Useful Information
Essential information for visiting Lake Como
The Lake Como area is located in the heart of the Lombardy Prealps, north of Milan, from which it is about 50 km away and just a few kilometers from Switzerland. It is the third largest of the Italian lakes and the deepest.
Documents, Customs, and Driving Licenses
Documents: EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens are required to present a valid identity card for travel abroad or a valid passport upon entry. Non-EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens, depending on their nationality, country of residence, reasons for the visit, and length of stay, must apply for an entry visa for Italy.
Customs: within the EU, there are no quantitative limits, except for tobacco (800 cigarettes or 400 cigarillos or 200 cigars or 1 kg of tobacco) and alcoholic beverages (10 liters of spirits with an alcohol content over 22%, 20 liters of alcoholic beverages with an alcohol content under 22%). For non-EU travelers, the limits are as follows: tobacco (200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250 g of tobacco), alcoholic beverages (1 liter of spirits with an alcohol content over 22%).
Driving licenses: licenses issued in the EU are also valid in Italy; for non-EU countries, the license must be accompanied by an international driving permit.
Roaming, Currency, Emergencies
Roaming: if your mobile network provider is European, you will not incur extra charges. If you are coming from Switzerland or non-EU countries, please check network coverage with your operator and be aware of additional costs if using 3G/4G/5G networks in Italy.
Currency: the official currency in Italy is the Euro.
Time Zone: Italy is in the Central European Time zone (GMT+1). Daylight Saving Time (+1h) is observed from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October.
Emergency number: 112.
Pets
You can travel to Italy with your pet; if coming from EU countries, the animal must have a microchip or tattoo, a valid EU pet passport, and a rabies vaccination. These conditions also apply to animals from Andorra, Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, and Vatican City. If coming from non-EU countries, pets must be accompanied by a certificate of origin and health issued by authorities recognized by the Italian State.
How to reach Lake Como
The area is divided between the provinces of Lecco and Como, whose capitals are 30 km apart. Its proximity to major stations, airports (Malpensa, Linate, Orio al Serio, Lugano-Agno), and highways makes it easy to reach Lake Como using the most suitable means of transport for your needs.
By Plane
Lake Como is easy to reach by plane. There are four main airports in the area: Milan Malpensa (MXP), Milan Linate (LIN), Bergamo Orio al Serio (BGY), and Lugano/Agno.
From Malpensa:
- Malpensa Express train (change at Saronno) to Como Nord Lago www.malpensaexpress.it
- train to Milan Central Station and then train to Como San Giovanni www.trenord.it
- FLIBCO shuttle bus https://www.flibco.com/
From Linate:
- ATM shuttle bus to Milan Central Station and train to Como San Giovanni
From Milan Bergamo-Orio al Serio:
- shuttle bus to Milan Central Station and train to Como San Giovanni
- FLIBCO shuttle bus https://www.flibco.com/
From Lugano-Agno:
- train to Lugano FLP (SBB) and then train to Como San Giovanni (Trenitalia-Trenord)
From the Airports: Connections to Lecco
From Linate and Malpensa: bus service to Milan Central Station.
From Malpensa: direct rail connection to Milan Central Station and then train to Lecco
From Bergamo-Orio al Serio: bus to Bergamo station and then direct train to Lecco
By Train
Lake Como can also be easily reached by train. The main railway lines operating in the area are Trenitalia with Eurocity, Trenord with regional and suburban lines, and TILO, an international line connecting Milan and Bellinzona (CH).
By Car
It is extremely easy to reach Lake Como by car. Both Como and Lecco are accessible from Milan in less than an hour. Como is also close to Switzerland, and Chiasso is less than ten minutes away.
From Milan to Como – Follow the signs for Autostrada dei Laghi Como/Varese and take the A9 motorway (Lainate-Como-Chiasso). From Switzerland to Como, it is recommended to use the A2 motorway (Basel – Chiasso).
From Milan to Lecco – The fastest route is via the SS 36 (Nuova Valassina).
From Bergamo to Como – The best way to reach Como from Bergamo (Orio al Serio Airport) is via Milan, then taking the SP 342 and the SP 671.
From Bergamo to Lecco – The best way to reach Lecco from Bergamo (Orio al Serio Airport) is via the SP 342 and the SP 671.
From Sondrio to Como – You can reach Como from Sondrio from either the eastern or western side of the lake. The shortest route is through Lecco (SS 38 and SS 36) and from Lecco to Como (SP 639).
From Sondrio to Lecco – Take the SS 38 and then the SS 36 to reach Lecco.