Located on one of the branches of Lake Lario, Como is an elegant city that has a romantic charm . A couple’s outing on the shores of its lake is certainly ideal in any season. Walking through the two central streets of the city can give a sense of extreme inner peace and fulfillment. But Como also has small glimpses and buildings of architectural value, in a perfect combination of art and nature . Let’s find out what to see, where to eat and what to do in the evening in this fantastic city.
What to see in Como
1 – Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta
Photo by Vito Mandina.The Cathedral of Como was built in over 400 years of work and today it houses perfectly preserved tapestries and paintings of the sixteenth century . The facade of the cathedral is in late Gothic style, made with salient points in Musso stone. It does not have its own bell tower: the bells for the gathering of the faithful are housed in the civic tower, very close to the cathedral.
- How to get: 6 minutes walk from Como Lago station –
- Timetables: on weekdays from 10:30 to 17:00 and on holidays from 13:00 to 16:30
- Ticket cost: free
- Recommended cards, tickets and tours
2 – Palazzo del Broletto
Located right next to the cathedral, Palazzo del Broletto features a Romantic Gothic style with decorative Renaissance inroads . The Lombard marble facade in three colors (white, gray and red) is completed with the civic tower built with the ashlar technique. Built as a single unit, today the building is divided into two distinct structures : the Broletto to the west and the Praetorium to the east. It currently houses an exhibition space, a congress hall and some municipal offices.
- How to get: 6 minutes walk from Como Lago station –
- Timetables: variable according to the events
- Ticket cost: variable according to the events
- Recommended cards, tickets and tours
3 – Basilica and Bell Tower of San Fedele
.Built between the tenth and twelfth centuries, the basilica of San Fedele is perfectly integrated with the other buildings of the homonymous square. The church has 3 naves and the northwest side, not plastered, allows you to see the elevation that took place in the nineteenth century. The facade has a rose window of particular interest and the apse of the structure is also worth a visit.
Located on the left side of the basilica, the bell tower of the church of San Fedele, original in its lower part but ratified in the upper part twelve meters in the twentieth century. The construction of the original bell tower is dated in the eleventh century , thanks to the structure and decorations still visible in the original part.
- How to get: 9 minutes walk from Como Lago station –
- Timetables: the basilica is always accessible in compliance with religious functions, the bell tower cannot be visited
- Ticket cost: free, the bell tower cannot be visited
- Recommended cards, tickets and tours:
4 – Church of Sant’Abbondio
Built on the site of an early Christian basilica, the basilica of Sant’Abbondio has two imposing twin bell towers in its apse area , which, together with the 14 slender columns, give the church an important idea of height. The plan of the church is simple and rectangular, divided by large columns into 5 naves. Inside, the basilica houses Romanesque bas-reliefs and a complete series of frescoes from the mid-fourteenth century . The relics of the patron saint are kept under the main altar, while the structure of the early Christian basilica is marked on the pavement with dark marble slabs and its openings are marked with light marble.
- How to get: From Como Cathedral in just 15 minutes by urban bus: different lines available every 5 minutes –
- Timetables: always visible in compliance with religious functions
- Ticket cost: free
- Recommended cards, tickets and tours
5 – Volta Temple
Photo by Vito Mandina.Located on the shores of the lake, the temple is dedicated to the genius of Alessandro Volta , a native of Como. It was built in a neoclassical style to celebrate the centenary of the death of the illustrious citizen. To date, the temple is the most visited museum in Como , inside Volta’s scientific instruments and some writings can be admired.
- How to get: 11 minutes walk from Como Lago station –
- Timetables: from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 to 18:00 (last admission at 17:30); closed every Monday except Easter Monday, January 1st, January 6th, Easter, November 1st, December 25th and 26th.
- Ticket cost: full € 4.00; reduced € 2.00
- Recommended cards, tickets and tours:
6 – Monument of the Fallen
Imposing and austere, the War Memorial was built in 1933 to a design by the architect Antonio Sant’Elia , exponent of futurism, by the brothers Giuseppe and Attiglio Terragni. In the chapel you will find a white granite monolith engraved with the names of the 750 Como inhabitants who fell during the First World War . Climbing the 140 steps that lead from the crypt to the upper terrace, you can admire a wonderful panorama 33 meters high.
- How to get: 13 minutes walk from Como Lago station –
- Timetables: every Sunday from April to October; in the months of April, May, June, September, October: from 15:00 to 18:00; in the months of July and August from 16:00 to 19:00
- Ticket cost: € 4.00 – free for children under 6
- Recommended cards, tickets and tours:7 – Villa Olmo and Lake Como
.Built at the turn of the 1700s and early 1800s , Villa Olmo was built in the neoclassical style and was the summer villa of the famous Odescalchi family, and is now home to temporary events and exhibitions . The structure has a large complex as well as a park with several buildings. The building is one of the most majestic villas on Lake Como: celebrated in the stupendous masterpiece by Alessandro Manzoni; surrounded by regional parks and several nature reserves that are home to the flourishing and varied local flora and fauna. On the shores of the lake there are the various municipalities to visit near Como, such as: Bellagio, Cernobbio, Varenna, Lecco. A visit to the Comacina island is not to be missed
- How to get: 15 minutes from Como Autolinee Station by bus C10 –
- Timetables: Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00. The park is partially accessible.
- Ticket cost: free if there are no exhibitions in progress.
- Recommended cards, tickets and tours:
8 – Silk Museum
Undoubtedly, Como is one of the most important cities in the world for the production of pure silk . The Silk Museum is the right place to discover the entire production process , from the breeding of silkworms to the creation of the yarn, from the hand printing of fabrics to the production of fashion collections.
- How to get: 10 minutes from Como Bus Station by bus N7 –
- Timetables: Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 to 18:00
- Ticket cost: full € 10.00; under € 184.00; over € 657.00.
- Recommended cards, tickets and tours:
9 – Porta Pretoria
The Porta Pretoria was the access point to the Roman city for those arriving from Milan . The two openings separated by a central pillar and flanked by two octagonal towers were also usable by chariots. Over the centuries, having lost its defensive function, the door was embellished and decorated and convenient pedestrian passages were created there.
- How to get: 15 minutes walk from Como Lago station
- Timetables: by reservation only
- Ticket cost: full € 4.00; reduced € 2.00.
- Recommended cards, tickets and tours
10 – Como-Brunate funicular
Located at 720 meters above sea level, Brunate can be reached from Como thanks to the funicular that leaves from the shore of the lake. Once you reach the village you can enjoy a magnificent view of the lake and a walk in the alleys of the center or among the mountain paths. It is possible to admire the fantastic panorama of Lake Como also from the Volta Lighthouse , about 25 minutes walk from the funicular exit, with a cost of € 2.00
- How to get: using the funicular. The ride lasts 7 minutes
- Timetables: funicular operating every day from 06:00 to 22:30 every 15 minutes; extension on Saturdays and summer days until 24:00.
- Ticket cost: ordinary € 3.00; return ticket € 5.50; reduced children under 12 € 2.00; reduced return ticket € 3.20; free for children under 1.10 m.
- Recommended cards, tickets and tours
Como itinerary in one day
Photo by Vito Mandina.Start your Como tour by having breakfast on the Lungo Lario Trieste at Caffè Monti . After enjoying your breakfast, go to the funicular station in Piazza De Gasperi and go up to Burnate. From here you can admire the view of the lake and take a walk in the alleys of the small village. Go back down to Como and reach Piazza Duomo, where you can admire both the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and the Palazzo del Broletto. At the end of your visit to the two historic buildings, head to Piazza San Fedele where you can admire the homonymous church and its bell tower.
The area of Piazza San Fedele is teeming with nice restaurants . For your lunch choose Il Solito Postowhich offers you lake fish in a traditional but chic setting. After lunch, go back to Lungo Lario and reach the Monument of the Fallen , also enjoying its panoramic terrace. Continue along the lake to reach the Volta Temple and discover the researches of Alessandro Volta from Como.
At the end of your day, reach the Villa Olmo complex which also houses the Il Tennis restaurant , where you can enjoy an excellent dinner. The path that takes you from the Volta Temple to Villa Olmo on the lakefront will also allow you to see the structures of Vila Saporiti and Villa Gallia , with the classic architecture of the area.
One day itinerary at a glance
- Breakfast at Caffè Monti , Piazza Camillo Benso Conte di Cavour, 21 –
- Brunate : always accessible – free (€ 5.70 funicular)
- Santa Maria Assunta – opening hours: on weekdays from 10:30 to 17:00 and on holidays from 13:00 to 16:30 – ticket price: free (free offer)
- Palazzo del Broletto – opening hours: based on events – ticket price: based on events
- Basilica of San Fedele – opening hours: always accessible in compliance with religious services – ticket price: free
- Bell tower of the Basilica of S. Fedele
- Lunch at Il Solito Posto, Via Lambertenghi, 9 –
- Monument of the Fallen – opening hours: every Sunday from April to October; in the months of April, May, June, September, October 2019: from 15:00 to 18:00; in the months of July and August from 16:00 to 19:00 – ticket cost: € 4.00 – free for children under 6
- Tempio Voltiano – opening hours: from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 to 18:00 (last admission at 17.30) – ticket price: full € 4.00; reduced € 2.00
- Villa Olmo – opening hours: from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00 – ticket price: free
- Dinner at Il Tennis, Via Simone Cantoni –
Where to eat in Como
- Vintage Jazz Food & Wine : vintage furnishings with exposed beams and parquet in which to enjoy excellent wine, hambuerger and more, while listening to Jazz music.
Average price per person: € 25.00
Address and contacts: Via Olginati, 14 – - Il Solito Posto : restaurant with a rustic-chic atmosphere that offers delicious dishes of lake fish
Average price per person: € 35.00
Address and contacts: Via Lambertenghi, 9 – - Il Tennis : located inside the tennis club, the restaurant offers an exclusive atmosphere and gourmet dishes.
Average price per person: € 50.00
Address and contacts: Via Simone Cantoni –
What to do in the evening: nightlife areas and the best clubs
There is certainly no lack of nightlife in Como! The locals are concentrated mainly in the streets around the Duomo. But in the summer, young people flock to the streets of the historic center and along the Lario, creating a jovial and festive atmosphere, but never excessive.
