Summary. The town of Como sits on most Southern tip of Lake Como which is situated near the Italian-Switzerland border. We added this stop to our trip at the recommendation of a friend that travels here frequently and in return, we basically tell everyone that will listen that they need to go too. A great break from the tourist heavy cities, the town of Como is quiet but still has all the things we love about Italy like a perfect gelato, cafes, ancient streets, and amazing cuisine. Of the towns and villages on Lake Como, there are more affordable options for lodging, groceries and dining. The town also sits right on the Lake and has a beautiful waterfront walkway.
Historic Center. Upon arrival to Lake Como, we checked in to our Air BnB and then set out on foot to enjoy this historic center. Cars are not allowed in the historic district of Como which means it is super visitor friendly. Cafe's, restaurants, and shopping line the streets. There are also bakeries, bread shops, and gelateria's. Como's Gothic Cathedral is also located in the historic district. Construction on this Cathedral started in 1396 but like many cathedrals, it took centuries to build and did not finish until 1770.
Waterfront. From there we took a stroll down the waterfront of Lake Como. This romantic spot is also a perfect place to pull up a bench and enjoy the quiet.
Funicular to Brunate. Just before dinner, we took the town's funicular to the town of Brunate. Built in 1894, this 7-minute ride will take you to this village that sits 700 meters above Como. At just 5.5 euros per adult ticket, this low cost activity is a fun way to see Lake Como from above and walk the little town of Brunate. The town does not have a lot to see but even so, it was a fun to walk around and then head back down to town.
Side Story and Tip: order carefully. After our funicular ride, we walked to a small restaurant with a bar near our AirBnB. As a horse lover, there is no possible way I would ever eat horse but as I ordered from the menu, I had apparently ordered horse. Thank goodness the waiter was kind enough to ask me if that's what I really intended to order and after a bit back and forth in broken English we figured out that he was trying to warn me that it was horse! Crisis averted! The waiter must have also been sympathetic because I swear, the drinks he brought afterwards were stiff!