Nestled along the southeastern shore of Lake Como, Lecco is often overshadowed by its more famous neighbors—but that’s exactly what makes it such a charming place to visit. With its colorful waterfront, insane mountainous backdrop, and authentic local atmosphere, Lecco is a quieter slice of Italy’s most iconic lake. You can spend your morning strolling the scenic promenade or sipping an espresso at a lakeside café, before setting off to explore the rest of Lake Como… the ultimate day trip!
One of the biggest advantages of basing yourself in Lecco is its convenient ferry connections to many of the lake’s most illustrious destinations. When you’re based in Lecco, you can enjoy your serene vacation moments but still immerse yourself in the touristy excitement as well (popular areas *do* become touristy for a reason). Bellagio makes for an unforgettable day trip filled with picturesque alleyways, memorable Italian leather-goods shopping, and breathtaking views. In this guide, we’ll show you exactly how to take the ferry from Lecco to Bellagio and share everything you need to know to make the most of your day exploring Lake Como’s most popular town.
To be clear, there are some awesome things to do in and around Lecco! However, in this blog post, we will just be breaking down the logistics of a day trip adventure into Bellagio.
Why Lecco?
There are so many different cities and towns nestled along the Lake Como shoreline… why stay in Lecco? It’s a super easy, straight shot from Milan. A one-hour train ride will take you from the bustling city of Milan out to the shores of Lake Como. Without any transfers!
Accommodations here aren’t necessarily going to be cheap, but especially if you’re looking more last minute, prices are going to be more reasonable in Lecco than in more popular cities (i.e. generally cheaper to stay here than it is to stay in Bellagio).
The laid-back atmosphere has it’s own kind of charm. I have a good friend that is from San Remo, Italy. This is where her family stays when they visit Lake Como. There are unique things to see and do in Lecco— you can have all the views, while while staying in a less overwhelmingly tourist-saturated city.
Lecco Ferry
Now, onto the logistics! The ferry takes about 90 minutes to go from Lecco to Bellagio. Admittedly, this can be done in half the time by bus, but this is a ferry….. on Lake Como!!! With an incredible vista!! You can always take the bus or train home, but taking the ferry to Bellagio is almost like getting a very very cheap boat tour of Lake Como. Get your breakfast to go and enjoy your ferry commute. If you’re visiting in peak summer travel, we recommend you getting to the ferry before 9am, if possible.
You can check the timetable here, but don’t worry about purchasing your tickets online. It’s very easy to do once you are there.
Address: 23900 Lecco, Province of Lecco, Italy
Beautiful Bellagio
One of the best ways to experience Bellagio is to simply wander. While the town is compact, it’s packed with charming corners, colorful buildings draped in flowers, and inviting cafés where you can pause for an espresso (or gelato!). It simply oozes peak ‘Italy’ character. Every narrow alley seems to lead to another postcard-worthy view of Lake Como, making Bellagio the kind of place where getting a little lost is part of the fun.
No visit is complete without strolling up Salita Serbelloni, arguably Bellagio’s most recognizable street. The steep, cobblestone staircase is framed by vibrant storefronts, ivy-covered buildings, and restaurants with balconies overlooking the lake. That being said, be sure to venture beyond the busiest streets—you don’t have to wander far to find quieter nooks, with local artisan shops and hidden courtyards that feel utterly charming.
Lovely Leather Loafer— Shoe Shopping!
If you’re looking for a spectacular souvenir, head to II Capriccio Calzature. This locally owned shoe boutique has some amazing, beautifully crafted Italian leather footwear. I bought a pair of loafers, but there were loads of lovely options. Everything I tried on reflected the quality leather Italy is known for. Does it get any better than a trip keepsake that lets you re-live your trip, every time you wear your shoes???
Shop ‘TIl You Drop — Bags for Days
Perhaps shoes aren’t your thing but purses are? We snagged a couple divine Italian leather handbags, Bruschini S.n.c. The shop offers a beautiful collection of handcrafted leather purses, wallets, and accessories in a variety of styles and colors, making it all too easy to find something you adore. A souvenir that’s fashionable and functional? Yes please!!
A Bite
For a quick, casual bite, Mr. Panino is a fantastic choice. This sandwich shop serves a variety of freshly made paninis. It’s an affordable alternative to many of the town’s sit-down restaurants, AND it makes an excellent on the go, to go eat picnic style along Lake Como.
The Triumphant Return
All good things must come to an end, and an adventurous day in Bellagio is no exception. You have a couple different options for your return journey. The most scenic would be taking the same ferry you arrived on, back. This makes for a total of nearly 3 hours of ferry transit for the day (~90 minutes each way); however, it’s hard to be too upset about spending 3 hours on Lake Como. It’s worth noting, the ferry queue to return can get long at popular times (i.e. early afternoon). You can always roll the dice on this, but we generally recommend planning to stay in Bellagio until 4-5pm, so you don’t waste ages in a ferry line.
The bus is another reliable, cost-friendly option (~€5), taking 45-60 minutes to make the journey.
A ferry-train combo option would be taking the ferry to Varenna and then finishing the journey on a regional train to Lecco. Depending on connection timing, the journey takes about 60–90 minutes, which honestly isn’t necessarily faster than just taking the ferry home. We didn’t think this option would really save much time but dealer’s choice!
If you’re feeling like you just wanna jet, you can catch a taxi back to Lecco. This will be your speediest open, taking ~45 minutes but also costing upwards of €70.
As an aside, if European boat travel is of interest to you, a river cruise might be something to consider. The OG Wherry girl (our mom) was on a Rhine River cruise and loved it.
Girl Dinner
Healthy living on vacation means enjoying local cuisine to your heart’s content. Tonight’s dinner is the ultimate girl dinner…. a divine pizza from Tabula Rosa, followed by a scoop from Gelateria Toldo. Depending on the time of year, you should be able to enjoy a lovely sunset as you finish dinner. Finish off the evening with a fun drink at Sottofondo Cocktail Bar, and your day will be deliciously complete!
Sunset Views
How do the Lake Como views get even better? At sunset! For a relaxed sunset vista, head to the Piattaforma Galleggiante— a floating platform extending out into the lake. As the sun dips behind the surrounding alps, the lake takes on shades of golden orange and shimmery pink, creating an incredible sunset.
Address: V93Q+P6 Lecco, Province of Lecco, Italy
Lake Como is incredible and spending the day savoring the towering views was a dream. There’s so many different places to stay along Lake Como, and Lecco is perfectly situated to maximize a fun, fast weekend adventure. The ultimate day trip! We loved relaxing in the slower pace of Lecco, while still having the ‘tourist-maxxing’ experience in Bellagio. My travel style is less rigid-itinerary and more vibes-based, so we really had a delightful time wandering around the city… and we hope you do to. Happy travels!
written by Dana
CEO of being stubbornly independent, Dana lives to speak her mind as her feisty personality lends itself to her outspoken nature. Dana epitomizes the concept of “spending money on experiences, not things” as she is constantly complaining that she has nothing to wear, but ALWAYS has her next trip on the docket. Forever a Florida-girl at heart, there’s nothing that makes Dana happy quite like catching sunset on the beach.
