Como

Lakeside charm meets mountain views

Lake Como sits in northern Italy where the water stretches wide between green hills dotted with stone villas. The town has a quiet charm that comes from centuries of history and local life along the shore. Visitors find cobblestone streets, cafes with views and boat rides that move slowly over calm water. In summer, gardens bloom and festivals fill the air with music. Winter brings misty mornings and cozy fires in old stone homes. The region feels relaxed yet rich with culture for those who want to explore at their own pace.

Add to list Map view

City in Italy

$$$

$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

See price details

Safety: 6.2

General Safety:	5
Health & medical:	8
Accessibility:	6
Tap water:	10

Read details

3/5

English is spoken in most hotels, restaurants, and tourist shops, but less so in smaller local spots. Learning a few Italian phrases will make your experience smoother and is always appreciated.

Highlights Attractions Getting there Hotels Tips Travel costs Safety Articles

Last update: 12 Oct 2026

* We earn a commission from some links on this page.

Como Summary

These place ratings give you a quick overview of how well a destination matches different types of trips.

‘Best for’ scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.

‘Your personal’ scores:
This reflects how well a place matches your personal preferences. You can adjust the importances of travel topics or other personal requirements categories in your account settings.

‘Suited for’ badges:
These give you a quick overview of how well a destination suits specific types of travellers, to help you find the places that match your lifestyle, preferences or travel situation.

Read how our scores work

Famous for lakeside scenery and elegant villas. Take boat rides across the lake, stroll waterfront towns, visit historic villas and enjoy mountain viewpoints.

Place score

8.0

Best at:

Lakes

Walkable

Natural sites

Boating

Romantic

Personal score

Suited for

👶 7

Families

🧓 7

Seniors

❤️ 9

Couples

🛡️ 8

Travel Beginners

Italy – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	230 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type C , Type F Type C: Type F: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Euro (EUR) £1 ≈ €1.19
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 Cashless payments are widely accepted in Italy, particularly in cities. While larger establishments and chains are fully cashless, smaller shops may still prefer cash. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is customary in Italy, especially in restaurants where 10-15% is typical. Tipping for taxi drivers is usually rounded up or 5-10%. Small tips for hotel staff are also appreciated.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is allowed in Italy, especially in public squares and during festivals. In some regions, it is illegal to drink alcohol in certain areas like public transport or near schools.
Public smoking:	Smoking is banned in indoor public spaces and on public transport. Designated smoking areas are available outside.

Ferragosto (August)	Many businesses close, and Italians take holidays. It’s very busy in tourist areas.
Christmas (December)	Christmas markets and festivities are popular, expect higher prices and crowded attractions.
La Befana (January)	Celebrated on January 6, the Epiphany is a public holiday with festive events, and some businesses close.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 112 (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Uber, Free Now, ItTaxi
Other:	Italy's tourist infrastructure is well-developed, but some rural or historical areas may require extra planning for accessibility.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Como, Italy

☀️

Jan

🌤️

Feb

🌤️

Mar

🌦️

Apr

🌦️

May

🌦️

Jun

🌦️

Jul

🌦️

Aug

☀️

Sep

🌦️

Oct

⛈️

Nov

☀️

Dec

High season:	April - Sep.
Shoulder season:	March, Oct., Dec.
Crowdedness:	8 (Very crowded)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Many lakeside hotels, villas and gardens close November to mid March, main season April to October

Reduced ferry timetables outside April to October, some routes only run at weekends

Città dei Balocchi Christmas market and light displays run mid November to early January

Don't miss

🚠 Ride the funicular to scenic Brunate village
⛪ Visit the impressive Como Cathedral in the city center
🏛️ Explore Villa Olmo and its beautiful lakeside gardens
🛥️ Take a boat tour of Lake Como and nearby villages
🚶‍♀️ Stroll the charming old town with cobbled streets
🎨 Discover art and culture at Museo Civico Como

You've been here?

Why travel to Como?

Como is the gateway to one of Italy’s most stunning lakes, but the city itself is packed with charm. Stroll its medieval streets, marvel at the Gothic cathedral or hop on a boat to explore the lake’s famous villas and gardens. The funicular to Brunate rewards you with jaw-dropping panoramas and there’s no shortage of cozy cafés for people-watching. Como is also a hub for silk shopping and has a lively local culture. On the downside, it can get very busy in summer and weekends and prices in tourist hotspots are on the higher side. Plan ahead for transport, as distances around the lake are greater than they seem and ferries can fill up quickly.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Villa del Balbianello
This historic lakeside villa in Como boasts stunning architecture and breathtaking views. The estate features elegant gardens, a private chapel and panoramic vistas over Lake Como that have inspired countless artists and writers for generations.
2 Broletto
3 Cathedral of Como
4 Tempio Voltiano
5 09 Villa Olmo
6 Piazza Camillo Benso Conte di Cavour
7 Basilica di San Fedele
8 Porta Torre

🎡Places for activities

1 Villa Olmo
2 Teatro Sociale
3 Castello del Baradello

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Lake Como
2 Monte Bisbino
3 Parco Villa del Grumello
4 Monte Boletto
5 Parco della Rimembranza

🛍️Shopping

1 Coin
2 Mercato coperto
3 ubik

🎈Events

Sagra di San Giovanni (June)
Lake Como Film Festival
Palio del Baradello (September)
Città dei Balocchi (Christmas Festival)
Festival Como Città della Musica
Festa Patronale di Sant’Abbondio
Fiera di Pasqua (Easter Fair)
Como Book Fair
Festa della Madonna del Prodigio
Art exhibitions at Villa Olmo

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Use ferries, not cars; lakeside roads clog quickly.
Start in Como’s historic center, then walk the lakefront from Piazza Cavour for views.
Plan Duomo time around opening hours; dress respectfully if visiting during services.
For a classic Como loop, combine the promenade with Tempio Voltiano and a sunset aperitivo nearby.

How to travel to Como

Como is about an hour from Milan by train, with regular services from Milano Centrale and Porta Garibaldi. The nearest major airport is Milan Malpensa (about 50 minutes by car or train). Ferries and hydrofoils connect Como to other lake towns and buses run to nearby destinations.

Access summary

From Milan Malpensa (MXP): Direct or one‑change trains/buses, about 1–1.5 hours.
From Milan city: Trains from Cadorna/Centrale to Como, usually 40–60 minutes.
From Bergamo Airport (BGY): Shuttle to Milan, then train to Como, around 2 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Como

Como offers everything from luxury lakeside hotels and elegant villas to boutique B&Bs and budget guesthouses. Book early for summer or festival weekends. Staying in the city center puts you close to restaurants, shops and ferry terminals.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Palace Hotel & Centro Congressi

8.9

B&B Hotel Como City Center

8.5

Starhotels Grand Milan

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Como

Como’s historic center is easily walkable. Ferries, buses and the funicular connect you to towns and villages around the lake, but plan ahead – distances can be deceptive and schedules vary by season. Taxis are available but can be pricey. Cycling is a scenic option along the lakeside, but some routes are hilly.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

+12 %

Daily expenses in Como are around 12% higher than the average across United States. That means you'll spend more on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-3 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to EUR) is 3% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£88	£223	£469
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£47	£131	£200
🍝 Food per day	£33	£81	£226
🚕 Transportation per day	£8	£11	£43

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£34
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£18
🍟 Fast food combo	£10.50
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£11.50
☕ Cappuccino	£1.60
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£5.50

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£1.70
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£26
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£1.60

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£9
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£70
🤧 Cold medication	£9.50
💇 Basic haircut	£14

Safety information overview

General safety

Como is very safe, with low crime rates. As in any tourist destination, watch out for pickpockets in crowded areas and on ferries. Take care when swimming or boating, as the lake can be deep and cold.

Health & Medical

Medical care is excellent, with clinics and pharmacies in the city. No special vaccinations are needed. Tap water is safe to drink. Emergency services are reliable and easy to access.

Accessibility

The city center and lakeside are accessible, but some streets are cobbled and hilly. Ferries and public transport are generally accessible, but check ahead for specific needs. Many hotels offer accessible rooms.

Tap water

Tap water is safe and tastes good. Public fountains are available in parks and piazzas, making it easy to refill your bottle while exploring.