Como’s historic centre is small and packed with history, and a guided walk is the easiest way to understand it. The old town sits inside the line of its medieval walls, with a Roman street grid beneath it, and the walk takes in the cathedral square, the Broletto, the lanes of the old city and the lakefront. The tour we link to combines a guided city tour with a boat cruise on the lake, so you see the town from the streets and then from the water on a single ticket. It is a good first-day activity for visitors who arrive by train from Milan, because it gives you your bearings and a sense of the city’s past, from Roman Comum to the silk trade that made Como rich and gave it its modern reputation for fabrics.
What the tour is
A guided city tour of Como with a free boat cruise included in the ticket title. The operator sets the meeting point, the language, the length and the duration of the cruise, so read the details when you book, and expect a couple of hours on foot with a short boat ride afterwards. Check whether the cruise runs on your date, because boat services are reduced in winter and the operator may adjust the order of the day.
What the walk covers
Como began as a Roman town founded in the first century BC, and traces of its grid survive in the street pattern around the cathedral and the Broletto, the medieval town hall with its striped marble. A guide explains the Duomo, the Plinys and the Frog Door and the way the city grew inside its walls, and may point out the surviving towers and gates at the edge of the old town. The silk industry, which began in the sixteenth century and made Como a world centre for silk weaving and printing, is part of the story, and you can still see silk shops in the old town streets.
On the water
The boat cruise gives a view of Como from the lake, with the villas of the western shore, the Brunate hillside above the town and the lakefront promenade passing by. It is shorter and simpler than a dedicated villa tour, so treat it as a taster rather than a replacement. If you want a deeper look at the lake’s villas, add the small-group boat tour from the Sant’Agostino dock on another day, and for a view from above, the funicular to Brunate completes the picture.
Making the most of it
Take the tour on your first morning so that the rest of your stay is easier to plan, wear comfortable shoes for the cobbles and bring a layer for the boat. The old town is very walkable, so it is simple to return afterwards to a shop or a church you noticed.
The walk finishes near the lakefront, which makes it easy to continue to lunch, to Villa Olmo or to the ferry landings. Pair it with the cathedral visit, since the guide’s commentary will make the building more interesting when you go inside.
What to expect
The experience
A guided walk through Como’s old town followed by a boat cruise on the lake, on one ticket.
Best time
Your first morning in Como, when the walk helps you get your bearings.
How long
A couple of hours on foot plus a short cruise, though the operator sets the exact schedule.
Tips
Wear comfortable shoes for the cobbles, bring a layer for the boat and check that the cruise runs on your date in winter.
Quick picks
- Best for
- First-time visitors who want an orientation walk and a short boat ride in one go.
- Families
- A manageable length with a boat ride to keep children interested.
- Couples
- A relaxed introduction to Como’s streets and its lakefront, ending on the water.
- Pair with
- Pair it with the cathedral visit, the funicular to Brunate or a lakeside lunch.
- Time needed
- A morning or an afternoon.
Good questions
What does the Como city tour cover?+
The old town on foot, including the cathedral square, the Broletto and the lanes of the historic centre, followed by a boat cruise on the lake.
Is the boat cruise included?+
Yes, the ticket combines the guided city tour with a boat cruise. Check the details for the length and the order of the day.
How long does the tour take?+
A couple of hours on foot plus the cruise, though the operator sets the exact schedule.
Does the tour run in winter?+
Check availability for your dates, because boat services are reduced in winter and the order of the day may change.
Why is Como known for silk?+
Silk weaving and printing grew in Como from the sixteenth century and made the city a world centre for silk fabrics, which still shapes its shops and museums.
