What’s on around Lake Como this week
Looking for things to do on Lake Como this week? Here is our hand-picked guide to the events worth your evening — concerts, festivals, open-air cinema, football and more — all within about thirty minutes of Villa Grel. Written by us, your hosts, and updated every week.
This week the lake goes football-mad: the international Como Cup takes over the lakeside Sinigaglia stadium from Tuesday to Saturday, with Como 1907, Crystal Palace, RC Lens, FC Famalicão, AlUla SC and Villarreal — fifteen minutes from the villa.
Sunday 26 July
Lake Sound Park — closing night
The final night of Cernobbio’s month-long lakeside music festival, in the grand grounds of Villa Erba. Even if you don’t catch the headline act, the market, food and setting by the water make for a memorable evening. Check the official page for tonight’s line-up.
Villa Erba →Ballando tra le Stelle — dancing under the stars
Part of the city’s “Como… che spettacolo!” summer programme: a square turned open-air dance floor with live music. Free, easy and pure Italian summer — wander in and watch, or join in.
Oggi a Como →Monday 27 July
Musica per Immagini
An open-air evening pairing live music with the big screen beside the beautiful Romanesque basilica of Sant’Abbondio. A gentle, atmospheric night out close to the city centre.
Spazio Gloria →Tuesday 28 July
Como Cup — Group A opening night
The international tournament kicks off on the lakeside. Three back-to-back 45-minute Group A matches, with a single ticket covering the whole evening:
19:00 Crystal Palace – RC Lens
20:30 FC Famalicão – Crystal Palace
22:00 RC Lens – FC Famalicão
Wednesday 29 July
Como Cup — Group B, with Como 1907
The night the home side take the field. Three 45-minute Group B matches on one ticket — a rare chance to see Como 1907 up close, a quarter of an hour from the villa:
19:00 AlUla SC – Villarreal
20:30 Como 1907 – AlUla SC
22:00 Villarreal – Como 1907
Friday 31 July
Como Cup — placement finals
Finals night at the stadium — two full 90-minute matches:
18:00 3rd-place match (the two group runners-up)
20:45 5th-place match (the two third-placed teams)
35mm Sotto il Cielo
Como’s much-loved summer cinema returns with a screening under the stars beside Sant’Abbondio. Bring a light layer for the evening air — and arrive a little early for a good spot.
Spazio Gloria →Saturday 1 August
Como Cup — the Final
The tournament closes with the Final between the two group winners, under the lights at the lakeside Sinigaglia stadium. A proper big-match atmosphere to round off Como’s football week — and a five-minute drive home to the villa afterwards.
Como Cup tickets & info →Sunday 2 August
35MM in Villa — ‘Lo Straniero’
Films screened in the grounds of Villa del Grumello, one of the loveliest lakeside parks in the city. Tonight it’s François Ozon’s Lo Straniero — cinema with the lake at your back.
Spazio Gloria →All week long
Summer art in the city
Como’s summer sees several shows worth an hour indoors on a hot afternoon, including a major project staged with Tate, London, and a painting exhibition of works by Anna Castiglioni, Pierantonio Lorini and Giuliana Valli.
Como… che spettacolo!
The city’s rolling summer calendar of concerts, open-air shows and evenings in the piazzas. On any night you’re not dining in the garden, there is almost always something on. See the programme →
Save the date
Como vs Lazio — Serie A opening day
Como 1907 open their Serie A season at home to Lazio, at the lakeside Sinigaglia stadium — a proper big-league afternoon fifteen minutes from the villa. Well worth planning around if your stay runs into late August. Tickets & info →
Everything here is a short drive from your door.
Villa Grel sits on the hillside at Cardina, minutes above Como — the perfect base for a lake summer. Four bedrooms, a private garden, and the whole villa to yourselves.
Check availabilityHungry between events? Start with our guide to the best gelato near Villa Grel.
Dates and times are taken from the organisers’ listings and were correct at the time of writing — summer programmes can change, so please confirm on the official page before travelling.