses, broad tropical leaves, dense greenery, and a tranquil blue sky. — Lush vegetation in the gardens of Villa Melzi

Sunny lakeside villa framed by tall palm trees, with blue water, mountain peaks, and fluffy clouds creating a tranquil Mediterranean scene. — Palms and pavilions around Villa Melzi

So, do you need a car?

For a long weekend focused on Varenna, Bellagio and the lake itself, we would say no.

Trains can cover short connections, ferries connect the main towns, and many places are perfectly walkable. The car was useful for us when heading to Lierna for a swim and later up into the mountains for dinner, but it was hardly essential for exploring the lakeside towns.