Brunate to Torno Hike with Lunch, Funicular & Ferry, Lake Como

Discover Lake Como the way locals do on this guided slow-travel adventure that combines panoramic trekking, village charm, and classic lake transport. You'll ride the funicular from Como to Brunate, hike through forested hills and mountain hamlets, and visit curious natural landmarks like the famous Pietra Pendula balancing stone. En route, you'll pause for a homemade lunch in a traditional crotto before descending to postcard-worthy Torno. The day ends with a public ferry ride back to Como.

Your adventure begins in Como, where you'll meet your certified guide at a historic cable railway station (in operation since 1894) and board the funicular for 7 scenic minutes to arrive in Brunate. A hillside village known for its sweeping views over Como, the lake, and the surrounding mountains, Brunate is aptly nicknamed the "balcony over the Alps" and is the starting point for the day's hike, about 6.2 miles (10 km). You'll set off along trails that wind through chestnut woods and mountain terrain, passing through the Blevio, Sorto, and Cazzannoro slopes and tiny settlements perched high above Lake Como.

The moderate hike follows the Strada Regia trail, which is relatively flat, with gently descending sections that lead you to the small Santa Elisabetta church in Monte Piatto, offering one of the area's most rewarding viewpoints. A short walk farther brings you to the Pietra Pendula, an enormous glacial boulder that appears to balance delicately atop a smaller stone, creating a curious image that has fascinated the locals for generations. Moving on, you'll continue to the hamlet of Piazzaga for lunch at a crotto, a rustic mountain eatery built into natural stone caves and known for serving hearty regional fare.

After lunch, you'll descend steeper segments, some rocky and with uneven ground, toward the lake, passing near the avelli boulders (ancient tombs carved into boulders), before reaching the charming village of Torno. With its narrow lanes, stone houses, and lakeside setting, Torno is one of the prettiest stops on the eastern shore. It's here you'll board a public boat back to Como, where you can loosen your boot laces and relax as you glide across the water for a restorative end to the full-day excursion.