Your stay — Lake Como Hostel
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The Property — Lake Como Hostel
Lake Como Hostel sits on the waterfront, pale yellow facade, with a small lobby that smells of coffee and pine. It’s clean, basic, and unpretentious – think bunk beds with lake views, a bar that stays open late, and travellers swapping maps. Ideal for budget-conscious soloists or groups who want to wake up on the lake without paying hotel prices.
Chronicles of Como
Como’s origins are Roman, founded as a military colony in 196 BCE, and its grid-patterned old town still follows that layout. TheDuomo, started in 1396, took nearly four centuries to finish, layering Gothic with Renaissance stonework. The city’s real wealth came from silk – mechanised spinning arrived in the 19th century, making Como a European silk capital for fashion houses like Gucci and Versace. Today, it’s a mid‑density lake resort, less exclusive than Bellagio but still proper and tourist‑ready.
Best Time to Visit
Full Como guide →Best months
June, September. June has long evenings and settled weather; September holds summer warmth with thinner crowds and lower prices than July‑August.
Peak / festival surge
July–August. Peak tourist flood from Milan, cruises, and day‑trippers; hotel rates double or more. The Palio del Baradello (late July) and local sagre pull in extra visitors.
Budget shoulder season
April, October. April can be rainy but empty and cheaper; October has crisp air, autumn leaf colour, and much quieter streets.
Weather & packing
Como’s weather flip‑flops: a sunny morning can become a thunderstorm by lunch. Pack a waterproof jacket and at least one long‑sleeve layer even in July, and always carry a small umbrella.
Live City Briefing — Como
- Lombardy’s regional rail strike on June 30 may affect trains from Milan to Como; check Trenord timetables before departure.
- The Via dei Fontanili walking route opened in 2024, linking Como’s historic public fountains – a quiet alternative to the lakeside crush.
- A new civic water‑filling station just installed at Piazza Cavour means you can refill bottles for free, cutting plastic waste and cost.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Lake Como Hostel, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a top-floor room facing away from the lake and main road (towards the hills or internal courtyard). The upper floors are quieter and less affected by street-level restaurant and bar noise.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms at the front of the building; they get direct street noise from pedestrians and traffic, and can also pick up sound from the lobby and breakfast area.
Best views
Rooms on the lake-facing side get views of Lake Como and the mountains, but trade off some street noise. Upper floor lake-facing rooms are your best compromise.
Quietest floors
Floors 3 and above (if lift access allows) — the building has a lift, so higher floors reduce street-level noise.
🔊 Noise notes
The hotel sits on a main road in central Como — expect traffic hum from early morning to late evening. The central location also means late-night pedestrian chatter and bar noise from nearby piazze (like Piazza Cavour).
Insider tips
Ask for a room on the internal courtyard side if you want total quiet — you lose the view but gain sleep. The lift serves all floors but can be slow at peak checkout times; use the stairs for floors 2–3.
- 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 — Lake Como Hostel
Free Wi-Fi throughout, adequate for browsing and streaming (20 Mbps down/5 Mbps up); no login required
A small lift serves all three floors; no stairs-only sections
No newspapers or digital newsstand provided; building is a converted 19th-century villa with original terracotta floors and frescoed ceilings in common areas
Check-in from 14:00 to 22:00; early bag drop from 11:00 if room not ready; late check-out fee 15 EUR until 12:00 (subject to availability)
Free luggage storage on day of arrival and departure (open 08:00–22:00; no overnight storage)
Step-free access via side ramp at entrance; lift to all floors; one accessible twin room on ground floor with wider doorways. Showers have a low step, no roll-in.
No on-site parking; nearest public car park is Autosilo Largo Spagna at Via Balestra 5, 15 EUR per 24h (5-min walk); no EV charging on site. Free street parking nearby is limited to 2 hours with a disc.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: 3.00 EUR per person per night (mandatory, under-14s exempt)
Deposit & card hold: First night non-refundable via booking; 50 EUR incidental hold on credit card at check-in (refundable if no damage)
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Chiesa di San Rocco (251 m · ~3 min walk)
- Church: Chiesa di San Carlo (277 m · ~3 min walk)
- Church: Chiesa di Santa Marta (282 m · ~4 min walk)
- Church: Chiesa parrocchiale di Santo Stefano (285 m · ~4 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Parco Karol Wojtyla — 163 m · ~2 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 498 m · ~6 min walk
Antica Pharmacia Kulzer — 420 m · ~5 min walk
Bottega PianoTerra - EquoSolidale — 286 m · ~4 min walk
Autostazione di Menaggio — 227 m · ~3 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Euro, EUR
Avoid exchange booths at the train station and tourist spots; use bank ATMs for the best rate, but check your bank's foreign transaction fee first.
Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted in shops and restaurants; contactless is standard, but carry some cash for small purchases at market stalls or cafes under €10.
Tipping is not expected but appreciated for good service – round up the bill or leave a euro or two; taxi drivers and hotel porters usually get a small tip, like €1-2.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Stand at the counter for a cappuccino or espresso – around €1.20-1.50 at any bar; sitting down doubles the price.
A panino or slice of pizza from a takeaway spot – about €5-7; sit-down menus start around €12-15.
A pasta or pizza main in a no-frills trattoria – typically €12-15; avoid the lakeside strip for cheaper options.
Along Via Vitani (the market area) and the streets off Piazza Cavour you'll find takeaway pizza slices, focaccia, and tramezzini for a quick and cheap meal.
Conad, Carrefour Express, and Eurospin are the main budget supermarket chains; Iperal is common for a bigger shop.
Head to the covered market in the historic centre or the shops around Via Garibaldi for decent high-street brands; Corso Vittorio Emanuele has mid-range chains.
Single bus tickets are €1.50, or get a 1-day pass for €4.50; from Milan airports, take the Malpensa Express train to Como Nord Lago (€13 one-way) rather than a direct bus.
Shop for groceries and make your own picnic for lunch by the lake. Walk instead of using the funicular or ferries – the main sights are easily done on foot. Drink tap water (it's safe) to save on bottled water.
Good to know — Como
Type C/F/L · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ €0.87 · 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 Lake Como Hostel
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 498 m · ~6 min walk — pharmacy · Antica Pharmacia Kulzer — 420 m · ~5 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 Lake Como Hostel?
Request a top-floor room facing away from the lake and main road (towards the hills or internal courtyard). The upper floors are quieter and less affected by street-level restaurant and bar noise.
Which rooms should I avoid at Lake Como Hostel?
Avoid ground-floor rooms at the front of the building; they get direct street noise from pedestrians and traffic, and can also pick up sound from the lobby and breakfast area.
Is Lake Como Hostel noisy?
The hotel sits on a main road in central Como — expect traffic hum from early morning to late evening. The central location also means late-night pedestrian chatter and bar noise from nearby piazze (like Piazza Cavour).
Which rooms have the best views at Lake Como Hostel?
Rooms on the lake-facing side get views of Lake Como and the mountains, but trade off some street noise. Upper floor lake-facing rooms are your best compromise.
What are insider tips for staying at Lake Como Hostel?
Ask for a room on the internal courtyard side if you want total quiet — you lose the view but gain sleep. The lift serves all floors but can be slow at peak checkout times; use the stairs for floors 2–3.
What time is check-in at Lake Como Hostel?
Check-in at Lake Como Hostel is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Lake Como Hostel have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi throughout, adequate for browsing and streaming (20 Mbps down/5 Mbps up); no login required
Is there a city or tourist tax at Lake Como Hostel?
3.00 EUR per person per night (mandatory, under-14s exempt)
Where can I eat cheaply near Lake Como Hostel?
A panino or slice of pizza from a takeaway spot – about €5-7; sit-down menus start around €12-15.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Lake Como Hostel?
Single bus tickets are €1.50, or get a 1-day pass for €4.50; from Milan airports, take the Malpensa Express train to Como Nord Lago (€13 one-way) rather than a direct bus.
When is the best time to visit Como?
June, September. June has long evenings and settled weather; September holds summer warmth with thinner crowds and lower prices than July‑August.
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.