Como
Como: the back story
Area guide
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © CAPTAIN RAJU · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsAbout Como: the back story
Como sits at the foot of the south-western arm of the lake. Inside its medieval walls are the cathedral, begun in 1396, the Broletto and the lanes around the Piazza San Fedele; along the shore, the Villa Olmo and the lakeside villas; above, the funicular climbs to Brunate. Como is the capital of Italian silk: UNESCO named it a Creative City for Crafts and Folk Art in 2021.
Sights
The cathedral, the Museo della Seta, the Teatro Sociale, the Villa Olmo and the funicular to Brunate; seaplanes take off from the lake beside the town.
Eating
Kitchen (One MICHELIN Star, 2026), Feel Como and Comi 107, in the MICHELIN Guide; Il Cantuccio (One Star) in the hills at Albavilla; Martesana on the Piazza Volta.
Take the funicular to Brunate for the view back over the town.
Staying
DBH, facing the cathedral, Palazzo Albricci Peregrini and Hotel Villa Flori.
Our advice: arrive by train at Como Lago, a few steps from the boats.
Why it's on our list
- Sights
- Eating
- Staying
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Como: the back story before you go.
What’s nearby
Distances from Como: the back story are approximate, measured in a straight line (as the crow flies). Times are approximate too: walking at about 80 metres a minute, cycling at about 14 km/h and driving at typical city-traffic speeds. Traffic and routes vary.
Nearest stations and ferry stops
- Pontile 4Boat100 m1 min walk
- Pontile 3Boat100 m1 min walk
- Pontile 5Boat150 m2 min walk
Key sights
- Como Cathedral250 mWalk 3 minCycle 1 minCar or taxi 6 min
- Brunate funicular1.1 kmWalk 14 minCycle 5 minCar or taxi 7 min
- Villa del Balbianello19 kmCar or taxi 44 min
- Villa Carlotta22 kmCar or taxi 50 min
- Villa Melzi gardens23 kmCar or taxi 51 min
- Villa Monastero27 kmCar or taxi 59 min
- Malpensa Airport34 kmCar or taxi 74 min
- Linate Airport44 kmCar or taxi 93 min
Main railway stations
- Como Lago250 mWalk 3 minCycle 1 minCar or taxi 6 min
- Como San Giovanni800 mWalk 10 minCycle 3 minCar or taxi 7 min
- Lecco25 kmCar or taxi 54 min
- Varenna-Esino28 kmCar or taxi 60 min
- Colico43 kmCar or taxi 90 min