Milan to Lake Como Day Trip: The Best Spritz

Last Updated on December 29, 2025 by spritzience

I’ve often wondered—what makes for the best spritz aperitivo? Is it the bartender’s skill, the atmosphere of the bar—a chic interior, great people-watching in the piazza, or a terrace with a stunning lake view? Maybe it’s the company, or that fleeting moment when everything feels exactly right. On this Milan to Lake Como day trip, I was determined to find out, one glass at a time.

A Brief History of the Spritz

The spritz traces its story to the 1800s, when Austrian soldiers stationed in Veneto found Italian wines too strong and asked bartenders to spritzen—lighten them with water. Over the decades, soda water replaced still, bitters like Aperol and Campari added color and complexity, and prosecco gave it sparkle.

By the early 1900s, it had evolved into the signature of northern Italy’s aperitivo hour. The ritual spread from Venice to Milan, to every lakeside bar where sunlight hits the glass just right. So naturally, on this Milan to Lake Como day trip, I set out to find the best one.

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Como: Where the Journey Begins

My morning began at Milan’s Cadorna Station with a train bound for Como Lago—the ideal launch point for a Milan to Lake Como day trip. The ride takes just about an hour, and the station drops you 100 feet from both the ferry terminal and the bus stop. Few places in Italy make arriving this effortless.

Como, once a Roman settlement and later Europe’s silk capital, is equal parts history and style: lake promenades, neoclassical villas, and cafés shaded by palms. If you plan to linger here, I’ve rounded up my favorite experiences in Como Town Lake Como: 10 Great Experiences.

For me, the day was just beginning. Ferries rocked gently at the piers, espresso cups clinked in nearby cafés, and I had my bus ticket in hand, ready to start my spritz aperitivo journey.

Torno: Small Town, Big Charm

Fifteen minutes later, the bus carried me along winding lakeside roads to Torno. At this hour, it was just me and two elderly women supporting each other as they walked down the cobbled main street—a scene straight out of small-town Italy.

This is the beauty of a Milan to Lake Como day trip: stumbling into places that feel timeless without trying. I wandered toward the waterfront, passing pastel houses and laundry lines fluttering in the breeze. The small harbor, the 15th-century Santa Tecla Church, and the handful of cafés give Torno a quiet grace.

Exploring Torno, Lake Como

I stopped for a while on a bench, watching the boats bob in rhythm with the ripples. Across the water, the hills shimmered in pale light. I’d hoped to take the ferry north, but service was suspended for “maintenance”—which appeared to be one man tapping a rod against the dock planks. Whatever his purpose, it meant taking the bus instead. Not ideal, but in Italy even detours have charm.

Coffee Bars In Torno, Lake Como

Before moving on with my Milan to Lake Como day trip exploration, I decided to explore a bit more of the town. Along the waterfront, a few details caught my eye — a shuttered four-star hotel perched above the lake with sweeping views, and Bar Darsena, cantilevered over the water with huge picture windows.

I could easily imagine lingering there with a cappuccino or a spritz aperitivo, watching ferries and Riva boats glide past. Since the café was closed, I continued along Torno’s single narrow street until I reached Hotel Vapore, its lakeside terrace glowing in the morning light.

Restaurants in Torno: Hotel Vapore

Stepping inside Hotel Vapore, I was surprised to find an elegant wine tasting room — a long wooden table surrounded by shelves stacked floor to ceiling with bottles.

Beyond it, the lobby opened into a dining room with a Venetian terrazzo floor and a stunning painted ceiling in soft shades of yellow, blue, and red. It felt like stepping into a scene from another era, quietly refined and beautifully preserved.

The dining room tables were dressed in crisp linens, each one set with gleaming wine glasses waiting for their moment. Large picture windows framed the lake beyond, where sunlight danced across the waves. On warm days, guests spill out onto the terrace to dine or sip a spritz aperitivo, soaking in the dappled Como sunshine.

First appearing on local maps in 1721, Il Vapore embraces its heritage while weaving in just enough modernity to feel timeless rather than old-fashioned.

When I first stopped in, it was still early, and the restaurant hadn’t opened yet, so that spritz would have to wait. I did go back later — and if you want to see what it’s like to dine here, you can read my full lunch experience in Torno for a sense of what an incredible lakeside lunch experience can be.

Could Il Sereno be the home of the Best Spritz Aperitivo on Lake Como?

From Torno’s small center, Il Sereno is just a five-minute walk — though the route feels more like a quiet descent into another world. For years I’d dreamed of visiting this hotel, ever since I saw Patricia Urquiola’s design splashed across glossy magazines.

The minimalist architecture, floating staircases, and sculptural furnishings had long captured my imagination, and now, finally, here it was before me.

Il Sereno: Design Meets Dolce Vita

While an overnight stay sits beyond my affordable-luxury comfort zone, a beautifully made cocktail fits perfectly within it. The entrance hides behind a curved stone wall, but once inside, the world shifts.

An Unusual Spritz Aperitivo

There was a peaceful stillness to Il Sereno, its terrace poised directly above the water with views of the village shimmering across the lake. The atmosphere felt effortlessly refined, elevated further by the staff’s warmth — the kind of attentive, unhurried hospitality that defines a true five-star stay.

The waiter brought me a glass of water while I studied the leather-bound menu, and the barman soon joined with easy conversation about my Milan to Lake Como day trip. Moments later, he returned carrying a tray of aperitivo bites so artfully arranged they looked almost too beautiful to touch.

When I saw Un Insolito Spritz — “an unusual spritz” — on the menu, how could I resist? It combined rose liqueur, pear and rosemary shrub, pear distillate, and prosecco. It was certainly the most inventive spritz I’ve ever tried, but its flavor leaned more toward an elegant iced tea than the bright, bittersweet balance I love. Next time, I think I’ll stay loyal to a classic.

Riva Boats Pass By

As I sipped my spritz, I couldn’t help but pop up every few minutes to watch one of Il Sereno’s three custom-made Riva boats glide past. The scene was cinematic — calm water, soft light, and the quiet hum of engines in the distance. Still, I’d arrived a bit too early; the sun hadn’t yet reached my side of the lake, leaving the terrace in gentle shade.

And really, what’s a spritz aperitivo without sunshine? It was time to catch the next bus toward Bellagio and continue the quest for the perfect spritz.

Traveling to Bellagio – for the best Spritz Aperitivo

The bus ride was its own small drama. The woman in front filmed the entire journey on her phone — perhaps to prove later that she’d survived it. From my seat, it looked like we might collide with a wall, a shopfront, or a cluster of trees at any moment.

When the driver hit the brakes, everyone lurched forward as a car blocked the narrow road. We waited while it awkwardly reversed, the bus inches from a stone wall. I watched the map on my phone, willing the little blue dot to reach my stop, silently blaming the man “doing construction” with his rod at the ferry pier, for denying me the lake-view route I’d been looking forward to.

Exploring Bellagio: A CLASSIC

When I arrived, the energy shifted completely. Bellagio buzzed with activity—tourists searching for the last lunch tables, shopkeepers arranging silk scarves, waiters balancing trays of spritzes in the sun. It was a lively counterpoint to Torno’s calm.

I strolled through the boutiques and art shops, admiring displays of handmade shoes and ties, but reminded myself that this was no shopping trip. I had a mission.

After a few minutes of wandering, I began my search for the next spritz stop. Navigating through the crowd, I spotted a lakeside terrace with a sign that read in bold English letters: “No Food, We Serve Only Drinks.” That was all the confirmation I needed.

A Classic Spritz at the Hotel Florence

It turned out to be Hotel Florence, which has been welcoming guests since 1864. The terrace, draped in vines and open to the lake, was exactly the kind of spot that makes a Milan to Lake Como day trip unforgettable.

My classic Aperol Spritz arrived perfectly balanced—bitter, bright, and sparkling against the afternoon light. It felt like the very essence of Bellagio: polished yet relaxed, lively yet perfectly content to pause for a moment and simply sip.

A Taste of Bellagio’s Villa Elegance

If you’re planning to stay longer or just want to experience Bellagio beyond its café terraces, don’t miss the villas that made this town famous. From the camellia-filled gardens of Villa Melzi to the terraced elegance of the Villa Serbelloni Gardens, these historic estates show why Lake Como has been synonymous with beauty for centuries. I’ve rounded up the best routes, itineraries, and lakeside lunch stops in my full guide — Lake Como Villas: How To Experience The Glamour.

Taking the Ferry from Bellagio to Varenna

With my glass empty and the afternoon sun high, it was time to move on. I strolled down to the ferry terminal and boarded the boat for Varenna, watching Bellagio’s pastel façades fade behind me. The ride was calm and luminous, a pause between destinations — the kind of quiet beauty that makes a Milan to Lake Como day trip feel like a dream unfolding.

Bar Al Molo: Varenna’s Picture-Perfect Spritz Stop

The ferry glided into Varenna, its pastel buildings stacked gracefully against the hillside. It’s the kind of town that seems made for a long lunch or a slow wander — and, of course, another spritz.

If you’re on Instagram, you’ll probably recognize Bar Al Molo. There was a steady wave of women posing for selfies along the railing, drawn by the photogenic lake backdrop. But behind the social-media buzz, it’s genuinely one of the best stops in town — quick service, fair prices, and a front-row seat to the water.

I ordered a light lunch (a piadina) and a classic spritz, settling in at one of the small tables perched just above the lake. Ferries glided in, the breeze carried the scent of espresso and citrus, and the sunlight turned the surface of the water into rippling silver. It was easy to see why Bar Al Molo had become both an influencer favorite and a local staple — simple, scenic, and entirely unpretentious.

Lunch in Varenna

After lunch, I wandered through Varenna’s pastel-hued streets, letting the narrow vicoli guide me toward quiet courtyards and lake views that seemed to appear around every corner. Just as I began looping back toward the train station for my return to Milan, one steep lane caught my eye — a staircase winding upward, inviting me to see where it might lead.

After lunch, I wandered through Varenna’s pastel-hued streets, letting narrow vicoli pull me away from the waterfront and toward quiet courtyards and unexpected lake views. Just as I started looping back toward the train station for my return to Milan, a steep stone staircase caught my eye — the kind that never looks important until you follow it.

That single turn led me deeper into the town’s historic core and toward Varenna’s villas and gardens, places that reveal just how much history is tucked into this small lakeside setting.

Halfway up, the view vanished behind a long stone wall that ran the length of the staircase. I hesitated — seventy-five steps is a commitment when you don’t know what’s waiting at the top. But something about the mystery of it pulled me upward, and soon enough, the wall gave way to sunlight and Varenna’s charming main square.

Grand Hotel Victoria: The Perfect Finale

At the top of the stairs, the town square opened before me — sunlit and serene, framed by pastel façades and a handful of cafés. But what immediately caught my attention was the Grand Hotel Victoria, its elegant façade hinting at the kind of old-world glamour that Lake Como does best.

Dating back to 1838, the property once housed a textile mill before being transformed into a grand hotel that has hosted its share of notable guests, including Queen Victoria herself. Today, it feels timeless — gracefully updated yet still rooted in its 19th-century soul.

Curious, I stepped inside and followed the sound of gentle jazz to the bar. The barman greeted me with a warm smile and, noticing my phone battery flashing red, offered to charge it while I ordered. I carried my drink — a perfectly made Hugo Spritz — onto the balcony terrace, where the October sun was still shining bright.

The Best Spritz of the Day On my Milan to Lake Como Day Trip

The light bounced off the lake, scattering diamonds across the water. Just one couple lingered nearby, quietly sharing an aperitivo, and the atmosphere felt calm and unhurried. It was the kind of moment that invites you to exhale.

And that’s when it hit me — this was it. The best spritz aperitivo on the lake. Not because it was the most inventive, or the most expensive, but because everything aligned: the warmth of the sun, the gentle music, the care in how the drink was made, and the peace of having the terrace nearly to myself. It was the kind of place you linger, not out of indulgence, but out of gratitude — for the beauty, the quiet, and the chance to sit there, spritz in hand, and simply take it all in.

The sun was beginning to set, casting a golden glow across the lake as I finished the last sip of my Hugo Spritz. A few ferries traced ripples through the copper-colored water, their reflections stretching toward the horizon. It was that quiet, in-between moment when day drifts into evening — and I knew it was time to make my way to the station.

My Milan to Lake Como day trip had come full circle: from the energy of Milan to tranquil villages, from design masterpieces to spontaneous spritz stops — all culminating in this one perfect lakeside toast.

The best part? You can recreate the entire journey with ease — all by train, bus, and ferry.

How to Get To Lake Como

If you’re arriving from overseas, Milan is the easiest gateway to Lake Como. Both Milan Malpensa (MXP) and Milan Linate (LIN) airports are well connected to the city by express trains, shuttles, and taxis.

• From Malpensa, take the Malpensa Express directly to Milano Cadorna or Milano Centrale, depending on where you’re staying.
• From Linate, hop on the M4 metro line and transfer to M3 for Centrale or M2 for Cadorna — both routes link seamlessly with trains bound for Como.

If you’re planning to stay a few days in the city before heading to the lake, my Ultimate Guide to Milan Italy Things To Do is a great starting point, and Cocktail Bars in Milan pairs perfectly with the spritz theme.

Once you’re in Milan, all it takes is a one-hour train ride to reach the lake — which is part of why a Milan to Lake Como day trip works so well on a vacation.

Getting Around Lake Como: Easy, Scenic, and Stress-Free

A Milan to Lake Como day trip is the definition of simplicity: well-connected, car-free, and beautiful at every turn.

Outbound:
Begin your morning with the Trenord train from Milano Cadorna to Como Lago Nord Station. The trip takes about an hour, and you’ll arrive right on the waterfront — 100 feet from both the ferry terminal and the bus stop.

Around the Lake:
From Como, ferries and buses make it easy to explore Torno, Bellagio, and Varenna. Ferries are the most scenic option, gliding past villas and gardens, while buses are practical when ferry times don’t align (or when the pier, as in my case, is temporarily “under construction”).

Return:
From Varenna-Esino Station, frequent trains run to Milano Centrale in about an hour. It’s a smooth, relaxed ride back to the city — perfect for watching the light fade from the lake and the glow of Milan reappear on the horizon. For more details check out the train schedule on Train Italia.

The beauty of this route lies in how seamlessly it connects: train to the lake, ferry to the spritz, and sunset ride home — a perfect full-circle journey that captures the rhythm of a day well spent.

Is This a Day Trip or a Place to Stay on Lake Como?

If you’re weighing whether to visit Lake Como as a day trip or stay overnight, it helps to zoom out and think about where to stay Como Lake more broadly. Lake Como is much larger — and more varied — than it appears on a map, and towns that look close together can offer completely different experiences once you factor in transport, evening atmosphere, and crowds.

I break this down in my full guide to where to stay Como Lake, comparing 15+ towns based on how they actually feel to stay in, how easy they are to reach by train, ferry, or bus, and which ones truly come alive once day-trippers leave. It’s designed to help you decide whether a place like Varenna is best enjoyed as a quick visit — or as a base that rewards slowing down.

Final Sip

As the train carried me back toward Milan, the last colors of sunset fading behind the mountains, I thought about what made this day so special. It wasn’t just the design hotels or the spritzes (though they were extraordinary). It was the pace — that unhurried Italian rhythm where beauty finds you between stops, in quiet villages, on breezy ferries, and at sunlit terraces.

A Milan to Lake Como day trip distills everything I love about Italy into a single day: style, serenity, and a touch of sparkle. And sometimes, that’s all you need — one lake, one journey, and one perfect spritz.