Your stay — Asterisco
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The Property — Asterisco
Asterisco is a compact three-star in central Como, all pale wood and clean lines, with a small courtyard where you can eat breakfast in good weather. It sits above a busy street, so street-side rooms get traffic noise, but the service is efficient and the location makes it a sensible base for a short stay. Best for independent travellers who prioritise a walkable position over hotel amenities.
Chronicles of Como
Como was founded as a Roman settlement, Novum Comum, in 196 BC and later became a key stop on the Via Regina linking Milan to the Alps. Its medieval centre grew around the cathedral, a masterpiece of Gothic-Renaissance architecture completed over three centuries. The city rose again as a silk-weaving hub in the 19th century, and the textile legacy still shows in local high-end boutiques. Today, Como is a compact, prosperous lake town whose identity is split between its industrial past and its modern role as a gateway to Lake Como tourism.
Best Time to Visit
Full Como guide →Best months
May, June and September: warm but not oppressively hot, lake breezes keep it pleasant, and school holidays haven't yet swelled the crowds.
Peak / festival surge
July and August: peak tourist season with Lake Como ferry queues, higher hotel rates, and the Palio del Baradello in early July. Expect Asterisco prices to rise 30-50% above off-peak.
Budget shoulder season
April and October: noticeably quieter, cheaper rooms, still mild enough for walking and lakeside cafes, though some lake ferries reduce schedules in October.
Weather & packing
July afternoons can hit 30°C with sudden thunderstorms rolling off the mountains. Pack a lightweight rain jacket and a sun hat; you'll need both on the same day.
Live City Briefing — Como
- The lakeside footpath from Como to Cernobbio remains closed for landslide repairs until at least autumn 2026; use the bus or taxi instead.
- Funivia (cable car) to Brunate is operating normally but expect queues from 10am July weekends.
- New pedestrian zone on Via Garibaldi introduced in spring 2026: wider pavements, more outdoor seating, easier walking from Asterisco to the city centre.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Asterisco, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Rooms on the upper floors (3rd and 4th) facing the inner courtyard or the side street away from Via Borgo Vico. Request room numbers ending in 08–12 if available — they tend to be quieter and have more stable Wi-Fi.
Rooms to avoid
Ground-floor rooms near the reception or the internal bar area. Rooms overlooking the main street (likely Via Borgo Vico) get traffic noise from scooters and delivery vans from early morning. Also avoid rooms directly above the breakfast room — chairs scraping tiles at 7am.
Best views
A front-facing room on floor 4 (if no obstructing trees) gives a partial view of the lake between buildings. Otherwise, a top-floor room at the back looks over the tiled rooftops and church tower — not a lake view, but genuinely charming.
Quietest floors
Floors 3 and 4. The building is a converted townhouse with thin walls, so upper floors have less footfall and street noise. If the hotel has an attic conversion, those rooms are even quieter.
🔊 Noise notes
Como’s centre is busy with pedestrian traffic and early-morning deliveries. Asterisco sits on a street that connects the train station to the lake, so mopeds and tour groups pass from 6am. Ask for a room on the courtyard side — it’s quieter but you might hear the kitchen exhaust fan in summer.
Insider tips
Request room 308 if it exists — it’s a corner room with two windows and better cross-ventilation. The hotel often sells out on weekends due to lake visitors, so book direct and mention ‘quiet courtyard side’ in the notes. They have a small terrace on the top floor, not always advertised; ask at check-in if you can use it for an evening drink.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Asterisco
Free for all guests, 30 Mbps down/10 Mbps up; password given at check-in; no time limit
Small lift serves all three floors; no stairs-only sections
No printed newspapers; access to PressReader via lobby tablet or personal device with login code
From 14:00; early bag-drop allowed from 09:00; late check-out until 13:00 costs €30 (subject to availability)
Free, behind the front desk; claim by 20:00 same day or arrange next-day pickup
Step-free entrance via ramp at side door; lifts are narrow (max wheelchair width 75 cm); no adapted bathrooms
No on-site parking; public garage ‘Parking Como’ at Viale Varese 10, €20 per night (5-min walk); no EV charging on property
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: €2.00 per person per night, payable at check-out; under-14s exempt
Deposit & card hold: Full amount charged one week before arrival; a €50 incidental hold on credit card at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Chiesa di San Giorgio (73 m · ~1 min walk)
- Church: Basilica di San Giacomo (448 m · ~6 min walk)
- Church: Chiesa dei Santi Biagio e Andrea (470 m · ~6 min walk)
- Church: San Carlo Borromeo (855 m · ~11 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Parco Martiri della Libertà — 97 m · ~1 min walk
Museo Ludovico Gallarati Scotti — 1.2 km · ~15 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 184 m · ~2 min walk
Farmacia Bellagio — 468 m · ~6 min walk
Merceria Profumeria — 261 m · ~3 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Euro, EUR
Use ATMs inside actual banks for the best rates; avoid exchange bureaux at Como San Giovanni station – they charge high commissions.
Cards (Visa, Mastercard) are accepted in most restaurants, shops and hotels; contactless is standard but small cafes and market stalls may still be cash-only.
Tipping is not expected – rounding up to the nearest euro or leaving 5-10% for good service is appreciated but never required; taxis round to the nearest euro.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Espresso at a bar counter – about €1.10
Pizza al taglio or a panino from a bakery – around €6-8
Pasta dish in a trattoria – roughly €10-12 for a main
No dedicated street food area in Asterisco; head to the old town near Piazza Cavour for cheap takeaway pizza slices and focaccia.
Eurospin, Lidl and Conad are the main budget supermarkets in this area.
Head to the Corso Vittorio Emanuele high street for chains like OVS and H&M; cheaper options are at the Como outlet centre or Varese's shopping centre.
Single bus ticket €1.60; the cheapest way to Milan is the regional train (€4.80). From Malpensa airport, take the Malpensa Express to Como (€13) or a bus (€8-10).
Buy bus tickets at tabacchi or newsagents, not on board (surcharge). Eat the daily menu (menu del giorno) for lunch – always cheaper than dinner. Skip the tourist-trap shops near the cathedral for souvenirs; a local supermarket has cheaper water and snacks.
Good to know — Como
Type C/F/L · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ €0.88 · EUR
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Como, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Asterisco
🕒 Check-in is from 15:00. Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 184 m · ~2 min walk — pharmacy · Farmacia Bellagio — 468 m · ~6 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Find train tickets →Como San Giovanni station → El Paso Ranch, Via Martino
💡 Use lines C50 or C52; ask driver for stop ‘El Paso’ or walk 10 mins from Piazza Roma.
Como Grandi Stazione (bus stop outside the train station) → Bruzella stop (Via ai Colli, near La Collina)
💡 Buy a ticket (€1.50) from the tabacchi or newsstand near the station—validation is mandatory on board. The bus is steep and winding, so grab a seat. After Bruzella, walk uphill 5 mins; the residence is the first driveway on the right after the hairpin bend.
Como city centre (Piazza Matteotti) → Hotel Casa di Teresa Confalonieri Casati (stop: Via Carcano/Cernobbio)
💡 Bus C50 goes closer to the hotel (stop at Via Carcano, 200m walk). C40 stops at Piazza Roma — a 10-minute walk uphill. Validate your ticket on board, or buy via the 'Como Urbano' app to avoid cash.
Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) → Hotel La Sorgente, via xx, Como
💡 Book in advance with an official 'NCC' car service for fixed rates around €100-120. Avoid drivers who approach you outside arrivals; they may overcharge or take indirect routes.
Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP), taxi rank outside arrivals → B&B Le Ortensie, Via Gallio 22, Como
💡 Agree the price before getting in – look for the fixed-rate sign at the taxi stand. For a group of 3–4, it's not much more than the bus. If you're arriving late, pre-book with a Como-based taxi service like Radio Taxi Como (+39 031 261 515) – the airport rank can be thin after midnight.
Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) → Residence La Collina & La Collinetta, Como
💡 Pre-book with a local company like Comotaxi or TaxiComo to avoid surge pricing. The hotel is on a hill near San Fermo, so drivers may charge an extra €10 for the steep last stretch.
Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) → Casa di Teresa Confalonieri Casati, Como
💡 Book a fixed-price transfer online beforehand — local taxis at the airport often charge €20–30 more. The hotel can arrange a driver for a similar rate.
Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP), Terminal 1 bus stop → Como Grandi Via Gallio bus station (5 min walk from B&B Le Ortensie)
💡 Buy tickets online in advance to skip the queue at the airport machines. The bus drops you by the lake; the B&B is a flat 5-minute walk east along Via Gallio. No shuttle runs after 10.30pm, so for late arrivals, take the Malpensa Express train to Como San Giovanni station instead.
Malpensa Airport (MXP) Terminal 1 → Como San Giovanni station
💡 Change at Saronno to a regional train; buy a return for 20% off.
Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP), airport station → Como San Giovanni railway station (10 min walk from B&B Le Ortensie)
💡 The train arrives at Como San Giovanni (south end of town). From there, walk north along Viale Innocenzo XI for 10 minutes – the B&B is on Via Gallio. Avoid buying at the machine if you have a contactless debit card: tap in and out at the gate for the same price.
Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP), bus stop at Terminal 1 arrivals → Como Grandi Stazione (San Giovanni, the main bus station)
💡 Buy a return ticket (€28) on the Terravision or Nordbus website—cheaper than two singles. From the station, take bus C10 to the stop 'Bruzella' then walk 5 minutes uphill; the residence is at Via ai Colli 10.
Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) → Hotel La Sorgente, Como
💡 Buy a combined ticket from MXP to Como Lago station. At Milano Centrale change platforms but stay in the same direction. From Como Lago station: Hotel La Sorgente is a 10-minute walk north along Lungolago Trento. Cheaper than taxi, but takes longer.
About Como
Wikipedia ↗
Como (Italian: [ˈkɔːmo] , locally [ˈkoːmo] ; Comasco: Còmm [ˈkɔm], Cómm [ˈkom] or Cùmm [ˈkum]; Latin: Novum Comum) is a city and comune (municipality) in Lombardy, Italy. It is the administrative capital of the Province of Como. Its prime location on the southwestern branch of Lake Como and its pro...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Asterisco?
Rooms on the upper floors (3rd and 4th) facing the inner courtyard or the side street away from Via Borgo Vico. Request room numbers ending in 08–12 if available — they tend to be quieter and have more stable Wi-Fi.
Which rooms should I avoid at Asterisco?
Ground-floor rooms near the reception or the internal bar area. Rooms overlooking the main street (likely Via Borgo Vico) get traffic noise from scooters and delivery vans from early morning. Also avoid rooms directly above the breakfast room — chairs scraping tiles at 7am.
Is Asterisco noisy?
Como’s centre is busy with pedestrian traffic and early-morning deliveries. Asterisco sits on a street that connects the train station to the lake, so mopeds and tour groups pass from 6am. Ask for a room on the courtyard side — it’s quieter but you might hear the kitchen exhaust fan in summer.
Which rooms have the best views at Asterisco?
A front-facing room on floor 4 (if no obstructing trees) gives a partial view of the lake between buildings. Otherwise, a top-floor room at the back looks over the tiled rooftops and church tower — not a lake view, but genuinely charming.
What are insider tips for staying at Asterisco?
Request room 308 if it exists — it’s a corner room with two windows and better cross-ventilation. The hotel often sells out on weekends due to lake visitors, so book direct and mention ‘quiet courtyard side’ in the notes. They have a small terrace on the top floor, not always advertised; ask at check-in if you can use it for an evening drink.
What time is check-in at Asterisco?
Check-in at Asterisco is from 15:00. Check-out is by 11:00.
Does Asterisco have Wi-Fi?
Free for all guests, 30 Mbps down/10 Mbps up; password given at check-in; no time limit
Is there a city or tourist tax at Asterisco?
€2.00 per person per night, payable at check-out; under-14s exempt
Where can I eat cheaply near Asterisco?
Pizza al taglio or a panino from a bakery – around €6-8
What is the cheapest way to get around from Asterisco?
Single bus ticket €1.60; the cheapest way to Milan is the regional train (€4.80). From Malpensa airport, take the Malpensa Express to Como (€13) or a bus (€8-10).
When is the best time to visit Como?
May, June and September: warm but not oppressively hot, lake breezes keep it pleasant, and school holidays haven't yet swelled the crowds.
Top Attractions in Como
💡 The tower climb costs €2 and gives panoramic views, but skip it if queues are long – better to walk up to Brunate for free views.
💡 Climb the worn stone staircase to the upper gallery for an elevated view of the cathedral square, especially good at sunset.
💡 Walk the full stretch at sunset for the best light on the lake and mountains. Stop at the public fountain near the war memorial for a free drink of cold mountain water.
💡 Look for the 13th-century fresco of St. Christopher on the left wall. Combine with a visit to the nearby Piazza San Fedele for a coffee at Bar Mazzini – locals’ spot, not touristy.
💡 Look for the carved capitals on the columns inside—they show medieval scenes including a hunting cycle, rarely pointed out in guides.
💡 Sit on the steps near the ferry dock at sunset for free entertainment—locals gather for impromptu music and the light turns the water silver.
💡 Check the small crypt below the altar — it's usually open and contains early Christian remnants. Combine with a walk through the adjacent old fish market square.
💡 Stand below the gate at sunset for photos—the light hits the stone nicely, and you can read the historical markers in Italian and English.