Como

Silk, a Gothic cathedral and Lake Como's grand front porch, inside a walkable old town

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Como sits at the southern tip of Lake Como, where a walled medieval centre meets a lakefront promenade lined with grand old hotels and locals out for their evening passeggiata. The city built its fortune on silk, and you can still feel it in the weaving houses turned boutiques around the centro storico. Beyond the lake views there is a proper working city here too – a Gothic-Renaissance cathedral, a funicular climbing to Brunate for the best panorama over the water, and enough good bakeries and osterie that you will not need to duck off to Milan. Our local picks run from the Duomo to the silk museum and the best aperitivo terraces on the water. More hand-picked recommendations are on the way – filter by category and budget below.

Como at a glance

Ideal stay: 1 to 2 days
Best time to visit: April to June and September to October
Highlights: the Duomo, the funicular to Brunate and the lakefront promenade
Where to stay: the centro storico around Piazza Cavour
Local picks: a growing set of hand-chosen tips
Getting around: a compact, walkable old town plus lake ferries to nearby villages

Where to stay in Como

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1 Hour Lake Como Boat Tour

A short boat trip out from Como’s waterfront past the lakeside villas and gardens that are otherwise only visible from a distance on land. An hour is enough to get a proper…

A. Picci

A. Picci has been selling Como silk on the city’s main shopping street for generations, with scarves, ties and fabric that come from the same local mills that made Como’s name in…

★ 4.7

Albergo Firenze

Albergo Firenze sits on a quiet piazza just back from the lakefront, a family-run alternative to the big lake-view hotels nearby. Rooms are simple and well kept rather than luxurious, and the…

★ 4.4

Alle Terrazze Como

Alle Terrazze sits out on the Geno headland with a proper lake view, and the outdoor terrace fills up fast for aperitivo hour as the sun drops behind the mountains. It works…

★ 4.2

Cà del Gust

Cà del Gust is a small gourmet deli in the old town selling local cheese, cured meats and wine, the kind of shop that’s built for putting together a picnic rather than…

★ 4.6

Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta – Duomo di Como

Como’s Gothic-Renaissance Duomo took nearly 350 years to build, and the main nave is free to step into. Full tourist access to some side areas and the cathedral’s own museum and treasury…

★ 4.7

Como Food Tour and the Farmers Market

This tour pairs a visit to a local producers’ market with tastings at small food shops around Como, giving a hands-on introduction to the region’s cheese, cured meats and bread with a…

Como: 2-Hour Walking Tour

This guided walk covers Como’s old town on foot in around two hours, taking in the Duomo, the Broletto and the lakefront with a local guide filling in the history behind the…

★ 4.3

Como: Guided City Walking Tour with Boat Tour Ticket

This combines a guided walk through the historic centre with a boat ticket out onto the lake, pairing the city’s Gothic cathedral and medieval streets with the view from the water that…

Feel Como

Feel Como is a sleek, modern cocktail bar just off Piazza Cavour, popular with a younger Como crowd for well-made drinks rather than a view. The vibe is closer to a Milan…

★ 4.6

Fresco Cocktail Shop

Fresco is a small, seriously-run cocktail bar a short walk from the lakefront, known locally for a menu that changes with the seasons and a level of craft you don’t expect from…

★ 4.8

Hotel Barchetta Excelsior

Barchetta Excelsior looks straight out over Piazza Cavour and the lake from the busiest corner of Como’s waterfront, and its rooftop terrace is one of the best spots in the city for…

★ 4.3

Il Pane di Tina Beretta (Permanently Closed)

Tina Beretta has been baking in Como’s walled centre for generations, and it still pulls a steady stream of locals in for the ritual aperitivo hour. The counter groans under trays of…

Libreria Ubik Como

Ubik is an independent bookshop on one of the old town’s prettiest small squares, with a well-curated stock that runs from Italian fiction to travel and design. It’s a good stop even…

★ 4.6

Life Electric

Life Electric is a striking modern sculpture by architect Daniel Libeskind, set out on the breakwater beyond the lakefront gardens and lit up after dark. It’s a short, free walk from the…

★ 4.4

Mercato Coperto di Como

The Mercato Coperto is Como’s covered food market, a working, unglamorous hall where locals do their actual grocery shopping rather than a tourist-facing food court. Stalls sell fresh produce, cheese, meat and…

★ 4.2

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Como travel FAQ

How many days do you need in Como?

A day covers the Duomo, the old town and a walk along the lake, but staying two lets you add the Brunate funicular and a proper lunch without rushing.

Where is the best area to stay in Como?

The centro storico around Piazza Cavour puts the Duomo, the lakefront and the best restaurants within a short walk.

What are the best things to do in Como?

Browse the local picks above, from the Duomo and the silk museum to the funicular up to Brunate and an aperitivo on the lakefront terraces.

What is the best time to visit Como?

Late spring and early autumn bring warm days without peak summer crowds. Please check current travel advice before planning a trip.