Experience in Como, Italy by Astha

What is it like to live in Como? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

Como is such a beautiful small town that I would love to be a local! My college and course actually shifted from Como to Milan a few years ago, so unfortunately I missed out on the opportunity of living there. But the town, on the tip of Lago di Como (Lake Como) is architecturally and gastronomically very renowned. I especially loved watching the sun set over the mountains surrounding the lake, standing on the banks of the lake with a coffee in my hand (I love coffee!) It is small but attracts a lot of tourists, so it has a lot of options in terms of restaurants and sightseeing.

What is the student lifestyle like in Como?

I have not lived in Como, just visited as a traveler and a tourist. But interacting with older students and alumni did give me insight into the good student lifestyle in Como. The Politecnico campus in Como is quite well known and renowned, so the small town definitely has a good student culture, and is also well connected to other cities like Milan for a nice getaway.

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Como? Is there any advice you can give?

There are not many rentable accommodation available on popular sites like spotahome, uniplaces and housinganywhere. You can book student residence through Politecnico's website (provided you are going there to study - they have student resident halls which provide studio or shared small apartments within one building). Else, it is better to search for accommodation after arrival and book maybe an affordable airbnb for a month till you find the perfect accommodation for you!

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

The food is quintessentially Italian, with your pizzas and pastas and etcetera. I did like the crepes, mulled wine, hot chocolate and the Arancini at the Christmas market in Como (I visited it during the holidays). It was all homemade and fresh, and was really good!

What places would you recommend visiting in Como?

The Duomo Cathedral and Piazza del Duomo is one of the main attractions in Como. The big square and plaza is home to many fancy restaurants and small shops as well, and offers really good gastronomical options. I took the Como-Brunate furnicular train (cable car) up till the small town of Brunate in the hills. It is a good place for hiking around, as well as hosting a national reserve park and a zoo.
There are other monuments and buildings famous as tourist attractions, like the Villa Olmo which has a nice exhibition space, the Basilica of Sant'Abbondio which has two classic bell towers, and the Castello Baradello. There is also a small amusement park next to the lake which has some fun rides and restaurants.
If you are an architecture/design fan, do head over to Casa del Fascio to see some classic architecture and the famed chairs by Giuseppe Terragni (it is near to the Como train station).
There is also the ferry that starts from Como and travels up to other towns on the banks of the Lake Como like Varenna, Bellagio, etcetera.

Is it good to eat out in Como? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

Como has a lot of restaurants and hotels that have really famous and renowned restaurants. As I went during the Christmas holidays, I preferred eating from the local market shops, but I will review some restaurants for sure the next time I visit!

Is the nightlife good in Como? Where is good to go?

I did not explore the nightlife so I do not have a lot of ideas, but the restaurants and bars are open till a decent time and have good ambience and crowd, so I assume that there are some good nightlife options and experiences available.

What advice would you give future students heading to Como?

It's a beautiful small town with so much history all around that you have to ensure that you explore on your days off. The weather is pleasant throughout the year because of the presence of the lake and the mountains. The town has good internal connectivity via buses, and some really beautiful spots for picnics, exploring or just relaxing! It is also well connected to other cities of Italy so that is a plus point.