17+ Best Things to do in Como City Italy
ADD TO YOUR BEST THINGS TO DO IN COMO CITY ITINERARY: TAKE A DAY TRIP FROM COMO CITY
There are many things to do in Como City that will fill your itinerary for a few days. However, if you have time, you could fit in a day trip to Milan, Bergamo or Lugano, Switzerland.
18 | Milan, Italy
Milan can be reached in 40 minutes from Como City. Take the direct train from Como San Giovanni Railway Station to Milan Centrale Station. From there, you can hop onto the Metro and get off at Piazza Duomo.
Piazza Duomo is the central location for most of the attractions in Milan. From Piazza Duomo, you can explore Milan Cathedral, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Sforza Castle (home to several museums ranging from musical instruments to archaeology), The Last Supper Mural, Santa Maria delle Grazie, Parco Sempione and several other attractions to complete your day. This useful guide about Milan bucket list gives a comprehensive list of 19 ideas for a great experience of the city and this other article on how to enjoy and make the best of Milan in one day may also be useful to your planning.
Most attractions are within walking distance of the Duomo. If you like to use local transport to get around, you can read this comprehensive guide on how to get around Milan like a local which explains the public transport system and options, along with ticket pricing.
The highlights of Milan can be seen in a day, and you can return to Como City on their last train out from Milan Centrale. However, it may be a good idea to spend at least a night here to experience the lively night-scene in Milan. If you decide to stay the night, take a look at the wide-ranging accommodation choices that are available for you. This guide suggests accommodations with regard to the best areas to suit an individual’s interests if you choose to stay overnight in Milan.
19 | Lugano, Switzerland
Como is situated close to the Swiss border and you can get to Lugano in a little over half-an-hour. Lugano is part of the Italian-speaking Ticino region and makes an easy day trip from Como.
This lakeside city is renowned for its scenic views over the lake and the Alps, boat trips, and funicular railways to Monte San Salvat and Monte Bre.
20 | Bergamo, Italy
Often described as the most enchanting open air museum in the world, Bergamo is a sophisticated and stunning town surrounded by picturesque mountains and valleys. This unique city is untouched by modernity and can be easily experienced in a day through a guided tour from Lake Como.
GETTING TO COMO CITY, LAKE COMO
Given Como’s proximity to Milan, you can easily reach Como City by bus, car/taxi, or train. Milan is served by two main airports, Milan Malpensa (MXP) and Bergamo (BGY).
Como City train stations
If you are travelling into any of Milan airports or by train to Milan Centrale Station, the nicest way and the most convenient is to take the train to Como City. Como City is served by four railway stations — Como San Giovanni, Como Nord Lago, Como Borghi and Como Camerlata. Como S. Giovanni and Como Nord Lago are the two main stations in Como, with San Giovanni being the hub for regional, national and international trains.
There are direct train services from Milan Centrale Station to Como San Giovanni Station. The journey time is around 42 minutes.
There is also the smaller station of Como Lago in Como City. To arrive at Como Lago, you need to take the Malpensa Express from Malpensa Airport and change at Saronno. You can read the complete guide to train travelling from Milan Malpensa to Como where I share my experience of this journey.
Como City bus
Buses from Como City are a great way to get around Lake Como. The bus services in Como are managed by ASF Lines. The main bus station in Como City is at Piazza Matteotti, next to Como Nord Lago railway station. Some buses stop at Como S. Giovanni as well.
Here are some of the routes of the Como City bus to around Lake Como areas which you may find helpful:
From Como City — Bellagio line C30 along Lariana;
Como — Menaggio line C10 along Regina;
Como — Asso line C49.
Driving: Como City centre parking
While you don’t need a car to get around Lake Como, you may opt to do so for independent exploration. If you do, note that Como City centre is a traffic-free zone and some areas are low-emission zones. In addition, parking is very limited in Como City as well as the towns around Lake Como. Ensure the hotel you are staying at offers parking facilities.
Check this official website about the Limited Traffic Zone in Como.
WHERE TO STAY IN COMO CITY
Como City is one of the best areas to stay in Lake Como. There is a good selection of hotels, villas and apartments in and around Como city. We stayed in a two-room spacious, nicely decorated, modern and fully equipped apartment with views of the mountains within the pedestrianised city wall.
While researching for a place to stay, I also considered Hilton Lake Como. This premier hotel is great for families and offers large rooms for a family of four. Located just a little out of the town centre, but within walking distance of the shops, restaurants and Como pier. The hotel is also best suited for solo travellers or couples who want to take advantage of the fine facilities it offers, such as the rooftop infinity pool, a fitness centre, spa and health club, a Finnish sauna and a Turkish bath.
Hotel Metropole Suisse is probably one of the best 4-star mid-range hotels in Como that caught my attention. Its location simply cannot be beaten. Metropole Suisse is a stunning historic building in a stunning lakeside position within metres of Como pier. This vintage hotel offers a variety of rooms and suites with lakeside views and city views. Perfectly suited for single travellers, couples and families.
Hotel Marco’s is a 3-star rated accommodation located near the Brunate funicular. A typical Italian breakfast is included in your stay. This family-run hotel offers simple rooms with some having lake-views.
My final decision rested upon what suited my family and I. We wanted to be in the historic centre, in a home away from home with some flexibility of not having to rush downstairs for breakfast which is often the case when we stay in a hotel. In addition, I had a very good deal for such a beautiful apartment.
TRADITIONAL FOOD TO TRY IN COMO CITY
Go local and taste Como’s authentic dishes that are unique to this region. The lake influence is strong in Como’s local cuisine as are the rustic flavours of the mountains. Fish and seafood along with mountain cheese and polenta feature highly in their menu.
Fish, freshly caught from the lake is a staple of the Lake Como area. The most popular fish is the lavarello and there are also others, including shad, perch, pike, fillet and eel.
Polenta is a common dish in the Northern Italian region. It is made from corn crumbled into flour. It has a rich, yellow yolk-like colour and is slightly sweet.
Here are some of the local cuisines you could try when visiting Como city:
Fish and polenta dishes
The local restaurants here cook all kinds of lake fish. The most common species is the perch. These are marinated and fried in top quality olive oil. They also make delicious risotto topped with perch.
Fish in Como is usually served with polenta.
In Como, one of the prominent dishes is fritto misto di lago — mixed fried fish from the lake.
It is a tasty combination of fresh fish caught in the lake — bleak, herring, white fish and pike-perch fillets coated in egg and flour and fried in a cast iron pan. It is crunchy and fragrant.
There are several traditional dishes in Como which you may want to try. One of the traditional fish dishes in Como is ravioli stuffed with fish, served with herbs and melted butter.
You may want to try Pesce in Carpione — a simple dish of fried fish, marinated in vinegar with onions and bay leaves, ideal as a starter.
Missultino — a traditional dish which the Italians highly recommend but it may not be to everyone’s taste. These are salted and pickled small fish, usually herring. Herring caught in the month of May, are sun-dried and stored in layers with a bay leaf in each layer. They are then served grilled, drizzled with oil and vinegar, paired with roasted polenta.
Pizza and Pasta
In Como, you can try all sorts of pizza and pasta dishes, from simple and easy crispy pizzas fresh from the stone oven to a plentiful plate of pasta carbonara.
WHERE TO EAT IN COMO CITY | BEST RESTAURANTS IN COMO
We ate at several restaurants in Como and we were not disappointed. These are our highlights:
Como City Restaurants
1 | Pepe Nero was a place we returned to several times during our stay. A good place to go to for a quick and easy pizza or pasta dishes that will not go wrong.
2 | Mediterranee Bistrot di mare Pizza There was a kinda vibe about this restaurant that attracted us. It was busier than its neighbours, had warm lighting and patio heaters that were so inviting on a rainy evening. We had a hearty dinner of seafood (lobster, prawns, mussels, squid and scallops) pasta paired with glasses of red and white. This restaurant is at Piazza Alessandro Volta and serves some of the best in seafood pasta dishes.
3 | The Clock Restaurant serves up simple home-made dishes of spaghetti bolognese or seafood pasta. Tripadvisor reviews aren’t great on this one but we enjoyed our meal. My family members tried the spaghetti bolognese with the house wine and I tried salmon tagliatelle. It was plentiful and inexpensive along with a friendly and fast service.
4 | Ristorante da Pietro is at the heart of Como in Piazza del Duomo. It was another good experience of our stay in Como. Good food and drinks along with good service.
5 | Erre Bar sits within a pleasant setting of Como with views of the mountains, Lake Como and the lively atmosphere of Piazza Cavour. This is a modern and contemporary eatery featuring elegant designs with indoor and outdoor seating. Erre Bar serves an exclusive American breakfast service (pancakes!) along with brunch and dinner.
Here are some of the dishes we tried while in Como city. Click on the images to see what they are:
Everything we tried during our stay was super delicious and was paired well with red and white wine.
You may like to read about the Easy Guide to 11 Fine Garda Wines.
Where to go for the best gelato in Como city
Go to Gelateria Lariana for the best gelato in Como! This cute place is situated next to Metropole Suisse Hotel, facing Como pier. You can’t miss it as you exit the pier. The queues are always long here and that can only mean one thing – you know that the gelato must be good. It was! I enjoyed my double scoop of pistachio and vanilla and my family certainly enjoyed their choices.
HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU NEED TO VISIT COMO CITY
If you are unsure of how long you want to stay in Como city, consider this. The best of Como can be seen in one complete day or a good half day visit. So you could experience Como on a day trip from Milan.
On the other hand if you want to experience Lake Como in all its splendour — the sunrises, golden hour the buzz of the piazzas at night time and the authentic lakeside living, along with lakeside village hopping on a hydrofoil, then stay in Como city for a few days. Use Como city as your base, and stay for at least 3 days, or 5 days if possible. There are so many charming villages that beckons a visit, each with its unique features. I am sure each day will be filled with new adventures and you are not bored.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION + TRAVELLER’S TIPS FOR VISITING COMO CITY, LAKE COMO, ITALY
For best experience, consider the following:
>> Como is one of the busiest cities in the region during the summer season when tourism peaks and flights along with accommodations are both expensive and may be limited in choices. Therefore, consider travelling to Como in the shoulder season (late March-May or September-early November). You’ll enjoy pleasant temperatures during this time for sightseeing, lower prices and fewer people.
>> If you visit Lake Como between November and March, Como is probably the best town to stay at. As Como is a larger town, it does not depend on tourism as much as the other Lake Como towns. Life seems to carry on as normal here when we visited in November, albeit with less crowds. Therefore, the city offers accommodations at a somewhat cheaper rate to stay at compared to other popular towns such as Bellagio or Varenna.
>> Como city offers a wide range of dining options, from easy takeaways, less expensive ones to Michelin starred restaurants. So, Como city makes a good choice if you are travelling on a budget.
>> Book accommodation in advance. Como city is the most popular town in Lake Como and if you want a good stay at one of the nice hotels, book early so you are not disappointed. The same goes for restaurants. Book at least two or three days earlier for dinner in the summer months. Earlier if you are dining on a weekend.
FAQs
Is Como town worth visiting?
Como town is 100% worth the time to visit. Como is a city of history, architecture and untouched nature entwined with the calmness of lakeside living. The town is host to some of the most amazing architecture and the best attractions in all of Lombardy, northern Italy region. A simple stroll through the traffic-free historic city centre amidst the buzz of the piazzas alone is worth the visit if you do not have much time to spend here. Como town is ideal for a day visit or for staying longer also.
2 | What is Como known for?
Como city is known for its museums, churches, gardens, the prettiest villas and the numerous collections of art. The city is deeply rooted in history and you can see a wealth of this when you visit the Como Cathedral, Tempio Voltiano and Villa Olmo.
3 | Does Como have a beach?
There are two beaches in Como for a summer swim. One is the Lido di Villa Olmo, located just a few metres away from the delightful Villa Olmo. This lido includes a small beach and a large meadow. The other is situated at the Lido di Villa Geno which includes a small pool and a large meadow. Admission fees apply for both beaches.
Would you like to visit another famous Italian lake?
If so, here’s my guide to places to visit in Lake Garda:
Prettiest Towns in Lake Garda: The Best 17 You Must Visit;
10+ Top Things to do in Peschiera del Garda, Italy;
Sirmione Old Town: The Charms of this Quirky Castle Town in Lake Garda, Italy.
Lake Como or Lake Garda: Which Italian Lake is Your Paradise?
finally…
My sincere wish is that this guide to the best things to do in Como city has given you a better idea of what to expect when you visit, things to do in and around Como and Lake Como, as well as how how to plan your time. I hope this guide has answered some, if not all of your questions about Como city, Italy.
You may want to check my guide on how to spend five days in Lake Como and the most beautiful Lake Como towns that are absolutely worth visiting.
Here are more articles about Lake Como for you to peruse before your trip:
- Where to Stay in Lake Como, Italy
- How to Travel Around Lake Como
- From Milan Malpensa to Lake Como by Train
- Argegno: The Perfect Off-beat Charm in Lake Como
- Varenna: 10 Best Things to do
- 18 Best Things to Do See in Bellagio, Lake Como
- 17+ Best Things to do in Como City, Italy
- Complete Guide to Lake Como, Italy
Before you leave, take a look at other travel stories and practical info about Italy if you are planning a trip to this country. You may like my recommendations and enjoy reading the following articles also:
- People and Culture of Italy
- Best time to visit Italy
- Complete Guide to Milan
- Getting around Milan like a local
- Best places to stay in Milan
- Best of Milan Cathedral
- Verona City Guide
- Food in Verona
- Guide to Verona Wine
For more inspiration and travel information for your trip to Italy, take a look at my Italy travel page that has detailed destination guides and experience based tips to support your travels.
Have a wonderful time in Como City xoxo
What’s new
Share to Social Media
I would love it if you could share this article on your social media, or bookmark the page for later reading and follow me on Pinterest. Thank you so much for your support.
