Como is the lake's only real city — a working town of silk shops, cafés and Roman grid streets that happens to sit on one of the world's most beautiful lakes. The marble Duomo anchors the old town, the funicular climbs to Brunate for the classic panorama, medieval walls still wrap the center, and seaplanes lift off the water in front of the promenade. Como is also the transport hub: trains from Milan, ferries up the lake, and the gateway to the villa shore. Here is how to spend it.
What to see and do in Como town
- The Duomo — Como's cathedral, a marble masterpiece mixing Gothic and Renaissance, free to enter and genuinely one of northern Italy's great churches.
- Funicolare Como–Brunate — the funicular climbs the hillside in seven minutes to Brunate, with the classic postcard view over the lake and the Alps. Go on a clear day.
- The medieval walls and gates — Porta Torre and the surviving 12th-century walls frame the pedestrian old town; a walk along them shows Como's Roman-grid street plan.
- The lakefront and Villa Olmo — a long promenade from the piers to the neoclassical Villa Olmo and its public gardens.
- The seaplane base — Como has one of Europe's few active seaplane bases; watching the planes lift off the water from the promenade is free entertainment.
- Silk shops — Como built its wealth on silk; the old town still has serious silk boutiques and outlet stores.
Getting there and getting around
Como is the easiest arrival point on the lake: direct trains from Milan (Centrale or Cadorna stations) take 40–60 minutes, and the stations sit a short walk from the old town and the piers. From Como's main pier, ferries and hydrofoils run up the lake to Cernobbio, Tremezzo, Bellagio and beyond, with full service April to October; a day pass runs roughly €15–30. The old town itself is flat, compact and fully walkable.
What to book through us
Como is the natural base for two experiences: a boat trip up the villa-dense western shore — see our private boat tours from Cernobbio, ten minutes away — and a seaplane flight over the lake, taking off right from Como's water. We confirm availability with vetted local operators on WhatsApp, and you always pay the operator directly on the day.
Honest advice from a local
Como rewards travelers who treat it as a city, not just a ferry stop: the Duomo, the silk shops and the evening passeggiata are worth real time. The funicular queue gets long on summer weekends — go before 10 am or near sunset. If you are day-tripping from Milan, do not try to combine Como town and Bellagio in one day by public transport; pick one. And for sleeping, Como gives you restaurants and life in every season, unlike the small villages that close down in winter.