Lake Como: Easy Mountain Trek with Funicular & Boat Ride

From Como, this tour trades busy streets for a funicular ride, old woodland paths and lake views from high above the shore. You cross the hills on foot, eat at a mountain baita, then descend to Torno for a boat ride back to town.

I like two things in particular: the mix of local transport, with both funicular and boat, and the chance to walk an ancient route past unusual stone monuments. The included lunch also gives the hike a welcome pause, rather than making it a march from one viewpoint to the next.

One caution: easy describes the tour’s general level, not a flat stroll. The final descent drops about 400 meters and involves many steps, so sturdy shoes and sure footing matter.

At a glance

• Funicular to Brunate: Start with a seven-minute cable train ride up from Como.
• A proper woodland walk: Follow mountain paths through villages and woods, including stretches of an ancient Roman trail.
• Pietra Pendula: See a striking boulder balanced atop a limestone point.
• Lunch at a baita: Take a one-hour break for a local meal with water, house wine and coffee included.
• Boat back to Como: Descend to Torno and return across the lake by boat.
• Small group: The tour is limited to 10 people, with English- and Italian-speaking guides.

Leaving Como by funicular

Meet your guide in front of the Como-Brunate funicular station in downtown Como. If you arrive by train at Como Lago, the meeting point is a five-minute walk away. Trains from Milan run every 30 minutes, so you can make this a day trip from the city, though it is worth allowing enough time to find the station and meet your group without rushing.

The funicular ride to Brunate lasts about seven minutes. It is a short trip, but it sets the tone well: Como falls away below you, and the lake and surrounding mountains open into view as the car climbs. This is not just transport to the trailhead. It gives you an early sense of how the lake’s towns and slopes fit together.

At Brunate, there is time for scenic views before the walking portion begins. Bring your camera, but keep it handy rather than expecting the best view to come from one designated lookout. The route offers changing angles as you move through the hills.

Walking from Brunate through the villages

The walk winds through the mountains above the eastern shore, passing the areas of Blevio, Sorto and Cazzannoro before reaching Monte Piatto. Your guide explains Como and the surrounding mountains as you go, adding context to what might otherwise be a pleasant but hard-to-place series of woods, paths and small settlements.

The group is capped at 10, which suits a route where you will want to hear the guide and keep a comfortable pace. Guides such as Mikael have been praised for explaining the area with enthusiasm, and Fiamo has also been singled out for making the outing memorable. Guide assignments can vary, of course, but the format gives you more chance to ask questions than a large coach tour would.

Expect to spend a good part of the morning on foot. The itinerary allows about two hours for the walk through Blevio, followed by additional walking between the sights and lunch stop. This is a guided trek, not a series of short, paved strolls. You will be in the woods for several hours, so hiking shoes and water are essential, and a jacket is useful in changing mountain conditions.

Santa Elisabetta and the views from Monte Piatto

At the hamlet of Monte Piatto, the church of Santa Elisabetta offers a place to pause and look out over the lake. Its appeal is not simply the view. Reaching a small village on foot, rather than arriving by road, gives you a closer feel for how settlements cling to the slopes above Como.

This is one of the reasons I like the route’s mix of scenery and local character. You are not being driven from one photo stop to another. The walking connects the villages, woods and viewpoints, giving the day a sense of progression. The tradeoff is that the views depend on weather and visibility, which no tour can control.

The pace also means you should be ready to keep moving between stops. There is time to appreciate the scenery and listen to your guide, but this is still a six-hour activity with a defined route and a boat to catch at the end.

Pietra Pendula and the old stone trail

One of the route’s most unusual sights is Pietra Pendula, a large boulder balanced on the point of a limestone rock. It is a brief stop, around 10 minutes, but it gives the walk a memorable landmark beyond the lake panoramas. The sight is curious enough to make you slow down and look twice.

The route also passes the Massi Avelli, stone structures associated with the area’s past, as you continue toward Piazzaga and Torno. These stops add a layer of history to a walk that might otherwise be all woods and views. The tour information describes part of the path as an ancient Roman trail, a useful reminder that these hills have long been crossed on foot.

Do not expect a museum-style explanation at every stone or ruin. The value is in seeing these features in their setting and having a guide who can connect them to the region. If you enjoy small details that make a place feel specific, rather than interchangeable with any mountain walk, this stretch should appeal.

Lunch at a mountain baita

Piazzaga is the lunch stop, with about an hour set aside to eat at a typical baita, a mountain lodge. The meal includes one entrée, one main course chosen à la carte, water, house wine and coffee. Fresh local food and a proper sit-down break make a practical difference on a six-hour outing.

I consider lunch one of the tour’s stronger value points. You do not have to bring a full meal or spend time finding somewhere to eat along the route, and the setting makes the pause part of the experience rather than a pit stop. The food has been praised along with the guides and scenery, though menus and dishes are not specified in advance.

Keep in mind that the included lunch does not mean every possible extra is covered. The stated meal includes the items listed above, so ask the operator if you have dietary requirements or want to confirm what the entrée and main choices will be. No special menu details are provided.

The descent to Torno

After lunch, the walk continues past the Massi Avelli and toward Torno, a picturesque town on the lake. The itinerary allows about 45 minutes for the walk through Torno before the boat ride. From there, you get one last view across the water before boarding the boat back to downtown Como.

The descent is the part to take most seriously. The overall drop is about 400 meters, and the downhill route includes many steps. The activity is described as suitable even for untrained walkers, but that does not make it comfortable for everyone. If your knees, balance or stamina are a concern, the steep downhill may be more demanding than the word easy suggests.

This is not suitable for people with back problems, mobility impairments or wheelchair users. Even if you are generally active, use shoes with a reliable grip and take your time on the descent. The guide can lead the route, but you still need to be comfortable walking in the woods for several hours.

Returning to Como by boat

The final 30-minute boat ride from Torno back to Como is a satisfying end to the day. After walking above the lake, you see the shore from the water and get a different view of the towns and mountains you have just crossed. It also saves you from retracing the route on foot or returning by road.

The transport pairing is a real strength: funicular up, walking across the hills, boat back. Each mode has a clear purpose, and the return by water feels like part of the outing rather than a transfer tacked on at the end. The tour ends back at the original meeting point.

A maintenance notice applied to the Como-Brunate funicular from March through April 13, 2025, with a bus replacing the boat ride during that period. That notice is tied to those dates, so check current operating details when choosing a departure.

Is $203.91 a fair price?

At $203.91 per person, this is not a budget walk. But the price includes a guide, funicular ticket, boat ticket and a substantial lunch with water, house wine and coffee. You are also getting a small group capped at 10, which can make a guided walk more useful and personal.

The value depends on what you want from a day in Como. If you only want a quick viewpoint and a boat ride, you can spend less by arranging transport yourself. If you want a guided route through villages and woods, historical features along the way, lunch arranged for you and a boat return, the price covers several pieces of the day in one booking.

I would especially consider it if you are staying in Como and want a full day outside the town without planning the route and meal yourself. It is less suited to anyone who prefers gentle, level walks or wants to spend most of the day on the water.

Who should book this walk?

This tour fits curious walkers who like scenery but also want a guide to explain what they are passing. The blend of transport, villages, woodland, stone features, lunch and lake views makes it more varied than a simple out-and-back hike. It also works for people who want an active day without arranging separate tickets and lunch.

It is not a good choice if you are looking for a very easy stroll. The uphill funicular ride is effortless, but the walk lasts several hours and finishes with a steep, step-heavy descent. Bring hiking shoes, water and a jacket, and be honest with yourself about how your knees handle downhill walking.

If those conditions sound manageable, this is a distinctive way to see a side of Como that is easy to miss from the waterfront. I would book it for the combination of mountain paths, local lunch and the return by boat, not for a promise of an effortless walk.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The activity lasts about six hours. It includes the funicular ride, guided walking, lunch and a boat ride back to Como.

Where does the tour start?

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

How large is the group?

The small group is limited to 10 participants.

What languages are offered?

The live guide speaks English or Italian.

What is included in the price?

The tour includes a guide, funicular ticket, boat ticket and lunch. Lunch consists of one entrée, one main course chosen à la carte, water, house wine and coffee.

How difficult is the walk?

The activity is described as suitable for walkers, including untrained walkers, but it involves several hours in the woods and a 400-meter downhill drop. The descent has many steps and may be challenging for some people.

What should I bring?

Bring hiking shoes, water and a jacket.

Is the tour suitable for wheelchair users?

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