Florence to Lake Como: How-To & Travel Tips

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There are a couple of ways to get from Florence to Lake Como.

I’ve done both of these over the years, and in this post, I’ll outline the pros, cons, and ‘how to’ of each option. Plus a few travel inspiration tips to really get the juices flowing.

The most popular option is to take the train. The journey takes around 3 hours and there are several trains per day starting at around $20 one way. Once in Lake Como, you will need to depend on the ferry and the bus system to explore the towns along the lake. I have a few lessons learned on this below.

Another option is to drive to Lake Como. This takes around 5 hours, depending on traffic. This option can be a good opportunity for a road trip. There are a few famous cities along the way, like Bologna, Parma, and Milan, including a few Hidden Gems to spark inspiration around Lake Como. This is my favorite option!

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Florence to Lake Como by Car

If there was ever an opportunity to do a little road trip, this would be it! Florence to Lake Como is a bit far no matter how you slice it – by train or by car, as each way takes about 3-4 hours. So, it’s NOT ideal for a day trip. So why not take that 5 hours and turn them into something more exciting?

Benefits of Renting a Car to Get To Lake Como:
✅ Lake Como is large and it can be an advantage to have a car to explore
✅ There are many iconic stops along the way from Florence to Como
✅ A road trip is far more enjoyable in Italy than a lame train ride

Is Lake Como close to Florence?

Lake Como is about 400 km from Florence using A1/E35 highway. The average drive directly from Florence to Lake Como is about 5 hours.

Where can I rent a car?

Rental prices will be similar at both Rome and Milan airports as they are major international hubs, so it really depends on where you want to rent from. Check out Renting a Car in Italy: Surprising Mistakes & Advice before checking prices.

This is what I use to check prices
▶️ DISCOVER CARS ◀️

Another great read along this topic is Driving in Europe as an American, as there are a few differences and road cultures, especially in Italy.

What are the best stops along the way?

If you go the road trip route from Florence, these are my favorite stops along the way:

✅ Bologna

Bologna is a town in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy and is known for its University of Bologna, which is the oldest university in the world. It is also known for its traditions, cuisine, and nightlife. I spent a few days here and it felt like I was in a small little international city full of Italian flare – quite a lovely juxtaposition.

✅ Parma

Parma is the perfect place to spend a day or two on your road trip up to Lake Como. This charming town is located in the heart of the Emilia-Romagna region and is known for its delicious food and beautiful architecture. Parma is home to some of Italy’s most famous delicacies, including prosciutto and parmigiano-reggiano cheese.

✅ Milan

The capital of the Lombardy region, Milan is one of the largest Italian cities and home to some of the country’s most famous attractions. From the Duomo to Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper,” there is no shortage of things to see and do in this vibrant city. Milan is also known for its fashion, design, and cuisine. While it is a bustling city, it also has a number of parks and green spaces that make it an ideal place to relax. All in all, it’s a nice last city stop before you head on to Lake Como’s serene views.

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Florence to Lake Como by Train

This is the fastest and cheapest way to get to your ultimate destination, Como San Giovanni. There are plenty of trains making this trip every hour so you have options for departure time.

The average journey time is about 3 hours, but I will caution that Italian rail is notorious for delays – so it might take longer. That said, the trains are nice, clean, air-conditioned, and equipped with bathrooms and snack cars.

How do I get from Florence to Lake Como by train?

Your departure train station will be Firenze Santa Maria Novella in Florence, and your destination will be Como San Giovanni train station. Because there is no direct train, you will have to transfer at least once, either at Milano Centrale or Garibaldi Train Stations. You can get tickets here.

The transfer is not too bad. When you get to Milan, get off the high-speed train and take one of Trenord’s regional trains headed to Como San Giovanni. After about 1.5 hours, you’ll be at your destination on Lake Como!

Is there a direct train from Florence to Como?

There are no direct trains from Florence to Lake Como. You’ll have to change trains in Milan, but it’s not that bad.

What are the Florence to Como train times and schedule?

You can check the schedule and get tickets here. There are trains every half hour or so. As a heads up, the first train to Florence leaves at 2:03 am on weekdays, and the last train at 9:55 pm.

How much is the train ticket from Florence to Como?

The cheapest tickets can be around €15 for a one-way standard ticket. That said, I usually pay around €30 for mine because I buy them a few days before I head out at convenient times for my travel.

If you’re really trying to get cheap train tickets, you will want to book a couple of months in advance and be flexible with your travel time. Many train companies increase prices during “peak hours”, usually between 06:00 – 10:00 am and 3:00 – 7:00 pm on weekdays. If you can avoid these hours, you can find better prices.

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Lessons Learned in Lake Como About Transportation

While having a car can be annoying to park in Italy because of the small streets and such, it was worth it for me to have in Lake Como because it made navigating around the lake to the pretty little towns much easier. Here are a few lessons I learned from experiencing the public transportation (bus and ferry) around Lake Como:

• It’s very important to plan out your ferry routes and transfer times for the day because the fast ferries only run to certain ports at certain times, and can take 2 hours to get from the town of Como to Bellagio.
• All ferries are crowded, queues can be long for tickets at the popular ports, and there is a lack of organization in Italy (as we know and love) when it comes to queueing.
• The lake is very large and it’s worth lodging close to the main ports (Bellagio, Como).
• It’s worth renting a private boat or having a car if you’re wanting to get around quickly and without the stress of planning ferry logistics.

PRO TIP: If you only have a couple of days, I recommend doing this Villa Balbianello and Lake Como Walking and Boating Full-Day Tour and hitting all of the highlights – including explanations of where George Clooney’s mansion is, how many celebrities truly live around Lake Como, and if Leonardo DiCaprio is in town or not.

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Final Thoughts: Is Lake Como worth it?

Lake Como is as gorgeous as it looks in pictures. Bellagio and Varenna are the two most iconic and beautiful towns on Lake Como. The reality of it is that all of the small hidden towns around Lake Como are incredibly charming, so take your time exploring.

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