At the southern tip of the lake, 40km (25 miles) north of Milan, Como is known for its silk industry. Most visitors at least pass through here to take a cruise on the lake . But because Como is also an industrial city, this isn't the best place to stay (head instead to one of the more attractive resorts along the lake, such as Bellagio), unless you don't have your own car and are dependent on public transportation (in which case it's the most convenient base).

For centuries, the town's economy has been linked to Milan. Como has been making silk since Marco Polo first returned with silkworms from China (since the end of World War II, Como has left the cultivation of silk to the Chinese and just imports the thread to weave into fabrics). Como's silk makers are major suppliers for the fashion designers of Milan, and big names like Giorgio Armani come here to discuss the patterns that they want with silk manufacturers.