Lake Como Airport Transfers

Milan Malpensa International Airport is the closest airport to Como. Here are the best options to get from this airport to the lake.

Andressa García

Andressa García

10 min read

Lake Como Airport Transfers

Milan Malpensa Airport | ©Ehud Kenan

From private car to train travel, there are several ways to travel between Milan airport and Lago di Como. The transfer is one of the most important services to consider if you want to enjoy the best things to see and do in Como, so it is essential to make the right choice.

I will tell you about options for all tastes, whether you travel with all the comforts, or you intend to travel with little money or as a backpacker. You can also choose one of these ways to travel if you are going to Como for a short time.

1. A private transfer, comfort and exclusivity

Waiting for the transfer| ©Anna Shvets
Waiting for the transfer| ©Anna Shvets

Once you are at Milan Malpensa Airport, which is the closest airport to the city of Como and Lake Como, it's time to think about what type of transfer suits you best. And the first option to get around if you want comfort at all times, is undoubtedly the private transfer.

The advantages with this type of transfer are many, mainly because you have at your disposal a car with all the comforts, which you will not have to drive on your own, but a driver will take you from the airport to Como in about an hour.

You can find this service at the airport exit, but it is always a better option to book in advance online. This way you can save money and above all save queuing at the airport to get from the airport to Como.

When you are travelling with many people, this is the type of transfer you should hire, taking into account that they offer cars for one, two or three people, and they also offer transfers for more than 4 people and up to 8 seats, with the same comfort as a car with few seats.

Interesting details

  • Duration of the trip: The private transfer can take approximately 50 minutes to one hour between the airport and Lake Como.
  • Price: This transfer can vary in price according to the number of people who sign up for the trip. But in general you can pay from 120 euros per person.
  • Advantages of using this method: You will have a driver at your disposal to take you to your accommodation in Como. You will not have to drive yourself. You will have all the comforts on the way.
  • How to book this transport: To book this type of transport, you can go to the website and do the whole process online. You will receive a confirmation and the details of the person who will pick you up at the airport.
  • Recommended if... You want to travel comfortably from the airport to Lake Como, regardless of the number of people in your group.

Book your transfer from the airport to Como

2. Rent a car at the airport

Rent a car| ©Brock Wegner
Rent a car| ©Brock Wegner

In case you are going to Lake Como in one day or more, this is the option for you. You can rent a car at the airport and drive to Como on your own. To rent a car you can go to the website of a car rental service, such as Centauro or Rent a Car.

On this website you have all the possible car hire options that you can get at Milan Malpensa Airport. The best thing about this way of getting around is that you will be able to hire a vehicle just right for your needs, whether you are travelling alone or with a larger group. It is also the most cost-effective option if you are staying for some of the best tours of Lake Como.

When hiring a car there are several things to consider, one of the most important is that the car you hire should be equipped with GPS so that you don't get lost on your way from the airport to Lake Como, or within the city.

It is also important to make sure that you get a car that is fully documented, including accident insurance. Car rentals are generally charged by the day, but you should check with the company offering the rental.

Useful details

  • Journeytime: By private car it can take no less than 50 minutes, although as it is a self-drive transfer, it can take much longer to complete the experience.
  • Price: Car hire can cost from 10 euros per day, depending on the capacity of the car, the make and type of vehicle, whether economy or luxury.
  • Advantages of using this method: The biggest advantage of this way of getting around is that you will have the car all to yourself and you can use it as if it were your own car. You don't have to share it if you don't want to and it will not only help you to get from the airport to the city of Como, but also to go from town to town once you arrive at the Lake.
  • How to book this transport: You can book this transport through the website of any car rental company.
  • Recommended if... You want to go to Lago di Como for more than one day or you don't want to pay for extra transport and don't want to use public transport.

Enjoy a tour of Lake Como

3. Taxi or Uber, comfortable but expensive option

Using Uber| ©Dan Gold
Using Uber| ©Dan Gold

In case you don't want to rent a private car to travel around the city or you don't have enough budget to pay for a private transport with all the comforts, you can opt for the option of transferring by taxi or Uber, which will take you from the Airport to the city of Como in a few minutes.

If you want to order a taxi, you can make a reservation with any taxi service, one of the most popular being Radio Taxi. Not only do you have the opportunity to book online, but you can also call directly to the phone numbers of this company to order your taxi once you arrive at the airport and need to continue to Como.

Taxi fares in Milan are generally high, with six euros being the least you can pay for this service. In case your budget is even shorter, you can opt for the Uber option, although in this case, the transfer conditions, prices and other characteristics of the trip depend on the application.

Interesting details

  • Journeytime: As in the case of private transport or if you prefer to hire a car, the journey time can be extended to no more than 60 minutes from the airport to Lake Como.
  • Price: Generally you can pay from 6 euros for such a service, although the fare may increase according to various parameters, such as the speed of the car, the distance the taxi travelled from the time you requested it to your meeting point, and the distance it will travel to your final destination.
  • Advantages of using this method: It is advantageous because you get to your destination quickly and you can book online, but you can also get into a taxi as soon as you are at the airport, in case you do not have any previous reservation.
  • How to book this transport: To book this transfer you can do it through the website of any taxi service. If you choose Uber, you can request your taxi on the app at the moment you need to go to Como, or schedule the trip for when you want to go.
  • Recommended if... You're going without a reservation and need to get to Como quickly. But you can also book in advance.

4. The train, the most accessible but slowest option

Train to Como| ©Armando Mujica M
Train to Como| ©Armando Mujica M

One of the best ways to get from the airport to Como is by train. It's a cheap but comfortable option. It's not a luxurious way to get around, but if you consider that the train is one of the most used forms of transport in Italy, you'll want to get on it.

The trip usually takes about an hour and 20 minutes. There is no direct route from Milan airport to the city of Como, so you will have to change trains to get to the train station in Como. There are two stations where you can get off: Como Nord Lago and Como S. Giovanni, the latter being the closest to the lake.

As for the prices of this transfer, you can pay from 10 euros per ticket. Besides, the train station is very close to the Airport in Milan, so you won't have so many problems. You can book a train ticket online through any train booking website, such as Trainline, or buy the ticket at the station.

The train is always a good option when you have more time to travel, in fact, a train trip is one of those things you should include among the best things to do in Lake Como, or at least to get to the region. If you travel by train you will have to get to the centre of Milan first, so it is also a good option to get to know that city a bit before arriving in Como.

Interesting details

  • Journeytime: The train journey can take around one hour and 20 minutes.
  • Price: You can pay around 10 euros for a ticket to Como.
  • Advantages of using this method: You pay less money to get to Lake Como, plus you have the opportunity to see other places besides the lake, such as the city of Milan. There are about 32 train departures daily, so you won't have to wait long to travel.
  • How to book this transport: To book the ticket for this experience, you can do it online, but you can also buy the ticket at the train station in Milan, which in this case, the closest one you have from the airport, is Milan Centrale.
  • Recommended if... You are on a tight budget and want to save money on the transfer.

Sign up for an amazing activity in Lake Como

5. A shuttle bus, longer but cheaper

Flixbus| ©Antonio Vera
Flixbus| ©Antonio Vera

If you thought that the cheapest option to travel to Lake Como was to go by train, you should know that there is still a much cheaper way, in which you will save a lot of money, but definitely sacrifice a bit of comfort, it is the bus trip.

In this case, what you have to do if you want to opt for this option, is to look for the companies that are in charge of this type of transport in Italy. One of the best options in this case is Flixbus, a company that offers up to 10 daily trips from Malpensa to the city of Como.

The biggest advantage of this experience is that you can pay considerably less money for a ticket. Depending on how comfortable you want to travel, you can pay up to 10 euros per trip. In addition, the buses have both day and night departures, so if you arrive at the airport at night, you can travel by bus to Como without paying extra.

In this case, the Flixbus station is very close to the airport and you won't have to change buses because the bus goes directly into town. It's one of the best options if you're backpacking through this region of Lombardy.

Useful details

  • Travel time: It takes about an hour to get from Milan airport to Lake Como.
  • Price: A bus ticket usually costs no more than 10 euros.
  • Advantages of using this method: It is a quick and very cheap way to get to Lake Como. There are no problems with the time as there are departures during the day and at night.
  • How to book this transport: To buy the ticket, you have to make a reservation in advance on the Flixbus platform, to have your ticket reserved when you are already at the airport.
  • Recommended if... You want to save money even when travelling at night to Lake Como.

6. Bicycle ride from Milan to Lake Como

Touring by Bike| ©Rebel Yell 82nd
Touring by Bike| ©Rebel Yell 82nd

Without a doubt the most adventurous option you can choose to get to Lake Como is to sign up for a two hour bike ride from Milan airport to the Lake Como region.

This is a beautiful experience if you have the skills and physical conditions to do it. You can take as long as you want and you will surely remember it as one of the best bike tours in Lago di Como or any other city. The route is full of cycling paths, so the ride won't be a chore at all.

This tour is ideal to include among the things to do in Lago di Como in summer, because in the winter season many of the cycling trails are closed due to the hostile weather.

You can rent a bike from an establishment near Milan airport, either for one-day, two-day or longer delivery.

Interesting details

  • Duration of the trip: In general the trip can take about two and a half hours, but as it will be at your own pace, how long it takes is entirely up to you.
  • Price: You can rent a bike for approximately 15-20 euros per person per day, depending on the speed of the bike. Also children's bicycles are available at a lower price. The deposit can be around 100 euros.
  • Advantages of using this method: You will get to know beautiful landscapes that can be seen from the roads and trails leading to Lago di Como.
  • How to book this transport: You can rent the bike directly on the website of the bike company.
  • Recommended if... You are backpacking, have little luggage and want an adventure at the beginning of your trip.