Como city everything you need to know for your Lake Como trip

Why you should stay at Como City for Lake Como trip! Visiting Lake Como and wondering if you should visit Como city? The answer is yes, let me tell you everything you need to know to visit Como!

Best time to go to Como

Best time to go is a tricky one, we arrived in late April assuming it would be lovely and it was rainy and cold! I had packed so many pretty dresses and just wore my jeans and warm clothes because it was so cold. Needless to say I was disappointed. If you don’t care about this them April was fine! It did rain a bit on our first day. I would honestly recommend to go in May at the earliest. Although you can still experience the rain at any time the weather will be warmer and the days a little nicer. I am hoping to return closer to summer!

Location and getting there

Como city is at the bottom of the lake, it is the biggest of all the towns on Lake Como.

Lake Como is in the north of Italy, it is close to Milan and most people will arrive from this airport. From there you can take a train, bus or private taxi. Taxi is expensive, the bus is a longer option, we love the trains, they are comfortable and easy to navigate.

We came from St Moritz in Switzerland and took the bus from there. Unfortunately we missed the best option for the bus which is the Palm Express, it is the fastest bus from St Moritz to Lake Como and will drop you in Menaggio. That is the best way to get from St Moritz to Lake Como. If you can’t take that one then there are other options such as a series of buses and trains (which is what we did but this is not as easy as the palm express) or you can take the scenic train from St Moritz to Tirano. Then catch a train to Lake Como and a bus to the town you are staying at.

Where to stay in Lake Como

There are four main options, Menaggio, Como, Varenna and Bellagio.

Why you should stay at Como city

Como town has so much to see and offer. There are tons of restaurants, cafes, bars and attractions to fill your days. It is at the bottom of the lake so spending a night or two there to see this area is a great plan. We spent one night here, and loved it. You can also spend your whole time here and see the rest of the lake using buses or boats also.

Where to stay at Como city

We stayed just outside of Como in Cernobbio at the Sheraton Lake Como Hotel. It was incredible and if we could have stayed longer we definitely would have. It is a very easy 8 minute bus ride to Como, there is a bus stop right out front of the hotel.

The hotel itself is perfect, the rooms are luxurious. There are multiple dining options and the outdoor pool and gardens are magical. Honestly I could spend a whole day here by the pool.

The luxurious bathrooms in Sheraton Lake Como feel like a spa

What to do in Como City?

Como city has so much to offer as it is the biggest town on the lake.

Cathedral di Santa Maria Assunta – Duomo di Como

The cathedral of Como is massive. There is no missing it once you turn into the main street. You can go inside and look around, there is a lot to see. The roof is incredibly high, there are tapestries, paintings and artefacts to check out.

Take a fast boat to other small towns

You can jump on a fast ferry boat and in 45 minutes be in one of the little towns north of Como. Really only do this if you are not going to stay at one of the towns further north as you can visit them then. You can also take a cruise on Lake Como.

Boats are an easy way to get around Lake Como

Como Archelological museum

This museum is perfect to learn more about the town and lake.

Broletto of Como

This beautiful building is the former town hall. It is a Gothic & Renaissance-style and now houses art shows.

Lakeside promenade at Como City

Walking the bridge along the lake and admiring the town and views to the hill is a lovely way to spend some time.

Volta Statue, temple and gardens

Statue of Alessandro Volta, possibly the most famous son of Como City. He is an Italian Physicist and alleged inventor of the electric battery.

The park and statue dedicated to him are a lovely place to sit and people watch or enjoy some time in the shade. The temple is now a museum with memorabilia from his life.

Como Brunate Funincular

This funicular connects the town of Brunate to Como. Operated since 1894 it is used by tourists and locals alike.

We loved our time walking around Como and although it was much too short we can’t wait to return and spend more time here! Check out how we would organise our time for a perfect two day itinerary in Lake Como.