Lake Como: Easy Mountain Trek with Funicular & Boat Ride

The best part of this six-hour outing is the change of pace. You leave Como by funicular, trade the city for quiet mountain paths, then finish with a boat ride across the lake. Along the way, you pass villages, woods, old stone features, and the giant Pietra Pendula boulder.

I like the local lunch in a traditional baita, which makes this more than a walk with a packed sandwich. I also like the clever route: the funicular gets you uphill, your feet carry you across the hills, and the boat brings you back to Como.

The main caution is the downhill section. The tour is called easy and suits walkers who are not trained hikers, but you still descend about 400 meters, with many steps. Mikael and Fiamo have been singled out for warm, informative guiding, yet the route can feel harder than expected if your knees or back are troublesome.

Key points

• Seven-minute funicular ride: Start above Como quickly, with broad views over Lake Como.
• Ancient Roman trail: Walk through woods and mountain villages around Blevio, Sorto, and Cazzannoro.
• Pietra Pendula: See a huge boulder that appears to balance on the tip of a limestone outcrop.
• Hillside baita lunch: Enjoy a first course, an à la carte main course, water, house wine, and coffee.
• 400-meter descent: The walking is manageable for ordinary walkers, but the downhill steps deserve respect.
• Boat return from Torno: End with a scenic 30-minute cruise back to Como instead of retracing the route.

From Como to Brunate in Seven Minutes

Your meeting point is in front of the Como-Brunate funicular station in downtown Como. It is about a five-minute walk from Como Lago train station, and trains from Milan run every 30 minutes, making the start fairly easy to reach without a car.

The funicular ride lasts about seven minutes. That short climb changes the mood quickly. You leave the busy lakeside streets and reach Brunate, a hilltop village with open views over Como and the surrounding mountains.

This is not just a practical lift to the trail. It gives you a quick visual introduction to the area. As the car climbs, you begin to see how tightly Como sits between the lake and the hills. Keep your camera ready, but do not expect a long sightseeing ride. The funicular is brief.

The group is limited to 10 people, which matters on a walking tour. A guide can keep a closer eye on the pace, explain the villages as you go, and answer questions without shouting across a large crowd. Tours are offered in English and Italian.

The Brunate Trail and Mountain Villages

Once you leave Brunate, the outing settles into its main rhythm: walking through wooded paths and small settlements above the eastern side of Lake Como. You cross the mountain areas around Blevio, Sorto, and Cazzannoro before reaching Monte Piatto.

About 30 minutes are set aside for scenic views early in the walk, followed by roughly two hours of walking around Blevio and the nearby hills. The route is not a single dramatic summit hike. Its appeal comes from the steady changes in scenery: trees, stone paths, village lanes, and sudden openings toward the water.

Your guide provides information about Como and the surrounding mountains as you walk. That turns the route into more than exercise. You get a sense of how the lake communities connect with the hills, and you can stop to take in views without having to manage navigation yourself.

The phrase easy mountain trek needs a little interpretation. You do not need technical climbing skills or advanced hiking training, but you do need to walk in the woods for several hours. The route includes steep descents, and the total downhill gradient is about 400 meters. Good shoes are not optional decoration here. Wear hiking shoes with a firm sole, and bring water and a jacket.

Monte Piatto and Santa Elisabetta

The walk reaches the hamlet of Monte Piatto, where the small church of Santa Elisabetta provides another fine viewpoint. From here, the lake appears as part of a much larger mountain setting rather than simply a strip of water beside Como.

This is the kind of stop that rewards a slower pace. You can take photographs, listen to the guide, and look across the slopes and villages that you have just walked through. The views are a major reason to choose this outing, but they work best because you reach them on foot rather than by bus.

The setting also gives you a useful sense of scale. Lake Como is famous for elegant waterfront towns, yet the hills above it are close, steep, and wooded. The tour lets you see both sides of the area in one half-day: the polished lakefront and the quieter paths above it.

Pietra Pendula, a Boulder with a Strange Balance

A short visit of about 10 minutes brings you to Pietra Pendula. This large boulder appears to hang on the point of a limestone rock, giving it an unusual, almost precarious look.

It is a quick stop, but a memorable one. The feature breaks up the walking and gives the guide a natural point of interest to explain. You are not simply passing through anonymous woodland. The route has specific places to look for, and Pietra Pendula is one of the most distinctive.

After this visit, you continue walking for about 40 minutes toward Piazzaga. The path remains part of the wooded mountain route, so expect uneven ground and more downhill walking. If you have sensitive knees, trekking poles could be useful, though they are not listed as included equipment.

Lunch at a Piazzaga Baita

The lunch stop is one of the strongest reasons to book this tour instead of arranging a simple walk on your own. At a traditional baita in Piazzaga, you receive a first course, a main course chosen from the menu, water, house wine, and coffee.

A baita is a mountain shelter or rustic hillside restaurant, and the setting fits the day. You have spent the morning walking through woods and villages, then sit down for freshly prepared local food rather than rushing through a snack.

The meal is included in the listed price, which improves the value considerably. You are paying for the guide, funicular ticket, boat ticket, and lunch, not just the walking route. The exact dishes are not specified, so you should not book expecting a particular recipe or dietary arrangement. The information provided describes the food as local and freshly prepared.

Plan on about an hour here. That break matters physically as well as socially. The downhill stretch after lunch is still ahead, so this is a good moment to drink water, check your footwear, and make sure you are ready for more steps.

The food has been a major part of the tour’s appeal, and the guides have also made a strong impression. Mikael has been praised for detailed, engaging explanations, while Fiamo has been singled out for making the outing memorable and for the quality of the lunch. Guide quality can shape a walking tour more than almost anything else, especially when the route itself is not marked out as a major attraction.

Massi Avelli and the Descent to Torno

After lunch, you continue around Piazzaga and pass the Massi Avelli. These are fascinating stone features along the route and add another layer of interest to the walk. The tour is strongest when it combines scenery with small, specific things to see, and this section does exactly that.

The walk then heads toward Torno, with about 45 minutes allocated to the town and approach. Torno is a picturesque lakeside settlement, and reaching it on foot gives the day a clear sense of progress. You started high above Como and worked your way down through the hills toward the lake.

This is also the part to take seriously if you are not used to hiking. One person specifically noted that the downhill route involves many steps and can be more challenging than the word easy suggests. The tour is suitable for ordinary walkers, but it is not suitable for people with mobility impairments, wheelchair users, or back problems.

Take shorter steps on the descent and avoid rushing. A mountain route can feel simple on paper, but repeated downhill steps place more strain on knees than a flat walk. If you are unsure about your fitness, the steep descent should be the deciding factor, not the funicular ride or the lunch.

Torno to Como by Boat

In Torno, you get one final view over Lake Como before boarding the boat. The cruise back to Como takes about 30 minutes and provides a relaxed finish after the walking.

I like this return because it completes the route without repeating ground. You see the hills from above, walk through them, then view the shoreline from the water. The boat ride also gives tired legs a proper break.

Boat schedules and local conditions can affect transport, so the return is part of the planned tour rather than something you need to arrange independently. The stated end point is back at the Como funicular meeting point.

If you book between March and April 2025, note the special change: the Como-Brunate funicular is closed for maintenance until April 13, and the boat ride is replaced by a bus. That removes two of the most appealing transport features, so check the operating details carefully for those dates.

What the $203.91 Price Includes

At $203.91 per person, this is not a budget walk. The value depends on how much of the day you would otherwise arrange yourself.

You receive a live guide, the funicular ticket, the boat ticket, and a substantial local lunch with wine and coffee. You also get a small group capped at 10 people, which is more personal than a large coach excursion. If you value local food and guiding, the price is easier to justify.

You could reach Brunate independently, follow walking routes, arrange lunch, and return by public boat for less money. That option would give you more control, but it would also leave you responsible for navigation, timing, tickets, and finding the right path through the villages and woods.

The tour’s value is strongest for visitors who want a ready-made day with cultural context. It is less compelling for confident hikers who already know the Como area and prefer to set their own pace. The included lunch and two transport tickets do prevent the price from being only a payment for someone to lead you along a trail.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms help if your Como schedule is still changing.

Who Should Book This Walk?

I would choose this outing if you want to combine lake views, village walking, and local food in one day. It suits people who enjoy a steady walk but do not want to plan a route through unfamiliar hills.

It is also a good match for visitors staying in Como who want to get away from the waterfront without spending a full day on a demanding mountain hike. The funicular removes the hardest initial climb, and the boat saves you from walking back.

You should think twice if you have back problems, limited mobility, or little tolerance for steep downhill steps. The route is not wheelchair accessible, and the 400-meter descent is a real physical feature, not a minor detail.

Bring hiking shoes, water, and a jacket. The day moves between open viewpoints, wooded paths, villages, and lakeside areas, so practical clothing matters more than looking polished for Como’s waterfront.

Should You Book It?

Book this tour if you want an active half-day with a clear route, a small group, a good meal, and two memorable forms of transport. The combination of funicular, ancient trail, Pietra Pendula, hillside lunch, and boat return gives you more variety than a simple scenic walk.

Skip it if you are seeking a gentle stroll or if downhill steps are a concern. The most honest description is easy for walkers, but demanding in places. For the right person, this is one of the more satisfying ways to see Lake Como beyond the usual waterfront views.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

Meet your guide in front of the Como-Brunate funicular station in downtown Como.

How far is the meeting point from Como Lago train station?

The funicular station is about a five-minute walk from Como Lago train station.

How long does the tour last?

The activity lasts six hours.

How long is the funicular ride?

The cable train from Como to Brunate takes about seven minutes.

Is the boat ride included?

Yes. The boat ticket and the return boat ride from Torno to Como are included.

What does lunch include?

Lunch includes one first course, one main course chosen à la carte, water, house wine, and coffee.

What should I bring?

Bring hiking shoes, water, and a jacket.

Is the walk suitable for beginners?

The activity is described as suitable for walkers, including untrained walkers, but it includes steep descents and a 400-meter downhill gradient.

Is the tour suitable for wheelchair users?

No. The activity is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments.

What languages are available?

The live guide service is available in English and Italian.

What happens if I book between March and April 2025?

The Como-Brunate funicular is closed for maintenance until April 13, 2025. During that period, the boat ride is replaced by a bus ride.

Can I cancel the booking?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.