Piazza Cavour on the lakefront at Como, at the southern tip of the lake. Photo: Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Published: 10 August 2026
Updated 10 August 2026
By Dorin G. · NexDriver
Official source: SEA Milan Airports, the official Malpensa Airport website
Most people landing at Milan Malpensa for Lake Como assume they have to go into Milan first. Geographically, they don't — and that assumption is the single most expensive mistake on this route.
Malpensa sits north-west of Milan. Como sits due north. A direct transfer takes roughly 50 minutes and never enters the city. Routing through Milan means travelling south into the centre, changing, then travelling north again past the airport's own latitude — a detour that costs 1–2 hours.
| Option | Route | Changes | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Train | Via Milan — the wrong direction first | Malpensa Express → Centrale/Cadorna → Como, then bus or ferry | Solo travellers, light luggage, Como city only |
| Taxi | Direct | None | Short trips — the meter makes this route unpredictable |
| Private Driver (NexDriver) | Direct, ~50 min | None, door to door | Long-haul arrivals, families, groups, lakeside towns |
No. From Malpensa the train means the Malpensa Express into Milano Centrale or Cadorna, then a Trenord service on to Como, which takes around an hour on its own. You end up doubling back through a city you were never trying to visit. It is the cheapest option for a solo traveller with a small bag, and it is a poor one for anyone arriving off a long-haul flight with suitcases.
Trenord reaches Como city. It does not reach Bellagio, Varenna or the smaller lakeside towns — those need a further bus or ferry connection after you arrive. If your hotel or villa is anywhere along the lake rather than in Como itself, the journey has another leg in it that most itineraries forget to budget for.
With NexDriver the price is agreed before you travel: from € 175 direct from Malpensa to Lake Como, all-inclusive — driver, fuel, motorway tolls and VAT. For reference, the same transfer starting from Milan city centre is from € 155, and Bellagio or Varenna from Milan are from € 185. Direct Malpensa fares to Bellagio and Varenna are quoted on request, since the drive continues along the lake road well past Como — message us with your destination and you will have a fixed price before you fly. We track your flight by number, and your driver waits in arrivals with a name sign.
If you are weighing the same decision starting from Milan rather than the airport, our Milan to Lake Como comparison covers train, taxi and private driver with the city-centre fares. Arriving at a different airport? See the Linate and Malpensa to Lake Garda guides.
The fixed fare from Milan Malpensa direct to Lake Como is from € 175, all inclusive: driver, fuel, motorway tolls and VAT. For comparison, the same transfer starting from Milan city centre is from € 155, and Bellagio or Varenna from Milan are from € 185.
About 50 minutes direct. Malpensa sits north-west of Milan and Como is due north, so a direct transfer never enters the city — that is what saves 1–2 hours compared with travelling into Milan first and back out again by train.
The train is cheaper but indirect from Malpensa. It means the Malpensa Express into Milano Centrale or Cadorna, then a Trenord service to Como (around an hour), and the route doubles back through the city you were never heading for. A private transfer goes straight there, door to door, with no changes.
Yes. We drive direct from Malpensa to Bellagio, Varenna and the other lakeside towns, bypassing Milan entirely. These fares are quoted on request rather than published, because the drive continues well past Como along the lake road — send us your destination on WhatsApp for a fixed price before you travel.
Not directly. Trenord reaches Como city itself, but Bellagio, Varenna and the smaller lakeside towns need a further bus or ferry connection after that. With luggage from a long-haul flight, that is the leg travellers most often underestimate.
We track your flight using the number you give us when booking and adjust the pickup time to the actual landing. Your driver waits in arrivals with a name sign, and waiting time is included in the fare.
Piazza Cavour on the lakefront at Como, at the southern tip of the lake. Photo: Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Fixed fare from € 175. Instant confirmation.