Italy Day Trip from Milan to Como and Surrounding Villages
From Milan let’s get back to Lake Como, on a day trip. Among other Lake Como locations in Italy, Como stands out for its historical significance, vibrant cultural scene, and accessibility. Moreover, nearby places like Nesso and Cernobbio are preferred for their stunning landscapes, charming streets, and tranquil lakeside beauty. Therefore Como is a must see location in Italy. Also the nearby villages: Cernobbio, Torno, Nesso, Fagetto Lario, certainly deserve a visit. Enjoy a Lake Como ferry ride and have the chance to admire some opulent villa.
From the hotel in Milan walk to the subway station Monumentale and go to Cadorna, change line at Garibaldi M2 M5. Take the train R17 from Cadorna train station to Como Lago, 14 stops, one hour ride, no train change. You can buy tickets online at: htts://www.trenord.it/ – 4.8 euros a 2nd class ticket. Their trains are ok, Trenord is an important regional train operator in Italy, primarily serving the Lombardy region, including the areas around Milan and Lake Como.
Exploring the Heart of Como
Arrive at the Como Lago train station. It has a nice exterior for pictures, so take one. Cross the street and go to Bar Vittoria, Sicilian Pastry And Icecream Shop – Bar Vittoria Pasticceria Gelateria Siciliana – it is a must stop, try their pastries or sandwiches.
Then go north towards the lake and arrive at a roundabout, there on the left are public toilets if needed. Go right, towards north east on Lungo Lario Trieste street. Arrive at Parco Comunale Regina Margherita where is the Funicolare Como – Brunate, and you can enjoy some nice views from there.
Go back to the roundabout. Then go a little west. On the left, you will find Garden Bar Ceccato. It is an elegant, lake shore terrace offering panoramic views. You should stop for an ice cream. The Garden Bar Ceccato it’s famous in Como since the early 20th Century thanks to its renowned home-made ice cream.
Continue west along the lake shore. Arrive at Bar delle Terme within Albergo Terminus Hotel, an elegant building. It features a beautiful interior, frescoes, and a nice terrace. It is expensive, 15 – 30 euros a course, but it would be worth trying. Continue west and finally arrive in Piazza Cavour.
Piazza Cavour and Como Cathedral
Pass by the 4 stars Hotel Barchetta Excelsior. In the back of the hotel, there is Pretesto restaurant if you are hungry. The prices are: 10 – 12 euros a pasta course, or set lunch menus at 12 euros including water and coffee. Or you have McDonalds just around the eastern corner of the block, on Via Caio Plinio Secondo. Continue south on this street. You will see on the left the Broletto (Torre Civica). Further on, there is the Cattedrale di S. Maria Assunta. It is always possible to take photographs (as long as it is for personal use and not for commercial purposes) except for the moments when Mass is celebrated. The Cathedral is open to tourists weekdays from 09.30 am to 5.30 pm, and holidays from 13.00 pm to 4.30 pm. Admission is free.
If you are hungry there is Ristorante Sociale just behind the cathedral and turning a little north on Via Rodari. There are set menus at 13 – 20 euros; moreover, there are great decorations inside, especially on the second floor.
Museums and History in Como, Italy
From Piazza del Duomo in front of the cathedral, go south on Via Vittorio Emanuele II. Continue ahead until you arrive at the Civic Museum of the Risorgimento. It is beautifully decorated inside with frescoes and open from Tuesday to Sunday between 10 am – 6 pm. The last admission is at 5.30 pm, the entry price is 4 euros, free with Abbonamenti Musei Lombardia; and the Museo Archeologico Paolo Giovio – closed on Sunday. It is united with the Civic Museum by a arcaded passage, Vecchio passaggio tra palazzi. The Historical Museum in Como is located in Palazzo Olginati.
Afterwards, as facing the Civic Museum go right, towards west on Via Giovio. At the second intersection you will find Farmacia Bani on the right. It has a beautiful old-style ceiling and furniture. Then, going south on Via Cesare Cantu you can have frozen yogurt, crepes or waffles at Yogurt & Co. located on the left side.
Continue south on the same street and find on the left the church of Saint Cecilia. Then continue a little ahead and you will eventually arrive by the medieval town gate, Porta Torre. Every Saturday, a market is held there with all kinds of goods.
Strolling through the Old Town of Como, Italy
Then go back on Via Cesare Cantu all the way to the end of the street. Then turn right and at the first corner turn left on Via Adamo del Pero. At the first intersection turn right on Via Natta and finally arrive at Piazza San Fedele. From there, go in the back of the church. Then go towards north and keep ahead on Via Vittorio Emanuele II. Pass by the cathedral. Then continue north on Via Caio Plinio Secondo and finally you’ll arrive back in Piazza Cavour.
Food option for lunch or dinner in the area: Locanda Barbarossa cheap and nice, Il Pinzimonio – on The Fork, 20% discount, Le Soste al Mare – on The Fork – no discount, Il Pomodorino, Le Colonne – the cheapest from the list, Il Solito Posto, Osteria del Gallo with a nice interior, Pepe Nero, Lo Storico elegant – on The Fork – no discount, Gelateria Guidi, nice looking, Ristorante Hosterietta, Riva Cafe, Ristorante Imbarcadero also cheap.
Lakeside Walk and Sights around Como, Italy
After lunch get back to Piazza Cavour. Walk on the alley in the lake to reach Life Electric modern sculpture dedicated to Alessandro Volta, inventor of the electric battery. From the platform you can see the downtown. Then get back on the shore alley called Lungolago Mafalda di Savoia and continue right along the lake shore and reach Tempio Voltiano, open from Tuesday to Sunday between 10 am – 6 pm, last admission at 5.30 pm. Entry price is 5 euros. Continue to the right on the street towards west.
Pass by Circolo della Vela marina (quay) and go a little left. See the Saint George Parish, a nice church on the shore of the lake. Go back towards right on the shore of the lake. Then continue towards north on the promenade alley along Lake Como called Passeggiatta Lino Gelpi to admire the beautiful villas.
See Villa Saporiti on the left, it is the headquarters of an institution, the Provincial Administration Office of Como. But it was once visited by Napoleon, among other guests. You can admire it from the outside, no visiting permitted.
Continue north on the Passeggiatta Lino Gelpi. Find Villa Gallia also on the left, a good spot to sit on a bench and take in the beautiful views of Lake Como. Next you will find Villa Parravicini Revel on the left, a Lake Como wedding venue. See it from outside, the garden and building.
Villas and Parks in Como, Italy
If hungry, eat at Centoventicinque – on The Fork, 20% discount, cheap pizza 9 euros, or atHostaria Al Camino, cheap, 15 euros tourist menu, or buy some sandwiches from Di Puglia un Po’ grocery store and have a picnic later in Villa Grumello park, or try Terrazza 241 – on The Fork – no discount, rooftop bar, pool, terrace, elegant, nice Lake Como panoramic views. Located on the rooftop of the Hilton hotel.
Visit Villa Olmo and its gardens and also maybe relax on the shore of Lake Como at Lido Villa Olmo‘s bar called Terraza Olmo. It is free entry at Villa Olmo. It is closed on Monday, open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm, and the park is open daily from 7 am to 11 pm.
Afterwards, turn back towards Villa Olmo. Continue on the alleys that lead to the Ponte del Chilometro della Conoscenza. Cross the road on the pedestrian bridge, called Ponte del Chilometro della Conoscenza.
Return to the main road Via Cernobbio. Continue heading north. At the first intersection, turn left on the narrow alley Via Celesia. Climb it until you reach a wide area. On the right, you will find Serre del parco del Grumello.
Go back on the narrow Via Celesia and go down the hill and eventually arrive at Parco del Grumello and Villa Grumello. Get back to the road. Continue straight north. Arrive at Villa Sucota, just by the bus stop Como – Villa Sucota.
Take bus C10 from bus stop Como – Villa Sucota to Cernobbio – Campanini (scuole medie), 2 stops, 5 min ride.
Cernobbio – Elegant Lakefront
From the bus stop Cernobbio– Campanini go forward on Via Regina. You will find Liberty style Villa Bernasconi on the left. The villa was built in 1905, and is now used for cultural events. Entry price is 8 euros, free with Musei Lombardia card. It is open from Friday to Monday, 10 am – 6 pm. Booking is required.
After visiting the villa, go forward and reach the city center of Cernobbio. Then, once at the roundabout near Cernobbio city hall, turn right, go south-east on Via Erba. It is the street passing by the brick building, bar gelateria (Olde England). At the intersection, keep right, go through the park and arrive on the lake shore, in Piazza Risorgimento.
From Piazza Risorgimento turn south, along the shore of Lake Como, pass the Monumento ai Caduti and see Cernobbio ferry stop and Lido di Cernobbio.
If you are hungry, eat something at Bar Ristorante Cavour.
Go along the shore of Lake Como on the alley between the Bar Ristorante Cavour and Lido di Cernobbio and arrive at Villa Erba. When no event is scheduled, visits are by appointment only and for groups of 10 -15 people (entry is free unless you need a guided tour). You can visit Villa Erba when it hosts public events (fairs, concerts, etc.) or during specific days of the year. Check the website at the section “Scheduled events” and find out the events. But if you just want to relax in its gardens, check the opening hours here: https://www.grandigiardini.it/lang_EN/giardini-scheda.php?id=131, as the park can be visited during public events.
Scenic Stops and Lake Como Villas, Italy
Go back to Piazza Risorgimento. You can eat in one of the restaurants on the lake promenade Riva di Cernobbio, such as Trattoria del Vapore.
From Piazza Risorgimento go north on the lake shore, then when the alley finishes turn left and arrive in a little square, Piazza Tolomeo Gallio and reach Chiesa di San Vincenzo.
Nice places if hungry: Osteria Cantinafrasca, Pasticceria Poletti.
From the church continue up, left, on Via Felice Cavallotti and when the street ends go right on Via XX Settembre and then turn left and reach the main road, Via Regina. Keep ahead north and at the split go right and arrive at Villa d’Este, which is a 5 star hotel on the shore of Lake Como. In the last weekend of May or in the second half of May, there usually takes place the event Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este – classic cars exhibition.
If you have time, visit the garden Giardino Della Valle. From Villa d’Este go back to Via Regina, cross the street and there is the park of Villa d’Este and the garden.
Go back to Via Regina and head North towards Brienno and see Villa Pizzo on the right, on the lake shore. Further North on Via Regina there is Villa Fontanelle, once residence of the Versace family, also on the lake shore. If on a boat tour the 2 villas can be seen from the lake.
Get back to the ferry stop in the center of Cernobbio and take in the views of Lake Como.
Ferry Ride to Torno, Italy – Lake Como Charm
Take the ferry from Cernobbio across Lake Como to Torno, 16 minutes ride, 2.5 euros. From the ferry see beautiful Mandarin Oriental hotel and then Villa Taverna on the shore of Lake Como.
Get off at Imbarcadero di Torno (Porticciolo di Torno) and see the church of Saint Thecla. Go in the back of the church and direct toward north-east on the street in the middle, Via Plinio. Arrive at a big intersection and turn right on Via Roma, there is the C30 bus station Torno – Piazza Caronti. Go a little forward, towards South on Via Roma and see Gelateria Pasticceria La Pliniana on the right.
Get back to the intersection and take bus C30 in the south direction and get off after 3 minutes at Torno – Villa San Giuseppe – Asilo (Or take a taxi instead). Continue forward south on Via E. Caronti, walk for 2 minutes and arrive at CO.MO Bar & Bistrot within the Mandarin Oriental, they are open daily between 11 am and midnight: lunch is served between 12:30 pm and 3 pm, and dinner between 7 and 11 pm. Between 3 and 6 pm afternoon tea is served and between 6 and 9 pm, you can have aperitivo. This is a 5 star hotel, superb – go to their cafe CO.MO Bar & Bistrot and see the venue – the drinks or the snacks are a little expensive, but the atmosphere and the view are really fabulous. Spend some time on the terrace, preferably elegantly dressed.
A Lake Como Hidden Gem – Nesso, Italy
Get back to the bus station Torno – Villa San Giuseppe – Asilo and take bus C30 to Nesso – borgo, 23 stops, 25 minutes ride.
(Alternative: take bus C30 from Como – Lungo Lario Trento or Como – Lago to Nesso – Piazza Castello or Nesso – Borgo, 45 min ride.)
Sitting on the banks of Lake Como, Nesso is a picturesque quiet village, split in half by its famous gorge.
Get off at Nesso – Borgo stop, see a grocery store on the left – Mercato del tano (they sell bus tickets). Continue north on the road, Via Borgonuovo, at the first intersection with a road that descends to the left, go left, see a parking lot, see baroque style Archpriestal Church of Sts. Peter and Paul and then continue down the stairs and reach the lake shore in Piazza Vecchia – a rocky beach, and also see Casa Borgo Vecchio on the right. This is a nice house on the lake offering accommodation, dating from 1700 and renovated. It is common for photographs viewed from a ferry on Lake Como or from Piazza Vecchia if visible. It is located in the old village of Nesso, in the old district “Borgo Vecchio”.
As for many other lake towns, when walking around the streets of Nesso you jump back some hundreds of years. Houses made of stone, small boutiques selling only what is necessary, and, above all, tons and tons of steps.
The Famous Orrido di Nesso
Get back on the road, Via Borgonuovo and go right, towards South until you reach the bus station from where you started. Arrive at Ristorante pizzeria locanda bar Tre Rose. Continue down the road for 6 minutes – 500 m, reach Bar Tabacchi La Cascata Nesso on the right. A little forward there is the bus stop Nesso – Castello, in Piazza Castello and you can hear the noise of the waterfall coming from the gorge that snakes into Lake Como. This is the central part of the village.
It’s the famous Nesso Gorge, locally known as Orrido di Nesso, better seen from below from Ponte della Civera, a Romanesque bridge made of stone that you can reach from Piazza Castello; this is a nice place to take pictures of the 200 m high waterfall. Leonardo da Vinci has said about Nesso in his Atlantic Codex: “Nesso, terra dove cade uno fiume con grande empito, per una grandissima fessura di monte” (Nesso, land where a river falls with strong impetus, in a large break in the mountain).
From Piazza Castello from where you see Orrido di Nesso on the right, descend the 340 steps of the Via Coatesa and reach the lake shore where you can see Ponte di Nesso, Ponte della Civera – go through the small tunnel on the right side of the bridge in front of the waterfall, there is also a small drinking well; and a little to the right there are Coatesa Beach and Nesso boat stop.
Fagetto Lario – Final Stop on the Como and Surrounding Villages Route
Get back to the main road and take the C30 bus from Nesso – piazza Castello to Fagetto Lario – Via Statale Penisilina, 15 stops, a 15 min ride.
From the bus stop go on the stairway on the right, descend towards the lake. Continue on the alley Via alle Rive, at the two intersections keep right and arrive on the shore of Lake Como, where the ferry stop is. Go right, north on Via alle Rive. Pass a parking lot on the left and reach Ristorante Vapore on the right. Continue forward and see Beach Bar on the right and then Lido di Faggeto Miamilaryo. This is a free entry sand small beach, you can rent sunbeds, buy drinks and food; it gets quite crowded in the summer. The Lido is positioned in front of Laglio, the summer residence of George Clooney.
Finally, get back to the bus station. Then take bus C30 from Fagetto Lario – Via Statale Penisilina to Como – Stazione Lago, 30 min ride.
Return to Milan from Como
Take the train from Como to Milan. From train station Como Lago to Cadorna, 14 stops, one hour ride, no train change, tickets on https://www.trenord.it/ – 4.8 euros a 2nd class R17 ticket train. Then take the subway from Cardona to Monumentale, change line at Garibaldi M2 M5, and walk to the hotel.
Read On
Make sure to explore Destination Italy: Lake Como, City of Milan and Bergamo – Day 6 for the next chapter of our Italian journey — from hidden corners to breathtaking views, there’s so much more to discover. You can find all our posts about Lake Como on this page. Also, for more inspiration and practical travel tips, don’t miss our maps and travel guides, and visit our Italy Travel Hub and Italy Bucket List — your go-to resources for exploring Italy in depth. Want to discover more? Don’t miss our posts on Venice!
Thanks for reading!
Table of contents
Related:
Have questions or want to connect?
