Lake Como Guest Guide

You don’t need a car to enjoy Lake Como. Getting here is straightforward if you arrive via Milan Linate or Malpensa airport.

If you’re not familiar with European travel, Rome2Rio is a great resource for planning routes. Google Maps also works well — cross-reference both for the best options.

Option 1: Private Transfer (Recommended for First-Timers)

The easiest option is a private transfer or taxi directly from any airport to Menaggio. Uber Black is also available. It’s pricier, but after an overnight flight with luggage, the convenience is absolutely worth it — trains and ferries can be very crowded in summer.

The drive along the west coast of the lake is stunning, passing Cernobbio, Grand Hotel Tremezzo, and Villa Carlotta.

Option 2: Train + Ferry

Take the TreNord train from Milano Centrale to Varenna (about 1 hour, ~€10/person). From Varenna, catch the ferry across the lake to Menaggio — a beautiful 10-minute ride that may include a quick stop in Bellagio.

Option 3: Train + Bus

Take the train to Como, then the C10 bus to Menaggio.

Local Taxi Services

Once in the Menaggio area, these local services can help:

• Mario’s Taxi — +39 0338 204 7279 — taximenaggio.it
• Sara (Private Cab) — +39 333 860 1035 — privatecabmenaggio@gmail.com

If you arrive by ferry from Varenna with suitcases, either service can meet you at the Menaggio harbor and drive you to the apartment. You can certainly walk from the ferry, but be aware the last 200 meters to the apartment are uphill!

Getting Into the Complex

Navigating to Via Luigi Cadorna 15 will bring you to the driveway for the apartment complex. You’ll need a key to open the gate, which we will mail to you in advance.

Gate key instructions: Turn the key to the right and hold it for two seconds, then turn it back. If you do it too quickly, it may not work.

Finding the Apartment

Our apartment is on the second floor (apartments are not numbered). Take the steps up and keep heading up and around to the right — there are three short flights total. Our apartment has a lockbox next to the door with our name on it. We’ll email you the temporary code to open it.

There is an extra set of keys in the upper drawer of the sideboard just as you enter the apartment on the right.

Buzzing In Guests

Once inside the apartment, you can let others in by pressing the button on the kitchen wall phone — it will ring when someone presses our doorbell at the gate.

Parking

Our parking spot is the first one on the right in the garage below the building. Fair warning: it’s the smallest spot in the garage and can be tricky to navigate. You’ll likely need to back in, and having someone guide you is highly recommended to avoid the walls and support columns.

Easier alternative: We actually found it easier to park on the main road just above where the apartment access road meets it. There are usually several spots available, and it’s much easier for getting in and out if you’re using the car frequently.

Trouble Getting In?

If you have any issues accessing the apartment, reach out right away:

WiFi

• Network: Cudy-23E4-5G
• Password: 40783161

Don’t forget to bring European-style plug adapters for your phone chargers and other electronics.

Entertainment

We have a large screen TV with local Italian channels and a Fire Stick for streaming — or bring your own. There’s also a Sonos Roam portable speaker in the living room for playing music over WiFi.

Please be respectful of our neighbors and observe quiet hours after 10 PM, especially on the terrace.

Climate & Cooling

We have a Nest thermostat for heat in cooler months. For summer, there’s a portable air conditioning unit in the living room — set it to 23°C for a comfortable temperature. Make sure the intake vents on the back aren’t blocked by drapes or pillows, and keep bedroom doors open during the day to circulate cool air. There are also fans in each bedroom.

Hot weather tips: Close the shutters when you leave during the day to keep the apartment cooler. It usually cools off at night with the lake and mountain effect, so you likely won’t need AC then.

If you use the awning on the terrace, make sure to roll it back in before you leave or at night — sudden storms can come through.

Kitchen

The kitchen has a gas stove with a pull-down glass panel above the cooktop (with light and fan). When using the burners, vent the exhaust with the fan or just open the kitchen door.

We also have a Ninja outdoor grill outside the kitchen area, with an oven and air fryer feature.

Coffee

• Tchibo espresso machine — fully automated. On startup, it flushes the system with water — just let that drain into a cup and discard. If it stops working, check: water level, coffee beans, or whether the grounds container is full (symbols will indicate which). The manual is on top of the microwave.
• Induction milk frother — great for cappuccinos.
• Lavazza backup machine — semi-automated, uses Lavazza capsules (not Nespresso).

Drinks Cabinet

There’s a cabinet above the gas stove with leftover bottles of Aperol, Campari, gin, and vermouth — please help yourself! If you have any leftover bottles when you depart, please leave them there for the next guests.

Storage & Closets

There are closets in each bedroom and chests of drawers in two of them. Please leave all closet keys in the locks. You’ll notice some closets marked “OC” (Owner’s Closet) — these contain our personal items and are locked.

Laundry

To use the washing machine, turn on the faucet hose at the left wall corner so the handle faces you (not the wall). Warm wash is 40°C, cold is 30°C. The dryer is a condensation type with a water hose draining into the sink.

For larger loads, there’s a coin-operated laundromat nearby: Menaggio Wash Service, just down the street.

Cleaning Supplies

There’s a vacuum cleaner and ironing board in the twin-bed room closet. The iron is in the front hallway closet next to the tool bin. You should find plenty of toilet paper and paper towels in the cabinets to get started. If you could leave a “starter pack” for the next guests, they’d appreciate it!

Almost everywhere worth visiting is accessible by ferry — and the rides themselves are a highlight.

Ferries

The ferry schedule is available at navigazionelaghi.it. You can travel via regular boat or traghetto (car ferry) — the prices and ride times are the same.

Buy tickets online in advance to avoid long summer queues at the ticket counter. There’s a separate line to board the ferry as well.

If you’re staying a week, the weekly pass for the central lake area is a great deal — but it can only be purchased at the ticket counter.

Important: If you’re having dinner in Varenna or Bellagio, check the time of the last ferry back to Menaggio. Water taxis are available but expensive — agree on the price before you board.

C10 Bus

The C10 bus runs up and down the west coast of Lake Como. It’s especially useful in the off-season when ferries run less frequently, and great for reaching Tremezzo and Lenno without driving.

Day Trips

• Lugano, Switzerland — There’s a direct bus from Menaggio (about 45 minutes). A beautiful Swiss lake town.
• Bernina Express — A scenic train ride through the Swiss Alps. A wonderful day trip.

Local Taxis

• Mario’s Taxi — +39 0338 204 7279 — taximenaggio.it
• Sara (Private Cab) — +39 333 860 1035 — privatecabmenaggio@gmail.com

Menaggio and the province of Como take recycling seriously — there are five different categories of waste with specific pickup days.

Weekly Pickup Schedule

Day	Collection
Monday	Organic waste
Tuesday	Paper & cardboard
Wednesday	Plastic packaging & cans
Thursday	No collection
Friday	Organic waste, non-recyclable/unsorted waste
Saturday	Plastic packaging & cans
Sunday	No collection

Put out your waste from 8 PM the evening before collection until 5 AM on collection day. Collect your bins once emptied.

Glass & Bottles

Drop off glass and bottles at the recycling containers near the Municipal Town Center at Via Annetta Celestino Lusardi 11.

Municipal Recycling Center

You can drop off any type of waste at any time at the municipal recycling center at Via dei Cipressi, Menaggio. It requires keycard access — we’ve left the keycard in the kitchen. Please leave it there when you depart.

Full Sorting Guide

For a detailed A-to-Z guide on what goes where, download the complete recycling guide.

Before you head out, please take care of the following:

• Keys — Place one set back into the lockbox. Any other sets (including extra gate keys) go in the top drawer of the sideboard next to the front door.
• Sheets & towels — Leave them on the floor or in any of the wicker laundry baskets.
• Air conditioner — Please turn it off, as the next visitor may not arrive for several weeks.
• Trash — Any leftover trash can be taken to the recycling center in Menaggio.
• Recycling keycard — Leave it in the kitchen in a visible area for the next guest.
• Awning — Make sure the terrace awning is rolled back in.

There should have been a cleaning service to prepare for your visit, but please let us know immediately if something doesn’t seem right when you arrive. Enjoy your stay!