Como
Plan Como with Haqqi Tours: day tours, private airport transfers, attraction tickets and packages, run by our own team and confirmed on WhatsApp in Arabic or English.
Step out of your hotel in Como and the lake is right there: ferries nudging the pier at Piazza Cavour, seaplanes resting on glassy water, and wooded mountains rising so steeply that villas seem to cling to them. The morning air carries the scent of fresh pastries and lake breeze, and the marble facade of the cathedral glows above the rooftops of the walled old town.
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Como at first sight
Como is the gateway to Lake Como, the deep, Y-shaped lake that aristocrats, poets and composers have adored since Roman times, when Pliny the Younger built villas on its shores. The city itself made its fortune weaving silk for Europe’s fashion houses, and it remains the elegant starting point for every ferry, villa and mountain village on the lake.
Why include Como in your itinerary?
- Como is where the lake begins: from its waterfront you can board ferries and hydrofoils to Bellagio, Tremezzo and Varenna, making it the most convenient and best-connected base for exploring Lake Como without driving mountain roads.
- The walled old town is a living museum of northern Italian style, with a Gothic-Renaissance cathedral, Romanesque basilicas, silk workshops and quiet arcaded lanes, all a few steps from the water and far calmer than nearby Milan.
- Few places combine a city, a lake and the Alps so closely: the Brunate funicular lifts you to mountain trails in minutes, Switzerland is a short drive away, and Milan is under an hour by train.
Signature experiences in Como
Como Cathedral and the Walled Old Town
Como’s Duomo took nearly four centuries to complete, blending Gothic pinnacles, Renaissance sculpture and a soaring Baroque dome. Inside, tapestries and paintings by Luini and Ferrari glow in the soft light. Around it, the Città Murata keeps its medieval walls, towers and the striped Broletto. Our guided day tours explain how Como’s stonemasons, the famous Maestri Comacini, carried their craft across Europe, and we issue tickets for the city’s museums.
Silk, Lakeside Flavours and Café Culture
Como has woven silk for centuries, and the Silk Museum reveals the looms and printing blocks behind the scarves sold in boutiques along Via Vittorio Emanuele. Then taste the lake itself: risotto with golden perch fillets, missoltini, the traditional dried lake fish, polenta from the hills and miascia, a rustic bread-and-fruit cake. Our guided day tours lead you to the right workshops, cafés and lakeside trattorias for an authentic taste of Como.
The Lungolago and the Villa Olmo Promenade
Stroll from Piazza Cavour along the waterfront past the Tempio Voltiano, dedicated to Como-born scientist Alessandro Volta, and follow the Passeggiata Lino Gelpi lined with grand private villas to the neoclassical Villa Olmo and its gardens. Then ride the historic funicular up to Brunate for a view across the whole first basin of the lake. We issue funicular tickets, and our guided day tours connect these sights effortlessly.
Bellagio, Tremezzo and Varenna by Boat
The essential Lake Como day leads by ferry or hydrofoil to the mid-lake triangle: Bellagio with its stepped lanes and lakefront gardens, Tremezzo with the botanical splendour of Villa Carlotta, and Varenna’s pastel houses rising above the water. We issue ferry tickets and arrange guided day tours on the lake, or a private car with driver to combine ferry crossings with lakeside villages at your own rhythm.
Day Trips Beyond the Lake
Como sits on the Swiss border, so lakeside Lugano is only a short drive away, while Milan’s cathedral and galleries are under an hour by train. Bergamo’s hilltop Città Alta makes another rewarding excursion. Our team arranges private cars with drivers for cross-border days, issues the train tickets you need, and can combine Como with guided day tours from Milan for a seamless northern Italy itinerary.
Neighbourhoods and quarters to know in Como
Città Murata (Walled Old Town)
The historic grid inside the medieval walls, around the Duomo, Piazza San Fedele and Via Vittorio Emanuele. Expect cobbled lanes, boutiques, silk shops, cafés and gelato counters. It is safe, pedestrian-friendly and atmospheric in the evening, and ideal for first-time visitors who want to walk to the ferry pier, the cathedral and the funicular within minutes.
Lungo Lario and Piazza Cavour
The waterfront strip facing the lake, where hotels look straight onto the ferry pier and the seaplane base. This is where Como feels most glamorous, with lake views at breakfast and sunsets over the mountains. It is lively but secure, and perfect for travellers planning several boat trips, since every ferry and hydrofoil departs from here.
Borgo Vico and Cernobbio
Heading west along the shore, Borgo Vico is a quiet residential quarter of villas and gardens leading to Villa Olmo, and beyond it lies Cernobbio, a refined lakeside town of grand hotels and a pretty harbour. Both are calm and safe, suited to couples and families wanting a slower pace while staying a short boat or car ride from the centre.
Brunate
Perched above the city at the top of the funicular, Brunate is a tranquil hamlet of Art Nouveau villas, forest paths and the Volta lighthouse, with panoramic views over the lake and on clear days the Alps. It suits nature lovers and those seeking cool summer evenings, and is well connected to Como by the frequent funicular ride.
How long to stay in Como and how to pair it
Recommended stay
Plan at least two nights in Como to enjoy the old town, the waterfront and the funicular, plus a full day on the lake. Three or four nights is ideal, giving time for Bellagio, Varenna and Villa Carlotta by ferry and a day trip to Lugano or Milan without rushing.
How to pair it
Como pairs naturally with Milan, less than an hour away, as the opening of a 7-day loop that continues to Verona and Venice. For 10 days, add Florence and Pisa after Venice. A 14-day journey can link Lake Como and Milan with Verona, Venice, Florence and Rome, finishing on the Amalfi Coast through Naples, Sorrento and Capri, with our team arranging all the train tickets.
Best time to visit Como and the rhythm of the day
Best months
The best time to visit Como is from April to June, when gardens such as Villa Carlotta burst with azaleas and rhododendrons, and September to early October, when the lake is warm and calm. July and August are lively and busy, with full ferries. From November to March many lakeside hotels and some ferry routes slow down, but Como city stays open and atmospheric.
The daily rhythm
Como wakes slowly with coffee and pastries on the piazza as the first ferries leave the pier. Mornings are for boat trips or the cathedral, followed by a lakeside lunch in a village such as Bellagio. Late afternoon brings the funicular to Brunate or a stroll along the promenade, and evenings end with dinner and a gelato on the waterfront.
On-the-ground logistics in Como
Arrival
Most travellers arrive at Milan Malpensa Airport, around 50 minutes by car from Como, or at Milan Linate and Bergamo, each roughly an hour away. Trains reach Como San Giovanni and Como Nord Lago stations from Milan in under an hour. Our team arranges private airport transfers directly to your Como or lakeside hotel, and we issue train tickets too.
Getting around
Como’s old town and waterfront are flat, compact and easy to explore on foot. Public ferries and hydrofoils link the lakeside towns, the funicular climbs to Brunate, and local buses serve the shores, while ride-hailing apps are limited and licensed taxis wait near the station and piazza. Lakeside roads are narrow and parking scarce, so a private car with driver arranged by our team is the stress-free option.
Local etiquette tip
Many visitors do not realise that the famous lakeside villas are private homes or estates with strict visiting hours, and wandering into gardens or private jetties is not acceptable. On ferries, let passengers disembark first and keep luggage out of aisles. In churches, cover shoulders and knees, and greet shopkeepers with “buongiorno” before browsing.
Must-do things in Como
- Ride the historic funicular to Brunate for sweeping views over the lake
- Admire the marble facade and Renaissance sculptures of Como Cathedral
- Take a ferry or hydrofoil to Bellagio and wander its stepped lanes
- Explore the botanical gardens of Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo
- Stroll the Passeggiata Lino Gelpi to the neoclassical Villa Olmo
- Discover centuries of craftsmanship at Como’s Silk Museum
- Taste risotto with lake perch fillets in a waterfront trattoria
- Watch sunset over the mountains from Piazza Cavour
- Visit the colourful village of Varenna on the eastern shore
- Combine Como with a day trip to Lugano across the Swiss border
Do’s and don’ts in Como
Do
- Check ferry timetables in advance, as they change by season
- Let our team issue your ferry and train tickets before you travel
- Book garden villas like Villa Carlotta for spring blossom season
- Carry a light jacket for breezy boat rides and evenings
- Start lake excursions early to enjoy quieter villages
Don’t
- Don’t try to drive and park in lakeside villages in summer
- Don’t enter private villa grounds or jetties without permission
- Don’t attempt the whole lake in a single rushed day
- Don’t wear beachwear inside churches or in the old town
- Don’t forget your passport for a day trip into Switzerland
Como at a glance
Plan Como with Haqqi Tours
Every option is confirmed by our team on WhatsApp before you pay, and delivered by our own people or by trusted local partners we work with in every city. Because we send travellers from all over the world, our partners give us special rates and priority, so you always receive the best. Prices are per person unless marked per vehicle.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers to what travellers ask most about Como.
Where should first-time visitors stay in Como?
First-time visitors are best placed in Como’s walled old town or on the waterfront near Piazza Cavour, where the ferry pier, cathedral and funicular are all a short walk away. Cernobbio suits travellers who want a quieter lakeside retreat, while Brunate offers mountain calm. Our team can recommend hotels that match your style and plans.
Can Como be done as a day trip, or does it need an overnight stay?
Como is an easy day trip from Milan, and our guided day tours cover the city and the lake efficiently. Still, an overnight stay transforms the experience: you enjoy the lake at dawn, sail to Bellagio before the crowds and watch the sunset from the waterfront. Two or three nights are ideal for most travellers.
What is the dress code and etiquette in Como?
Como is stylish but relaxed; smart casual clothes fit everywhere, from the old town to lakeside villas. Cover shoulders and knees in churches and avoid swimwear away from lidos. Respect private villa grounds, greet staff with “buongiorno”, keep voices low on early ferries, and let passengers disembark before boarding.
Is Como tourist friendly?
Yes, Como is very tourist friendly. The city centre is compact and walkable, English is widely spoken in hotels, restaurants and ferry offices, and the lake is used to welcoming visitors from around the world. With our private transfers, ferry tickets and guided day tours arranged ahead, exploring the lake feels effortless.
Is it safe to travel to Como now?
Como is generally considered a calm and safe destination, with lively, well-lit streets and a relaxed atmosphere. Take normal care of bags in crowded ferries and on trains from Milan. Check your own government’s official travel advice before departure and keep our WhatsApp line handy during your stay for quick help with any arrangement.
What are the must-do things in Como?
Must-do things in Como include riding the funicular to Brunate, visiting the cathedral and the walled old town, strolling to Villa Olmo, discovering the Silk Museum, and taking a ferry to Bellagio, Tremezzo and Varenna. Add a lakeside lunch of perch risotto and a sunset on Piazza Cavour to complete your stay.
How many days do you need in Como?
Two days let you see Como city and take one full boat trip on the lake. Three or four days are ideal to explore Bellagio, Varenna and Villa Carlotta, enjoy Brunate and add a day trip to Lugano or Milan. Longer stays suit travellers who want to relax by the water.
What can I book in Como with Haqqi Tours?
Day tours, attraction tickets, private airport transfers, flight tickets, train tickets and ferry tickets, including Lake Como Villas Shared Boat Tour Como, Lugano and Bellagio Day Trip with Boat Cruise from Como and Bernina Express and St Moritz Day Trip from Como. Each has its own page, and the WhatsApp desk combines any of them into one plan with one written price.
How do I get from the airport to my hotel in Como?
Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) is about 50 km north-west of central Milan and about 55 km south of Stresa, around 50 minutes by car on the A26 motorway; Baveno is about 60 km and Verbania about 70 km away. Our private transfer meets you at arrivals with a name board, tracks your flight and takes you door to door at a fixed price for the whole vehicle; the transfer pages list every route.
Is there public transport from the airport to Como?
From Malpensa there are trains via Saronno and coaches to Como, about ١ hour ١٥ minutes with a change; Linate and Bergamo need more changes, and the towns north of Como are reached by ferry or a slow lake bus, so a private car is simplest, particularly with luggage or a villa stay. With luggage, a family or a late flight, the private car is the simpler choice.
Which tours are available in Como?
Among them: Lake Como Villas Shared Boat Tour Como, Lugano and Bellagio Day Trip with Boat Cruise from Como, Bernina Express and St Moritz Day Trip from Como and Lake Como Classic Wooden Boat Shared Cruise Como. Each page says whether the day is private or small-group, what it includes and how long it lasts.
Are the tours private or in a group?
Both exist, and each tour page says which. A private tour has a vehicle and guide for your party alone; the desk can make most group tours private on request.
How do I book?
Fill in the form on any page or message us on WhatsApp with the date, the number of travellers and the hotel. A member of our team confirms the price and the details in writing within minutes.
Are the prices fixed?
Yes - every price is agreed in writing on WhatsApp before you travel and does not change on the day.
Do the drivers and guides speak Arabic or English?
It depends on the city and the day, so we do not promise a particular language; tell us your preference and we do our best. The WhatsApp desk always works in Arabic and English.
Can I change or cancel a booking in Como?
Yes, in the same WhatsApp conversation. The terms depend on the product and on how close to the date the change comes; the desk states them before you pay.