Lake Como from Milan: Varenna, Bellagio, and the Iconic Villa
Milan, Italy

Lake Como from Milan: Varenna, Bellagio, and the Iconic Villa

Outty Ranking 74 4.7 · 75 traveler reviews9 hoursFrom $339
Instant mobile ticketSpots available today

Outty Ranking

74/100

Strongly Recommended. Our proprietary evaluation. How we score

Traveler rating

4.7/5

Based on 75 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.

Quick answer

Is Lake Como from Milan: Varenna, Bellagio, and the Iconic Villa worth booking?

Lake Como from Milan: Varenna, Bellagio, and the Iconic Villa is a 9-hour experience in Milan, Italy, from $339 per person. It scores 74 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Strongly Recommended”, based on a 4.7/5 rating across 75 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.

Outty Ranking
74 / 100
Rating
4.7/5 (75)
Duration
9 hours
From
$339 per person

Visit the beautiful Lake Como departing from Milan by train. Your professional guide will give you the opportunity to explore the fascinating town of Varenna, departing for a boat-cruise on the lake to reach the charming village of Bellagio, pearl of the Como Lake. After lunch you will continue to Villa Carlotta with its magnificent botanic garden and art masterpieces in over 70.000 square meters of gardens and museum. Certainly, this land is beautiful… magnificent ridges are harmoniously combined here with waters of the crystal-clear lake and the human touch in the form of refined architectural constructions and centuries of history are waiting to reveal their secrets. After the tour your guide will escort you back to Milan.

What you get

    About this experience

    Visit the beautiful Lake Como departing from Milan by train. Your professional guide will give you the opportunity to explore the fascinating town of Varenna, departing for a boat-cruise on the lake to reach the charming village of Bellagio, pearl of the Como Lake. After lunch you will continue to Villa Carlotta with its magnificent botanic garden and art masterpieces in over 70.000 square meters of gardens and museum. Certainly, this land is beautiful… magnificent ridges are harmoniously combined here with waters of the crystal-clear lake and the human touch in the form of refined architectural constructions and centuries of history are waiting to reveal their secrets. After the tour your guide will escort you back to Milan.

    What's included

    Included

    • Professional guide
    • Boat-cruise to Bellagio
    • Walking tours in Varenna and Bellagio
    • Visit to Villa Carlotta
    • Round-trip train travel between Milan and Varenna

    Not included

    • Lunch
    • Gratuities
    • Hotel pickup and drop-off

    What you'll see and do

    1. Varenna

      Lake Como is a treasure of nature, wonderful landscapes and culture. Charming towns and superb villas, with gardens decorated with marble statues and exotic plants will surprise you. In the morning depart from Milan with your professional guide by train and in just 1 hour you will reach the charming Varenna, an attractive village on the eastern shore of Lake Como, looking over the central part of the lake towards Bellagio. Varenna's picturesque lanes and old fishermen's houses are unpretentiously appealing, and some visitors prefer the town to its grander neighbors.

      240 minutes here

    2. Bellagio

      From Varenna you will experience a boat-cruise to Bellagio situated upon the cape of the land mass that divides Lake Como in two. Called the “Pearl of the Lake”, Bellagio's world class hotels and restaurants provide the perfect place to soak up the lake's famous panorama. Here you will have time for free lunch and shopping.

      180 minutes here

    3. Villa Carlotta

      After lunch your tour continues to Tremezzo and Villa Carlotta; the transfer will give you the chance to relax in the afternoon admiring the spectacular mountains and the stunning villas, once the homes of aristocrats, now the playgrounds for the jet set. Villa Carlotta is a place of rare beauty, where masterpieces of nature and art live together in perfect harmony in over 70.000 square meters of gardens and museum. It offers an elegant Neoclassical interior with a sculpture gallery which includes works by Antonio Canova, but the extensive and impeccably manicured gardens which sprawl in both directions from the villa will truly take your breath away.  After the visit your guide will escort you back to Varenna and from there you will get the train to Milan.

      120 minutes here · Admission included

    Where it starts and ends

    Meeting point

    Milan

    Meeting point with your Guide in front of Five Guys inside the Central Station ( Milano Stazione Centrale) 1° floor at the train platform level.

    Hotel pickup

    No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.

    Ends at

    Meeting point with your Guide in front of Five Guys inside the Central Station ( Milano Stazione Centrale) 1° floor at the train platform level.

    Before you book

    Cancellation
    For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
    Languages
    en, it
    Ticket
    Mobile Only
    Runs on
    Every day
    Group size
    Up to 10 travelers per booking
    Operated by
    YOUR TRAVEL DIARY

    Know before you go

    • Wheelchair accessible
    • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
    • Public transportation options are available nearby
    • Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
    • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
    • A minimum of 2 people per booking is required

    Photos

    Lake Como from Milan: Varenna, Bellagio, and the Iconic Villa, photo 2Lake Como from Milan: Varenna, Bellagio, and the Iconic Villa, photo 3Lake Como from Milan: Varenna, Bellagio, and the Iconic Villa, photo 4Lake Como from Milan: Varenna, Bellagio, and the Iconic Villa, photo 5Lake Como from Milan: Varenna, Bellagio, and the Iconic Villa, photo 6Lake Como from Milan: Varenna, Bellagio, and the Iconic Villa, photo 7

    What travelers are saying

    Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 75 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.

    The guide

    8 mentions

    Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.

    Knowledge and storytelling

    8 mentions

    Reviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.

    Photo opportunities

    2 mentions

    The views and photo stops come up again and again.

    Value for money

    2 mentions

    Travelers feel they got more than they paid for.

    Traveler reviews

    75 verified traveler reviews for Lake Como from Milan: Varenna, Bellagio, and the Iconic Villa. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.

    5 star
    64
    4 star
    6
    3 star
    2
    2 star
    2
    1 star
    1
    Sort
    Anne_Q · June 2025

    Como

    Comfortable shoes and plan for many stairs. Well worth it. A beautiful location our guide was amazing

    Response from the operator: Thank you for your suggestion :-) We happy you had great time with us. We hope to be able to share with you another experience like this in the future! Grazie e Arrivederci! Your Travel Diary

    via Viator

    Nicholas_D · May 2025

    Great day trip from Milan...

    Great day trip from Milan to the highlights of Lake Como. Guide was knowledgeable, very patient, and often pointed out little things that make a tour unique. Booking this gave me all I wanted and more, not to mention it saves you tons of time not having to stand in the long lines for the boats!

    Response from the operator: We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the beauty and serenity of this picturesque destination with our guide Renzo. Grazie! Your Travel Diary

    via Viator

    tommygC9294DU · May 2025

    Beautiful Lake Como

    First of all our guide Emilio was exceptional. He was very knowledgeable and more like a friend than a guide. He took us on the trains and the boats. Then accompanied us on the different stops with his excellent commentary. The views of the mountains and lake were amazing and so beautiful. We did some shopping in Bellagio. They have locally produced silk scarves and ties. All in all it was a wonderful and memorable experience. I highly recommend it!

    Response from the operator: Dear traveller Thank you so much for sharing your feedback. Emilio and all our team hope to be able to share with you another experience like this in the future! Grazie e Arrivederci! Your Travel Diary

    via Tripadvisor

    ingesO6736LV · May 2025

    Great transport between Milan and Bellagio.

    Bellagio Taxi was the ideal way for us to travel to/from Belagio. They were professional, friendly and prompt. Special shout out to our driver, Frederico, who was great.

    Response from the operator: I am happy you wrote a great review talking about our transfers and driver. usually people write only about tours and experiences but transfers is a service that we organize with passion too. all the best happy travels!

    via Tripadvisor

    Maria_B · April 2025

    Very Overpriced and Too Long

    Our guide Francesco was WONDERFUL. But there is no way this tour was worth the $500+ the two of us paid for it. It was a bunch of things we could have easily arranged in our own for about a quarter of the price. Add in the guide, and we are still at less than half the price. Also, who wants to spend 3 hours in crowded tacky Bellagio? That stop could've been eliminated or cut short. Francesco is knowledgeable and engaging and we would give him our highest recommendation, but the itinerary is padded and overpriced. I would like a credit on my upcoming Viator purchases. i think that would be fair.

    Response from the operator: I am really very sorry about your feedback. You wrote a bad review, asked for money back and tried in any way to make the day a bad day... In my opinion, you had a great tour with Francesco. You selected the wrong day to make the tour, during weekend and during italian festivities which all milaneses and italians move to como lake to enjoy the day off. You are right, Bellagio is over crowed but people still want to stay there and visit it. consider the fact to tell your parents, friends, colleagues to visit Como lake skipping Bellagio, maybe something can change, but if we spend time in Bellagio is not my fault. regards

    via Viator

    Good to know

    Duration
    9 hours
    Free cancellation
    Up to 24h before
    Minimum age to book
    All ages
    Availability
    Bookable today
    Runs on
    Every day
    Hotel pickup
    No pickup, meet at start point
    Booked in 30 days
    26
    Verdict
    Strongly Recommended

    Who runs this experience

    Operated by YOUR TRAVEL DIARY, who run 10 experiences we rank across 3 cities, with an average Outty Ranking of 54.9.

    See everything YOUR TRAVEL DIARY runs

    Why this scores 74

    The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.

    Traveler sentiment (30% weight)77
    Review evidence (18% weight)60
    Booking momentum (14% weight)54
    Value for money (12% weight)96
    Listing quality (10% weight)84
    Local standing (8% weight)62
    Booking flexibility (8% weight)100

    Lake Como from Milan: Varenna, Bellagio, and the Iconic Villa: questions travelers ask

    Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Milan.

    How much does Lake Como from Milan: Varenna, Bellagio, and the Iconic Villa cost?

    +

    Prices start at $339 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Milan usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.

    How long does Lake Como from Milan: Varenna, Bellagio, and the Iconic Villa take?

    +

    Plan for about 9 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Milan is not rushed.

    Is Lake Como from Milan: Varenna, Bellagio, and the Iconic Villa worth it?

    +

    It holds an Outty Ranking of 74 out of 100, which we label "Strongly Recommended". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.7/5 across 75 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Milan, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.

    Can I cancel or reschedule Lake Como from Milan: Varenna, Bellagio, and the Iconic Villa?

    +

    Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.

    Is Lake Como from Milan: Varenna, Bellagio, and the Iconic Villa suitable for kids and families?

    +

    Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 9-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.

    How far in advance should I book Lake Como from Milan: Varenna, Bellagio, and the Iconic Villa?

    +

    Around 26 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Milan can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.

    What should I bring or wear?

    +

    Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Milan and add a light layer if any part of the 9-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.

    Where does Lake Como from Milan: Varenna, Bellagio, and the Iconic Villa start and how do I get there?

    +

    The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Milan within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.

    What are the best things to do in Milan?

    +

    On Outty we rank every Milan experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Small-Group Lake Como & Lugano: 2 Countries in 1 Day, Boat Cruise, Gnocchi, Pasta, Tiramisù and Wine Class, Como, Bellagio & Varenna: Small Group from Milan with Boat Cruise. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.

    When is the best time to visit Milan?

    +

    Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.

    How many days do you need in Milan?

    +

    Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.

    Do I book through Outty or through the operator?

    +

    Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.

    What is included in Lake Como from Milan: Varenna, Bellagio, and the Iconic Villa?

    +

    Included: Professional guide; Boat-cruise to Bellagio; Walking tours in Varenna and Bellagio; Visit to Villa Carlotta; and Round-trip train travel between Milan and Varenna. Not included: Lunch; Gratuities; and Hotel pickup and drop-off. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.

    Where is the meeting point for Lake Como from Milan: Varenna, Bellagio, and the Iconic Villa?

    +

    Meeting point with your Guide in front of Five Guys inside the Central Station ( Milano Stazione Centrale) 1° floor at the train platform level. Hotel pickup is not included, so plan your own transport and arrive 15 minutes early.

    What languages is Lake Como from Milan: Varenna, Bellagio, and the Iconic Villa offered in?

    +

    It is offered in English and Italian. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.

    Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Lake Como from Milan: Varenna, Bellagio, and the Iconic Villa?

    +

    Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.

    Is Lake Como from Milan: Varenna, Bellagio, and the Iconic Villa wheelchair or stroller accessible?

    +

    The operator notes: Wheelchair accessible; Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller; and Transportation options are wheelchair accessible. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.

    What happens to Lake Como from Milan: Varenna, Bellagio, and the Iconic Villa if the weather is bad?

    +

    It generally runs rain or shine, so dress for the forecast in Milan. Standard cancellation terms apply: free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.

    What do travelers say about Lake Como from Milan: Varenna, Bellagio, and the Iconic Villa?

    +

    Across 75 reviews averaging 4.7 out of 5, recurring themes include the guide, knowledge and storytelling, photo opportunities. Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.

    Ready to lock in your spot?

    Pick a date, choose your group, and see the exact price for Lake Como from Milan: Varenna, Bellagio, and the Iconic Villa.

    Pick your date