Free walking tours in Como and what to see

Must-sees

Como sits at the southern end of the western arm of Lake Como, less than an hour from Milan. Its old town keeps the Roman street plan and stretches of its medieval walls. In the centre is the cathedral, with an intricately carved marble façade, and beside it the Broletto, the old town hall with arcades and coloured stone. Nearby, the basilica of San Fedele and, a little further away, Sant'Abbondio are two fine examples of Lombard Romanesque.

The lake is the other half of the visit. The lakeside path leads to the Tempio Voltiano, a museum devoted to Alessandro Volta, who was born in Como, and carries on to Villa Olmo, a neoclassical villa with gardens on the shore. On the other side of the harbour, the funicular climbs to Brunate, a village with viewpoints over the lake and the Alps, home to the lighthouse dedicated to Volta.

Free tours and guided visits

There are free walking tours of Como, covering the old town and the lakeside promenade, and a guided tour rounded off with a sightseeing boat. If you would rather explore the water on your own, there are boat trips on the lake and licence-free motorboat hire. For further afield there are day trips to Bellagio and Lugano, and another that crosses into Switzerland to St. Moritz on the Bernina Express.

How long to spend

The city is easily seen in a day: the cathedral and the old town in the morning, the walk to Villa Olmo after lunch and the funicular up to Brunate to watch the evening fall. With two or three days you can use the public boats to visit the lake villages, such as Bellagio, Varenna or Tremezzo. In summer the weekends get crowded, so set off early.

Where to stay

The old town and the lakeside promenade have hotels of every kind and everything is on foot, including the landing stage. If you are driving, the surrounding area has more parking and gentler prices. Cernobbio, a few kilometres along the shore, has villas and hotels by the water, and Brunate offers peace and views in exchange for relying on the funicular.