Como City Guide

I don't think words can do justice to the way I feel about Como. It could be the fantastic sights or my personal familial ties to the area. Whatever it is, I love the city. Just an hour north of Milan, Como is situated at the base of Lake Como (aka, one of the most breathtaking bodies of water you'll ever see). The lake is so attractive that even George Clooney has a place overlooking the water!

Speaking English

Of course the farther you go from main hubs and central cities, the less likely you are to run into English-speakers. Como was one such place. I think I met three or four people in total that spoke a lick of English and even the words they did know were pretty rudimentary.

However, I didn't face any extreme difficulties in communicating during my stay because I could always fall back on context clues to understand others. Using facial expressions and hand motions, I was able to follow along with what was being said as well as point or gesture to the items I wanted in restaurants or stores and the people were often very accommodating.

I've found that, if you keep a smile on your face and hold a pleasant demeanor, others tend to be more forgiving of the fact that you can't speak their language. It’s worked for me so far!

Modes of Transportation

Como is so centrally located to a myriad of beautiful places. You've got Lugano, Switzerland laying in wait thirty minutes away, Bellagio just north on the lake, etc. What's so great about Como is the shear amount of transportation methods that you can take advantage of to get to your desired destination. You could take a bus, ferry, or train to almost anywhere.

With three train stations spread throughout the city, there's no shortage of opportunities to jump on the track and work your way up the lake. If the train is not your thing, there are also busses that wind along the water's edge with periodic stops in each lakeside town. If you're more inclined to be waterbound, the ferry is your best bet. I personally prefer the ferry because it promises the best photo-ops, especially when the lake is covered by a clear, blue sky.

Wifi accessibility

Because Como is such a small town, it's even more difficult to get ahold of a wifi connection. For someone that decided to have no data plan abroad (like myself), it was a challenge finding it. Thankfully, I was able to track down some pretty reliable connections throughout the city.

Should you ever visit Como, I would recommend going to Panino Buono off of the Piazza Alessandro Volta or Cremeria Bolla 1893 for a quick internet boost. The former is easily accessible with little to no security and the range of the connection is broad enough that you can connect from outside without needing to purchase anything. The latter does require a little more work as it asks you to register your email to use the internet but, once you've done so, you have unadulterated access to their wifi. In addition, the connection reaches beyond the confines of the cafe so you can find a spot outside to settle without needing to make a purchase (shhh, don't tell them that). However, Cremeria Bolla 1893 has pretty good gelato so I'd recommend going in regardless of whether you need internet or not.

Giving yourself plenty of time to get a ticket at the train stations

During my last visit, I was scheduled to leave Como pretty early in the morning and planned accordingly. Thankfully, I allotted enough time to stand in line at the ticket office because there was quite a queue. It took roughly 25 minutes to get my ticket and I just barely made it onto the train in time. Normally, I endorse purchasing your tickets online and using your phone to show them to the conductor when they pass in the car. However, because I had such limited access to wifi while in Como, I ended up just sticking to the classic wait-in-line system. Next time, I'll be more prepared and buy my tickets online before I even leave for my trip.

Refugees

Because Italy has had essentially open borders to the refugees spilling into the country over the last few years, you might pass certain areas that are a little more bereft. For instance, I had read online before my trip that the Como S. Giovanni train station was littered with huts and makeshift housing for the refugees. As such, I decided that that was an area worth avoiding and adjusted my plans accordingly.

The subject of refugee activity in the city has been an increasingly heated topic as there are quite a few wealthy residents that have been less than happy to see the city (and the entire country, really) operate under an open-border policy. Since Switzerland has refused refugees, they have been forced to spill over into Italy. And because Como is so close to the Swiss border, it's usually the first stop that the refugees hit.

In all of my time there, I didn't notice any signs of extreme poverty or refugee-ridden areas, but I'm sure they exist and you should tread carefully through the city during your visit.

Plug type: Consecutive three-pronged plug, type “L” (however, I found that my Europlug worked just fine with Italian outlets)

Currency: Euro (€)

Language: Italian natively, elementary English

They drive on the... right side of the road

Primary means of transportation: Car, boat/ferry, train, bus

Key phrases: 

Yes → Si (“See”)

No → No

Hello → Ciao (“Chow”)

Good morning →Buongiorno (“Bon-jor-no”)

Good afternoon →Buon pomeriggio (“Bwon-pome-ah-ree-geo”)

Good evening →Buonasera (“Bway-na-sair-uh”)

Good night → Buonanotte (“Bway-na-no-tay”)

Goodbye → Ciao (“Chow”) - the Italians love to say “Ciao!”

Thank you → Grazie (“Grot-zee-eh”)[don’t forget to pronounce that “eh” at the end - tourists tend to forget that and it points them out as foreigners]

Thank you very much → Grazie mille (“Grot-zee-eh me-lay”)

Please → Per favore (“Per-fah-vore-ay”)

Excuse me → Mi scusi (“Me-scoo-zee”)[however, I constantly heard locals just saying “Scusi” by itself]

Sorry → Scusa (“Scoo-za”)

Telephone code: +39

Emergency services number: 112

Credit card acceptance: Cash is the primary. Mastercard (referred to as "Maestro" in Europe) and Visa are close seconds, as long as the cards have a magstrip and chip.

Gelateria Guidi

Great place for gelato, especially if you're just getting off the train at Como Nord Lago station. I would personally recommend the lemon gelato. 😋

Dress: casual

Via Domenico Fontana, 17, 22100 Como CO, Italy

Cremeria Bolla 1893

Another good place for gelato. I'd recommend the coffee flavor.

Dress: casual

Via Pietro Boldoni, 6, 22100 Como CO, Italy

Turkiye Pizza & Kebab

Perfect option to suit all of your falafel needs. I've been here twice and the first time I went, they forgot to give me the french fries I ordered. When I went the second time, the owner recognized me and apologized profusely, giving me free fries to make up for it. Very nice people.

Dress: casual

Via Giuseppe Garibaldi, 17, 22100 Como CO, Italy

Peach Pit Pizzeria Donnarumma

I cannot say enough good things about the owner of this place. He was so kind to me, even though he didn't speak English and I didn't speak Italian. Every time I said "Thank you," he responded with a very gracious "Prego!" Very good folded pizza (and pizza in general).

Dress: casual

41, Via Armando Diaz, 22100 Como CO, Italy

L'Ora della Pasta

Okay, this place is a MUST. Homemade pasta, 'nough said. I recommend the pesto gnocchi. 🤤

Dress: casual

Via Lambertenghi, 33, 20200 Como CO, Italy

Milan, Italy

Northern hub of Italy. Home to The Last Supper painting, the Duomo di Milano, and Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. Also a fashion capital.

Distance from Como by train: 1 hour

Lugano, Switzerland

Fortified by an immense mountainous landscape.

Distance from Como by train: 30 minutes

Bellagio, Italy

Affluent lakeside town just north of Como. Easily reachable by ferry.

Distance from Como by ferry: 2 hours

Don't rush

Being an American, I am well versed in the art of speed walking. But when I got off the train in Como and rushed to my Airbnb, the number of disgusted glances I got was distressing. Europeans in general are very leisurely with Italians in particular being among the most lax. Running around town will not do. Try and take a breath and absorb the sights. You're in one of the most incredible and overwhelmingly beautiful areas in central Europe. Enjoy it!

Be patient

As I've already mentioned, Como is not exactly a central hub like Milan so the townsfolk are far less likely to speak any English. This can be overwhelming at times, especially when you really have no bearing as to what is being said or if you're even being understood. I've found that the best course of action is to just be patient. You're not the first tourist that doesn't know a lick of Italian and you certainly won't be the last. Take your time to navigate your way through a conversation or make a point. I didn't meet anyone in Como that was frustrated or dismissive towards me and that really helped me become more comfortable in talking to the locals despite the language barrier. A big part of immersing yourself in any place is taking in the culture, and I wholeheartedly believe that you can't do that if you're not talking to people and exchanging thoughts and ideas.

walk along the 1st century town walls

Within the town of Como resides remnants of walls that were built in the 1st century by Julius Caesar. It's really unbelievable to be bobbing and weaving throughout the streets when you suddenly come across such a huge piece of the town's history just resting between more modern fixtures and buildings.

Visit the lakeside homes and museums

The nice thing about there being so many incredible historical homes on Lake Como is that some of them are open to the public for viewing and touring. You could visit Villa Carlotta, a 753,000 square foot estate with impeccable gardens, or Villa del Balbianello, where the sultry first kiss between Padme and Anakin took place in Star Wars: Episode II took place as well as the scene between Vesper and James Bond in Casino Royale.

Take a film tour

I don't know about you but I am quite the cineaste. My passion for film runs deep and I couldn't help but notice that there is a film festival that takes place in Como. This gets me all sorts of excited. If you happen to be in Como while the festival is taking place, you should absolutely try to go. Admission is free and the venue is Villa Erba, another incredible fixture of Lake Como.

Go on a boat tour of the lake

If you really want to savor the sights on the lake, you have to go on a boat tour. But I'm not just talking about any boat tour. No, I'm referring to the Como Classic Boats touring company that takes you out in a beautiful wood-paneled boat. Just looking at these boats makes me "ooh" and "aah." Their tours are broken into sections between the northern and southern parts of the lake. From there, you can further deduce which guided excursion you'd like to go on.

See a panoramic view of Lake Como

If boating isn't your thing, you can also head to Castello di Vezio for a breathtaking panoramic view of the lake. The castle has stood the test of time and lasted over 1,000 years nestled on the bluff above Varenna. In addition to the view, there are falconry demonstrations that take place at the castle that the public can watch.