Como to Brunate in seven minutes.
The historic funicular climbs 500m of vertical from Como's lakefront to the village of Brunate. It is the easiest panoramic trip on the lake, runs into the night in summer, and operates year-round.
Duration
7 minutes
First / last
06:00 / 22:30 (winter)
Frequency
Every 15-30 min
Return ticket
€6.50 adult
Practical
Schedule & tickets
- Winter (Oct-Mar): 06:00 to 22:30, every 30 min outside peak hours.
- Summer (Apr-Sep): 06:00 to midnight, every 15 min during day, more frequent at golden hour.
- €3.60 one-way, €6.50 return adult. Reduced fares for under-12 and over-65. Group rates available.
- Info: 031 303608. Ticket office at the base station, Piazza De Gasperi.
Tips
Read this before you go
- Sunset is the move. Aim for 30-45 min before sunset; the basin glows and the night view from Brunate is worth the round trip.
- Skip the queue at peak. Saturdays and Sundays in summer the queue at the base can exceed 40 minutes. Mornings before 11:00 or evenings after 19:00 are quieter.
- Light jacket even in August. Brunate is 700m higher than Como — typically 5-8°C cooler.
- Stroller / bike unfriendly. The cabin is steep; strollers need to fold, bikes go in a separate compartment when available.
At the top
What to do in Brunate
Faro Voltiano
A 30-minute uphill walk from the funicular top station, the Voltiano lighthouse offers the widest panorama of the lake — basin one, Alps, and on clear days Milan in the distance.
Panoramic restaurants
Trattoria Baita Belvedere and a handful of family-run kitchens serve polenta, alpine cheeses and lake fish on terraces facing the basin. Reserve for weekends.
Hiking trails
The trail network from Brunate continues to San Maurizio, Capanna Mara, and back down to Torno via a 3-hour loop. Bring proper shoes — paths can be rocky.