By ship
Several boats and hydrofoils a day travel all the way up the lake from Como to Colico stopping at most of the towns en-route.
There are also frequent service between the 'triangle' of towns in the centre of the lake - Menaggio, Bellagio & Varenna.
In season, there is a boat service for the central lake. [Bellano, Lenno, Villa Carlotta and Tremezzo in addition to Menaggio, Varenna and Bellagio.] Runs hourly 9:00AM to 6:00PM.
Less frequent boat/hydrofoils travel down the Eastern Leg to and from Lecco.
Timetables are available at tourist information offices, at the quayside or online (http://www.navigazionelag...).
If you want to discover Lake Como by yourself, you can rent a 40Hp motorboats to drive without any ship's license. If you stay in Menaggio, Bellagio, Tremezzo, Cadenabbia and Varenna you can contact AC BOAT www.acboatrentals.com. Good rates and service and very nice boats.
By road
Mandello Lario, on the east side just above Lecco, is the headquarters for Moto Guzzi, one of Italy's most popular motorcycle manufacturers. They offer a museum in Mandello as well.The entire lake area is popular with motorcyclists from all over Europe.If you want to hire a Scooter you can contact lakecomoscooter.com which offers 125cc Honda Scooters.
By train
Fairly regular train run up and down the Eastern Shore from Lecco to Varenna and Colico
By Bicycle
On Como lake you can ride with rental bike shops available for easy biking itineraries and rental services without guide, bikes can be rent with special accessories and with free delivery at hotels and B&B.
By car
Roads run up and down most of the shores. On the Western Shore, road works are common and travel duration can vary greatly. You can expect to average 40-60 km/h. Despite the construction of new tunnels, the road on the Western Shore still crosses the centre of many villages. Avoid the road if you are not a keen driver and dislike small roads, hairpins, steep inclines, sharp bends, and heavy traffic. Fatal accidents, often involving motorcyclists, are common.Parking in some areas can be problematic, especially if you have a big car. A small car can be much more convenient for both traveling and parking.
By bus
Frequent buses run up the Western Shore from Como to Menaggio. A few then continue on to Colico.