The Best Walks in Como: Lakeside Strolls and Hidden Lanes

The lakefront from Piazza Cavour to Villa Olmo

This is Como’s signature walk and the easiest of all: flat, paved and accessible to everyone, prams and wheelchairs included. You start from the central Piazza Cavour, open onto the first basin of the lake, and follow the shore westward. Within minutes you pass the War Memorial (the tower built from sketches by the local Futurist architect Antonio Sant’Elia), then the small seaplane airport — one of the oldest still operating in the world — and finally the gardens leading to Villa Olmo, an 18th-century neoclassical villa with a public park that is free to enter.

The whole stretch is roughly 2 km each way (about an hour there and back at an easy pace), with almost no climb. The light is best in the evening, when the sun drops behind the mountains and the lakefront becomes the stage for aperitivo in Como. We won’t name the bars along the way: pick a terrace facing the water, order a spritz, and check recent reviews for opening times.

The funicular to Brunate and the path to the Volta Lighthouse

For the most spectacular view, take the Como–Brunate funicular: it departs near the lakefront, climbs in about 7 minutes to the hillside village of Brunate at over 700 m, and rewards you immediately with a sweeping panorama over the lake and, on clear days, the Alps. The view from the upper station alone is worth the ticket.

From Brunate begins the most-loved walk: the climb to the Volta Lighthouse (Faro Voltiano), the beacon tower raised in 1927 for the centenary of the death of Alessandro Volta, the Como-born physicist who gave his name to the volt. It is about 30–40 minutes on foot uphill (a kilometre or two, a moderate climb, partly on road and then a mule track), so wear closed shoes. At the top a short flight of steps leads to the gallery, where the 360° view takes in the arms of the lake. Always check the official funicular and lighthouse hours before you set off, as they change with the season.

The medieval walls and old lanes of the centre

The heart of Como still sits inside its Roman grid and medieval walls. Three historic towers survive: the Porta Torre of 1192, the monumental gateway into the city, and the San Vitale and Gattoni towers. This is a very short, level walk made of small discoveries: you wander among narrow lanes, courtyards, workshops and little squares, and almost by surprise you emerge in front of the Duomo, a masterpiece blending Gothic and Renaissance that took four centuries to complete.

• Porta Torre and the walls — the medieval side of the city, a short walk from San Giovanni station.
• The Duomo and the Broletto — the striped-marble town hall beside the cathedral.
• Piazza San Fedele — the old grain square with its half-timbered houses, one of the most photographed.
• The Cortesella quarter — the oldest maze of lanes, best wandered slowly and without a map.

For a sense of where to stop and eat along the way, read what to eat in Como: it helps you recognise the local dishes instead of leaving it to chance.

The greenway and walks beyond the town

With more time and steadier legs, longer routes set off along the shore. The best known is the Greenway del Lago di Como, a stage-by-stage path linking the villages of the western shore (between Colonno and Griante) past villas, churches and small harbours: it doesn’t start in the town itself but is easily reached by boat or bus, and is walked in short sections, choosing the stretch you fancy. Always check the official boat timetables before planning.

Closer to hand, from Como’s lakefront heading east, a path runs towards Villa Geno on the opposite side of the first basin, with its fountain and another fine viewpoint: this one is easy and flat too, about 1.5 km each way.

How to plan your day on foot

The beauty of Como is that you can string several walks into a single day without ever touching a car. A morning in the lanes and at the Duomo, the funicular up to Brunate around midday, the lakefront and aperitivo at sunset: that is exactly the shape of our weekend in Como. If you are travelling as a couple, the climb to Brunate at dusk is also among the romantic things to do in Como.

One practical tip: comfortable shoes, a bottle of water and — in summer — a hat and sunscreen, because the lakefront is almost always exposed. And when your legs ask for a rest, the evening is the perfect moment to sit down and cook rather than walk any further.

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After the walk, into the kitchen

The best way to round off a day of walking is a hands-on evening in the kitchen, a short walk from the historic centre. Our class runs ~3 hours, costs €150 per person in small groups of up to 12, is taught in English and French, and includes a spritz lesson — you build your own Aperol or Campari spritz and enjoy it as your aperitivo — the hand-rolled-pasta masterclass, the meal you cook with wine, and gelato topped with a few drops of Traditional Balsamic of Modena DOP. Choose the pasta you fancy: Tagliatelle with fresh tomato, Tagliatelle al ragù, green ricotta Ravioloni or Farfalle and Garganelli.