Lake Como: Easy Mountain Trek with Funicular & Boat Ride

The best part of this outing is the change of pace: you leave downtown Como by funicular, trade the crowds for wooded trails and small mountain villages, then return across the lake by boat. I like the old Roman trail and the lunch at a traditional baita, where the meal is part of the experience rather than a hurried stop at a café.

I also like the neat transport loop. You ride up by funicular and come back by boat, seeing Lake Como from two very different angles. Guides such as Mikael and Fiamo have been singled out for clear, passionate explanations. The catch is the word easy: the route includes many steps and a 400-meter downhill drop, so it can be demanding if you are not used to walking downhill.

Key points to know before booking

• Brunate to Torno: The route crosses mountain villages, forests, and old paths above Lake Como.
• Two classic rides: Your funicular ticket and return boat ticket are included.
• Lunch at a baita: The meal includes one entrée, a main course selected from the menu, water, house wine, and coffee.
• A steep finish: Expect a 400-meter downhill section, with plenty of steps.
• Small-group format: The group is limited to 10 people, with guiding in English or Italian.
• A seasonal transport note: From March through April 13, 2025, the funicular was scheduled to close for maintenance, with the boat ride replaced by a bus.

From Como’s funicular station to Brunate

Your morning or afternoon begins in front of the Funicolare Como-Brunate station in central Como. It is about a five-minute walk from Como Lago train station, and trains from Milan run every 30 minutes, making the meeting point fairly simple to reach without a car.

The funicular ride takes only about seven minutes, but it changes the setting quickly. You leave the busy lakefront and climb toward Brunate, a hilltop village known for broad views across Lake Como and the surrounding mountains. The ride itself is short, so have your camera ready before the car starts moving.

Once in Brunate, you begin on foot. The first stretch takes about 30 minutes and gives you time to settle into the pace. Your guide explains Como, the nearby mountains, and the villages you will pass. This is a useful part of the tour because the route is not only about views. The guide helps connect the places you see with the area’s local story.

The group size matters here. With no more than 10 people, you should be able to hear the guide and ask questions without the stop-and-start rhythm of a large coach group. Mikael has been praised for making the outing informative and memorable, while Fiamo has received especially strong praise for the quality of the tour and lunch.

Forest paths through Blevio and the mountain villages

The main walk takes roughly two hours through the mountains of Blevio, Sorto, and Cazzannoro. You pass through woods and characteristic villages rather than following a polished sightseeing route. That gives the day a more local feel, but it also means uneven ground, steps, and changing gradients.

I like this section because it shows you a quieter side of Lake Como. From the water, the lake can look like a series of grand villas and postcard towns. Up here, the focus shifts to footpaths, stone settlements, church views, and the ordinary mountain setting above the resort towns.

You should not expect a flat country walk. The tour description calls the activity suitable for walkers, including people without formal training, but also warns about steep descents. The downhill gradient is 400 meters, and one detailed comment points out that much of the descent is made up of steps. That is the most important practical fact to understand before you book.

Good hiking shoes are essential. Bring water and a jacket, even if Como feels warm at the start. You will be walking in the woods for several hours, and conditions can feel different from those at the lakefront. The route is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments, and it is not recommended for people with back problems.

Monte Piatto and the church of Santa Elisabetta

After passing through the mountain villages, you reach the small hamlet of Monte Piatto. This is one of the most appealing parts of the route because the setting feels remote while remaining part of the wider Como area.

At the church of Santa Elisabetta, you stop for panoramic views over the lake. This is a good place to pause and take in the shape of Como from above. The water, villages, and slopes appear in one broad view, giving you a clear sense of how steep the terrain is and how the settlements fit along the shoreline.

The church stop also gives the walk some variety. You are not simply ticking off viewpoints. The route combines a small religious site, a mountain hamlet, woodland paths, and local geology. Your guide can add context as you move, which is one reason the small-group format is useful.

The pace is guided, so you will not be choosing how long to linger at every stop. If you want a long, quiet photography session at each viewpoint, a self-guided walk may offer more freedom. If you prefer to keep moving while someone explains what you are seeing, this format is more convenient.

Pietra Pendula and the Massi Avelli

The route then reaches Pietra Pendula, an unusual giant boulder balanced on the tip of limestone rock. It is a quick visit of about 10 minutes, but it gives the walk a memorable natural feature beyond the standard lake views.

Pietra Pendula is the sort of stop that works well on a guided outing. Without local explanation, you might see a large rock and move on. With a guide, the formation becomes part of the character of the mountain route. It also breaks up the walking with a clear point of interest.

Afterward, you continue for about 40 minutes toward Piazzaga. Along the way, you pass the Massi Avelli, another unusual feature of the area. These carved stone structures add an archaeological note to the route and help explain why this is more than a scenic hike.

The walk has a pleasing rhythm: village, forest, church, rock formation, old stone remains, then lunch. It is not built around one major attraction. Instead, the value comes from the way several small sights fit together over six hours.

Lunch at a traditional baita in Piazzaga

Lunch is included and takes about one hour at a typical baita in Piazzaga. In this setting, the meal is a real part of the tour, not just an allowance to find food on your own.

The package includes one entrée, one main course chosen from the menu, water, house wine, and coffee. Fresh local food is promised, and the meal has received some of the strongest praise in the feedback. Fiamo, in particular, was credited with leading a great tour and providing an incredible lunch.

The menu is not specified in advance, so you should not book this expecting a particular dish. The useful point is that you get a seated local meal during the route, with drinks and coffee included. That saves you from carrying a full picnic and gives you a proper break after the first major stretch of walking.

The lunch stop also helps the day feel like an outing in the hills rather than an exercise session. You have time to rest, eat, and regain energy before continuing toward Torno. If you are concerned about the physical side of the tour, this pause is welcome, though it does not remove the long downhill section still to come.

The descent to Torno

After lunch, you continue toward Torno, a picturesque town on the eastern shore of Lake Como. The walk takes about 45 minutes, and this is where the route’s physical demands deserve your full attention.

The descent is scenic, but going downhill can be harder on knees and balance than many people expect. The route includes a substantial vertical drop and many steps. The word easy may fit the tour for regular walkers, but it can be misleading for anyone who rarely hikes or who is uncomfortable on uneven downhill paths.

Take the guide’s pace seriously and wear shoes with a secure grip. You should also bring enough water for the full walk. The tour is not designed for people with mobility limitations, and it is a poor choice if back trouble makes repeated steps uncomfortable.

Still, the descent gives you a satisfying sense of progress. You begin high above the lake and gradually work your way down to the water. By the time you reach Torno, you have seen Como from above and crossed a section of the mountain on foot, rather than simply stopping at a viewpoint by road.

Returning to Como by boat

In Torno, you take a boat back to central Como. The cruise lasts about 30 minutes and provides a calm final chapter after the walk.

This return is one of the tour’s smartest features. The funicular gets you uphill without spending your energy on a long climb. The boat brings you back at water level, allowing you to look up at the slopes and villages you have just crossed. It also gives your legs a break before the activity ends at the original meeting point.

The boat ticket is included, so you do not need to arrange separate transport from Torno. The activity ends back at the Funicolare Como-Brunate meeting point in Como. If you are planning another fixed appointment afterward, allow some breathing room, since a walking tour can be affected by group pace and trail conditions.

A maintenance note is important for anyone booking during the specified 2025 spring period. The Como-Brunate funicular was scheduled to be closed through April 13, 2025, and the boat return was to be replaced by a bus. Check the current arrangement before booking if your date is near a maintenance period.

Is the $203.91 price good value?

At $203.91 per person, this is not a budget walk. You are paying for more than a guide and a trail. The price includes the funicular, the boat, a full local lunch with water, house wine, and coffee, plus six hours of guiding in a group capped at 10 people.

That package can make sense if you want a planned day with transport handled for you. The funicular and boat create a complete route that would take more work to arrange independently. You also avoid the problem of reaching the mountain path, finding the correct descent, and working out how to return from Torno.

The value is strongest for visitors who want both outdoor time and local food. If you only want a short scenic ride or an easy viewpoint, this costs more than necessary. If you want a full half-day in the hills, a guide, a meal, and two different forms of transport, the inclusions make the price easier to justify.

The 4.7 rating from 24 reviews suggests a strong overall response, but the physical warning matters more than the number. The main concern is not poor organization. It is that the downhill route may be tougher than the word easy suggests.

Who should book this mountain walk?

I would recommend it to an active visitor who wants to see Lake Como away from the main waterfront. It suits you if you enjoy walking through woods, small villages, and historic routes, and if you like having a guide explain the area as you go.

It is also a good fit if you value a small group. Ten people is large enough for a social outing but small enough for direct contact with the guide. English and Italian are the available guiding languages.

I would not choose it for a relaxed sightseeing day in smart shoes. It is not suitable for wheelchair users, people with mobility impairments, or people with back problems. Even an untrained walker should be honest about comfort with steps, uneven paths, and a 400-meter downhill drop.

The cancellation policy gives you some flexibility: you can cancel up to 24 hours ahead for a full refund, and reserve now while paying later. Those terms help if your schedule in Como is still shifting, but they do not change the need to prepare properly for the walk.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a complete mountain-to-lake day, not just a funicular ride. You get forest paths, Brunate views, Monte Piatto, Santa Elisabetta, Pietra Pendula, the Massi Avelli, lunch in Piazzaga, and a boat back from Torno.

Skip it if your idea of easy means mostly level walking. The route has steep descents and many steps, and that is the deciding factor. For fit walkers who want a guided route with excellent views, a traditional meal, and simple transport in both directions, this is one of the more varied ways to experience the Como area.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

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 activity last?

The tour lasts six hours. Starting times vary, so check availability for your chosen date.

What transport is included?

The funicular ticket from Como to Brunate and the boat ticket from Torno back to Como are included.

What does lunch include?

Lunch includes one entrée, one main course selected from the menu, water, house wine, and coffee. It takes place at a typical baita in Piazzaga.

Is the walk suitable for beginners?

The route is described as suitable for walkers, including untrained walkers, but it includes steep descents and a 400-meter downhill gradient. Much of the descent is made up of steps.

What should I bring?

Bring hiking shoes, water, and a jacket. The walk continues through wooded areas for several hours.