The Italian lakes are the first place people head to from Milan after exploring the city itself. You can get there by public transport, but with luggage, a group of people, and trying to reach a specific hotel on the shore, it's quite inconvenient: the train will only take you to a major town, and from there you'll need a bus, ferry, or taxi. We break down the distances, travel times, and the most comfortable way to get there — booking a private transfer.
The closest lake to Milan — about 50 km, roughly an hour by car. The train goes to the city of Como, but the popular towns of Bellagio and Varenna are further along the shore, requiring a ferry or bus. For a direct trip to your hotel, it is much more convenient to book a door-to-door Milan – Como transfer.
The largest lake in Italy, east of Milan — about 130 km, roughly 1.5-2 hours by car. The resort towns of Sirmione and Desenzano del Garda are popular spots. Trains go to Desenzano, and from there, local transport is needed along the shore. To avoid changing vehicles with luggage, it's more reliable to immediately book a transfer from Milan to Sirmione or other Garda resorts.
Northwest of Milan, about 70 km, roughly an hour by car. The main resort is Stresa, boasting views of the Borromean Islands. What's convenient: Maggiore is close to Malpensa Airport (MXP), so a transfer from Malpensa to Maggiore is often booked right upon arrival, completely bypassing the center of Milan.
How to Get There: Options
- Train: cheap and traffic-free, but only gets you to a major city on the lake; from there to your hotel, you need local transport, which is highly inconvenient with luggage.
- Car rental: freedom of movement, but parking at the lakes is expensive and usually full, plus there are strict ZTL (Restricted Traffic Zones) in the towns.
- Private transfer idtransfero: straight from your door (or airport) to the hotel on the shore, fixed price, accommodating any luggage size and group without problems.
Why a Private Transfer to the Lakes is More Convenient
The lakes are all about relaxing, and you don't want to start your vacation by changing transport and searching for local bus stops. The driver meets you with a name sign, helps you settle in, and takes you straight to the hotel — whether from the center of Milan, or directly from Malpensa (MXP) or Bergamo (BGY) airports. The price is known in advance and fixed, and the size of the vehicle is tailored to your group and luggage.
A transfer from Milan or the airport to the lake can be booked in advance at a fixed price — calculate your route (for example, Milan - Bellagio or Malpensa - Stresa) on the idtransfero website.
Distances and Time: Comparison
| Lake · Resort | Distance | Time by car * | Nearest Airport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Como (Como city, Bellagio) | ~ 50 km | ~ 1 hour | Malpensa (MXP), Linate (LIN) |
| Lake Maggiore (Stresa) | ~ 70 km | ~ 1 hour | Malpensa (MXP) |
| Lake Garda (Sirmione, Desenzano) | ~ 130 km | ~ 1.5 - 2 hours | Bergamo (BGY), Verona (VRN) |
Book a Transfer to the Italian Lakes
Fixed price, airport meet-and-greet, and a ride straight to your hotel doors.
Calculate Price Online