Lake Como Ferry Tickets: Which Ticket Should You Buy?

Lake Como Ferry Tickets: Which Ticket Should You Buy?

One of the most common questions among visitors concerns ferry tickets on Lake Como.

The question is simple:

Which ticket should I buy, and where can I buy it?

The first thing to know is that there is not just one ticket type that works for everything and for every itinerary. The right ticket depends on the route, the type of service and the way you want to organize your day.

On the official Navigazione Laghi website, you can check timetables, fares and buy tickets when online purchase is available:
https://www.navigazionelaghi.it/biglietti-e-orari-lago-di-como/

First time on Lake Como?

If you are not yet sure how regular boats, fast services, car ferries, queues and timetables work, I recommend starting with the main guide:

👉 Lake Como Ferry Guide: How to Use Ferries Without Stress

1. Types of Lake Como ferry tickets

One-way ticket

This is the most standard ticket: it takes you from one town to another.

For example:

• Como → Bellagio;

• Varenna → Bellagio;

• Bellagio → Menaggio;

• Cadenabbia → Bellagio;

• Lenno → Como.

It is useful if you only need to make one trip, or if you want to build your itinerary by buying each journey separately.

Be careful, though: if you need to return to your starting point, check the return ticket and the return timetable straight away. Do not think only about the outward journey.

Return ticket

In some cases, you can buy a return ticket. This is convenient if you already know that you will return to the same departure point.

For example:

• Como → Bellagio → Como;

• Varenna → Bellagio → Varenna;

• Menaggio → Bellagio → Menaggio.

The advantage is that your return is already organized. The disadvantage is that you still need to check the timetable carefully, especially if you are travelling in the afternoon or in high season.

Do not assume that return tickets are available in the same way on every route. Always check at the time of purchase.

Circular ticket

A circular ticket can be useful if you want to make a trip with several intermediate stops within a specific route.

It is designed for visitors who want to see more than one place without buying a separate ticket every time, but it needs to be understood before you buy it: it is not a “free pass” valid everywhere and on every route.

Navigazione Laghi explains that a circular ticket allows intermediate stops between the stops for which it was issued, and that its validity ends when you return to the issuing stop or to the departure stop shown on the ticket.

In practice, it can be interesting for some itineraries, but you need to check that the route really matches the day you want to plan.

Ticket for fast services

Fast services are quicker connections than regular passenger boats. They can be very useful on longer routes, for example from Como towards Bellagio or towards the upper lake.

They usually cost more and may have more limited availability. Do not think of them as a high-frequency train service: always check timetables, conditions and availability.

If you have limited time and want to cover a long route, a fast service can be a good choice. If, on the other hand, you want to enjoy the scenery slowly, a regular boat may be more pleasant.

Supplement for fast services

If you want to take a fast service, such as a hydrofoil or catamaran, you may need to pay a supplement in addition to the standard ticket.

This detail is important if you are building a flexible itinerary. For example, you may have a regular ticket or a circular ticket and then decide at the last minute to use a fast service to save time.

In this case, you should not automatically assume that you need to buy a completely new ticket: check at the ticket office whether you can pay only the fast-service supplement for that trip.

The practical advice is simple: if you have limited time or need to cover a long route, check in advance whether a fast service exists and how much the supplement costs. It can save you time, but it should not be improvised at the last minute during the busiest periods.

Car ferry ticket

In the central part of the lake, there are ferries that carry cars, motorbikes and bicycles, especially between Bellagio, Cadenabbia, Varenna and Menaggio. The official timetables also distinguish between weekdays and public holidays for these central lake routes.

These ferries are very useful even if you are travelling on foot, because they allow you to cross the lake quickly between some of the most visited towns.

If you are travelling by car, check timetables, fares and availability carefully. In high season, especially at weekends, demand can be high.

Passes

Weekly or monthly passes exist, but they are usually not the best solution for a tourist staying only one or two days. They can be useful for longer stays or for people who need to use the same route frequently.

Navigazione Laghi specifies that weekly and monthly passes must be purchased at a land ticket office, where you need to show an identity document, or the vehicle registration document in the case of vehicle passes.

For a normal tourist trip, in most cases it is more practical to buy single tickets, return tickets or, where useful, circular tickets.

2. Where to buy Lake Como ferry tickets

You can buy ferry tickets in three main ways.

Online

When available, you can buy your ticket online from the official Navigazione Laghi website:
https://www.navigazionelaghi.it/biglietti-e-orari-lago-di-como/

This is the best solution if you want to avoid ticket office queues or if you are planning an itinerary with precise timings. Before buying, carefully check the route, date, ticket conditions and type of service.

Be careful: buying your ticket online does not mean skipping the boarding queue

Buying your ticket online can help you avoid the ticket office queue, but it does not necessarily mean skipping the queue to board the boat.

This is one of the most common mistakes: many tourists buy their ticket online and think they can arrive at the pier only a few minutes before departure. In reality, you still need to arrive in good time, find the correct boarding point and follow the normal boarding procedure.

In high season, especially in Como, Bellagio and Varenna, there can be a lot of people waiting just to board. For this reason, even with a ticket already purchased, it is better to arrive early.

An online ticket makes one part of your trip easier, but it does not turn the boat into a service with automatic priority boarding.

At the pier ticket office

At the main Lake Como ferry stops, there are ticket offices where you can buy tickets before departure.

This is a simple option, but in high season it can take time. In Como, Bellagio and Varenna, there can be significant queues, especially from late morning to mid-afternoon.

Some particular tickets or special services may only be available directly at the pier ticket office. For example, for some trips or tickets related to the historic steamship Concordia, it may be necessary to buy the ticket on site rather than online.

For this reason, if you want to enjoy a specific experience, such as a trip on a historic boat or a special service, always check the official information and arrive at the ticket office well in advance.

If you need to buy your ticket at the ticket office, especially in summer, do not arrive at the last minute.

On board, only when allowed

In some cases, it may be possible to buy your ticket on board, especially at smaller stops or in specific situations. However, do not plan your itinerary assuming that you can always board first and pay later.

The safest rule is: if there is an open ticket office, buy your ticket before boarding. If you are unsure, ask the pier staff.

3. Which ticket should you buy?

It depends on the type of day you want to plan.

• If you only need a simple journey, choose a one-way ticket.

• If you already know that you will return to the same place, consider a return ticket.

• If you want to make several stops along a specific route, check whether a circular ticket works for your itinerary.

• If you need to cover a long route and have limited time, check whether a fast service is available and how much the supplement costs.

• If you have a car and need to cross the central part of the lake, check the car ferry.

• If you are staying for several days and using the same route frequently, you can consider a pass.

The most important thing is not to buy your ticket based only on price. Buy the ticket that matches your real itinerary, the timetables and your return journey.

Have you already chosen your itinerary?

The right ticket depends above all on the day you want to organize. If you are planning a visit between Como, Bellagio, Varenna, Menaggio or Villa del Balbianello, read the itinerary guide too:

👉 Como, Bellagio and Varenna by Ferry: Best Routes and Itineraries

4. Mistakes to avoid when buying ferry tickets

Before buying your ticket, avoid these mistakes:

• buying a ticket without checking the return journey;

• thinking that an online ticket gives you priority boarding;

• confusing regular passenger boats and fast services;

• forgetting about the fast-service supplement;

• buying a circular ticket without understanding the route properly;

• arriving at the ticket office at the last minute in high season;

• assuming that you can always buy your ticket on board;

• not checking whether the day is a weekday, public holiday or high-season day;

• planning a connection that is too tight with trains, restaurants or timed entrance tickets.

A good ticket is not simply the cheapest one. It is the one that allows you to enjoy your day without stress.

5. FAQ about Lake Como ferry tickets

Can I buy ferry tickets online?

Yes, when the service is available. Always check the official Navigazione Laghi website.

Does an online ticket let me skip the queue?

It can help you avoid the ticket office queue, but it does not necessarily mean you can skip the boarding queue.

Can I buy a return ticket?

In some cases, yes, but it depends on the route and the purchase conditions. Always check when buying your ticket.

Is a circular ticket a free day pass?

No, it should not automatically be considered a free pass valid everywhere. You need to check the route and the conditions.

Can I use a regular ticket on a fast service?

You may need to pay a fast-service supplement. Check at the ticket office or on the official website.

Can I buy my ticket on board?

In some cases, it may be possible, but do not take it for granted. If there is an open ticket office, it is better to buy your ticket before boarding.

Do I need to book in advance?

It depends on the route, the period and the type of service. In summer, at weekends and on public holidays, it is better to plan ahead and arrive early.

Plan your Lake Como trip

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👉 Explore the free MySecretView Lake Como Map
https://mysecretview.com/free-map

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⛴️ Check official ferry timetables and tickets
https://www.navigazionelaghi.it/biglietti-e-orari-lago-di-como/