What to see and do in Como (walks, sights and more), with a map
Como is the largest city on Lake Como. Situated at the southern end of the lake, it is usually the gateway for exploring Lake Como.
We spent 1 day and 1 evening here before heading to Milan airport.
Everything you need to know to plan your visit.
- The old town and its Duomo
- Take a cruise to explore the lake
- Funicular with views over the lake
For accommodation, we recommend Albergo Frirenze, where we stayed during our visit to Como and which gets our seal of approval. It is ideally located near the harbour (double and family rooms)
This guide is completely independent and based on our own experience. We visited Lake Como, planning our own itinerary (after plenty of research) and choosing our own activities.
You can download this guide as a free PDF at the end of the article to read offline.
Explore the harbour and old town on foot
Here is the route we followed on our walk around Como (approximately 2 kilometres there and back)
1- Start at the magnificent Villa Olmo (free admission) on the lakeshore, where you can explore both the interior and the gardens.
2 – Then head to Piazza Cavour along the waterfront (about a 15-minute walk). Take the opportunity to admire the boats, imagine yourself aboard one of them and enjoy the lovely views across the lake.
3- Next, head to the imposing Cathedral of Saint Mary, Santa Maria Assunta, built in the Gothic style (begun in 1396 and completed in 1770). We recommend going inside to admire its architecture and many stained-glass windows.
You can then stroll along the shopping street. Before heading back to your hotel, make the most of your time in Como by trying some of Italy's famously delicious ice cream!
Visit Villa Olmo
During your stay at Lake Como, we recommend visiting some of the villas that are true architectural gems, nestled in lush gardens and, best of all, offering spectacular views of the lake and surrounding mountains.
The closest to Como is Villa Olmo, and the good news is that admission is free.
Some temporary exhibitions may, however, charge an admission fee. Considered one of the most sumptuous villas on Lake Como, Villa Olmo was designed by the Italian architect Simone Cantoni and built in 1782.
This majestic villa enjoys wonderful views over splendid grounds featuring elaborate Italian- and English-style gardens. Its interior, adorned with frescoes and works of art, reflects Italy's cultural richness.
Today, having been acquired by the local authorities, it plays a central role in the city's cultural life.
During your stay at Lake Como, if you only have time to visit 1 or 2 villas, we recommend:
Villa Carlotta, one of the most beautiful in the region, or Villa del Balbianello, which owes its fame to its appearances in Star Wars and James Bond.
Head up for the views
We also went up to the faro de Voltiano (Volta Lighthouse), where admission costs €2. The panoramic views over the lake are splendid, but getting there involves a narrow, winding road.
We recommend taking the historic funicular (dating from 1894) up to Brunate, followed by a walk of around 30 minutes to reach the lighthouse. The funicular journey takes about ten minutes and costs around €6 return per person.
Explore the lake by boat
Exploring Lake Como by boat is an absolute must. Whether you have a boating licence or not, you can take a boat out to see the lake from a fresh perspective and even go for a swim.
Cruise from Como
The company Around the lac, which operates the cruise, has an excellent reputation. Our guide shared several anecdotes about the places we visited in a number of languages, including French, English, Spanish and Italian.
We recommend booking your Lake Como cruise tickets online in advance (around €45 per person), especially during the tourist season, as these trips are very popular and places are limited. An audio guide in French is included, so remember to bring your earphones.
Villa Balbianello and Villa Carlotta
As mentioned above, there are many villas around Lake Como. We highly recommend 2 of them, just 30 minutes north of the town of Como:
- The Villa Balbianello will probably look familiar, as it was a filming location for ‘Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones’ and ‘James Bond: Casino Royale’. It is also the most visited villa on Lake Como, and we can see why! You can only visit the villa with a guide, who taught us lots about the house and Lake Como.
It was one of our favourite visits during our stay. Remember to book your tickets in advance.
A ferry excursion is available from Como. Find out more about the boat tour and visit to Villa Balbianello here.
- The Villa Carlotta in Tremezzio is a historic 3-storey house with lovely views of the lake. The gardens, with their majestic trees and beautiful flowerbeds, are well worth a visit. They are among the largest and most beautiful around Lake Como.
One important thing to note is that this villa is less touristy than the previous one and also offers lovely views of the lake.
Where to stay in Como?
We recommend staying at least one night in Como to make the most of the town's lively evening atmosphere.
As you will see, there are relatively few well-located places to stay in Como. We therefore recommend booking as early as possible.
Here are a few other places we had shortlisted, in case the first one is fully booked.
Wondering which part of Lake Como to stay in during your trip? To help you plan your visit, we've put together an article detailing the most interesting villages to choose as your base on Lake Como, along with our top hotel recommendations.
How do you get to Como?
From Milan by car
Allow around 1 hour to drive from Milan to Como.
From Milan by bus + cruise
If you would like to save time and let someone else take care of the itinerary, you can book a ticket for a trip to Lake Como by bus, with stops in the prettiest towns and villages, Como, Bellagio and Varenna, as well as a cruise lasting 1 hour to enjoy beautiful views from the lake.
Where to park in Como?
We recommend parking outside the town centre, near Villa Olmo. There are several free car parks; Parcheggio Serra di Villa del Grumello is a 10-minute walk from the centre.
Where to eat (pizza, ice cream…)?
- Pronobis: this place in the historic centre may not look like much from the outside, but once you step inside, the magic happens. Excellent produce, excellent wines, all in a welcoming setting!
- Of course, if you read our blog regularly, you will know that we took the opportunity to try some Italian ice cream during our visit. We loved the artisan ice cream from Guidi ice cream parlour, which you can enjoy in Piazza Cavour just nearby. The flavours are inventive, and we recommend trying ‘lemon and basil’. They taste every bit as good as they sound. Go on, treat yourself!
Our map of our favourite places
Here’s a little map we’ve put together to help you find the various places we recommend above.
You can save it to your favourites or download it for offline use.
How do you do this?
- Open the map in Google Maps
- Click the icon with three vertical dots at the top left, or click the map description.
- Select ‘Add to my saved places’ or ‘Save map’, depending on your version of the app.
Things to do nearby
- Lake Como: if you’re visiting Como, we’d definitely recommend exploring the picturesque little villages around Lake Como, Bellagio, Varenna, Mennagio and Lecco, and enjoying the lake’s beautiful beaches while you’re there.
- Exploring Lake Como by boat is an absolute must during your stay!
- Something a little different: Discover Lake Como on a tandem paragliding flight from Lecco, 50 minutes east of Como:
🪂 Information and bookings for a tandem paragliding flight over Lake Como from Lecco, from €100, suitable for beginners - The city of Milan is another must-see. We share all our tips and our itinerary for a weekend there!
We hope you have a wonderful trip! Feel free to leave us a comment or 5 stars below, let us know if you’re planning this trip, or ask us any questions here or on Instagram. We’ll be delighted to reply.
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