Milan to Como Trains from €5.20

Departure Station: Departing from four stations

Milan has several departure points for Como, each serving a different part of the city:

• Milano Centrale is Milan's grand main station – architecturally the most impressive of the four, with a full range of amenities including shops, restaurants, a food court, KiPoint luggage storage, and Metro Lines 2 and 3 directly below. It's the best-connected station for travellers arriving from other Italian cities by high-speed train.
• Milano Porta Garibaldi is a smaller but very well-connected hub around 2 km north of the centre, serving the Brera, Isola, and Moscova neighbourhoods. It has Metro Lines 2 and 5, a good selection of cafés and food options inside the station (including Princi and Autogrill), free Wi-Fi, ATMs, taxis, and bike rental. More relaxed than Centrale and easier to navigate. Best if staying in northern or central Milan.
• Milano Bovisa Politecnico is a functional suburban station around 4 km from the city centre in the university district of Bovisa. It's well connected by suburban rail lines S3 and S4. The main reason to use it is access to the Como Lago line, which delivers you directly to the lakefront rather than Como's main station.
• Milano Lambrate sits on the eastern edge of the city, close to the Città Studi university area, and is connected to Metro Line 2 (green line). It's a compact commuter station with limited facilities. Useful for travellers staying in the eastern Milan hotel belt who want to avoid travelling across the city to Centrale or Porta Garibaldi before heading to Como.

Arrival Station: Arriving at Como San Giovanni or Como Lago?

Como San Giovanni 

Como's main station, well-equipped with taxis, buses, and a small café. It sits within walking distance of the city centre and the main landmarks. The station is on the hillside above town, so the lake isn't immediately visible when you step off. The ferry pier is around 15 minutes on foot from Como San Giovanni — a flat, pleasant walk through the historic centre past the Duomo. With heavy luggage, a taxi from the rank outside takes around 5 minutes and costs €8–10, or jump on a local bus from the stop directly in front of the station.

Como Lago (Nord Lago) 

The more scenic arrival. Como Lago station is just 5 minutes' walk from the ferry pier and ticket office — step off the train and you're essentially already at the lake. There's no hill to navigate, no bus needed. For day-trippers heading straight to the ferries for Bellagio or Varenna, this is an undisputed smarter arrival point.

Trenord Regionale

• Avg. duration: around 40 minutes 
• Departure station: Milano Centrale; Milano Porta Garibaldi; Milano Bovisa Politecnico
• Best for: Travellers arriving from other Italian cities by high-speed train who are already at Centrale; those who want the fastest crossing; anyone staying in Como town rather than heading straight to the lake.
• Onboard perks: Standard regional train — air conditioning, luggage racks, no food service. No seat reservation required; just hop on and sit where you like. Tickets can be bought at the station machines on the day.
• Price & tickets: €4.95 for a second-class one-way ticket — fixed fare, same price on the day as in advance.

EC (EuroCity)

• Avg. duration: around 40 minutes
• Departure stations: Milano Centrale; Milano Lambrate
• Best for: Travellers who want a faster, more comfortable ride than the standard Regionale and don't mind paying a small premium.
• Onboard perks: First and Second Class seating with power sockets, air conditioning, and at-seat catering service in First Class; more spacious and refined than a standard Trenord regional train.
• Price & tickets: More expensive than the Trenord Regionale at around €16 per person. Seat reservation is required, unlike the hop-on Regionale.
• Worth knowing: Less frequent and less flexible than the Trenord commuter services. The main reason to consider one is if you're already booked on an EC service as part of a wider itinerary, or if you specifically want First Class comfort.

• No need to book ahead on price: Trenord fares are fixed. Buy on the day at the machine or in advance on TrainPal to skip the queue.
• Validate your paper ticket: stamp it in the yellow machine on the platform before boarding. Digital tickets are pre-validated.
• Go early in summer: Como is extremely popular on weekends. Morning trains fill up fast, and the ferry queues for Bellagio peak between 10:00 and 14:00.
• Track in real time: regional trains occasionally run late. Monitor your service live in the TrainPal app after booking.
• Discounts available: kids under 4 travel free; ages 4–14 get 50% off; groups of 10+ get 20% off adult fares. Women over 60 and men over 65 are entitled to a discounted fare on all Trenord trains.