The handsome small city at the lake's southern tip — a walled old centre with a grand marble cathedral, a lakefront promenade, silk shops and a funicular up to a viewpoint. The most connected, best-value and liveliest base (an hour from Milan by train), with the villages a ferry ride up the lake.
A look around
What you’ll be living next to. Swipe through.
€130–220
typical per night in Italy
The sensible middle
Typical prices for Lake Como — neither steal nor splurge.
Where it sits
The circle is Como and roughly a 10-minute walk around it.
How far is everything?
From the middle of this area to the city's headline sights — pick your own on the city page and these become your list.
- Villa del Balbianello61 min taxi20.3 km
- The Greenway del Lago64 min taxi21.4 km
- Villa Melzi gardens, Bellagio70 min taxi23.4 km
- Villa Carlotta71 min taxi23.7 km
- A ferry across the lake72 min taxi23.9 km
- Bellagio72 min taxi24.0 km
- Villa Monastero, Varenna81 min taxi27.1 km
- Varenna82 min taxi27.3 km
On your doorstep
What you’re living next to if you stay here.
- 6.Como's Cathedral & old town — The city at the lake's foot has a magnificent marble cathedral — Gothic and Renaissance, topped by a great baroque dome — and a compact, walled old centre of piazzas, silk shops and cafés opening onto the lakefront. The liveliest, most workaday corner of the lake and a good-value base; wander the old town and stroll the promenade at dusk.
- 7.The Brunate funicular — A century-old funicular climbs from Como up to the hilltop village of Brunate in seven minutes, opening a sweeping panorama over the city, the lake and, on a clear day, the Alps. Ride up for the view, walk to the lighthouse viewpoint, and come down at sunset; the easiest big vista on the lake.
- 12.A lakeside aperitivo — The lake's evening ritual — an Aperol spritz or a glass of Franciacorta on a waterfront terrace as the sun drops behind the mountains and the ferries glide home. Best from Como's lakefront, Bellagio's piers or a Varenna water's-edge table; the moment the day-trippers thin and the lake turns pink and gold.
- 14.The Nesso waterfall — A pretty stone village halfway up the eastern shore where a waterfall tumbles through a ravine to the lake beneath an old arched bridge — the 'Orrido di Nesso', a favourite photo stop and a hidden swimming spot. Climb (or drive) down the steep lanes to the little harbour and bridge; a charming, less-touristed corner of the lake.
When are you staying?
Booking.com & Airbnb open searched to Como; flights via Google Flights.