If your holiday is on Lake Como, there is a good chance your flight lands at Malpensa. It is the airport for almost all long-haul arrivals into northern Italy, and it lies on the same side of Milan as the lake. Many travellers still book a night in Milan first and travel to the lake the next day, but in most cases a direct transfer from the terminal is quicker and much more relaxing. Here is why, and how to plan it.
Why go direct
Malpensa is north-west of Milan, and Como is north. Going into the city and out again means crossing Milan's traffic twice. A direct transfer avoids the city entirely: on an ordinary weekday morning, Google Maps gives about 50 minutes from Terminal 1 to Como town and a little less to Villa d'Este in Cernobbio. After a long-haul flight, arriving at your lake hotel in under an hour is a very different experience from checking into a city hotel and doing it all again the next morning.
Drive times to the main lake towns
From Malpensa, the drive to Como is about 52 km. Cernobbio is similar. Bellagio, on the central promontory, is about 90 km and roughly an hour and a half in normal traffic, as is Varenna on the eastern shore. Tremezzo and Menaggio on the western shore are reached along the lake road, which is beautiful but slower in summer. Your driver checks the traffic before leaving and chooses the best route.
Meeting your driver
Your driver tracks your flight and waits inside the arrivals hall with a sign showing your name. At Malpensa, 60 minutes of waiting from the actual landing are included, which covers passport control and baggage on most arrivals. If you would like to be met at the gate, our Malpensa VIP Arrival adds a personal greeter, Fast Track where available and a porter, and can be combined with the car to the lake.
Choosing the car for the lake
For a couple with normal luggage, a Mercedes E-Class or S-Class is comfortable for the drive. Families and groups usually choose the Mercedes V-Class, which seats up to seven with plenty of room for suitcases. For larger groups, such as wedding guests or a family reunion, the Sprinter Luxury VIP carries up to eight with luggage. Tell us about golf bags, prams or other bulky items when you book.
Stopping on the way
A direct transfer does not have to be non-stop. If you would like to stop for a coffee, a pharmacy or a supermarket before reaching a villa, tell your driver. A short stop on the route is usually no problem; a longer visit, for example to Como's cathedral or lakefront before going on to Bellagio, is best agreed when you book.
Arriving at your hotel
Lake hotels and villas often have narrow access roads and limited space at the entrance. Your driver knows how to approach the main hotels and will unload your luggage at the door. If you are staying in a private villa with a gate code or a specific access, send us the details in advance.
Planning the return
For the return flight, plan with the airline's check-in times in mind. From Como, allow about an hour to Malpensa in normal traffic, more on weekday mornings and summer weekends. From Bellagio or Varenna, allow around an hour and a half. We confirm the pickup time with you the day before, based on your flight and your hotel.
If you are flying from Linate
Some guests return through Linate for connections within Europe. From Como, Linate is about an hour by car in normal traffic, and from Bellagio around an hour and a half. The same rules apply: tell us your flight, and we work back from the departure time.