Como-Brunate Jeep Sightseeing Tour & Funicular Rail SKIP THE LINE

Brunate’s steep lanes and hillside viewpoints are easier to reach by open-top Jeep than on foot. This small-group ride takes you past 19th-century Liberty villas and up to Volta Lighthouse, where the views sweep across Como, the lake and the Alps.

I like two things in particular: the Jeep saves your legs on Brunate’s slopes, and a group capped at eight keeps the ride more personal than a large bus tour. You also get access to the lighthouse’s panoramic basement, a good reason to make the climb.

One point to check before booking: the tour highlights a local guide, but its inclusions list an English-speaking driver and say a guide is not included. The funicular ticket is also extra, so confirm what commentary to expect and budget for the ride down if you want it.

• Open-top Jeep access makes Brunate’s steep streets easier to cover.
• Small group, maximum eight means less waiting for a large crowd.
• Volta Lighthouse is a 29-meter tower built in 1927 on Mount Tre Croci.
• Basement panorama access is included; climbing the tower is separate.
• Como-Brunate funicular tickets are not included in the $82.21 tour price.
• Two hours gives you a short, focused outing rather than a full-day excursion.

Brunate by Jeep, not by stair workout

Brunate sits above Como, and the streets climb sharply from the lakeside. This tour uses an open-top Jeep to make the ascent and move between sights, a practical choice if you want the views and village character without spending the outing on steep walks.

You meet at Piazza Alcide de Gasperi in Como. The tour lasts about two hours and returns to the meeting point. The compact format matters: with no more than eight people, you spend less time gathering a crowd and more time moving through Brunate’s stops.

The open top is part of the appeal. You get a better look at the hillside streets and villas than you would through a closed vehicle window, and the trip itself becomes a scenic ride. In summer, bring sunscreen and sunglasses. The suggested dress is smart casual, but comfortable clothing makes sense for getting in and out at the stops.

The central trade-off is independence versus convenience. You can take the funicular up to Brunate and explore on your own, but the Jeep adds transport between the village sights and the lighthouse. If you have limited time or would rather not tackle the slopes on foot, that extra reach is useful.

Liberty villas and the old village

Brunate’s architecture is part of the tour, not just a backdrop on the way to the lighthouse. You’ll see 19th-century Liberty-style villas, including Villa Antonelli and Villino Rubini, as the Jeep passes through the village. Their decorative façades offer a glimpse of the resort-era building style that shaped this hillside community.

The tour also passes Brunate’s old village streets and pauses at viewpoints over Como and the lake. These short stops are meant for taking in the setting, rather than a long architectural visit. If you enjoy wandering slowly or studying villa details, you may want more time than the schedule allows.

A small group helps here. The driver can move the Jeep through narrow streets and stop at selected places without the awkward logistics of a large coach. But this is still a highlights tour: you’ll see several corners of Brunate, not have hours to explore each one.

Sant’Andrea, a church with medieval roots

The first listed stop is Chiesa di Sant’Andrea Apostolo, a church dating to 1340 and renovated in the 16th century. The scheduled visit is about ten minutes, with no admission charge.

That brief pause gives you a different view of Brunate from the villas and panoramas. It adds a little local religious and architectural context to a trip that could otherwise feel like a string of scenic photo stops. Since the visit is short, treat it as an introduction rather than a full church tour.

The schedule does not promise a particular interior visit or detailed guided explanation here. If you are especially interested in church art or the building’s renovation, ask what you’ll be able to see when you arrive.

Via Pissarottino and its fountain viewpoint

Next, the Jeep follows a route past several Liberty villas toward the Pissarottino Fountain and a panoramic point on Via Pissarottino. The stop is around ten minutes and has no admission fee.

This is one of the places where the route’s transport advantage is clear. Brunate’s slopes can make short distances feel longer on foot, and the Jeep connects the sights without asking you to walk every steep stretch. The viewpoint also gives you a chance to look back toward Como and the lake.

Expect a quick look rather than a long pause. If the lake and mountain views are your main reason for coming, keep your camera ready and use the stop to orient yourself. The lighthouse later in the tour provides the grandest panorama, but these earlier views help show how the town sits above the city.

San Maurizio and a smaller-scale stop

Chiesa di San Maurizio is a small church dating to 1592. The planned stop is about ten minutes, and admission is free.

Its modest scale makes a useful contrast with the grander villa façades and the lighthouse viewpoint. You get a sense of Brunate as a lived-in hillside village, not simply a platform for lake photographs. As with the other short church visit, the schedule leaves limited time for lingering.

The tour’s appeal is variety: village streets, villas, churches, viewpoints and then the lighthouse. If you prefer one site explored in depth, this itinerary may feel brisk. If you like seeing several facets of a place in a compact outing, the changes of scene keep the two hours moving.

Volta Lighthouse and the big view

The main event is Faro Voltiano, the Volta Lighthouse. Built in 1927, the 29-meter tower stands atop Mount Tre Croci. The Jeep brings you up to the site, where the tour allows about 25 minutes.

The included access is to the panoramic basement. From there, you can look over Como, Lake Como and the Alps. The open view is the real reward: you see the city and water below, with the mountains framing the distance. A clear day will make the most of it, though the weather can never be promised.

Be clear about what is included. Access to the basement is free with the tour, but that is not the same as climbing to the top of the tower. A visitor has reported paying €2 to climb 144 steps, but prices and access can change, so check on the day if you want to go up. The scheduled 25 minutes may feel tight if you plan to climb, take photos and enjoy the view at an unhurried pace.

The lighthouse is also tied to Alessandro Volta, the Como-born physicist associated with the invention of the electric battery. The tour’s highlights promise local insight about Volta, but the inclusions list creates some uncertainty: it names a professional English-speaking driver and separately excludes a guide. Ask the operator before booking whether your driver provides commentary or whether a guide is present. Andrea has been named as a guide on this experience, but you should not assume a particular person will lead every departure.

Funicular station and the ride back down

The final stop is the upper station of the Como-Brunate funicular. You’ll have about ten minutes to look around the local shops and, if you choose, take the funicular back down to Como. The cable-car ticket is not included in the tour price.

The funicular is a memorable way to descend, but plan for the added cost and check how the return journey fits the tour’s stated end point at the original meeting place. The experience description says the tour ends back at the meeting point, while the itinerary lists the upper station and an optional funicular ride down. Confirm the exact return arrangement with the operator so you know whether the Jeep brings you back or you should expect to finish by funicular.

There is also a useful independent option if you are arranging the visit yourself: one account describes a shuttle from the funicular to the lighthouse for €10 round trip, departing every 30 minutes. That may be handy if you skip the tour, but check availability and current pricing locally.

Is $82.21 good value?

At $82.21 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see Brunate. The funicular ticket, food and drinks are not included, and climbing the lighthouse tower may require a separate payment. The price is easier to justify if you value a small group, open-top transport on the steep roads and access to viewpoints you might not reach as easily on foot.

Think of the fare as paying for a compact guided-style route and transport, not an all-inclusive day out. The maximum group size of eight is a plus if you dislike waiting for a busload of people. And the tour’s short duration makes it a practical add-on to a Como visit, though the quick stops will not suit anyone hoping for long, leisurely sightseeing.

The experience has an average rating of 4.5 from six ratings, a promising but small sample. Praise has centered on the scenery, the open old-style Jeep, reaching places that would be difficult to cover otherwise, and the care and local knowledge associated with Andrea. Those are the strengths to weigh against the mixed clarity around guide inclusion and the extra funicular cost.

The outing depends on good weather. If poor conditions force cancellation, you’ll be offered another date or a full refund. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time; later cancellations are not refunded, and changes within 24 hours are not accepted.

Who should book this Brunate outing?

I’d consider this tour if you have a couple of hours in Como, want to see the hillside beyond the lakefront, and prefer a ride to walking steep streets. It also suits you if the Volta Lighthouse view is a priority and you like the character of an open-top Jeep.

It is less suited to you if you want a long, detailed guided tour of each church or villa, or if you are counting on the funicular ticket being included. Before paying, clarify the guide arrangement and how you’ll get back from the upper funicular station. If those details are settled and the weather looks good, the Jeep offers a practical way to connect Brunate’s village sights with one of the area’s finest viewpoints.

FAQ

How long is the Como-Brunate Jeep tour?

The tour lasts about two hours.

Where does the tour start?

It starts at Piazza Alcide de Gasperi, 22100 Como.

Where does the tour end?

The stated end point is back at the meeting point. The itinerary also lists the funicular’s upper station and an optional ride down, so confirm the return arrangement with the operator before booking.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is eight.

Is the funicular ticket included?

No. The Como-Brunate funicular ticket is not included.

Is access to Volta Lighthouse included?

The tour includes free access to the lighthouse’s panoramic basement. Climbing the tower is separate and may have an additional charge.

Is a guide included?

The tour information lists a professional English-speaking driver as included and says a guide is not included. It also promotes local insight, so confirm what commentary is provided before booking.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. If bad weather cancels the tour, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.