What to see in Como in 2 days: complete itinerary

What to see in Como in 2 days

Como is much more than its famous lake. The walled city encloses a Cathedral blending Gothic and Renaissance, rationalist buildings by Terragni, and a lakefront that at sunset becomes one of Europe's most romantic landscapes. With the Brunate funicular as a panoramic elevator, two days are enough to fall in love.

Day 1: The walled city and the lakefront

Morning (3-4 hours)

Start at the Duomo, the last great Gothic building site in Italy, completed in 1740 with Juvarra's dome. The facade uniquely blends Flamboyant Gothic and Renaissance. Inside, 16th-century Flemish tapestries and Bernardino Luini canvases deserve time.

Beside the Duomo, the Broletto (1215) with its white, grey and pink marble-banded facade is Lombardy's most elegant medieval town hall. Continue along Via Vittorio Emanuele, the arcaded shopping street, to Porta Torre (1192), the imposing 40-metre tower marking the medieval city entrance.

Detour to the Basilica of San Fedele, a Romanesque gem with its polygonal apse facing a hidden square. The griffon capital is a masterpiece of Comacine sculpture.

Afternoon (3-4 hours)

Devote the afternoon to the lakefront walk. Start from the Tempio Voltiano, a museum dedicated to Alessandro Volta (born in Como in 1745) with original instruments from his discoveries. Continue to Villa Olmo, a grand neoclassical residence with free-access park and temporary exhibitions.

Walk along the Villa Olmo Promenade to the Borgovico quarter, a Liberty residential area with villas hidden among gardens. The pedestrian path runs along the lake for 2 km, away from traffic.

Evening

Aperitivo on Piazza Cavour overlooking the lake's first basin. Dinner in the Sant'Agostino quarter, the upper part of the centre with authentic trattorias and local prices.

Day 2: Brunate and secret gardens

Morning (3-4 hours)

Take the funicular to Brunate (7 minutes, every 15-30 minutes). From the "Balcony of the Alps" the view extends from the lake to the plain and the Apennines. Walk to the Volta Lighthouse (20 minutes, easy path), built in 1927 for the centenary of Volta's death.

For the more energetic, the trail continues to Monte Boletto (1,236 m, 2 hours from Brunate): extraordinary panorama of the Alpine chain and lakes.

Afternoon (3-4 hours)

Return to the city and visit Giuseppe Terragni's Casa del Fascio (1936), a masterpiece of Italian rationalist architecture, now the Guardia di Finanza headquarters (visible from outside, interior visits by appointment). Steps away, the Asilo Sant'Elia by the same architect.

Continue to the Villa del Grumello Gardens, less famous than Bellagio's but equally spectacular: camellias, azaleas and century-old sequoias with lake views. Entry is free and rarely crowded.

Evening

Evening boat ride on the public ferry to Torno (20 minutes), a lakeside village with the church of San Giovanni and colourful houses facing the harbour. Lake fish dinner in one of the quayside trattorias.

Practical tips

• The Brunate funicular closes early in winter: check schedules
• The public ferry is far cheaper than water taxis
• Autosilo Valmulini car park is closest to the centre and lake
• The Spine trail from Brunate offers 10 panoramic km toward Bellagio (for hikers)

Further reading

• Where to stay in Como
• Where to eat in Como
• How to get to Como