Your stay — Casa San Giacomo
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The Property — Casa San Giacomo
Casa San Giacomo is a straightforward three-star townhouse hotel set in a narrow street just back from Como's lakefront. The lobby feels more like a well-kept private home than a hotel reception, with dark wood furniture, a small bar, and a map of the lake on the wall. It suits independent travellers who want a central base without paying for resort-style facilities: clean, simple rooms, a decent breakfast buffet, and staff who give you a key and leave you to it.
Chronicles of Como
Como has Roman origins as a military outpost and was later the birthplace of Pliny the Elder and Pliny the Younger. Its medieval walled centre and the cathedral, begun in 1396, reflect centuries of rule by Milan's Visconti and Sforza families. In the 18th and 19th centuries it became a fashionable stop on the Grand Tour, and its shoreline sprouted the Neoclassical villas that still define it. Today Como is a prosperous commuter city and tourism hub, known for its silk industry (still active) and as the gateway to Lake Como's western shore.
Best Time to Visit
Full Como guide →Best months
May, June and September offer warm sunny days (20-26°C), long daylight hours and manageable visitor numbers. The lake is calm for boat trips and the crowds of July-August have not yet arrived or have departed.
Peak / festival surge
July and August are peak season. The weather is at its hottest (28-32°C) and stickiest, and the lakefront is packed with day-trippers from Milan. Hotel prices roughly double from shoulder-season rates. The main driver is school holidays and the Ferragosto festival (15 August) when most of Italy goes on holiday, so book months ahead.
Budget shoulder season
April and October are the best budget shoulder months. Daytime temperatures are 14-19°C, still pleasant for wandering. Crowds thin sharply after Easter and before the autumn rains, and hotel rates drop 30-50% from peak.
Weather & packing
Lake Como has a microclimate that can whip up sudden thunderstorms even in July. Pack a light waterproof jacket or umbrella every day, regardless of the morning forecast.
Live City Briefing — Como
- Como's historic centre has introduced a restricted traffic zone (ZTL) for cars from 8am to 8pm; driving in without a permit risks a fine. If arriving by car, verify with the hotel whether you can enter for check-in.
- The funicular to Brunate reopened in March 2026 after its winter maintenance, running every 30 minutes. Queues build by 10am in July; buy tickets online to skip the line.
- Several lakeside restaurants on Lungo Lario Trento are still closed due to the 2023 subsidence damage to the promenade; check current openings on Google Maps rather than relying on old guidebooks.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Casa San Giacomo, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the third or fourth floor, facing the internal courtyard if possible. These floors are high enough to reduce street noise from Como’s busy pedestrian lanes, and the courtyard side avoids the front-facing traffic sounds.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the first floor or any that directly overlook the street at the front. The first floor is at eye level with passers-by and picks up foot traffic and early-morning delivery noises from nearby shops.
Best views
The best view is from a front-facing room on the third or fourth floor, overlooking the characteristic narrow streets and rooftops of Como’s old town. Don’t expect lake views – this is a city-centre 3-star property.
Quietest floors
Third and fourth floors are the quietest – further from ground-level bustle and any sounds from the lobby or breakfast room.
🔊 Noise notes
Como’s historic centre is compact and lively. Expect church bells, café terrace chatter, and the occasional scooter. The hotel may lack double-glazing on older windows, so earplugs are sensible for light sleepers. No bar or nightclub on site, so internal noise is minimal after hours.
Insider tips
1. If you’re driving, don’t assume the hotel has dedicated parking – Como’s centre is ZTL (limited traffic zone). Ask reception for the nearest public garage (e.g., Autosilo di Via Zezi) when booking. 2. Check-in can be in a small lobby with no lift queue; request a courtyard-side room at time of booking – it’s the best bet for a good night’s sleep.
- 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 — Casa San Giacomo
Free WiFi covering all public areas and rooms; average speed 20 Mbps down; no login required, just accept terms on first connection
A compact lift serves the first and second floors only; the third floor (attic rooms) is reachable via stairs
Digital copies of Corriere della Sera and La Repubblica available via a tablet at reception; no physical newspapers delivered to rooms
Check-in from 14:00 (Sunday 15:00); early bag drop from 10:00 at reception; late check-out until 12:30 costs €30, after 12:30 charged half the room rate
Free storage at reception on day of arrival or departure
Two steps at the main entrance (no ramp); lift is narrow (81 cm door); accessible rooms are on the ground floor through a side door with a small threshold; no adapted bathrooms
No on-site parking; nearest public garage is Garage Villetta Via Volta 12, €25 per 24h (July rate, subject to change); no EV charging at the hotel
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: €2.50 per person per night, paid separately at check-out, children under 14 exempt
Deposit & card hold: First night charged as deposit via credit card at booking; upon arrival a €50 incidental hold is placed on the card
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Chiesa di Sant'Antonio Abate (734 m · ~9 min walk)
- Church: Chiesa di Santa Maria Annunciata (797 m · ~10 min walk)
- Church: Chiesa dei Santi Gervasio e Protasio (939 m · ~12 min walk)
- Church: Cappelletta Madonna di Caravaggio (1.0 km · ~13 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Parco di San Giovanni — 1.2 km · ~15 min walk
Museo degli Strumenti per la Navigazione — 1.2 km · ~15 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 1.7 km · ~21 min walk
Corner Sportivo — 1.2 km · ~15 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Euro, EUR
Avoid airport and central tourist bureaux; use bank ATM machines (Bancomat) for the best exchange rate, but check your home bank's foreign transaction fee.
Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted in shops, restaurants and hotels; contactless and mobile pay (Apple/Google Pay) are common for small amounts. Cash is needed for some small bars, market stalls and taxis.
Tipping is modest and not expected. Round up the bill or leave 5-10% in restaurants if service was good; taxis just round up to the next euro; hotel porters about €1-2 per bag.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A standing caffè (espresso) at a bar near the lake or a local pasticceria costs about €1.20-€1.50; sitting at a table can double that.
A panino (sandwich) or slice of pizza from a rosticceria or alimentari costs around €5-€8; a daily pasta/primo at a trattoria is roughly €10-€12.
A main course (secondo) at a modest local restaurant for dinner is usually €14-€18; a glass of house wine adds €4-€5.
The historic centre around Piazza Cavour and Via Vittorio Emanuele II has several take-away pizza slices, panzerotti, and focaccia stands; also look for market stalls on market days (Wednesday/Saturday).
Common budget chains: Conad City, Carrefour Express, and Lidl (a bit outside the centre, on Via Leopardi).
Affordable high-street options are along Via Vittorio Emanuele II (e.g., H&M, Zara, OVS) and the covered market at Piazza Fontana had cheap basics.
Buy a 24-hour bus/tram ticket (€5) to cover city buses and funicular. From Milan Malpensa, take the cheap Malpensa Express train to Saronno and then a regional train to Como (about €13 total).
1. Drink standing at the bar for major savings on coffee and drinks. 2. Avoid lakefront restaurants with terrace views—walk a block inland for similar food at half the price. 3. Fill a reusable water bottle at the free public drinking fountains (fontanelle) scattered around the lakefront and piazzas.
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 Casa San Giacomo
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 1.7 km · ~21 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 Casa San Giacomo?
Request a room on the third or fourth floor, facing the internal courtyard if possible. These floors are high enough to reduce street noise from Como’s busy pedestrian lanes, and the courtyard side avoids the front-facing traffic sounds.
Which rooms should I avoid at Casa San Giacomo?
Avoid rooms on the first floor or any that directly overlook the street at the front. The first floor is at eye level with passers-by and picks up foot traffic and early-morning delivery noises from nearby shops.
Is Casa San Giacomo noisy?
Como’s historic centre is compact and lively. Expect church bells, café terrace chatter, and the occasional scooter. The hotel may lack double-glazing on older windows, so earplugs are sensible for light sleepers. No bar or nightclub on site, so internal noise is minimal after hours.
Which rooms have the best views at Casa San Giacomo?
The best view is from a front-facing room on the third or fourth floor, overlooking the characteristic narrow streets and rooftops of Como’s old town. Don’t expect lake views – this is a city-centre 3-star property.
What are insider tips for staying at Casa San Giacomo?
1. If you’re driving, don’t assume the hotel has dedicated parking – Como’s centre is ZTL (limited traffic zone). Ask reception for the nearest public garage (e.g., Autosilo di Via Zezi) when booking. 2. Check-in can be in a small lobby with no lift queue; request a courtyard-side room at time of booking – it’s the best bet for a good night’s sleep.
What time is check-in at Casa San Giacomo?
Check-in at Casa San Giacomo is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Casa San Giacomo have Wi-Fi?
Free WiFi covering all public areas and rooms; average speed 20 Mbps down; no login required, just accept terms on first connection
Is there a city or tourist tax at Casa San Giacomo?
€2.50 per person per night, paid separately at check-out, children under 14 exempt
Where can I eat cheaply near Casa San Giacomo?
A panino (sandwich) or slice of pizza from a rosticceria or alimentari costs around €5-€8; a daily pasta/primo at a trattoria is roughly €10-€12.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Casa San Giacomo?
Buy a 24-hour bus/tram ticket (€5) to cover city buses and funicular. From Milan Malpensa, take the cheap Malpensa Express train to Saronno and then a regional train to Como (about €13 total).
When is the best time to visit Como?
May, June and September offer warm sunny days (20-26°C), long daylight hours and manageable visitor numbers. The lake is calm for boat trips and the crowds of July-August have not yet arrived or have departed.
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.