Bellagio at a glance
This page is about the town on Lake Como in Lombardy, not the Las Vegas hotel with the same name. Bellagio is a ferry town. It is linked by public boat to Varenna and Menaggio across the lake and to Cadenabbia, and a separate line runs to Lecco.
This is an independent guide. It is not run by the municipality, the ferry operator, a garden or a tour company. Prices are in euros, as listed in 2026, and they change.
How to get to Bellagio
By ferry from the nearest stations and landings.
| From | How | Time | Adult fare 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milan | Direct train from Milano Centrale to Varenna Esino, then the ferry | About 64 minutes by train, plus the ferry | Train: check the current fare. Ferry: see below |
| Varenna | Public ferry | About 15 minutes on direct sailings, some about 30 | €5.50 single, €17.50 day ticket (fare band 3) |
| Menaggio | Public ferry | About 15 minutes on direct sailings, some about 30 | €5.50 single, €17.50 day ticket (fare band 3) |
| Cadenabbia | Public ferry | About 10 minutes | – |
| Lecco | Separate Bellagio to Lecco line | Check the timetable | – |
Navigazione Laghi has published new Como fares since 1 April 2026. Older tariff tables are no longer a basis for prices. The autumn timetables run to 1 November 2026. Look up the winter timetable before a later trip. Bad weather or high waves can cancel sailings, so follow the staff's instructions at the pier and on board. More on the ferry page.
Our picks: Bellagio tours
Two day trips from Milan that include a boat on Lake Como.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Lake Como day trip to Bellagio and Varenna by bus and boat
Bus from Milan, a boat ride, time in Bellagio and Varenna and a guide. Food, drinks and personal expenses are extra.
Check availability →
Lake Como day trip from Milan with a boat for your group
Return transport from Milan, a guide, a radio receiver and a boat trip for your travel group alone. Food, drinks and tips are not included.
Check availability →Bellagio and Lake Como tours
Boat trips, villa visits and day trips on Lake Como, with live prices and availability.
The Villa Melzi gardens
The gardens are the main sight in town. The ticket covers the garden, the chapel and the museum. The villa building itself is private and not open to visitors. There is no reservation for a normal garden visit. You buy the ticket at the ticket office on the day.
- Price: €10 for an adult. A multi-day ticket starts at €14. Children up to and including 11 enter free.
- Hours: usually 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. From 12 to 24 October the gardens close at 6:30 p.m., and from 25 October at 5 p.m. The last entry is 30 minutes before closing.
- Season: the operator gives 1 November as the closing date but names no year, so confirm the calendar before you go.
- Rules: dogs on a lead are allowed, you may not walk on the lawns, and drones are not allowed.
Things to do around Bellagio
Four ways to fill a day, most of them by water.
Take the ferry across the lake
The ferry shows you the shores from the water. A day ticket in fare band 3 costs €17.50 and allows travel within the zone it is issued for. A fast boat needs a supplement.
Lake Como ferry →Join a boat tour from Varenna
Taxi Boat Varenna lists a one-hour shared tour for €60 per person, departing from Dock 2 at Riva Grande in Varenna. You see the villas from the water, but entry to them is not included. The group tour can end in Bellagio, and you then arrange your own way back. Private boats start at €300 for one hour, €430 for 1.5 hours and €550 for two hours.
Boat tours →Cross to the western shore
Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo costs €17.50 in 2026, and bus C110 stops at Tremezzo-Villa Carlotta. From 19 October to 8 November 2026 it opens from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the ticket office open until 5 p.m. Villa del Balbianello needs a reservation: €15 for the park, €25 for villa and park.
Villa del Balbianello →Add Varenna or Menaggio
Varenna has Villa Monastero (€15 in 2026) and a lakeside path. Menaggio is a ferry hub, and its trail to La Crocetta is 4 km one way, about 1 hour 20 minutes, with 430 m of climbing. It is not a flat lakeside stroll.
Varenna →Cars, parking and the car ferry
Driving into the centre is not simple.
Limited traffic zones
Bellagio has restricted traffic zones (ZTL, zona a traffico limitato) with a municipal permit procedure. A hotel booking does not give you free access to them. Check with your accommodation which permit you need before you drive in.
The car ferry
Cars cross on the Bellagio, Cadenabbia, Varenna and Menaggio car ferry network, only at piers marked Traghetto. A single trip costs €10.10 for a car up to 3.50 m long including the driver, €12.70 up to 4.50 m and €16.80 above that. Passengers need their own tickets. A bicycle with its rider costs €6.70.
Tourist tax
Bellagio charges a tourist tax. Ask your accommodation for the current rate on your booking.
Where to stay →Plan the rest of your trip
Where Bellagio fits.
Bellagio: frequently asked questions
How do I get to Bellagio without a car?
Take the direct train from Milano Centrale to Varenna Esino, about 64 minutes, then the ferry. Direct sailings take about 15 minutes. Menaggio and Cadenabbia also have ferries to Bellagio.
How much does the ferry to Bellagio cost?
Fare band 3 costs €5.50 one way and €17.50 for a day ticket, for adults, under the tariff valid since 1 April 2026. Children aged 4 to 11 pay €2.80 in that band. Check the exact band for your route at the ticket office.
Can I visit the inside of Villa Melzi?
No. The ticket covers the garden, the chapel and the museum, but the villa building is private.
Do I need to book the Villa Melzi gardens?
No reservation is needed for a normal garden visit. Buy your ticket at the ticket office on the day.
Is Bellagio worth a full day?
It works as a full day if you add a garden visit, a lunch break and the ferry ride. Combine it with Varenna or Menaggio if you have a second day, and check the season, because hours shorten from late October.