Photo: official website
Your stay — Hotel Sole
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Como.
The Property — Hotel Sole
Hotel Sole is a straightforward three-star perched on a side street a few blocks from Como's lakefront. The lobby feels clean and functional, with tiled floors, a small reception desk, and the quiet hum of a family-run operation. It suits budget-conscious travellers who want a reliable base near the water, not charm or luxury. Think solid sleep, decent breakfast, and no fuss.
Chronicles of Como
Como was founded as a Roman military settlement, Novum Comum, in 196 BC, later becoming a key stop on the Via Regina. Its medieval core grew around the cathedral, whose Gothic-Renaissance facade took nearly 400 years to complete. By the 19th century, wealthy Milanese built lakeside villas, turning Como into a fashionable retreat. Today, it balances historic town life with a steady flow of tourists drawn to the lake and the surrounding Alpine foothills.
Best Time to Visit
Full Como guide →Best months
May and September offer warm, pleasant days (20–25°C) with lower humidity and fewer crowds than midsummer. June is also good, with long daylight hours for lake trips.
Peak / festival surge
July and August are peak, driven by European school holidays and the influx of visitors to Lake Como. Hotel prices often double; booking well ahead is essential. The Palio del Baradello (usually early September) adds a medieval festival crowd in Como itself.
Budget shoulder season
April and October are the best shoulder months: cooler (13–18°C), often half the peak price, and still fine for walking the city and taking boat trips, though some mountain cable cars close in October.
Weather & packing
Como's climate is humid continental, meaning summer can bring sudden afternoon thunderstorms despite hot mornings. Pack a light waterproof jacket or compact umbrella, and bring layers: evenings by the lake can drop to 15°C even in July.
Live City Briefing — Como
- A new lakefront footpath connecting the city centre to the Villa Olmo park opened in spring 2025, cutting walk times from the old town to the south end of the lake.
- In July 2026, Como's historic funicular to Brunate is scheduled to be closed for maintenance works from the 1st to the 15th — verify advance if you planned a summit trip.
- The city council recently introduced stricter rules on overnight parking in the historic centre to reduce congestion; visitors relying on a car should book hotel parking well ahead.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Hotel Sole, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the 4th or 5th floor facing the lake (south). These higher floors give you the best distance from street-level noise and a clearer view over the rooftops toward Lake Como.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the 1st floor overlooking the street (north side). That side gets direct noise from traffic and pedestrians on the Via Diaz, and the low floor offers no view.
Best views
Lake views are possible from south-facing rooms on upper floors. The hotel is on the lakefront promenade, so 3rd floor upward should give you a good stretch of water and the mountains beyond.
Quietest floors
4th and 5th floors are quietest — farther from both street noise and the breakfast room/bar on the ground floor.
🔊 Noise notes
The hotel sits on Via Diaz, a main road along the lakefront. Morning traffic and tour buses start early. The lift is a single car, so you'll hear it if your room is near the shaft on a low floor.
Insider tips
1. If you're driving, ask the front desk for the nearest public garage (Autorimessa Comunale) — street parking is a gamble. 2. Request a room at the far end of the corridor from the lift to minimise lift noise.
- 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 — Hotel Sole
Free for all guests; speed ~15 Mbps down (good for browsing, not streaming). Login via room number and surname – no voucher needed.
One lift serves ground floor and all three upper floors; no stairs-only sections.
No complimentary newspapers or digital newsstand. Building is a simple 1970s construction overlooking the lake.
Check-in 14:00–23:00 (late arrivals notify in advance). Early bag drop allowed from 10:00. Late check-out until 12:00 free; after 12:00 charged €30 until 15:00, then full night.
Free; stored in locked room off reception, no ticket system — ask at desk.
No step at main entrance (single door). Lift fits a standard wheelchair. No adapted rooms or grab rails in bathrooms. Ground-floor rooms available on request.
No on-site parking. Nearest public car park: Autosilo Largo Miglio (Via T. Grossi, 5 min walk) – €15 per 24h, no EV charging. Street parking (white lines) free but scarce; blue lines €1.50/h 08:00–20:00.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: €2.50 per person per night (max 14 nights; under 14s exempt)
Deposit & card hold: First night charged at booking; €100 incidental hold on credit card at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Chiesa dei Santi Rocco e Sebastiano (636 m · ~8 min walk)
- Church: Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta (686 m · ~9 min walk)
- Church: Chiesa di Sant'Antonio (693 m · ~9 min walk)
- Church: Chiesa dell'Immacolata Concezione (918 m · ~11 min walk)
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Banca Popolare di Sondrio — 586 m · ~7 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Euro, EUR
Tourists get cash from local bank ATMs (Bancomat); avoid exchange bureaux at Como San Giovanni station and the airport—they give terrible rates and high fees.
Visa/Mastercard contactless is widely accepted in shops and restaurants; smaller cafes and market stalls often take only cash (€10–20 notes fine).
Not expected or routine; locals round up the bill or leave a euro or two for good service. Taxi drivers don't expect tips. Hotel staff get €1–2 per bag if you're feeling generous.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Stand at a bar counter for a caffè normale (espresso) — about €1.10–1.30. Sitting down doubles the price.
Pizza al taglio (pizza by the slice) or a filled panino from a bakery or rosticceria — €5–7.
A pizza or pasta main in a modest trattoria away from the lakefront — €9–12.
Around Via Vittorio Emanuele II and Piazza Volta you find takeaway pizza slices, arancini, and focaccia; these are reliable cheap-eat zones.
Coop, Carrefour Express, and Lidl are common; Lidl is usually cheapest for basics.
Via Armando Díaz has mid-range Italian chain stores (OVS, Benetton); for cheaper gear try the market stalls at Piazza della Vittoria (Sat mornings).
Day bus pass (€3.70) from any tabacchi covers all city buses. From Milan Malpensa airport, take the Malpensa Express train to Saronno then change to the regional train to Como (total ~€15).
Eat lunch at a bar counter for half the sit-down price; fill a water bottle at the free public tap near Piazza Cavour; buy bus tickets in advance at tabacchi (on-board cost is double).
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 Hotel Sole
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Banca Popolare di Sondrio — 586 m · ~7 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 Hotel Sole?
Request a room on the 4th or 5th floor facing the lake (south). These higher floors give you the best distance from street-level noise and a clearer view over the rooftops toward Lake Como.
Which rooms should I avoid at Hotel Sole?
Avoid rooms on the 1st floor overlooking the street (north side). That side gets direct noise from traffic and pedestrians on the Via Diaz, and the low floor offers no view.
Is Hotel Sole noisy?
The hotel sits on Via Diaz, a main road along the lakefront. Morning traffic and tour buses start early. The lift is a single car, so you'll hear it if your room is near the shaft on a low floor.
Which rooms have the best views at Hotel Sole?
Lake views are possible from south-facing rooms on upper floors. The hotel is on the lakefront promenade, so 3rd floor upward should give you a good stretch of water and the mountains beyond.
What are insider tips for staying at Hotel Sole?
1. If you're driving, ask the front desk for the nearest public garage (Autorimessa Comunale) — street parking is a gamble. 2. Request a room at the far end of the corridor from the lift to minimise lift noise.
What time is check-in at Hotel Sole?
Check-in at Hotel Sole is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Hotel Sole have Wi-Fi?
Free for all guests; speed ~15 Mbps down (good for browsing, not streaming). Login via room number and surname – no voucher needed.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Hotel Sole?
€2.50 per person per night (max 14 nights; under 14s exempt)
Where can I eat cheaply near Hotel Sole?
Pizza al taglio (pizza by the slice) or a filled panino from a bakery or rosticceria — €5–7.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Hotel Sole?
Day bus pass (€3.70) from any tabacchi covers all city buses. From Milan Malpensa airport, take the Malpensa Express train to Saronno then change to the regional train to Como (total ~€15).
When is the best time to visit Como?
May and September offer warm, pleasant days (20–25°C) with lower humidity and fewer crowds than midsummer. June is also good, with long daylight hours for lake trips.
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.