Getting to Como for the football

Fly to Milan, then take the train. There are direct flights from Manchester and London to Milan Malpensa, Linate and Bergamo, so there is no need to route via a hub (FlightsFrom). From Malpensa a train reaches Como San Giovanni in about 1h15 with one change (Trainline), and the ground is a ten-minute walk from that station. Away fans sit in the Curva Ospiti, behind the goal opposite the home Curva Como (Destination Calcio).

Fast facts

Getting there from the UK

Como has no airport of its own, so you fly into one of Milan's three and take a train up to the lake. Malpensa has the cleanest rail link to Como, Bergamo flights are usually the cheapest but add a coach leg through Milan, and Linate is closest to central Milan but means crossing the city. Here are the ways there and roughly what each costs and takes.

Costs are estimates and swing with how far ahead you book and the fixture.

Getting into Como: airports and the main station

Como has no airport of its own, so you arrive through one of the three Milan airports, with Malpensa the closest to a straight rail run up to the lake. There is no single direct train the whole way from Malpensa, so expect at least one change on most routings (Trainline).

From Malpensa, one option is the Malpensa Express to Milano Cadorna, about 37 minutes, then a Trenord regional train from Cadorna to Como. The Malpensa Express also stops at Saronno, where you can change onto regional trains towards Como (Trenord). Coming via central Milan, trains from Milano Centrale and Milano Porta Garibaldi run to Como San Giovanni, the station closest to the ground and the lakefront (Destination Calcio).

In short, Como has two main stations: Como San Giovanni, the mainline stop to and from Milan and the airports, and Como Lago / Como Nord Lago, the terminus of the Trenord line from Milano Cadorna via Saronno, roughly one hour, which sits right on the lakefront (Trenord).

From the stations out to the ground

The Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia is by the lakeshore, and Como San Giovanni is the closest station, only a few hundred metres away, a walk of around ten minutes down to the ground (Destination Calcio). Como Borghi and Como Lago are alternatives, on the city's outskirts and the eastern side of the centre respectively, and both are within easy reach of the compact centre.

Inside the stadium and away allocation

Visiting fans are housed in the Curva Ospiti, behind the goal opposite the home Curva Como. The allocation runs from a few hundred up to around a thousand depending on the fixture, and sections have moved about while the stadium goes through its UEFA-compliance rebuild, so check the specific match (Como 1907). Match tickets are sold at the window on the stadium's east side, between the Tribuna Coperta and Curva Est (Destination Calcio). The lake is visible from most stands, which makes this one of the more scenic grounds in Italian football (Wikipedia).

Getting around Como

Como is small and walkable, with the centre, lakefront and stadium all close together, so most fans get about on foot (Destination Calcio). City and provincial buses are run by ASF Autolinee, with services from Como San Giovanni station, and on urban routes you can pay contactless via the SwipeOnLake system using a card, phone or wearable (ASF Autolinee). The historic Como-Brunate funicular has climbed the hillside since 1894 and is a popular short trip, with departures roughly every 15 to 30 minutes (Explore Lake Como).

Where to drink

• Bar Pino sits in the north-west corner of the ground beside the Aero Club and is the natural pre-match stop, where much of the home support drinks by the water, often with a BBQ stall going on matchdays (Destination Calcio).
• Ostello Bello is a lively bar and hostel across the road from the stadium, easy-going and used to travellers.
• Piazza Alessandro Volta in the centre is ringed with bars open until late, the busiest spot for a post-match drink (Destination Calcio).
• The lakefront terraces near Piazza Cavour give you a beer with a view, though they are pricier and tourist-heavy.
• The local beer, La Comasca, is brewed nearby and served inside the ground (Destination Calcio).

A large beer runs roughly €5 to €7 depending on how close to the water you are (estimate). Como is a tourist town rather than an ultra hotspot, so trouble is rare, but avoid wearing colours near the home Curva Como and keep to the centre and the ground.

Where to eat

• Ristorante Sociale on Via Rodari is a local favourite near the Duomo, a small menu without pizza and mostly Italian regulars, around €20 to €40 a head for three courses (Destination Calcio).
• Piazza Volta and the streets off it are lined with trattorias and open-air diners for a sit-down meal (Destination Calcio).
• Grab-and-go slices and focaccia around Como San Giovanni station and the centre cover you before kick-off.
• Gelaterias along the lakefront are the standard walk-and-eat option.

The dishes to try are the lake ones: risotto, missoltini (sun-dried and grilled lake fish, usually agone), polenta uncia with cheese and butter, and lavarello (whitefish). Pizzoccheri, the buckwheat pasta from nearby Valtellina, turns up on many menus too (Lake Como Travel).

What to do

• Como Cathedral (Duomo di Como), a Gothic-Renaissance pile with a fine rose window in the heart of the old town (Lake Como Travel).
• The Brunate funicular, running since 1894, climbs to a hilltop village with panoramic views over the lake in about seven minutes (Explore Lake Como).
• Villa Olmo, a neoclassical lakefront mansion of 1780 with gardens and a park open year-round (Lake Como Travel).
• The lakefront promenade and Piazza Cavour, the postcard walk along the water.
• Tempio Voltiano, the lakeside museum dedicated to Alessandro Volta, the local physicist who gave us the volt (Lake Como Travel).
• Baradello Castle, a medieval tower on the hill above the city, reached on a walk up through Spina Verde park (Lake Como Travel).
• A lake boat trip from the ferry docks, the easy way to see the villas along the shore.

Common questions

How do you get from the airport to the stadium?

Fly into Milan Malpensa, then take a train to Como San Giovanni, about 1h15 with one change, and walk the last ten minutes to the ground (Trainline), (Destination Calcio). From Linate or Bergamo you route through central Milan first, then take a Como-bound train, which adds a little time.

Which airport should I fly to for Como?

There is no Como airport, so use one of Milan's three. Malpensa has the most direct rail link up to the lake and is usually the easiest. Linate is closest to central Milan but means a transfer across the city, and Bergamo is furthest out with a coach into Milan before the train (Trainline).

Is there a direct flight, or do I need to use a hub?

No hub detour is needed. Manchester and London both have direct flights to Malpensa, Linate and Bergamo, so you fly straight into Milan and train up to Como rather than crossing another country (FlightsFrom), (Skyscanner).

Where do away fans sit?

In the Curva Ospiti, the away curva behind the goal at the opposite end to the home Curva Como. Tickets are sold from the window on the east side of the stadium, between the Tribuna Coperta and Curva Est (Destination Calcio).

What is the away allocation?

It varies by fixture, from a few hundred up to around a thousand. The stadium is mid-rebuild for UEFA compliance, so specific sectors and numbers move about; confirm the allocation for your match before you travel (Como 1907).

What time should I arrive?

The ground is a ten-minute walk from Como San Giovanni and the centre is a five-minute stroll from the stadium, so you do not need a big margin. Getting in an hour or two early lets you drink by the lake at Bar Pino and take in the setting, which is half the point of this away day (Destination Calcio).

Can I drink inside the ground?

Yes, the local beer La Comasca is sold inside the stadium, and the lakeside setting means most fans have a drink by the water at Bar Pino beforehand (Destination Calcio).

How much is a beer?

Roughly €5 to €7 for a large beer, more on the tourist lakefront terraces and a little less in the back-street bars off Piazza Volta (estimate). Contactless is accepted almost everywhere, so you do not need much cash (Reid's Italy).

Is Como safe?

Yes. Como is a well-heeled tourist town and petty-crime risk is broadly comparable to similar-sized UK cities. Pickpocketing is the main thing to watch, most likely in crowds, on trains and at busy stations. Keep valuables out of back pockets and wear a bag across the front (Reid's Italy).

Where are the away-friendly areas?

The city centre, the lakefront and Piazza Alessandro Volta are relaxed and used to visitors, and Bar Pino by the ground is the standard pre-match gathering spot. Steer clear of the home Curva Como sections if you are in colours, and otherwise the town is easy-going (Destination Calcio).

Does the match ticket give free local transport?

No. Unlike some German clubs, an Italian match ticket does not include free travel. Buy bus tickets contactless through the SwipeOnLake system, and buy train tickets separately. In practice you can walk to the ground from the station and the centre, so you may not need either (ASF Autolinee).

How far is the stadium from the city centre?

Very close. The Sinigaglia is on the lakeshore about a five-minute walk from the centre and ten minutes from Como San Giovanni station, so the ground, the old town and the lakefront are all within easy walking distance of each other (Destination Calcio).

Where should I stay?

Base yourself in the compact city centre near Piazza Cavour or Piazza Volta, which puts you within a short walk of the ground, the stations and the lakefront bars and restaurants. Rooms in Como fill up and cost more than nearby towns, so book early or consider staying a stop or two down the line and training in (Destination Calcio).