Lake Como: Easy Mountain Trek with Funicular & Boat Ride

Above Lake Como, this half-day outing trades crowded waterfront streets for forest paths, stone villages, and wide lake views. You ride the short Como-Brunate funicular, walk through the hills, eat a local meal in a simple baita, then return by boat from Torno.

I like the mix of transport and walking, especially the 7-minute funicular ride and 30-minute boat cruise. I also like that lunch is built around fresh local food, house wine, coffee, and a meal in the hills rather than a quick stop in town. The catch is the description of easy walking: the route includes a 400-meter downhill drop, many steps, and several hours in the woods.

Key points

• The funicular gives you a fast start above Como, with views opening almost at once.
• The walk passes through Brunate, Blevio, Monte Piatto, and Piazzaga, not just one lookout point.
• Pietra Pendula is an unusual natural stop, a huge boulder balanced on limestone.
• Lunch takes place in a traditional baita, with a starter, main course, water, house wine, and coffee.
• The final descent to Torno is the demanding part, followed by a relaxing boat ride back to Como.
• Small groups of up to 10 people make it easier to hear the guide and keep the outing social.

Starting above Como on the seven-minute funicular

Meet your guide in front of the Funicolare Como-Brunate station in central Como. The station is about a five-minute walk from Como Lago train station, and trains from Milan run every 30 minutes, making the meeting point fairly easy to reach without a car.

The funicular ride itself lasts about seven minutes. It climbs from Como to Brunate, giving you a quick change of scene from lakeside streets to a higher hillside setting. This is one of the tour’s best design choices: you skip a long uphill road walk and begin the outing with a view.

The funicular is a cable railway, not an open chairlift, so this part is simple and comfortable. Once you arrive in Brunate, the walking begins. The first stretch includes about 30 minutes of scenic views before the route settles into woodland paths and village lanes.

Your guide provides information about Como and the surrounding mountains along the way. Guides named Mikael and Fiamo have been associated with especially warm, lively guiding, so you can expect the human side of the tour to be an important part of the experience.

From Brunate into the hills above Blevio

The route heads through the mountains around Blevio, Sorto, and Cazzannoro. This is not a strenuous mountain climb to a summit. Instead, you move through a chain of small settlements, woods, old paths, and open points where the lake appears between the trees.

That variety keeps the walk interesting. One moment you are on a shaded trail, and the next you are looking across Lake Como toward the surrounding mountains. The scenery changes gradually, which gives the guide time to explain the area rather than rushing you from one photo stop to another.

The walk through this section takes roughly two hours. You should think of it as a real half-day hike, not a sightseeing stroll with a few steps added. The route is suitable for people who walk regularly, and the information says it can work for untrained walkers, but your comfort will depend on how you handle uneven ground and downhill walking.

Wear proper hiking shoes. Trainers may feel inadequate on woodland paths, particularly if the ground is damp. Bring water and a jacket even if Como feels warm at the start, since conditions can change as you gain height and spend time in the woods.

Monte Piatto and the view from Santa Elisabetta

One of the scenic targets is the small hamlet of Monte Piatto. Here, the church of Santa Elisabetta provides another viewpoint over Lake Como. This is the kind of stop that makes the walk worthwhile: you are not simply looking at the lake from a busy promenade, but seeing it from a quiet hillside settlement reached on foot.

The church and hamlet also give the route a sense of place. The excursion connects small communities that are easy to miss if you stay on the main lake road. You get a closer look at the rural side of the Como area, with narrow paths and older village surroundings instead of only grand villas and polished waterfronts.

The group is limited to 10 participants. That matters on a walk like this because the guide can give directions more clearly and stop when the group needs a breather. A small group also makes the lunch stop feel less like a scheduled procession.

Pietra Pendula, a boulder balanced above the trail

The stop at Pietra Pendula is short, about 10 minutes, but it adds an unusual point of interest. This is a large boulder suspended on the top of a limestone rock. It is not a conventional viewpoint, and that is the appeal.

After several hours of scenery, the boulder gives you something specific to look for and photograph. Your guide can explain the local setting and why this odd formation has become part of the route. It breaks up the walking with a clear landmark before you continue toward Piazzaga.

The route also passes the Massi Avelli, another set of distinctive stone features. These stops give the hike more substance than a simple walk through attractive woods. You see natural and archaeological details along the way, rather than spending the entire outing focused on distant views.

Lunch in Piazzaga at a traditional baita

Lunch is one of the strongest reasons to choose this outing. In the small village of Piazzaga, you stop at a typical baita, a mountain shelter or rustic hillside restaurant, for a freshly prepared local meal.

The included lunch covers one entrée, one main course chosen from the menu, water, house wine, and coffee. That is a substantial inclusion for a six-hour experience. You are not left to find food on your own in an unfamiliar village, and the meal becomes part of the cultural experience rather than a break taken wherever space is available.

The meal also helps the price make more sense. At $203.91 per person, this is not a cheap walking tour. You are paying for a live guide, two forms of transport, a small group, and a full local meal. If you value a planned day with transport and food handled for you, the package has reasonable value. If you mainly want a free viewpoint and a short walk, the cost will feel high.

Allow about an hour for lunch. The supplied menu details confirm water, house wine, and coffee, but they do not specify the exact dishes. If you have dietary restrictions, ask before booking or before the tour begins, since the included food is described in general terms rather than with a fixed menu.

The lunch setting is also a practical pause before the hardest part of the route. You have already spent several hours walking, so the stop gives you time to eat and regain energy before heading downhill.

The 400-meter descent to Torno

After Piazzaga, the route continues through the hills and then descends toward Torno. This is where the word easy needs some qualification. The activity is described as suitable for walkers and people without formal training, but the downhill gradient is 400 meters, and much of the descent uses steps.

Downhill walking can be harder than it sounds. It puts pressure on knees and can be tiring for anyone who is not used to long stairways. The route is not suitable for people with mobility impairments, wheelchair users, or back problems. You should also avoid it if you are looking for a flat, gentle walk beside the lake.

Take your time on the descent. Good footwear matters more here than at almost any other point. Hiking poles are not listed as required, so do not assume they will be provided, but some walkers may find personal poles useful. The guide can help set the pace, though the route remains physically demanding for some participants.

The downhill section lasts about 45 minutes in the stated timing, but the full walking portion includes several earlier stretches. Do not plan a demanding evening activity immediately afterward. The boat ride is restful, but your legs may still feel the route.

Torno and the boat back to Como

Torno is a picturesque lakeside town and the final walking destination. Before boarding the boat, you get one last broad view across the lake. After the woodland paths and stone villages, arriving at the water feels like a natural finish.

The boat cruise back to Como takes about 30 minutes. This is a smart ending because it lets you see the area from a different angle without retracing the route. From the water, the hillside villages and mountains appear as one broad scene, giving you a final chance to enjoy the setting without climbing another step.

The activity ends back at the original funicular meeting point in Como. The combination of funicular, walking, and boat makes the day feel like a small journey rather than a hike that starts and ends in the same place.

Be aware of seasonal transport changes. For bookings between March and April 2025, the Como-Brunate funicular is scheduled to close for maintenance until April 13, and the boat ride is to be replaced by a bus. Confirm the current arrangement before paying if your date falls in that period.

What the $203.91 price includes

The price covers the guide, funicular ticket, boat ticket, and lunch. The small group size, capped at 10, is valuable because a walking tour works better when you can hear explanations and avoid a slow-moving crowd.

The included meal is more generous than a basic snack. You receive an entrée, a main course chosen à la carte, water, house wine, and coffee. That does not make the tour inexpensive, but it reduces the extra spending you need during the day.

I would compare this price with the cost of arranging the same elements yourself. You would need to coordinate a funicular ride, find the correct walking route through several settlements, locate the baita, arrange the downhill connection to Torno, and check the boat schedule. The tour removes that planning work and gives you a guide for the history and geography of the route.

The value is strongest for someone who wants an organized, active day from Como. It is weaker for a confident independent hiker who already knows the area and does not need a guide or included lunch.

Who should book this Lake Como outing

You should consider this tour if you want to see more than Como’s waterfront and are happy to spend several hours on foot. It suits people who enjoy village paths, forest walking, unusual natural features, local food, and changing views.

It is also a good choice if you are staying in Milan and want an outing that begins close to Como Lago station. The central meeting point and six-hour duration make it possible to fit into a day visit, although you should allow extra time for your train connections.

This is not the right pick if you have back trouble, limited mobility, or difficulty with steep steps. It is also not ideal if your priority is a relaxed boat tour, since the boat comes only at the end and the main part of the day is spent walking.

The tour runs in English and Italian. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later, which helps if your schedule is still shifting.

My call: a strong choice for active Como visitors

I would book this if I wanted one organized day that combined transport, scenery, food, and a proper walk. The funicular and boat keep the route varied, while the small villages, Pietra Pendula, Massi Avelli, and Santa Elisabetta give you more to remember than another lakeside viewpoint.

Go in with accurate expectations. This is an easy mountain trek only in the sense that it does not require technical hiking skills. The 400-meter descent and many steps make it moderately demanding for some people.

Choose it for the local lunch, strong views, and guide-led route through the hills. Skip it if steep downhill walking is a concern. For the right walker, it offers a well-planned way to see the quieter side of Lake Como without renting a car or working out every connection yourself.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin?

Meet your guide in front of the Funicolare Como-Brunate station in downtown Como. The station is about a five-minute walk from Como Lago train station.

How long does the experience last?

The activity lasts about six hours. Check availability for the specific starting times.

How long is the funicular ride?

The Como-Brunate funicular ride takes about seven minutes.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch includes one entrée, one main course chosen à la carte, water, house wine, and coffee. It takes place in a typical baita in Piazzaga.

What should I bring?

Bring hiking shoes, water, and a jacket. You should be prepared to walk in the woods for several hours.

Is the walk suitable for beginners?

The activity is described as suitable for walkers and even untrained people, but it includes steep descents and a 400-meter vertical downhill gradient. The route may be challenging for some people.

Is the tour accessible by wheelchair?

No. It is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments. It is also not suitable for people with back problems.

What happens if the funicular is closed for maintenance?

For bookings between March and April 2025, the Como-Brunate funicular is scheduled to be closed until April 13. During that period, the boat ride is replaced by a bus ride.