Accommodation
Where to stay in Como
Como is a working city, not just a holiday village — so its stays range from boutique lakeside hotels along the lungolago to stylish apartments in the old town and budget rooms near the train station. Most visitors land here first, then transfer onward by ferry.
Planning a remote-work month? See Como's connectivity notes — SIM, mobile, wifi & power on the nomad hub.
Curated picks
Stays in and around Como
No Como properties yet — check back soon.
Dining guide
Where to eat in Como
Como's dining scene is broad enough to feel like a city, not a village — historic lake-fish kitchens in the old town, modern trattorias near the lungolago, and the great pastry heritage that Como has been quietly famous for since the 19th century.
On the water just south of the lungolago, Mistral is the go-to for serious lake-fish cooking — risotto with lake perch, missoltini, and a few creative seasonal plates. Outdoor tables in summer; reserve for dinner, especially weekends.
Set in an old boatyard near the marina. Handmade pasta, charcoal grilled lake fish, and a wine list that leans heavily on Lombard whites. The sort of place where you stay for three hours without noticing.
A local favourite tucked into the old town, with shaded outdoor tables and a daily-changing menu of small plates. Cash-friendly, walk-in friendly, and reliably good — no lake view, no pretension.
Como's pastry institution — the same family has been here since 1844. Panettoni, miascia, and the perfect cappuccino stop after a morning at the Duomo. A genuine slice of Como's belle-époque café culture.
Between the Duomo and the lungolago, this compact osteria does small plates built for sharing — salumi, lake fish, focaccia, and a tight Lombardy wine list. Excellent aperitivo stop, especially on Saturdays.
Things to do
What to do in Como
Como packs more into a small area than almost any town on the lake. The cathedral, the funicular, the lakeside promenade, and two striking 18th-century villas all sit within walking distance of the centre.
One of Italy's most important Gothic cathedrals, started in the 14th century and finished two centuries later in late Gothic style. The dome, tapestries, and stained glass are the highlights. Free to enter; tapestry rooms a small extra fee.
A 7-minute funicular climb to Brunate, the village perched above Como at 700m. Sweeping views across the lake and the Alps on a clear day. In summer, walking trails fan out from Brunate across the ridge — a half-day adventure from the city.
Como's waterfront promenade runs roughly 3 km from the ferry pier west to Villa Olmo. Flat, easy, and unbroken by traffic. Best at sunset when the light catches the cathedral's marble and the lake goes gold.
Housed in the Palazzo Volpi, the small civic museum covers Como's archaeology and Risorgimento-era history. Quick visit — 45 minutes. Best on a rainy day or as a pause between heavier meals.
A neoclassical temple dedicated to Alessandro Volta, Como's most famous son (inventor of the electric battery). Reachable on the walk along the lungolago. The building itself, the gardens around it, and the science exhibits inside make for a thorough visit.
An 18th-century neoclassical villa at the western end of the lungolago, hosting temporary exhibitions and set in formal lakeside gardens. Wander the gardens for free; exhibitions are ticketed. The gardens alone are the draw.
Best time to visit
When to visit Como
Como's seasonal rhythm is the lake's seasonal rhythm — high summer brings the heat, the crowds, and the full hydrofoil timetable; shoulder months keep most services running and the villa gardens at their best; winter trades that vibrancy for quiet, mist, and the lake's most reflective light.
Long, hot days; lake temperature 20–25°C, air 24–30°C. Como's lungolago ferries run on the full April–October timetable with hydrofoils to Bellagio and the car ferry at maximum cadence. The trade-off: crowds peak in July and August, and villa prices run 30–40% higher — book 2–3 months ahead for July.
Lake temperature 14–20°C, air 16–24°C. Frequent ferries still on the April–October timetable, hydrofoils running, and noticeably fewer visitors. Spring lights up the lakeside gardens; September and October give warm light and harvest menus at Como's restaurants. The pick for most travellers.
Lake temperature 6–12°C, air 4–12°C. Slow boats only — many routes reduce to hourly timetables, hydrofoils usually don't run November through March, and some lakeside restaurants take seasonal breaks. The reward: misty lake light, lowest villa rates, and Como's Christmas lights and New Year events.
When to visit Como — practical tips
- Milan weather is coupled — Como sits at the foot of the Alps and shares Milan's weather patterns; bring layers even in July, as the evenings off the lake cool quickly.
- Lake ferries reduce mid-November to mid-March — slow boats still run, but the timetable thins from four runs an hour to roughly one. Always check Navigazione Laghi before planning winter crossings.
- Hydrofoils usually don't run November–March — the fast boats to Bellagio and the central lake pause for the season. The Bellagio crossing stretches back to ~70 minutes on the slow ferry.
- Villa gardens close in winter — Villa Carlotta, Villa Melzi, and Villa Monastero are typically April–October only; plan accordingly if gardens are the goal.
- December Como sparkles — the lungolago fills with Christmas markets through December, and Como's New Year fireworks over the lake draw crowds from across Lombardy.
- Shoulder months give you villa gardens, half the rate — late May and late September are when Como delivers the same light, ferries, and lake temperatures as July for a fraction of the villa rate.
Plan your trip
Events & Festivals in Como
Annual sagre, jazz nights, and seasonal festivals in and around Como — plan your visit around one, or just check what's on when you arrive.
🎶 Como City Jazz Festival
Multi-venue jazz festival across Como's historic centre.
⛪ Como Cathedral Light Festival
Evening illuminations projected onto the Gothic cathedral façade — a free lakeside spectacle.
🥃 Lario Whisky Day
Tasting event at the lakeside convention centre — Italian craft distilleries plus international guests.
🍷 CittàSlow Long Table Dinner
A kilometre-long communal table through Como's walled centre — local producers, regional wines.
Sample day
A day in Como
A realistic morning-to-evening flow through Como — what to do, where to eat, and how the ferries fit into the day.
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09:00 Morning
Caffè del Duomo
Standing espresso at the counter opposite the cathedral, then a quiet walk into the walled city.
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10:30
Funicolare to Brunate
Six-minute ride up to the sunlit village — Como panorama from the Voltiano lighthouse.
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13:00 Midday
Lakefront lunch
Risotto with lake fish on a Piazza Cavour terrace — ferry pier across the street.
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15:30 Afternoon
Pinacoteca civica & Tempio Voltiano
Slow afternoon in the old city museums — paintings, Volta instruments, gardens.
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17:00
Ferry north from Piazza Cavour
Slow boat to Cernobbio, Tremezzo, Bellagio — back by dinner.
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20:30 Evening
Trattoria dinner
Cassoeula season, lake fish pasta, and a Veronese red — book the old-town tables in advance.
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Ferry access
Ferry from Como — the southern terminal
Como's ferry pier is the lake's southern hub — practically every passenger route either starts here or passes through. Direct crossings to Bellagio, Varenna, Menaggio, Tremezzo, and Cernobbio run year-round, with more services in the April–October timetable.
From Como to:
Year-round pier on the lungolago · passenger fast boats emphasise Apr–Oct
Tips for ferry travel from Como
- Tickets at the lungolago booth — Como's ferry ticket office is at the pier on the lungolago. In peak season (July–August), arrive 20 minutes early. Buying online in advance is the safest bet for hydrofoils and busy crossings.
- Hydrofoil vs slow ferry — Hydrofoils cut the Bellagio crossing to about 35 minutes; slow ferries take closer to 2 hours but have an open upper deck and quieter pace. Both leave from the same pier.
- Direct vs via Bellagio for Menaggio and Varenna. Direct sailings exist but are infrequent; most travellers change at Bellagio, which is a scenic stop in its own right.
- Last evening departure back to Como is usually around 7pm in winter and 8:30pm in summer. Plan day-trip return times accordingly — especially from Bellagio, the most popular crossing.
- Cernobbio is faster than you think — the crossing is only 15 minutes and runs every 30 minutes year-round. Worth pulling into Villa Erba's gardens for an afternoon if you're based in Como.
Book your ferry crossing
Cross the lake from Como — buy tickets online
Official Navigazione Laghi tickets for all Como departures — to Bellagio, Varenna, Menaggio, Tremezzo, and Cernobbio. Buy before you arrive to guarantee your seat on the bellagio hydrofoil.
Getting to Como
How to reach Como
Como is the easiest lake arrival on the whole body of water — direct trains from Milano Centrale take about 40 minutes, and the city sits at the southern end of the lake with multiple road approaches. Most international visitors arrive via Milan.
Step 1
Milano Centrale → Como S. Giovanni
The easiest lake arrival. Direct regional trains from Milano Centrale to Como S. Giovanni run every 30–60 minutes and take ~40 minutes. The main station is a 10-minute walk from the lungolago and ferry pier.
Step 2
Walk the lungolago
From Como S. Giovanni, walk south through the old town to the lungolago. The cathedral, ferry pier, and Tempio Voltiano are all on this route — about 15 minutes on foot. Alternatively, catch a local taxi for the last leg with luggage.
Step 3
Board your ferry
The ferry pier is at the southern end of the lungolago, right next to the Tempio Voltiano. Buy tickets at the booth before boarding, or online in advance. Hydrofoils for Bellagio depart from the same pier.
~40 min
by train
Getting to Como from...
- Milan (train): Direct regional trains from Milano Centrale to Como S. Giovanni (~40 min) every 30–60 minutes. The simplest and most reliable lake arrival. Tickets from ~€5 each way.
- Milan (car): ~50 km via the A9 motorway. Around 1 hour without traffic, often longer on weekends. The lake road from Milan (SS340) is scenic but slow.
- Bergamo: ~90 km. A4 east to the then SS342 west toward Como. About 90 minutes by car. Direct buses run from Bergamo Orio al Serio airport on request.
- Malpensa airport (MXP): ~70 km south. Direct bus from Malpensa to Como station (~1h 20min), or train via Saronno. Taxi runs about €100–130.
- Linate airport (LIN): The closest Milan airport. ~75 km. Direct buses run to Como; allow 90–120 minutes total. Most convenient for central Milan arrivals.
- From Switzerland: Chiasso is on the southern border. From Lugano, take the A2 south, then the A9 toward Como — about 1 hour. The lake approach from this direction crosses the autostrada toll.
The main station in Como, on the southern edge of the city. Direct trains to Milano Centrale every 30–60 minutes. From here, the lungolago is a 10-minute walk through the old town. Luggage-friendly on the level route.
A small station a few minutes' walk closer to the lungolago than S. Giovanni. Useful for hotels right on the waterfront, but has fewer services. Most long-distance trains use S. Giovanni.
Parking in Como centre is mostly paid and zoned (blue lines). The biggest practical option is the Lungolago multipark — underground, paid by hour, right next to the ferry pier. Cheaper long-stay options exist at the edge of the city.
Also nearby
Explore nearby destinations
Como is the southern hub — every other lakeside town is reachable by ferry from the lungolago pier. Most are full-day excursions; Varenna and Bellagio are the most popular pairings.
Peninsula villa gardens at the tip of the lake · ~35 min by hydrofoil
Colorful waterfront and Villa Monastero gardens · via Bellagio crossing
Western shore golf and old town · via Bellagio ferry triangle
Villa Carlotta gardens on the western shore · via Bellagio
Villa Erba's lakeside gardens · 15 minutes south