Visit Como Cathedral
This striking Romanesque-Gothic cathedral, built over several centuries, anchors Como’s historic centre and remains its defining architectural landmark.
Free Travel Guide
Como Travel Guide.
A practical introduction to Como, including why to visit, what to see, where to stay, local food and how to plan a break in this elegant lakeside town of old-money glamour.
The Complete Como Guide is Coming Soon
We're currently researching and creating our comprehensive Como Guide.
It will include personally curated restaurants, cafés, neighbourhood guides, hidden gems, scenic walks, photography locations, practical travel tips and an interactive Google My Map designed to help you explore with confidence.
In development
Como at a glance
Como is an elegant lakeside town genuinely synonymous with old-money glamour, its shores lined with luxury villas and famous residents, most notably George Clooney. Beyond that reputation, the town holds real substance, a well-preserved historic centre anchored by a striking Romanesque-Gothic cathedral, the birthplace of physicist Alessandro Volta, and centuries of genuine silk-manufacturing heritage that once made it one of Europe’s most important producers.
Italy · Lombardy
Perfect for
Lakeside glamour, elegant villas, Romanesque-Gothic architecture and genuine silk heritage
Recommended stay
2 days
Trip type
City break • Lakeside Glamour • Historic Villas • Silk Heritage
Don't miss
Como Cathedral, the Lake Como waterfront and a villa garden visit
MapMagnet Picks
These are the Como experiences we think most first-time visitors should prioritise. They give you a strong feel for the city without going into the deeper curated detail that will come later in the full MapMagnet Como Guide.
Ride the Funicular to Brunate
This historic funicular climbs to the hillside village of Brunate, offering sweeping views over Lake Como and the surrounding mountains.
Tour a Lake Como Villa
Como’s lakeside villas, with their elegant gardens and old-money grandeur, offer a genuine glimpse into the glamour that has defined the area for centuries.
Why visit Como?
Como offers a genuine combination of lakeside glamour and real historical substance. Its reputation for old-money elegance and celebrity villas is well earned, but the town’s striking Romanesque-Gothic cathedral, its connection to physicist Alessandro Volta, and centuries of silk-manufacturing heritage give it depth beyond a glossy postcard image. Few lake towns anywhere combine this level of polish with genuine historical weight.
Our take
We think Como rewards visitors who look beyond the lakeside glamour to its quieter historic centre. The cathedral and the Volta Temple offer real substance away from the villa-spotting crowds, and pairing a morning in the old town with an afternoon boat trip gives a much fuller sense of what makes the area genuinely special.
What to See in Como
Como’s sights combine a striking cathedral, elegant lakeside villas and genuine historical significance. These are the places we would recommend starting with on a first visit.
Como Cathedral (Duomo di Como)
This striking Romanesque-Gothic cathedral, built over several centuries, anchors Como’s historic centre and remains its defining architectural landmark.
Villa Olmo
This grand neoclassical villa, with its formal gardens overlooking the lake, offers a genuine glimpse into Como’s aristocratic history.
Volta Temple (Tempio Voltiano)
This neoclassical monument honours physicist Alessandro Volta, Como’s most famous native son, and displays original scientific instruments.
Brunate
This charming hillside village, reached by historic funicular, offers sweeping views over Lake Como and a genuinely different perspective on the area.
What to Do in Como
Como’s lakeside setting and villa culture mean much of the best of the area happens on the water and among its elegant gardens. These are the experiences we think every first-time visitor should consider.
Take a Boat Trip on Lake Como
A boat trip offers the best way to see Como’s famous villas and dramatic mountain backdrop, and remains genuinely essential for understanding the area’s appeal.
Walk the Lakeside Promenade
This pleasant waterfront walk connects the historic centre with Villa Olmo, offering relaxed views over the lake throughout.
Visit a Silk Museum
Como’s Educational Silk Museum traces the town’s centuries-long silk-manufacturing heritage, once among the most important in Europe.
Explore Villa Gardens
Several of Como’s grand lakeside villas open their elegant gardens to visitors, offering a genuine sense of the area’s aristocratic history.
Where to Stay in Como
Como is compact enough that most central areas keep you within walking distance of the main sights. The right base mainly depends on whether you prioritise the historic centre or lakeside villa towns.
Como Historic Centre
Staying in the historic centre puts Como Cathedral, the lakeside promenade and the funicular station all within easy walking distance, making it the best base for a first visit.
Near the Lakefront
Staying right along the water offers direct lake views and easy access to boat trips and the promenade.
Cernobbio
This elegant lakeside town, a short distance from Como, epitomises the area’s old-money glamour with grand villas and hotels.
Brunate
Staying in this hillside village, reached by funicular, offers sweeping views and a genuinely peaceful escape from the lakeside crowds.
What to Eat in Como
Como’s food culture reflects its lake setting and Lombard heritage, with freshwater fish and regional classics at its core. These are some of the dishes and specialities worth looking out for during your visit.
Risotto alla Comasca
This local risotto, prepared with lake fish or seasonal ingredients, reflects the genuine culinary character of the Lake Como region.
Missoltino
This dried, salted lake fish, traditionally prepared in the sun, is a genuine Lake Como specialty found on traditional menus.
Polenta and Lake Fish
This hearty Lombard staple, paired with freshly caught lake fish, remains a genuine local comfort food throughout the region.
Lombard Wine
The surrounding Lombardy region produces excellent wines, well represented in Como’s restaurants and wine bars.
Panettone
This beloved Italian Christmas bread genuinely originated in Lombardy, and quality versions are worth seeking out in Como’s bakeries.
Best Day Trips from Como
Como’s position on the lake makes it an excellent base for reaching charming villages and grand villas along the shore. These are three we would consider first if you have extra time.
Bellagio
Often called the pearl of Lake Como, this exquisite village offers elegant streets, lakeside views and some of the area’s most iconic scenery.
Villa del Balbianello
This extraordinary lakeside villa, famous for its dramatic promontory setting and film locations, offers one of the most beautiful villa visits in Italy.
Varenna
This charming, colourful lakeside village offers narrow streets, a romantic waterfront and a relaxed alternative to Bellagio.
Milan
Italy’s fashion and financial capital is an easy train ride from Como, making a day trip genuinely simple for those short on time.
Getting Around Como
Como’s historic centre is compact and walkable, with lake ferries essential for reaching the area’s villa towns and villages.
Airport to city centre
Como has no airport of its own. Milan Malpensa Airport is around 45 minutes away by car or train transfer.
Walking
The historic centre is compact and pedestrian-friendly, with Como Cathedral and the lakeside promenade all within easy walking distance.
Funicular to Brunate
This historic funicular offers a quick and scenic way to reach the hillside village of Brunate above the lake.
Lake ferries
Regular ferries connect Como to Bellagio, Varenna and other lakeside towns, essential for exploring the wider area.
Train connections
Como has direct train connections to Milan, making day trips into the city genuinely straightforward.
Car for villa towns
A car is useful for exploring Cernobbio or other villa towns at your own pace, though ferries cover most popular destinations.
MapMagnet tip
Explore the historic centre on foot and use the funicular for Brunate. Rely on lake ferries for Bellagio, Varenna and other villa towns, since this is genuinely the most scenic and practical way to see the lake.
Best Time to Visit Como
Como works well across most seasons, with the lake and surrounding villas at their most inviting from spring through early autumn.
Spring
One of the best times to visit, with blooming villa gardens and comfortable temperatures for exploring the lakeside towns.
Summer
Warm and genuinely busy, with peak season drawing significant crowds to Bellagio and other popular villages.
Autumn
Another excellent season, with warm days, fewer crowds than summer and beautiful autumn colours around the lake.
Winter
Quiet and mild by northern European standards, though many villa gardens and some ferry routes reduce their schedules.
MapMagnet tip
For the best balance of blooming gardens and manageable crowds, aim for May, June or September. If Villa del Balbianello is a priority, check its seasonal opening times before planning your trip.
Know Before You Go
A few practical Como tips can make your trip smoother. These are the things we would want to know before arriving.
Card payments are widely accepted
Most restaurants, shops and attractions in Como take cards, though it is worth carrying some cash for smaller stalls.
Como is genuinely upscale
Given its old-money reputation, dining and accommodation can be pricier than elsewhere in Lombardy, so budget accordingly.
Check ferry schedules in advance
Boat services to Bellagio and Varenna vary seasonally, so check current timetables before planning a day trip.
Wear comfortable shoes
The historic centre’s streets and Brunate’s hillside paths involve enough walking to make comfortable footwear worthwhile.
Book villa garden visits in advance
Popular villas like Villa del Balbianello can involve queues in peak season, so booking online ahead of time saves significant time.
MapMagnet tip
Balance the lakeside glamour with time in Como’s quieter historic centre. The cathedral and Volta Temple offer real substance away from the villa-spotting crowds, and give a fuller sense of the town beyond its postcard reputation.
Suggested Itineraries for Como
If we were visiting Como for the first time, this is how we would spend our time. These simple itineraries are designed to help you experience the city without over-planning every hour.
Como Highlights
A compact route focused on Como’s cathedral, lakeside and villa culture.
Morning
Como Cathedral and the historic centre
Lunch
Risotto alla Comasca by the lake
Afternoon
Villa Olmo and the lakeside promenade
Evening
Sunset views from Brunate via the funicular
The balanced getaway
A two-day plan mixing Como’s historic centre with a lakeside villa excursion.
Day 1
Como Cathedral, Villa Olmo and the Volta Temple
Day 2
A boat trip to Bellagio
Evening
Dinner and drinks in the historic centre
Como and Lake Como
A slower trip with time for the town’s highlights plus day trips into the surrounding lake villages.
Day 1
Como Cathedral, Villa Olmo and the historic centre
Day 2
Brunate funicular and the Volta Temple
Day 3
Day trip to Bellagio and Villa del Balbianello
Day 4
Day trip to Varenna
Day 5
Day trip to Milan
Plan Your Como Trip
Compare accommodation, flights and experiences from trusted travel providers to help plan your perfect trip.
Continue Planning Your Trip
Enjoying this guide? MapMagnet Travel Tools is our free collection of planning tools designed to help before, during and after you book your trip. Whether you are organising your itinerary, comparing destinations or choosing the right travel essentials, everything is built to make travel planning simpler.
Explore Travel ToolsBuild Your Trip
Create your own trip plan and keep flights, accommodation, activities and notes together in one place.
Open Trip Builder →Book Your Trip
Compare hotels, flights, car hire, ferries, trains and other travel services from trusted providers.
Open Search →Travel Essentials
Find travel insurance, eSIMs, cabin bags, adapters and other recommended travel products before you leave.
Browse Essentials →More Travel Tools
Explore destination comparisons, travel planners, calculators and practical tools to help organise every trip.
Explore Tools →All MapMagnet Travel Tools are free to use and regularly updated as we add new destinations and features.
Similar destinations
Explore other destinations with the same elegant lakeside setting, old-money glamour or dramatic mountain backdrop.
Lucerne
A fellow elegant lakeside town with a dramatic mountain backdrop, sharing Como’s romantic, well-preserved lakeside character.
Geneva
A polished lakeside city with genuine old-money wealth and international glamour, echoing Como’s upscale reputation.
Annecy
A charming, picturesque lakeside town with its own elegant, well-preserved historic centre, sharing Como’s romantic lake-town character at a smaller scale.
Ready to explore Como?
Start planning your trip with MapMagnet Travel Tools. Compare accommodation, flights and attractions, discover travel essentials, or build your itinerary in one place.
Open Travel ToolsNot sure about Como?
Explore more destination guides or use our destination finder to discover places that better match your travel style.
Explore More Destinations
Some links on MapMagnet Guides may lead to third-party travel providers. MapMagnet may earn a commission if you book through certain links, at no extra cost to you.