10 Best Places to Go Shopping in Como

The thrice-weekly Mercato Mercerie bursts into life on the outskirts of the medieval part of Como on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings. It's a traditional bout of Lombard shopping that's a joy to stroll from end to end. You can find it in the Viale Battisti boulevard, which marks the joint between the town's new and old neighborhoods.

The mainstay attraction is local produce. Farmer's stalls display pungent Lombard cheeses next to butchers offering pulled pork and homemade schnitzels. You'll also find those ubiquitous stacks of Italian tomatoes and elephant garlics, plus loads in the way of seasonal ingredients if the time of year is right – porcini mushrooms in August are something special.

The Piazza San Fedele is very much the heart of Como's old town. It's plonked smack dab in the thick of the maze of medieval streets, just a couple of blocks over from the Duomo and about a 5-minute walk from the lakeside. It's also a hub for shoppers, largely thanks to a regular craft market that graces the cobbles on the 2nd Friday of each month.

When that's around, it's time to go hunting for tomes, vintage vinyl, retro antiques and more. There's really no telling what knick-knacks will be around. When the bazaar isn't on the Piazza San Fedele, you can still enjoy a medley of fashion outlets and kids' shoe emporiums.

Via Vittorio Emanuele II is one of the main shopping strips amid medieval Como. It takes a nod from its namesake gallery in Milan. The street links nicely with the Piazza del Duomo at its north end, running for nearly 400 meters before fizzling out at the Saint Vitale Tower and the end of the historic center.

Totally pedestrianized, the street hosts some of the most recognizable high-street brands around – Fielmann, Calzedonia, and L'OCCITANE EN PROVENCE, just to name a few. Adding to that is a mix of independent jewelers and opticians, along with a couple of Lombard bottle shops for those ever-present wine requirements.

Via Cinque Giornate runs square to the Piazza del Duomo and Via Vittorio Emanuele II, cutting through the charming center of Como from northeast to southwest. It's one of the town's pedestrian-only shopping concourses, packed with all sorts of retail outlets inhabiting centuries-old arcades and buildings.

At its eastern end, Via Cinque Giornate leans toward the mainstream gift niche. There, it hosts names like Flying Tiger Copenhagen and Yves Rocher. As you head west, the strip quietens just a touch and you'll find local art purveyors and bespoke ateliers, in the form of the Carnelli Paola pottery workshop and the Silvia Valli bridal outlet.

The Lungolago Mafalda di Savoia marks the spot where the town of Como meets the lake of the same name. It doglegs around the north end of the old town, running for roughly 500 meters from the Como ferry port to the Tempio Voltiano. Instead of a strictly shopping area, you'll find a fusion of parkland, promenade, and retail precinct.

If we had to pick, we'd say that the Lungolago Mafalda di Savoia excels in 1 thing – gelato. This is the place to go to purchase your artisan Italian cream cones. Gelateria Lariana is especially famous, located midway down the strip. There are also a few conveniences mixed in, in the form of banks and hair salons.

Via Giuseppe Garibaldi is the closest thing that Como has to a proper modern main street. It pokes its way toward the lakeside from the western edge of the town, widening out to offer a walking-only run of famous brand stores and fashion shops. It's easy to stroll from the ferry port, train station, and the Piazza del Duomo – about 10 minutes from each should do it.

Shoppers in these parts can jump between outdoor gear depots that sell crampons and hiking boots for all those alpine-adventure needs. There are also clothes stores for men and women. And, you get a series of Turkish kebab kitchens and cafes that spill onto the sidewalks come summertime.

Go to Mercato Produttori Como Rebbio to bag yourself a range of products from the Italian Alps and the surrounding region of Lombardy. It's a popular gathering point for farm-to-table sellers that meets at the foot of the Castello Baradello, a quick drive of about 15 minutes down the Via Versina from the center of the town.

Olive oil is a major reason to visit Mercato Produttori Como Rebbio. Some of the best seasonal stuff can be had straight from the people who make it. There are all sorts of versions, too – think spicy chili oil and pungent garlic oil. On top of that, you get fruit, vegetables, wine, and honey, along with loaves of bread by artisan bakers.

Piazza Cavour fronts the sloshing waters of Lake Como at the top end of the old town. It's a great meeting place for those looking to see the sights of the Duomo et al, but also a great location to start a shopping adventure through Como.

The western side of the square is given over to utilitarian things like banks and tourism information points. The eastern end, though, is dotted with gelato parlors and concept clothing stores. You're also only a few steps off the main lakeside promenade, which has loads more in the way of artisan coffee and gelaterias.

Lucino is a small town southwest of Como proper. It sits on the sloping hillsides that come down from the Parco Regionale Spina Verde. 

There are 2 sides to shopping in Lucino. First, there's a clutch of big grocery stores and hardware depots that lines the junctions of the A9 expressway. They're great for folks looking for paint, plaster and home furnishings. Then, there's the rustic side of Lucino. Find that by turning onto the roads that snake toward the mountains. They're flanked by the occasional winery, olive oil shop, and local bakery.

The Centro Commerciale Grandate is a convenient out-of-town shopping mall that takes care of all the basics. It's a 15-minute drive south of the lakeside, right next to the A9 highway. There, it caps off a whole strip of light industrial depots and warehouses that sell all manner of homewares and whatnot.

The anchor of it all is the walkable Centro Commerciale Grandate itself. That's gotten a pet shop and phone repair centres, along with big discount clothing emporiums. You don't have to return to Como itself for lunch, either, since there's a Hawaiian poke kitchen and a series of fast-food outlets in the mix.