One Perfect Day in Como: A Walking Itinerary
You have just one day in Como and you want to do it justice, without sprinting from sight to sight. The good news is that the historic centre is compact and almost all of it can be done on foot: from the lakefront to the Duomo, from the medieval lanes to the funicular up to Brunate, you are only ever a few minutes away. Here is a tried-and-tested morning-to-night itinerary — Piazza Cavour, the Duomo, the Basilica di San Fedele, the Tempio Voltiano, the climb up to Brunate for the view, an aperitivo at sunset and, as the grand finale, an evening 3-hour cooking class in place of the usual dinner.
Morning: Piazza Cavour and the lakefront
Begin where Como itself begins — on the water. Piazza Cavour opens straight onto the lake, lined with historic cafés under the arcades: grab a cappuccino and a pastry standing at the bar, the way it is done here, and watch the boats pull away from the landing stages. From here an easy stroll runs along the lakefront, past the public gardens, the war memorial and a view that, on clear days, reaches all the way to the mountains. This is the best moment for photos: the morning light on the lake is crisp and the crowds have not yet arrived.
If you happen to be in town on a Wednesday or Saturday, it is worth carrying on to the city market: stalls of fruit, cheeses and local produce give you an instant feel for what gets cooked in this corner of Italy. For exact days and times, always check the municipality’s current information, as they can shift with the season.
The Duomo and the medieval heart
A short walk from the piazza brings you to the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, Como’s Duomo: one of the most fascinating buildings in northern Italy, because it joins a Gothic façade and a grand Baroque dome, added in the 18th century, in a single body. Entry is usually free but with opening hours and a dress code to respect — shoulders and knees covered — so keep that in mind on a hot day.
Beside the Duomo stands the Broletto, the old town hall in striped marble, and from there you happily lose yourself in the narrow medieval lanes of the historic centre, enclosed within the ancient Roman walls. These are cobbled alleys, workshops, silk window displays — Como has been a city of silk for centuries — and small squares to pause in. You don’t need a precise map: the joy is in wandering with no destination.
Basilica di San Fedele and the Tempio Voltiano
Tucked among the lanes is the Basilica di San Fedele, one of Como’s oldest churches, Romanesque in origin, facing a little square that once held the grain market. It is worth a stop for the apse and the carved portal: a quiet, authentic corner away from the bustle of the lakefront.
Heading back toward the water, at the far end of the gardens you reach the Tempio Voltiano, the small neoclassical museum dedicated to Alessandro Volta, the Como-born physicist who invented the electric battery and gave his name to the volt. Inside it keeps instruments and relics tied to his discoveries. It is compact and takes about half an hour: check the opening days and hours before you go, as they vary through the year.
Afternoon: the funicular up to Brunate
In the early afternoon, board the Como–Brunate funicular, running since 1894, which carries you in about seven minutes from the lakeshore up to the village of Brunate, more than 700 metres above. Up there the panorama opens over the whole arm of the lake, over the city of Como at your feet and, on clear days, across the Alps. If you have the legs and the breath, you can carry on on foot to the Volta Lighthouse, which crowns the village.
To avoid any nasty surprises, check the funicular’s current timetable on the official site before you go up: departures change between high and low season and, on fine days, there can be a queue. Set aside a good hour and a half for the climb, the view and an unhurried return.
- Morning — Piazza Cavour, breakfast at the bar, a stroll along the lakefront.
- Late morning — the Duomo, the Broletto and the medieval lanes of the centre.
- Midday — the Basilica di San Fedele and the Tempio Voltiano.
- Afternoon — the funicular up to Brunate and the view from above.
- Evening — an aperitivo by the lake and a 3-hour cooking class.
Evening: an aperitivo by the lake and a cooking class
Back in town, treat yourself to the most Italian ritual of all: the aperitivo. Around Piazza Cavour and along the streets of the centre there is no shortage of places with outdoor tables: look for a spot with a view of the water, order a spritz or a glass of Lombard white, and let the sun drop over the lake. To understand how this moment is really lived, read our guide to the best aperitivo in Como.
And here is the best part. Instead of the usual restaurant dinner, close the day with our evening 3-hour cooking class, a short walk from the historic centre. In a small group of up to 12 you learn to roll the sfoglia by hand with a rolling pin, guided by the resident chef trained at Rina Poletti’s Accademia della Sfoglia. The evening includes a spritz lesson — you build your own Aperol or Campari spritz and enjoy it as your aperitivo — the meal you cooked with wine, and gelato topped with a few drops of Traditional Balsamic of Modena DOP to finish. It is not just dinner: it is the most vivid memory of the day. Curious how it runs? It is all laid out on our how it works page.
Key takeaways
- Como can be done almost entirely on foot: lakefront, Duomo and lanes are all close together.
- Unmissable stops: Piazza Cavour, the Duomo, San Fedele, the Tempio Voltiano.
- Afternoon: the Brunate funicular for the view from above.
- Always check funicular, museum and market times on the official sites.
- End the day with an evening 3-hour cooking class instead of a restaurant dinner.
Choose your masterclass for the evening
The evening class is the perfect way to round off your day in Como. You can pick from four menus, all at €150 per person: the Tagliatelle Masterclass – Fresh Tomato, the Tagliatelle Masterclass – Ragù Bolognese, the Ravioloni Verdi Masterclass – Ricotta and the Farfalle e Garganelli Masterclass – Ragù. If you have more than a day, take a look at our weekend in Como to stretch the itinerary out.
End your day in Como with a cooking class
€150 per person, ~3 hours, groups of up to 12: hand-rolled pasta, a spritz lesson and gelato with balsamic vinegar, a short walk from the historic centre.
Book a class Back to Journal