Como city safety

Urban legend. Stop worrying.

I see more homeless people sleeping at any BART station in San Francisco on any given morning than migrants sleeping at the Como station in a whole month.

I was just curious where OP got info and googled that and came up with this article
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3781260/Pictured-migrant-camp-set-blight-Lake-Como-YEARS-pre-fab-site-300-people-built-heart-Italian-tourist-spot-loved-George-Clooney.html

According to that article posted by previous poster, they are apparently doing something to remove the migrants from around the train station to a contained area. I would thus assume that as long as you don't go wandering in that area you'll have no problem with them. I think that move is more to get the unsightly camp around the train station out of sight (and maybe out of mind), than a question of safety. If you're talking about personal safety, migrant camps aren't normally an issue of safety for tourists and usually easy to avoid, but rather a question of sanitation and public health issues.

Thanks i just Googled Como and a few
things came up including the inflamitory
political one which i disregarded but others also

Why would you assume that migrants are more dangerous than anyone else?

"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
To spread the light of liberty world-wide for every land."

I'm not assuming anything are you?
Again has anyone been THERE recently

Hum? I can not believe there have been no recent travelers to Como complaining about the Migrant issue or saying do not go

Maybe to not risk it contact the USA state department as they get all kinds of intelligence
https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country/italy.html

Consider the source, as they say. Daily Mil linked by Jazz+Travels seems more than a little sensationalist. But it does say that the new camp is a mile from the Como city center. Nothing to worry about.

I wouldn't be too worried about "migrants" in Como or anywhere else. On my last trip to Salzburg a year or so ago, there were 800-1000 migrants being housed in the station and I had no problems at all. I was chatting with a few of them and they were very pleasant. There was a significant police and military presence at the station so that probably helped.

If it is in the Daily Mail it MUST be right, eh? Sort of like paying any attention to Fox News. About the same level of calm level-headedness.

Thanks Ken although the Italians are
not as let's say organized

That Daily Mail article is just shy of 9 months old today. Also, Tom, have you firmly identified Como town as your destination on the lake? I enjoyed a day trip there a few years back but Rick and most of his readers prefer to stay in the mid-lake area, around Varenna and Bellagio.

My first thought was as Laura mentioned , very few tourists actually stay in the town of Como.
Up the Lake where most stay is actually not very close to the town of Como (may be close in KM but requires a boat or the actual roads are not straight if driving) so feels and is far removed.

tom,

"Thanks Ken although the Italians are not as let's say organized"

That's not entirely true. When I was travelling to Salzburg via the Brenner Pass, when the train made the short stop at Brennero, there were about 20 Polizia di Stato and Carabinieri officers on the platform. Any migrants planning on sneaking onto that train would have been in for a rude awakening!

Thanks good advice, I did book an apartment ( near the station) that's why the concern but will be out and about most days anyway to the other towns.
The person renting said in October
some of the towns can be "quiet" so there's more food and entertainment
options i'm Como as a home base.
Thanks Tom

Well then, check out the historic batteries at the Tempio Voltiano.

When you say "the train station" there are several in Como. Como San Giovanni, Como Nord Lago, Como Borghi, Como Camerata.

San Geovanni

I have stayed in Como a couple of times, it"s pleasant but not as charming as some of the other towns.

"options i'm Como as a home base."

I assume you're asking if Como is a good home base? It wouldn't be my first choice, but which town to use depends somewhat on what you plan on doing in that area. Most here (me included) prefers Varenna on the east, mid-lake part of the lake. It's a beautiful small town and a great place to just enjoy Il dolce far niente.

Varrena is small correct? low population
so does it have many resturant's, things to do , a weekly flea market?
Thanks Tom

I stayed in Como for three days last May (at the Palace Hotel). It was lovely. There are actually two train stations there. The main station, Como S. Giovanni, which services the national line (trenitalia), and the regional station, Como Nord Lago (trenord). The hotel was very close to the Lago Nord station. I am a single woman traveling alone and saw no one I would consider a threat on any level. More importantly, if you plan to travel by train, be certain you are not planning on traveling on a day when there is a scheduled train strike.

Varenna is lovely. We haven't stayed there but been through it when we day-tripped to Bellagio. Hand's down, it would be my choice if staying on the lake (and it's on a train line).

The big "thing to do" is to ferry to other towns around the lake. Some visitors might day-trip into Milan or Bergamo (we were staying in the latter) as well.

In early oct 2014 my husband and I stayed 3 nights in Varenna & loved it. We took the train from Milano so did not have a car. Took the ferry to Bellagio and other villages & Villa Carlotta. We enjoyed Bellago & I cld see this as a nice place to stay too.

Thanks all good ideas . Anyone
been there recently?

Looks like nobody has been there recently tom. If you are really that concerned about the situation perhaps you should consider going elsewhere.

Tom, you are worrying unnecessarily. Book Como or book Varenna. Refugees/migrants (bless many of their hearts) are not going to interfere with your trip.

"The Italians are not as let's say organized"

I know, I know.

And we also all know that Asians and women can't drive

Sorry nothing against Italians (i'm one)
i ment the government structure
strikes/3hour lunch closures /and the like. But your right my wife is asian
and she's a terrible driver ha ha

Any updates fall of 2017 leaving in 3 weeks
thanks Tom

I was in Como very briefly a few weeks ago, at the San Giovanni station, no problems whatsoever.

Thanks did you stay there?

I was in Como in July. Although I had a car so no idea about the train station situation. I stayed in Menaggio, further north, which I prefer to both Varenna (too small and no easy parking) or Bellagio (more expensive and too many tourists on the weekend). I also like to go to Lugano, which is an easy drive from Menaggio. I drive, because my wife is also a lousy driver, albeit not Asian (although the one I linked above is a hell of a driver). There is also a bus that connects the two towns (Lugano and Menaggio).
I don't really care for Como itself, never have since the time I was living in Italy, and probably never will. Why do you want to stay there? If you want to be closer to Como, then I'd stay in Cernobbio. Any town on the lake is nicer than Como or Lecco.
There will be plenty of restaurants open in any of the smaller and quainter towns mentioned above if you go in September.
If you don't have a car, the easiest way to reach Menaggio or Bellagio if by train to Varenna, then a short ferry ride.
The Italian infrastructure works perfectly fine, in most instances better than the American one. Nobody takes 3 hour lunches nowadays in Italy. Government workers are not any lazier than American ones. Besides why do you care? Are you planning to visit some government office? You will be dealing mostly with private sector workers, unless you get arrested or you are reporting a crime (the police is gov't).
If your wife is Asian stay away from the African migrants. I have a few African colleagues and they love Asian women (just kidding, but it's true about my colleagues).

The only workers taking a 3 hours lunch break are american lawyers and attorneys, don't they? And they are back at their desks almost drunk.
Seriously, only shop keepers could close for a couple of hours during the day, and I swear they did not spend those hours eating! Imagine factory and office workers of a G7 country going home for 3 hours in the middle of the day, who does actually believe this stuff, a Roman Holyday fan club?

The refugees in Como want to reach other countries as soon as possible. Every human group has its fair share of idiots, but the 99% of them knows that making troubles would make them to stay in Italy forever.

My first thought was as Laura mentioned , very few tourists actually stay in the town of Como.

That's the exact reason I've stayed in Como twice and really enjoyed it. It's a charming little city with a beautiful waterfront and you can take the boats to other towns and villages on the lake. October is truffle season so splurge and enjoy them! For spectacular views take the funicular up to Brunate - great area for walking, wonderful views of Como, the lake and the Alps! Two wonderful restaurants are Il Pomordorino, Via Cinque Giornate 62/b (fresh pasta with black truffles) and Ristorante Pinzimonio,Via Bonanomi, 24 (If you like veal cutlets, try the house special Orecchie di elefante gigante con patate a fette croccanti
[Elephant's ears with fried potatoes].)

Here is something only days old on the situation. Sounds like they have it well in hand. Now if only the Swiss would do the right thing: http://openmigration.org/en/analyses/como-the-new-italian-emergency-zone/

Thanks James i saw this last year but without updates.
maby recent visitors will chime
in.

I did not like Como as Philip did. I would not base there, migrants around the train station or not.

Tom, you appear to be intent on staying in Como regardless, and are looking for a strong enough reason to change your plans. There are no reports, as far as I can tell, of any violence or intimidation near the train station from the migrants. And before you reply, no I have not been there recently.

That article linked above is now almost a year old.
Train strikes are not that frequent. The trains are great. Love 'em.
3 hour lunch? Restaurants can close for a few hours to get ready for the evening service. No big deal.

Go to Como.
Go to Varenna.
Go somewhere else in Italy or in Europe, if it worries you so much.
Stressing over it for another 3 weeks (and it's been three months now) and hoping for different than you've gotten so far probably isn't going to happen, and you're frankly out of time.

Wow thanks you're feedback
is appreciated and with your
mind reading abilities maby Vegas would be a good idea.
I have NO predetermined
answer i'm looking for just hoping for an insight from a traveler like any other posts.
who have CURRENT feedback.
I have been to Como before and Italy MANY times .
But thanks for your opinions
but poltics is the furthest from my mind . The reason for my concern was because of some articles in Italian papers not
nut job political periodicals.
Thanks Tom

Wow thanks you're feedback
is appreciated and with your
mind reading abilities maby Vegas would be a good idea.
I have NO predetermined
answer i'm looking for just hoping for an insight from a traveler like any other posts.
who have CURRENT feedback.
I have been to Como before and Italy MANY times .
But thanks for your opinions
but poltics is the furthest from my mind . The reason for my concern was because of some articles in Italian papers not
nut job political periodicals.
Thanks Tom

Had your first post been as clear as your last (you've been to Como many times), the feedback might have been different.

It appears clear that no one who's reading this board has been to Como recently enough to satisfy the OP. However, I have enjoyed reading Roberto's responses to the casual stereotyping articulated by the OP, so the thread isn't a total loss.

I have been reading about a Migrant issue at and around the train
station. Has anybody been there recently... i'm looking for just
hoping for an insight from a traveler like any other posts. who have
CURRENT feedback.

And so you got exactly that, for the exactly the train station you're concerned about:

I was in Como very briefly a few weeks ago, at the San Giovanni
station, no problems whatsoever.

I would consider "a few weeks ago" as "current"? But there's also this:

I did book an apartment ...The person renting said...

Evidently you've rented from, and have had contact with, a local? Have you asked them? They live there so wouldn't they be your best resource if you need to know what the situation is right this minute? That said, even a local can't promise what a situation may look like 3 weeks from now. Shoot, poor Houston didn't see Harvey coming 3 weeks before it hit. :O(

Thanks Kathy yes i did unfortunately the owner lives in New York but your post
was helpful and appreciated.
The Houston situation is so sad
i lived through an earthquake
but FEMA came through in
the end and time healed
the wounds.