Self-Guided Walking Tour in Como

A 9-stop loop through Como's old town, from the 34-metre medieval Porta Torre out to Villa Olmo, back along the lakefront promenade to the Duomo, and up to the Brunate funicular. This page gives you the map, per-leg walking times, real prices and opening hours, and shorter versions when the full 13 km is too much.

9 Stops13.2 km~5 hours walking4–5 hours with stops
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Como Walking Tour at a Glance

This route is built for anyone who wants Como's old town in the right order instead of guessing which alley leads to the lake. It links 9 stops on foot, and every interior along the way is optional: you can walk the whole loop for the views alone and never buy a ticket, or step inside the two museums and the cathedral as you go. Self-guided means you set the pace and skip what you like.

StartPorta Torre
FinishComo–Brunate funicular (Funicolare Como-Brunate)
Route typeA clockwise loop that starts and ends at Porta Torre near the station, swinging south-west first, then north-west along the western shore before curling back east through the historic centre. Almost no backtracking.
Realistic timeWalking alone is roughly two and a half hours across the 13 km loop. Add the outdoor stops and you are closer to a half day, and full interiors push it toward five hours.
DifficultyAbout 13 km total on cobbled old-town streets and flat paved lakefront, easy going overall, with gentle climbs on the legs out to Sant'Abbondio and up to Villa Olmo. Closed shoes beat sandals.
Cost to followThe outdoor route is free. Only the Tempio Voltiano (€5) and the Como-Brunate funicular (€5.70 one way) cost money, so the whole loop, museum and ride included, stays under €12.
Best for:

Travellers who want more than a ferry photo, ready to walk a real 13 km loop that trades a lakeside resort for a medieval city with the lake attached.

The Route

Free Walking Tour Map of Como

9 stops13.2 kmabout 5 hours
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The 9 stops along this route

  1. Porta Torre in Como, stop 1 on the self-guided walking tour
    1Porta Torre
  2. Basilica of Sant'Abbondio (Basilica di Sant'Abbondio) in Como, stop 2 on the self-guided walking tour
    2Basilica of Sant'Abbondio (Basilica di Sant'Abbondio)
  3. Villa Olmo in Como, stop 3 on the self-guided walking tour
    3Villa Olmo
  4. Passeggiata Lino Gelpi in Como, stop 4 on the self-guided walking tour
    4Passeggiata Lino Gelpi
  5. Tempio Voltiano in Como, stop 5 on the self-guided walking tour
    5Tempio Voltiano
  6. Broletto (Broletto di Como) in Como, stop 6 on the self-guided walking tour
    6Broletto (Broletto di Como)
  7. Como Cathedral (Duomo di Como) in Como, stop 7 on the self-guided walking tour
    7Como Cathedral (Duomo di Como)
  8. Piazza del Popolo in Como, stop 8 on the self-guided walking tour
    8Piazza del Popolo
  9. Como–Brunate funicular (Funicolare Como-Brunate) in Como, stop 9 on the self-guided walking tour
    9Como–Brunate funicular (Funicolare Como-Brunate)
  10. That's the complete route.

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Your Como Walking Tour, Stop by Stop

  1. 1

    Porta Torre

    Porta Torre in Como, stop 1 on the self-guided walking tour

    You meet the old town through a hole in a fortress. Porta Torre rises 34 metres in pale stone and brick, built in 1192 to guard what was then the most important entrance into walled Como. Walking up from the station side, it is the first real thing you see, and it sets the tone: this was a serious medieval city, not a lakeside resort. The gate is free and open all day, with no interior to tour, so give it five minutes. Stand back across Piazza Vittoria to take in the full height, then walk through it the way travellers did 800 years ago. From here the centre opens up north toward the lake, but first take the short detour southwest to Sant'Abbondio. Follow the streets away from the centre; it is about a 7-minute walk and easy to miss without a map.

    Hours
    Open 24/7
    Price
    Free
  2. 2

    Basilica of Sant'Abbondio (Basilica di Sant'Abbondio)

    Basilica of Sant'Abbondio (Basilica di Sant'Abbondio) in Como, stop 2 on the self-guided walking tour

    After the noise near the gate, this corner feels forgotten, and that is the appeal. Sant'Abbondio is Como's finest Romanesque church, the third oldest in the city, with twin bell towers and a long, narrow interior that pulls your eye straight to the apse. The medieval fresco cycle behind the altar is the reason to come: faded but extensive, painted directly onto the curved wall. Fifteen bishop-saints of Como are entombed here. Entry is free and the doors are open daily from 7:30 AM to 7:00 PM. Ten minutes inside is plenty unless you want to study the frescoes closely. The monastery beside it now houses a university faculty, so expect students rather than tour groups. When you leave, head north toward the water. It is a longer leg, roughly 25 minutes, climbing along the western edge toward Villa Olmo and your first full view of the lake.

    Hours
    Daily: 7:30 AM – 7:00 PM
    Price
    Free
  3. 3

    Villa Olmo

    Villa Olmo in Como, stop 3 on the self-guided walking tour

    The villa announces itself before you reach it: a wide neoclassical front in pale stucco facing the lake, with formal gardens rolling down toward the water. This is the grandest of the Como villas, designed by Simone Cantoni for the Odescalchi marquises, and since 1924 it has held the Centro nazionale Volta. The gardens are the easy win here, free and open to walk, with the lake on one side and box hedges on the other. The villa interior opens only for exhibitions, so check ahead; when shows run it is open Tuesday to Sunday 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM and closed Mondays, free entry. Even with the doors shut, the garden and the facade are worth the walk out here. This is the western turning point of the loop. From now on you are heading back toward the centre along the lakefront, starting with the promenade.

    Hours
    Mon: Closed | Tue-Sun: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
    Price
    Free
  4. 4

    Passeggiata Lino Gelpi

    Passeggiata Lino Gelpi in Como, stop 4 on the self-guided walking tour

    This is the stretch that sells Como. The Passeggiata Lino Gelpi runs along the shore between Villa Olmo and the centre, a flat paved promenade with open water on your left and, on a clear day, the western Alps stacked up behind it. There is no ticket, no opening time, nothing to do but walk and look, which after Villa Olmo's gardens is exactly right. You pass private villa gates, the odd jetty, and benches angled at the lake. Time it for late afternoon if you can, when the light comes off the water and the mountains across the lake go gold. It is the connective tissue of the whole route, the part where the city falls away and it is just you and Lago di Como. Keep going east and the promenade delivers you to the next landmark, the white drum of the Tempio Voltiano, about 8 minutes on.

    Hours
    Open 24/7
    Price
    Free
  5. 5

    Tempio Voltiano

    Tempio Voltiano in Como, stop 5 on the self-guided walking tour

    A small round neoclassical temple sits right on the waterfront at the end of Viale Marconi, and it is a museum to a battery. Alessandro Volta, born in Como in 1745, invented the first electric pile, and the Tempio Voltiano from 1928 keeps his instruments, papers and reconstructions of his experiments under one domed roof. It is a focused little place, not a sprawling collection: entry is 5 euros, open Tuesday to Sunday 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, closed Mondays. Worth it if you have any interest in the man whose name became the volt; a quick skip if science museums leave you cold, since the exterior and its lakeside setting are the real photo. Allow 30 to 40 minutes inside. From here you turn inland into the old town proper, about a 9-minute walk to the Duomo square and the Broletto beside it.

    Hours
    Mon: Closed | Tue-Sun: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
    Price
    €5
  6. 6

    Broletto (Broletto di Como)

    Broletto (Broletto di Como) in Como, stop 6 on the self-guided walking tour

    Back among the stone streets, the first thing on the cathedral square is the Broletto, and you will probably mistake it for part of the Duomo. It was Como's medieval town hall, the original seat of the city commune, and it is hard to miss: a striped loggia of grey, white and pink marble with arches at ground level and a row of windows above, pressed right up against the cathedral. There is no interior visit and nothing to pay; it is free and always there to look at. Spend a few minutes on the banded marble up close, then step under the arches to the open ground floor. It works best as a frame, since standing here you have the Broletto, the cathedral and the bell tower all in one view. Turn directly to your left and you are facing the main reason most people come to Como's old town: the Duomo.

    Hours
    Open 24/7
    Price
    Free
  7. 7

    Como Cathedral (Duomo di Como)

    Como Cathedral (Duomo di Como) in Como, stop 7 on the self-guided walking tour

    The facade stops you. Como's Duomo, Santa Maria Assunta, is one of the more remarkable monuments in northern Italy, a building that started Gothic and finished Renaissance, so the carved front and the dome behind belong to different centuries and somehow agree. Inside, the draw is the tapestries: large 16th and 17th century hangings woven in Ferrara, Florence and Brussels, plus paintings by Bernardino Luini and Gaudenzio Ferrari. Entry is free. Hours are tighter than the church-going crowd expects: Monday to Friday 10:30 AM to 5:30 PM, Saturday 10:45 AM to 4:30 PM, and closed Sunday, so do not save this for a Sunday afternoon. Give it 20 to 30 minutes, more if the light is hitting the tapestries. Dress to cover shoulders and knees or you may be turned away. Step out the side and you are at Piazza del Popolo within a minute or two.

    Hours
    Mon-Fri: 10:30 AM – 5:30 PM | Sat: 10:45 AM – 4:30 PM | Sun: Closed
    Price
    Free
  8. 8

    Piazza del Popolo

    Piazza del Popolo in Como, stop 8 on the self-guided walking tour

    This square is the odd one out, and that is why it is here. Step from the medieval cathedral quarter into Piazza del Popolo and you face the Casa del Fascio, Giuseppe Terragni's 1930s rationalist building, all clean grid and glass, one of the landmark works of Italian modernist architecture. The contrast with the Duomo at your back is the whole point: 600 years of building styles in a two-minute walk. The square itself is open and free, a public space rather than a sight, so there is no ticket and no hours. Architects make pilgrimages here; for everyone else it is a five-minute stop to register how strange and ahead of its time the building looks. Take the photo with the cathedral apse and the rationalist facade in tension. From here it is a short walk northeast, about 8 minutes, to the lower station of the funicular and the last decision of the day.

  9. 9

    Como–Brunate funicular (Funicolare Como-Brunate)

    Como–Brunate funicular (Funicolare Como-Brunate) in Como, stop 9 on the self-guided walking tour

    The route ends at a choice. The Como-Brunate funicular has been hauling passengers up the slope since 1894, and its lower station near the lakefront is where the walk closes. Climb in and seven minutes later you are in Brunate, the village they call the balcony over the Alps, where viewpoints take in the whole lake, the western Alpine arc and the Po plain on a clear day. A single ticket is 5.70 euros and the funicular runs daily from 6:00 AM to midnight, so you have no excuse not to ride it. Do this part late: go up an hour before sunset and watch the light drop over the lake from the top. If your legs are done, the lower station and its 19th-century mechanism are a sight in themselves. From here it is a flat 15-minute walk back to Porta Torre to close the loop.

    Hours
    Daily: 6:00 AM – 12:00 AM
    Price
    €5.70
    Website
    atm.it ↗

How Long Does This Walking Tour Really Take?

Two and a half hours of pure walking becomes a half day once you stop and look, four to five hours with the outdoor stops, and longer if you go inside the Duomo and Tempio Voltiano, which take 30 to 40 minutes each.

Walking time alone is around two and a half hours for the full loop, but plan on a half day, four to five hours, once you stop and look. The long legs are the two that hug the lake: Sant'Abbondio out to Villa Olmo, and Villa Olmo back along the Passeggiata Lino Gelpi. Those are also the most pleasant, so do not rush them. The Duomo and Tempio Voltiano are where your interior time goes, 30 to 40 minutes each if you go in.

If you want a break, the lakefront near the Tempio Voltiano and Piazza Cavour has the cafes with lake views, though you pay a premium for the position. For something cheaper, grab a bench on the Passeggiata Lino Gelpi with the water in front of you; it costs nothing and the view beats any terrace. Save real hunger for the top: ride the funicular up to Brunate and eat there with the whole lake below you, ideally timed for the hour before sunset.

Full Route, Shorter Walk or Two-Day Version?

The full loop is 9 stops and about 13 km, and two of the legs are long: Sant'Abbondio out to Villa Olmo, and the final stretch north to the funicular. Here are three ways to walk it depending on how much time and leg you have.

The Full Loop

All 9 stops, Porta Torre to Brunate

Stops 1 to 9, roughly 13 km, 4 to 5 hours with stops

The complete route: Porta Torre, Sant'Abbondio, Villa Olmo, the Passeggiata Lino Gelpi, Tempio Voltiano, the Broletto, the Duomo, Piazza del Popolo and the funicular. Do it clockwise as listed so the ride up to Brunate lands at the end of the day.

The Compact Centre

The old town without the long villa legs

Stops 1, then 5 to 9, roughly 6 km, 2 to 3 hours

Cuts the two longest legs, the 30-minute haul to Villa Olmo and back, and keeps the dense core: Porta Torre, the Tempio Voltiano on the water, the Broletto, the Duomo, Piazza del Popolo and the funicular. Best when you have half an afternoon rather than a full day.

The Two-Part Day

Split at the lakefront, rest in between

Stops 1 to 4 first, break, then stops 5 to 9

Walk the western half to Villa Olmo and the promenade, break for lunch or a bench on the Passeggiata Lino Gelpi, then take the centre and funicular after. A gentler shape that puts the two long lakeside legs in the first push while your legs are fresh.

You can run it counter-clockwise, starting at the funicular, but the listed clockwise direction is better: it saves the climb to Brunate for last, keeps the lake on your side for the best promenade stretch, and closes the loop back at Porta Torre a short walk from Como San Giovanni station.

Is This Como Walking Tour Right for You?

This is a genuine 13 km walk with two long lakeside legs, not a quick stroll around a cathedral square. It rewards people who want to see the sights at the edges of town, and it flexes down easily if that is more than you want.

A good fit if you…

  • Walkers happy with 13 km over an afternoon on flat lakefront and cobbled streets
  • Anyone who wants Sant'Abbondio and Villa Olmo, the sights day-trippers never reach
  • Travellers who care about architecture, from Romanesque to Terragni's rationalism
  • Budget-minded visitors, since the whole loop costs under €12 in tickets

Adapt the route if you…

  • You have half an afternoon: take the Compact Centre version and skip the villa legs
  • You want to pace yourself: split the day at the lakefront and break for lunch
  • You are tired of walking: ride the funicular and treat the lower station as the finish
  • It is raining hard: lean on the Duomo, Sant'Abbondio and the indoor Tempio Voltiano

Tickets & Skip-the-Line in Como

Como's old town is mostly free to walk, and only three stops involve a ticket or fixed hours. Here is what actually costs money on this route and how to time it.

Tempio VoltianoEntry is €5. Open Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, closed Mondays. A small, focused museum, so there is rarely a queue; no advance booking needed, just check the day. official ticket site ↗
Como Cathedral (Duomo di Como)Free to enter, but the hours are tighter than most churches: Monday to Friday 10:30 AM to 5:30 PM, Saturday 10:45 AM to 4:30 PM, closed Sunday. Cover shoulders and knees or you may be turned away. official ticket site ↗
Como–Brunate funicular (Funicolare Como-Brunate)A single ticket is €5.70 one way. Runs daily from 6:00 AM to midnight, roughly a 7-minute ride. Buy at the lower station; go up in the hour before sunset for the best light over the lake. official ticket site ↗
Everything elsePorta Torre, Basilica di Sant'Abbondio, Villa Olmo and its gardens, the Passeggiata Lino Gelpi, the Broletto and Piazza del Popolo are all free open spaces or free-entry sights with nothing to book.
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Tips for Walking in Como

  • Arrive at Como San Giovanni station from Milano Cattedrale or Centrale (about 40 minutes by regional train) and walk downhill toward the lake; Porta Torre is roughly 5 minutes from the station, making it the natural start. Do the loop clockwise as listed so the funicular ride lands at the end of the day.
  • The old town is cobbled and the lakefront promenade is flat paved stone, both easy, but the leg out to Sant'Abbondio and up to Villa Olmo has gentle climbs. Closed comfortable shoes beat sandals. After rain the marble around the Duomo and Broletto gets slick.
  • Public toilets are scarce in the centre. The most reliable stop is the Tempio Voltiano if you pay the 5 euro entry, or the cafes around Piazza Cavour on the lakefront where buying a coffee gets you access. Use one before the long Villa Olmo stretch.
  • For food, ride up to Brunate and eat with the view rather than paying lakefront-terrace prices in the centre. Down in town, grab a gelato or an espresso (around 1.50 euros standing at the bar) near Piazza Cavour and walk it along the promenade.
  • Best photo is from the Passeggiata Lino Gelpi in late afternoon, facing northwest across the water with the western Alps behind the lake. For the cathedral, stand in Piazza del Popolo and frame the Gothic apse against Terragni's rationalist Casa del Fascio in one shot.

Why Walk This Route?

Most people treat Como as a day trip: step off the train from Milan, snap the lake, get on a ferry, leave. That is a mistake. The old town packs a 34-metre medieval gate, a Romanesque masterpiece, a lakefront promenade, two neoclassical landmarks and a Gothic cathedral into a compact grid you can walk on foot in an afternoon. This route strings them together so you are not doubling back or guessing which alley leads where.

The walk is a loop. It starts and ends at Porta Torre on the station side, swings southwest to the quiet Sant'Abbondio, climbs along the water to Villa Olmo, then comes back through the lakefront and into the historic centre and the Duomo. You end at the funicular station, which is where you decide whether to ride up to Brunate or call it a day. Total walking is real: roughly 13 km if you do the full loop including the Villa Olmo stretch, so wear shoes you trust.

Why walk it rather than wander? Como's centre is small but its best sights sit at the edges. Sant'Abbondio is a 10-minute detour outside the walls that nobody finds by accident. Villa Olmo is a kilometre west along the shore. Left to chance, you would see the Duomo and the waterfront cafes and miss the rest. This order keeps the lake on your side for the best stretch and saves the climb for last.

Common Questions

Is Como safe to walk around?

Yes, Como is a calm, low-crime lakeside town and the centre and lakefront feel safe day and night. The usual caution applies around Como San Giovanni station and on crowded trains from Milan, where pickpockets work the rush; keep your bag zipped and your phone in a front pocket. There are no notable scams aimed at walkers; the main risk to your wallet is overpriced lakefront cafe terraces, not crime.

What if it rains during my Como tour?

The loop has enough indoor cover to salvage a wet day. The Duomo (free, closed Sunday) and Sant'Abbondio (free, open daily until 7:00 PM) both reward slow looking, and the Tempio Voltiano (5 euros, closed Monday) is a fully indoor museum. Skip the Passeggiata Lino Gelpi and the Brunate funicular in heavy rain, since both are about views you will not get. The arcaded streets near the Duomo and the Broletto loggia give some shelter between stops.

What's the best time of day for this walking tour?

Start late morning, around 10:30 AM, so the Duomo (opens 10:30 AM weekdays) and the museums are open by the time you reach them, and aim the lakefront promenade and the funicular for late afternoon. Riding up to Brunate in the hour before sunset gives you the best light over the lake and the Alps. Avoid midday on a hot summer day on the open promenade, which has little shade.

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