Here are the best things to do in Como:
1. Como historical center
One of the best things to do in Como is simply to explore its historic center on foot.
With its cobbled streets and cozy squares lined with historic buildings, shops and restaurants, Como’s historic center is truly welcoming.
The most beautiful part of the old town is located between the lake and the remains of the old city walls, Porta Torre. It is in this area that you will find most of the shops, restaurants, several churches and several museums.
Good to know: Below, we list some of the most important monuments to see in the historic center of Como. Some of them, like the Cathedral or Porta Torre, deserve a special mention and are unmissable. Many others are nice to see if you have a little more time, but are not a must if you only have a few hours in Como. You will find those other “nice to see” places mentioned at the end of this article.
So, if you have little time, focus on the main places and attractions of Como mentioned in the top 10 of this list.
2. Como Cathedral
Como Cathedral ( Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta – Duomo di Como ) is its most important religious building and the third largest in the entire Lombardy region. Construction began in 1396 but was not completed until the late 18th century.
The result is a wonderful blend of architectural styles, including a Gothic façade, a Romanesque bell tower, and a Baroque dome. In fact, Como Cathedral is considered one of the most beautiful monuments in northern Italy.
The western facade is particularly impressive, with tall columns of statues on either side of the entrance and a rose window. You can also see two statues next to the door depicting Pliny the Elder and his nephew Pliny the Younger. They were influential Roman dignitaries who lived in the city of Como.
Dedicated to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the cathedral is laid out in a typical “cross” style, with a nave and side aisles leading to a transept under the dome. The dome is quite beautiful and has a lantern at the top with many windows to flood the cathedral with light.
On both sides of the nave you can admire nine 16th-century tapestries and paintings by Gaudenzio Ferrari and Bernardino Luini (who worked with Leonardo da Vinci).
Good to know: You can visit the cathedral on weekdays from 10:30 to 17:00. In any case, if you are in Como, you will still want to come here, so check if it is open when you are there.
TIP: If you get the chance, come back to see the cathedral at night, when it is lit up and looks absolutely stunning! If you are lucky enough to visit in late November and December, you will see the wonderful extra lighting added for Christmas.
3. Walk along the lakeside
Como’s spectacular lakeside promenade is the best in the entire Lake Como region. Stretching nearly 6 kilometers in length, its crescent-shaped path is mostly paved and perfect for a leisurely stroll. You couldn’t ask for better views, with houses built into the hillside on one side and boats going back and forth on the other.
Start at Piazza Cavour , a pretty little square located where the old town meets the lake. This is a popular meeting point for locals, filled with terraced cafes and bars. It’s hard to believe that the area was just a swamp in the Middle Ages and wasn’t transformed into an urban square until the late 19th century.
The atmosphere here is lively and there always seems to be something interesting to see, from street performers to concerts, from markets to crafts.
On the east side of the bay, you can visit Villa Geno, a small beach with a nice view of the villas to the west. There is a large grassy area here for sunbathing and a children’s pool. You can also rent bicycles if you want to cycle along the promenade.
Next to Villa Geno is the famous Como Fountain ( Fontana di Villa Geno ), characterised by an impressive 30-metre high jet of water.
To the west , the promenade along the waterfront will take you past the Monumento ai Caduti di Como , a memorial honoring the soldiers who lost their lives in World War I. If you continue along the waterfront, you can walk to the famous Villa Olmo . The Tempio Voltiano museum is also located on the waterfront, along with many scenic gardens where you can simply sit and enjoy the view.
Below you can read more about these places.
4. Tower Gate
Porta Torre is one of Como’s oldest monuments and is worth a short walk to see. This ancient gate in Piazza Vittoria dates back to the 12th century, when the city’s medieval walls were built.
It is an excellent example of Romanesque military architecture: enormous in size, impossible to breach, and with four rows of arches on the inner wall. 40 meters high, Porta Torre was originally part of the city walls themselves, but is now independent.
Don’t forget to include it in your walk around the city and you can also admire the statue of Giuseppe Garibaldi that is located nearby.
5. Temple and gardens of Volta
Alessandro Volta, the Italian physicist who invented the electric battery, may be Como’s most famous son. The Tempio Voltiano was built in his honor in 1927, 100 years after his death.
This imposing building was donated to the city by Francesco Somaini, owner of a Como cotton mill. It now houses a museum dedicated to Volta’s life and works, containing personal relics, an excellent collection of scientific instruments and an early version of the electric battery.
Situated right on the shore of Lake Como, the building truly looks like an ancient Roman temple. The interior of the building is architecturally beautiful, with beautiful tiles and elaborate carvings.
You really can’t miss the adjacent gardens, Giardini del Tempio Voltiano . This is a lovely place to sit for a while and admire the neoclassical architecture of the museum.
For practical information on visiting the museum, consult the official website .
6. Villa Olmo
Villa Olmo is one of Como’s most popular attractions and one of the most beautiful villas on Lake Como. This beautiful villa is located on the lake shore in the northwestern part of the city. It was originally built for the Marquis Innocenzo Odescalchi in the late 18th century and was named after an elm tree that stood in the center of the garden at that time.
It hosted many illustrious visitors over the years, including Napoleon, the Austrian Emperor Ferdinand I and the last Holy Roman Emperor Francis II, but the villa later fell into disrepair. It has since been restored to its former glory and has been maintained by the municipality of Como since 1925.
There is no charge to wander through the main house and admire its contents, which include a variety of incredible frescoes, paintings and statues. You can also see the theater, a later addition to the property.
After stopping to admire the neoclassical features of the building’s exterior, especially the magnificent colonnade decorated with roundels, you can stroll through the tranquil English-style gardens. Now a community park, the gardens are also free to enter.
Good to know: The park is open every day, but you can only visit the interior of the villa from Tuesday to Sunday. The building is sometimes closed for events and exhibitions. You can find more practical information on their website (currently only in Italian), but we recommend you come here anyway, even if only to see the gardens and the exterior of the villa.
7. Brunate Funicular and panoramic points
Although Brunate is a separate village and not part of the city of Como, getting there by funicular is one of the most popular attractions in the area. So no list of the best things to do in Como (or any visit to the city!) would be complete without including Brunate!
This hilltop village just above the city of Como is described by locals as a “balcony to the Alps” – and what an apt description! At an altitude of around 800 metres, Brunate offers stunning panoramic views of Como and the lake.
One of the most exciting aspects of visiting Brunate is the journey to get there!
For this, you will use the funicular from Como . It dates back to the late 19th century and is one of the most popular attractions in the region. The journey takes only 7 minutes, but it is difficult to express in words how beautiful the view is as you go up.
Good to know: The Como-Brunate funicular runs from 6:00 am to 10:30 pm, every 15-30 minutes. On Saturdays and in the summer season it runs until midnight. You can find more information on their website (in Italian), but it’s not something you need to plan ahead. Just go there, get your tickets and off you go.
When you ride the funicular, try to get in the carriage facing the valley. This way, you can enjoy beautiful views even during your ride.
The village of Brunate is quite small, with several Art Nouveau villas to admire. The main reason to come here is the reward: spectacular views of Lake Como (check out several viewpoints). Brunate also has several attractive churches, most notably the lovely and quiet Church of Sant’Andrea Apostolo. But there is another reason to come here, and that is the Volta Lighthouse, see below.
8. Volta Lighthouse
Located about 1.5 km from the top station of the Brunate funicular, the Volta Lighthouse is another popular place to see in Como. This hilltop lighthouse and monument to Alessandro Volta still sits much higher than the village, offering breathtaking views of Lake Como and the surrounding area.
In addition to the view from the hill, you can climb the spiral staircase (143 steps) to the top of the lighthouse.
If you’re feeling energetic, you should definitely visit the Volta Lighthouse when you’re in Brunate. However, be aware that the hike up there involves a steep 30-minute climb on a cobblestone road. But you’ll be well rewarded for your hard work: the views of the Alps and surrounding plains are simply spectacular.
Good to know: In high season and on some weekends, there is often a shuttle bus between the Brunate funicular station and the lighthouse. Sometimes, there will also be locals offering rides to the top.
There is a small fee to enter the lighthouse. In high season (mid-April to late October), it is normally open every day except Wednesday, from 10:30 am to 6:30 pm.
9. Boat trips on Lake Como
Taking a scenic boat tour on Lake Como is a great way to see the city and surrounding areas from a completely different perspective. It is also the best way to admire the breathtaking scenery along the shores of Lake Como.
A variety of high-speed ferries and hydrofoils depart regularly from Como’s pier, taking you to other towns around the lake and moving at a pace that lets you soak up the scenery. However, those trips are designed to get you from point A to point B, not so much to show you the most beautiful places.
10. Como Silk
Silk production may have originated in China, but you may be surprised to learn that Como is a major player in the global silk industry . In fact, more than 23,000 comaschi (people from Como) now work in the silk industry.
Silkworms were originally imported into Italy in the 6th century AD. In 1400, the Duke of Milan, Ludovico Sforza, decided to plant mulberry trees around Lake Como to feed them. The Como silk industry was born, although production methods at the time were laboriously slow.
Gradually, the process was refined and factories were established, leading to enormous economic growth in the region. The high-quality silk from Lake Como became increasingly popular until, by 1972, the area produced more silk than China or Japan!
Interesting to know: Today, Como produces about 70% of Europe’s silk. Many of the world’s most famous designers source their silk from Como. Among them, the biggest fashion houses such as Armani, Valentino, Versace, Hermes, Chanel, Yves St Laurent and many others.
TIP: You can learn all about this interesting aspect of the city by visiting the Como Silk Museum , where you can see demonstrations of how it was originally produced.
Plus, of course, there are many places all over Como and the entire Lake Como district where you can buy beautiful silk dresses and scarves to take home. So even if you don’t have time for the museum, you can always see the famous Como silk in the local boutiques. This is a good excuse to convince your travel companions to do some (window) shopping in Como!