How to Get to the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este?
A village of narrow streets on a lake, two Milan airports, Switzerland a few kilometres away: jet, scheduled flight, chauffeur or boat, every arrival is planned.
Last updated 6 October 2026 · 4 min read
The Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este takes place in Cernobbio, on the west shore of Lake Como, very close to Como and the Swiss border. By air, Milan Malpensa, which receives international flights, is about 67 km away, some forty minutes by road according to the organisers; Milan Linate, about 89 km away, an hour and a half; Lugano airport, on the Swiss side, some forty kilometres away. From Milan, take the A9 motorway towards Como and Chiasso as far as the Lago di Como exit, the last before the border. On the spot, the streets of Cernobbio are narrow and parking limited: the organisers recommend public transport, reserve a few car parks for ticket holders and run a free shuttle between Villa Erba and the car parks of Maslianico and Como.
The overall answer: arrive the day before, do not try to park
On Saturday, the cars are on display from 9am at Villa d'Este; on Sunday, Villa Erba opens at 9.30am. Two rules work: arrive by the lake the day before, at the latest, and entrust the weekend's journeys to a chauffeur, who drops you at the right place without looking for a space.
For those coming from Paris or elsewhere in Europe, the lake is reached by a short flight to Milan, then by road. We coordinate it all, from your point of departure to the gate, with a fallback option.
By jet: Milan or Lugano
Both Milan airports receive business aviation. Malpensa, some forty minutes from Cernobbio, is the direct arrival; Linate, closer to the centre of Milan, is about an hour and a half from the lake. Lugano airport, in Switzerland, lies some forty kilometres from Cernobbio, on the other side of the border.
A chauffeur awaits you at the foot of the aircraft and drives you to your address. We book the flight, the handling and the transfer, and plan an alternate airport should the weather or congestion require it.
By scheduled flight and by train
From Paris and the majority of European capitals, flights to Milan are numerous. Malpensa receives international flights; Linate, domestic flights and private flights, according to the organisers. From there, the road climbs towards Como on the A9 motorway.
The train also links Milan to Como, from where a short drive leads to Cernobbio. A chauffeur on arrival spares you the waiting and the luggage; for those who wish to take their time, a night in Milan before going up to the lake is an option.
On the spot: chauffeur, boat, shuttles
Cernobbio is a small village by the lake, with narrow streets. During the weekend, the car parks indicated by the organisers are reserved for ticket holders, some of them paying, and badly parked vehicles risk being towed. A free shuttle links Villa Erba to the car parks of Maslianico and Viale Innocenzo XI, in Como.
A dedicated chauffeur remains the simple way to experience the weekend: drop-off as close as possible, return at your convenience, evening journeys without concern. Depending on your address, a private boat can also link the shores — we check the landing points for each journey.
| Option | Strengths | To plan for |
|---|---|---|
| Jet — Milan Malpensa | About 67 km, some forty minutes by road | Slot and transfer booked early |
| Jet — Lugano | Some forty kilometres, on the Swiss side | Border crossing, a fallback to plan |
| Scheduled flight — Milan Linate or Malpensa | Many connections from Europe | Chauffeur on arrival, no more than an hour and a half |
| Dedicated chauffeur | Door to door, return at your convenience | Scarce parking in Cernobbio, drop-off as close as possible |
| Organisers' shuttle | From Maslianico or Como to Villa Erba | Times to be checked, possible waiting |
Key points
Jet to Milan or Lugano, scheduled flight to Malpensa or Linate then chauffeur, boat between the shores, the organisers' shuttles from the car parks: each route has its place, and all are planned before Saturday morning. TGZ Conciergerie, an independent house with no affiliation to the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este or to the Villa d'Este hotel, and no official status whatsoever, coordinates the arrival, the transfers, the chauffeur and the boat on the spot, on quotation.
Frequently asked questions
Milan Malpensa, some forty minutes from Cernobbio, or Milan Linate, about an hour and a half away; Lugano airport, in Switzerland, is some forty kilometres away. We choose according to where you are coming from and the timing.
According to the organisers, about 45 minutes from Malpensa and about 90 minutes from Linate, on the A9 motorway as far as the Lago di Como exit. Longer at busy times.
With difficulty: the streets are narrow, and the car parks indicated by the organisers are reserved for ticket holders. A chauffeur, or the shuttle from Maslianico and Como, spares you many detours.
Yes: according to the organisers, a free shuttle links Villa Erba to the car parks of Maslianico and Viale Innocenzo XI, in Como.
A private boat can link your address to Cernobbio. Landing points during the weekend are checked for each edition: we confirm them before booking.
Yes: the train links Milan to Como, then a short drive leads to Cernobbio. A chauffeur waiting at the station simplifies the end of the journey.
No. TGZ Conciergerie is an independent house, with no affiliation to the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este or to the Villa d'Este hotel, and no official status whatsoever. We compose the logistics — flights, chauffeurs, boats, transfers — through our own channels, on quotation.
Take it further
An arrival settled before Saturday morning
Tell us where you are leaving from and with whom: jet to Milan or Lugano, scheduled flight, chauffeur, boat, we compose the arrival with its fallback plan, then the journeys of the weekend — on quotation, with a single point of contact.