Why Como?
Como is the southern-tip city on Lake Como, with a walkable old town, daily ferry connections to the lake's villages, and a 35-minute train ride to Milan (so close that some Como residents commute). The city itself is small but feels cosmopolitan — Switzerland is a 30-minute drive, Bellagio and Varenna are reachable by ferry, and the lake is perpetually beautiful. Rent is high by Italian standards but lower than central Milan; coworking is thinner than in larger cities.
Neighbourhoods to know
- Centro Storico. Inside the old walls — pedestrian, café-rich, with the lake at one end.
- Borgo Vico. Just west of the centre, along the lakeside — residential, quieter, with lake views.
- Sant'Agostino. South of the centre — residential, more affordable.
- Brunate. On the hill above Como (funicular up) — leafy, panoramic, a quiet place to live and work.
Coworking
- CoWo Como Lake. The city's main coworking — small but reliable.
- Talent Garden (Milan-area, train commute). Many Como residents use the Milan TaG locations as their main coworking — 35-min train each way.
- ComOn Lab. Cultural-creative space with coworking desks.
Things to do
- Take a public ferry up the lake to Bellagio (60 min) or Varenna (90 min) — both are postcard towns with lakefront cafés.
- Visit Villa del Balbianello in Lenno — Star Wars Episode II and Casino Royale filming location.
- Climb Brunate by funicular — the lakeside hill town with the best view of Como and the lake.
- Day-trip to Lugano, Switzerland — 30 minutes by car, a different country with a Swiss-Italian flavour.
Practical tip
Lake Como is one of Italy's most touristy lakes — summer crowds (especially Americans drawn by George Clooney) are intense. November–March is quietest; April–May and September–October are the sweet spot.
Cost figures are estimates as of 2026 and vary by neighbourhood and season. Always cross-check current rents on Idealista and Immobiliare.it.