Is Lake Como Safe for Tourists in 2026?

Private water taxi (taxi boat) operators at Bellagio, Varenna, and Menaggio dock areas aggressively solicit tourists with offers of private lake crossings, quoting ambiguous prices that can be €200–400 for routes where the official Navigazione Laghi passenger ferry (battello) costs €5.20–11.20. While legitimate licensed water taxis exist and charge €80–150 for the same routes, unlicensed operators and even some licensed ones exploit tourist ignorance of official ferry prices. Confusion between the car ferry (traghetto) and the passenger boat (battello) is also exploited — drivers sometimes claim the cheaper public ferry 'doesn't run' to push tourists toward paid private services.

How to avoid: Always check the official Navigazione Laghi website (navigazionelaghi.it) for current ferry prices and schedules before visiting. From Como to Bellagio, the passenger battello costs €11.20 one-way; the faster aliscafo hydrofoil costs €14.80. The car traghetto runs between Varenna, Bellagio, and Menaggio for €5.20 per person. Purchase tickets only at official Navigazione Laghi ticket windows on the dock. If using a private water taxi, agree on the total price in writing before boarding.

Where: Imbarcadero di Bellagio (Bellagio ferry dock) on Piazza Mazzini; Varenna ferry stop near Villa Monastero on Via per Esino; Menaggio waterfront dock on Piazza Garibaldi; Como city lakefront near the Navigazione Laghi office on Via per Cernobbio

Unlicensed drivers position themselves inside the arrivals halls at Milan Malpensa (MXP) and Milan Linate (LIN) airports holding signs for Lake Como destinations, targeting travelers who have not pre-booked transfers. They charge €200–350 for a trip that licensed operators complete for €90–120, and the vehicle may be uninsured. Some drivers quote a price and then claim it was per person upon arrival at the destination. The journey from Malpensa to Como or Bellagio takes approximately 60–90 minutes depending on traffic.

How to avoid: Pre-book a licensed transfer through your hotel or a registered service before departure. At Malpensa, licensed white taxis queue at designated ranks at Terminal 1 (gate 6) and Terminal 2 (gate 4) — never accept an approach inside the terminal. Alternatively, take the Malpensa Express train to Milan Cadorna or Milano Centrale and connect by regional train to Como San Giovanni station, which costs under €20 total.

Where: Arrivals halls at Milan Malpensa Airport (Terminal 1 and Terminal 2) and Milan Linate Airport; also found loitering near the taxi rank at Como San Giovanni train station

Lake Como's profile as a destination for high-net-worth travelers makes it a prime target for fake vacation rental listings. Fraudulent listings appear on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and occasionally on major platforms before being flagged, advertising lakefront villas or apartments in Bellagio, Cernobbio, or Tremezzo at prices just below market rate (typically €300–800 per night when comparable genuine properties cost €500–1,500). The scammer requests a wire transfer or bank deposit to secure the booking, then disappears. Some scammers use photos copied from legitimate listings on Airbnb or Booking.com.

How to avoid: Book Lake Como villa rentals exclusively through major platforms with buyer-protection policies (Airbnb, Booking.com, VRBO) and pay only through the platform's payment system — never via bank transfer or wire to a private individual. Cross-reference the property photos using a reverse image search. If a price seems significantly below comparable properties on legitimate platforms, treat it as a red flag. Contact the property directly through the platform's messaging system to verify the host's identity.

Where: Listings fraudulently claim locations in Bellagio, Cernobbio waterfront, Tremezzo, and Varenna; scammers are typically based outside Italy and operate entirely online with no physical presence