Lake Como is about an hour north of Milan, and a coach day trip is the easiest way to see it without renting a car. Two of the most-booked options on Viator both reach Bellagio, both cost around $90 to $120, and both put you on a coach with up to fifty or more people. One adds a private boat and a stop in Lugano, across the Swiss border; the other stays in Italy and uses the public ferries. They are rated 4.5 and 4.6, below most day trips in this catalog, and the reviews explain why.
Italy2Love is a Viator affiliate. Bookings are completed on Viator, not on this site, and we earn a commission on bookings made through our links — at no extra cost to you. Prices and availability shown on Viator are the ones that apply.
The verdict
These are big-coach days, and it shows in the ratings. The Lugano day holds 4.5 across 2,293 reviews, with 118 one-star ratings; the Como-only day holds 4.6 across 516. Most reviewers are happy. The less happy reviews we read are mostly about logistics: a long coach ride, a bilingual guide, a changed boat.
The Lugano day includes a 45-minute private boat cruise on Lake Como past the villas, including Villa del Balbianello and Villa Carlotta, then free time in Bellagio and in Lugano, in Switzerland. It runs with an English-speaking guide and headsets. You need a passport.
The Como-only day spends about two hours in Bellagio and two in Como, and uses the public boat services on the lake, with skip-the-line boat tickets if you choose that option. It is offered in English and Spanish, and the provider states it may run as a single bilingual group.
Our pick is the Lugano day, for the private boat and the English-only guide, both of which remove the two most common complaints about this kind of trip. Bring your passport. If you do not want to cross into Switzerland, or you would rather spend the time in Como, the Como-only day is the better choice and slightly cheaper.
The Lugano day’s provider states that a passport is mandatory to enter Switzerland, and that checking visa requirements is your responsibility. The Como-only day’s provider also warns that its route may cross the Swiss border and asks non-European travelers to carry their original passport; photocopies and digital copies are not accepted. Carry it on both.
The Como-only day’s listing states that the tour uses public boat services, so free time at each stop may vary with schedules and traffic. One reviewer in June 2026 wrote that the schedule had been by private boat when she booked and was changed. Another found the guide spoke more Spanish than English. Read the option you are buying before you pay.
Which one is for you?
Take the Lugano day if
- You want a private boat on Lake Como, not a public ferry.
- You want an English-speaking guide, not a bilingual one.
- You would like to add Switzerland to the trip.
- You want to see Villa del Balbianello and Villa Carlotta from the water.
- You have your passport with you.
Take the Como-only day if
- You would rather spend the time on Lake Como than in Lugano.
- You want two hours in the town of Como as well as two in Bellagio.
- You want the lower price, about $90.
- A long ride on the lake appeals: one reviewer’s public ferry to Bellagio took about two hours.
- You speak Spanish, or do not mind a bilingual guide.
What each price covers
The Lugano day, from about $92
Included: a 45-minute private boat cruise on Lake Como; a professional English-speaking guide; free time in Bellagio and in Lugano; an air-conditioned coach; and headsets.
What you will actually pay: about $92 per person is the lowest group rate; for two travelers on the September date we checked it was about $121 per person. Gratuities, food and drinks and any pickup are not included. The group can reach 55. Knees and shoulders must be covered to enter churches.
The Como-only day, from about $90
Included: skip-the-line tickets for the boat, if you choose that option; an air-conditioned coach; a professional English- or Spanish-speaking tour leader; and headsets for groups over ten. The day gives about two hours in Bellagio and two in Como.
Not included: food and drinks, and hotel pickup. The group can reach 50. If you arrive late and miss the departure, no refund is possible. Dress rules apply in churches and some museums: no shorts or sleeveless tops.
Where each one starts
- Lugano day: Milano Porta Garibaldi station, in front of the main entrance on the left side, outside Farinella Bakery & Coffee, under the covered roof. Departure at 8:00 am.
- Como-only day: Piazza IV Novembre, next to the Hotel Gallia by Milano Centrale station. Arrive 15 minutes before the 8:30 am start.
- Neither is wheelchair accessible. The Como-only day is stroller accessible.
- Both offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start, local time.
Side by side
| With Lugano | Lake Como only | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5 from 2,293 | 4.6 from 516 |
| Recommended by | Not shown | 93% of travelers |
| Price | from about $92; about $121 for two on a September date | from about $90 |
| Length | 10h30 | 10 hours |
| Group cap | 55 | 50 |
| Boat | 45-minute private cruise | Public ferry services |
| Stops | Bellagio, Lugano | Bellagio, Como |
| Guide | English | English and Spanish, may be bilingual |
| Passport | Mandatory | Required if the route crosses the border |
| Starts | Milano Porta Garibaldi, 8:00 am | Milano Centrale area, 8:30 am |
What travelers say
On the Lugano day
Lugano was pretty much of a waste of time, but Bellagio is definitely worth seeing
David_H, September 2026, via Viator
The lakes are gorgeous. Bus ride was a little long; Due to road construction/closure.
Tony_P, September 2026, via Viator
On the Como-only day
Bus to Lake Como took 1 hour, boat to Bellagio took 2 hours and the scenery was beautiful.
Alison_S, April 2026, via Viator
The only thing I would have booked the trip that included Switzerland.
Shirley_R, June 2026, via Viator
Those two reviews, one on each tour, argue in opposite directions, and that is a fair summary: Bellagio is the reason to go, and whether Lugano adds to the day depends on the traveler. The Como-only day’s two-hour ferry to Bellagio is part of the experience rather than a transfer; the Lugano day’s private boat is shorter and fixed.
How either fits a Milan trip
A Lake Como day works best as the day after you have seen Milan itself. Our guide to things to do in Milan and the Milan walking tour cover the city. For more lakes, islands and coastlines across Italy, see Lakes, Islands and Coasts, and for other bookable days, the experience finder.
Questions travelers ask
Which Lake Como day trip from Milan should I book?
Take the Lugano day for a private boat on Lake Como and an English-speaking guide, and bring your passport. Take the Como-only day if you would rather spend the time in Bellagio and Como and travel by public ferry.
Do I need a passport for a Lake Como day trip?
For the Lugano day, yes: a passport is mandatory to enter Switzerland. The Como-only day’s provider says its route may cross the Swiss border and asks non-European travelers to carry an original passport, so bring it on either tour.
Is the boat on Lake Como private?
On the Lugano day, yes: a 45-minute private cruise. The Como-only day uses the public boat services on the lake.
How long do you get in Bellagio?
The Como-only day lists about two hours in Bellagio and two in Como. The Lugano day includes free time in Bellagio and in Lugano; reviewers mention time for lunch.
Is lunch included?
No, on either tour. Both give free time to eat in Bellagio.
How many people are on the coach?
Up to 55 on the Lugano day and up to 50 on the Como-only day.
Book the Lugano day if you want the private boat and an English-speaking guide, and you have your passport. Book the Como-only day if Bellagio and Como are all you want. And if a coach of fifty is not your idea of Lake Como, this is one lake you can also reach on your own by regional train from Milan.
Editorial assessment by Italy2Love, September 2026. Inclusions, boat arrangements, stops and stop lengths, guide languages, passport and dress requirements, group caps, meeting points, accessibility, prices on a September 2026 date, ratings, review counts and cancellation terms read on both Viator product pages (product codes 3731MILANSWITZERLAND and 6404P13), September 2026. Reviews quoted with attribution to their authors and to Viator. Next review March 2027, or sooner on any change to either provider’s boat arrangements.