Located south of Lake Como, Como (or Cômo, as it always sounds better in Italian) is the largest village and the gateway from Milan to magnificent Lake Como.
We recommend that you spend a day here, as there really is so much to see and do in Como. We enjoyed its bustle, its beautiful stores, its beautiful buildings, its adjoining harbor and its atmosphere at night.
Below, we provide you with all the information you need to prepare your future stay in Como (what to see and do in Como? Where to eat an excellent ice cream? Where to sleep? Where to take the funicular?…) as well as our best addresses on our map.
What to see and do in Como (walks, visits…) map ?
Como is the largest city around Lake Como. Located south of the lake, it’s usually the gateway to Lake Como.
We spent 1 day and 1 evening there before heading to Milan airport.
Here are the 3 things to do in Como:
- Stroll by the lake
- Admire its beautiful historic center
- Take a explore the lake
➡️ The main attraction in Comois its magnificent cathedral, commonly known as the Duomo (in Italian, la cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta di Como).
Where to stay in Como?
❤️ To sleep, we recommend Albergo Frirenze, which we tested and approved during our stay in Como, ideally located near the port (double and family rooms).
Visit the port and the old town on foot
Here’s the itinerary we followed on our walk around the city of Como (about 2 kilometers round trip)
1- Start at the sumptuous Villa Olmo (free tour) on the shores of the lake, with the option of visiting the interior and gardens.
2 – Then walk along the waterfront to Piazza Cavour (about 10 minutes walk). Take the opportunity to gaze at the boats, dreaming yourself aboard one of them and enjoying the beautiful views over the lake.
3- Next, you can visit the imposing Gothic Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta(begun in 1396 and completed in 1770). We recommend you enter the cathedral to admire the architecture and the many stained-glass windows.
Then take the shopping street. Before returning to your hotel, take advantage of your stay in Como to sample some of Italy’s famous ice creams!
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 offering spectacular views of the lake and surrounding mountains.
The closest to Como is Villa Olmo, and the good news is that admission to the villa and park is free. Some temporary exhibitions may be subject to a charge. Considered one of the most sumptuous villas on Lake Como, Villa Olmo, designed by Italian architect Simone Cantoni, was built in 1782. This majestic villa offers a privileged view over a splendid park, featuring gardens designed in Italian and English styles. The interior, adorned with frescoes and works of art, bears witness to Italy’s cultural wealth.
Today, having been acquired by the local authorities, it stands as a central pillar of the city’s cultural life.
Taking the high road
We also went up to the Faro de Voltiano (Volta lighthouse), entrance €2. The panoramic view over the lake is splendid, but you’ll get there via a narrow, winding road.
We recommend you take the historic funicular (dating from 1894) to Brunate, then walk for about 30 minutes to reach the lighthouse. The journey takes around ten minutes and costs around €6 per person.
Explore the lake by boat
Exploring Lake Como by boat is a must-do experience. Aboard your boat, with or without a license, you can rediscover the lake and even take a dip.
Cruise from Como
Our favorite ❤️: Departing from the port of Como, we boarded a small boat (15 people maximum), where we enjoyed a lovely view of the city of Como from the water, then set off to discover the other jewels of the lake, including the Fontanelle and Villa d’Este in Cernobbio.
For 1h30 we sailed along the calm waters of the lake, surrounded by breathtaking scenery. We saw a condensed view of the lake and its main sights.
The company Salimar Boat Tour, which operates the cruise, has an excellent reputation. Our guide gave us many anecdotes about the places we visited, in several languages (including French).
➡️ We advise you to book your Lake Como cruise tickets online in advance (approx. €50 per person), especially during the tourist season, as these excursions are very popular and the number of places is limited.
Boat rental
If you would like a private boat, we recommend the Samboat platform. It’s very simple, they have the most complete offer of boat rental and their website is very easy to use!
You enter your“Como” location, then your dates, then you can filter by boat type (motorboats, houseboats, small boats…), with or without a license, with or without a skipper: in short, you’re spoilt for choice.
Find out more about boat rental with Samboat
Villa Balbianello and Villa Carlotta
As mentioned above, numerous villas surround Lake Como. We recommend 2 located just 30 minutes north of Como:
- La Villa BalbianelloThe Villa Balbianello is sure to ring a bell, as it was the filming location for“Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones” and“James Bond: Casino Royale”. It’s also the most visited villa on Lake Como, and it’s easy to see why! The tour of the villa is offered only with a guide, who taught us a lot about the house and Lake Como.
➡️ From Como a ferry excursion is available, more information on the boat trip + villa visit here. - Villa Carlotta in Tremezzio, an ancient 3-storey residence, offers a beautiful view of the lake. The gardens with majestic trees and beautiful flower beds are worth a visit. It’s one of the biggest and most beautiful around Lake Como. An important point to note is that this villa is less touristy than the previous one, and also offers beautiful views of the lake.
Where to stay in Como?
We recommend that you spend at least one night in Como to fully enjoy the city’s lively nightlife.
➡️ As you can see, there is very little well-placed accommodation in Como, so we advise you to book as far in advance as possible.
❤️ We recommend Albergo Frirenze, which we tested and approved during our stay in Como. The room was very pleasant and clean, ideally located near the port, everything within walking distance, with an incredible breakfast, just the way we like it.
In short, it’s the best value for money in Como (from €100 – rated 8.5/10 on Booking)!
Two minutes from the pier, ideal for taking a boat and then touring the lake!
Hotel Engadina – economy option
One of Como’s most economical options, the decor is a little old-fashioned, but that’s part of its charm.
🏙️ Close to downtown and Como San Giovanni train station
💶 One of the cheapest hotels in downtown Como
🛏️ Simple, functional roomsA good choice for its excellent location/price ratio, especially if you spend your days out exploring Como and the lakeshore.
👉 Information and booking for Hotel Engadina from 90€ per night depending on season
Ostello Bello Lake Como – youth hostel
Here’s a superb, modern and friendly hostel right in the center of Como.
🌊 Central location, close to the lake and historic center
🍻 Lively common areas, terrace and shared kitchen
🛏️ Comfortable private rooms and dormitories, relaxed atmosphere👉 Information and booking for Ostello Bello Lake Como from €40 per night in dormitory, approx. €110 in private room
Lora Giusta Guest House – with parking lot
A final option is this simple, well-appointed guesthouse in the Lora district, about 4 km from the center of Como.
🚗 Free parking on site, real plus around the lake
🏡 Quiet residential neighborhood, easy access
🛏️ Pleasant rooms👉 Information and booking for Lora Giusta Guest House from €120 per night according to season
Looking for a place to stay on Lake Como? To make your visit easier, we’ve included an article detailing the most interesting villages to stay in on Lake Como, along with our best hotel addresses.
You can get an idea of the prices with the map below:
➡️ The Hilton Lake Como – Upscale:
The latest address for indulgence: the Hilton Lake Como combines a convenient location, elegant rooms and a sublime rooftop pool overlooking the lake. A rare little privilege in Como, perfect for alternating visits and moments of relaxation.
Information and reservation for Hilton Lake Como
How to get to Como?
From Milan by car
➡️ By car, from Milan it takes about 1 hour to reach Como.
Car rental:
After testing a number of comparators, Discover Cars has clearly become our favorite site for comparing car rental prices. The site aggregates offers from hundreds of rental companies, allowing you to quickly identify the best rate according to your criteria.
This filter lets you check at a glance :
- the amount of the security deposit
- type of bank card accepted (debit or credit)
- what’s really included in insurance
- customer reviews for each rental company
👉 As an example, we found a car at €50 for 4 days via Hertz (excluding insurance).
We ticked the “debit card” option, as we had read that some rental companies do not accept credit cards. In France, a bank card is usually called a credit card, but if you look on your card, you’ll see “carte de débit” (debit card ) written on it.
❗We advise you to be vigilant in the town centers of villages (such as Como, Bellagion, Varenna…), as everywhere in Italy, some areas are located in ZLT (zona traffico limitato).
🎟️ Compare Milan car rental deals easily at DiscoverCars
From Milan by bus + cruise
➡️ If you want to save time and let yourself be guided, you can book your ticket for an excursion to Lake Como, by bus, with stops in the most beautiful villages, Como, Bellagio and Varenna, as well as a 1-hour cruise on the lake to enjoy beautiful panoramas from the lake.
Where to park in Como?
We recommend parking outside the city center, towards Villa Olmo, where there are several free parking lots. Parcheggio Serra di Villa del Grumello is a 10-minute walk from the center.
Where to eat (pizzas, ice creams…)?
- Pronobis: an address located in the historical center which does not look like much, once inside the magic happens, excellent products, excellent wines, all in a warm setting!
- Of course, if you’re a regular reader, you’ll know that we took the opportunity to try out the Italian ice creams. We loved the artisanal ice creams from Guidi’ s ice-cream parlour in nearby Piazza Cavour. The flavors are original, and we recommend you try the “lemon basil”… And the flavors are just right. Let yourself be tempted without hesitation!
Our map with our best addresses
What to do in the area?
- Lake Como: if you come to Como, we obviously recommend exploring the picturesque villages around Lake Como, Bellagio, Varenna, Mennagio and Lecco, and enjoying the lake’s beautiful beaches.
- Explore Lake Lake Como by boat is a must-do activity during your stay!
- The city of Milan is also a must-see, and we’ll be giving you all our tips and itinerary for the weekend!
We wish you an excellent trip! Don’t hesitate to leave us a quick note or 5 stars below, to let us know if you’re planning this trip, to ask any questions you may have, here or on Instagram, we’ll get back to you with great pleasure.
