Ferry across Como. Lecco, Bellagio, Varenna and other attractions

Can you tour across Como with a ferry? You sure can! Here are the most alluring and the prettiest places that we can see on the coast of this Italian lake. As a bonus, we’ll include some pics from the nearby ropeways (from Como and Lecco).

We’ve mentioned the attractions of the Como lake previously, here. Time for a follow-up. A ferry is one of the most interesting forms of transport on the lake, as we can use it to get pretty much anywhere. So, how does the passage from Como to Bellagio look with a ferry? From Lecco to Bellagio or to Varenna? If you’re wondering if such an attraction is for you and if it’s worth to consider such a cruise, perhaps this article can help with that. Here’s a very short runthrough of our journey across Como.

From Como to Bellagio

When travelling across the lake, we have two options: the slower one and the ‘rapido’, which allows us to get around immensely quickly. To get from Como to Bellagio with a slower ferry, we need more than 2h, the rapido option requires around an hour. What are the pros and cons of both options? Rapido is, as you might expect, quite a bit more expensive, at 16 EUR, with the traditional ferry costing you 11 EUR.

If you like to taking photos and the idea of basking in the Italian sunlight, we recommend the longer passage, which allows you to sit and admire the towns around you. The ferry moves calmly and slowly, so you can easily get sharp photos. The rapido ferry also has less stops on the way, so be sure to check the list of stops prior to the journey, in case you want to visit some specific place. The difference in time between the two options is quite huge though, so if time’s money for you, maybe consider the rapido version.

From Lecco to Bellagio

A less popular route, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be problems with booking a spot during the high season. Oftentimes, a queue is set up 40 minutes before the ferry even leaves, so don’t risk it and come fairly early.

Outside the high season, which lasts till the end of October, the huge crowds are certainly rarer, but so are the ferries. In the ticket office or the cafe connected to the office, you can find an up-to-date schedule. There’s only one option here though, which is to leave from ferry haven, near the Lecco basilica. You can easily find the place once you get to the boulevards in Lecco. During the cruise you can admire the incredible flora and the charming towns all around the lake.

Before the journey, make sure you’re equipped with a hat, sunglasses and some sunscreen, as you can get quite burned otherwise, on the warmer days.