Hiking at Lake Como from Brunate to Torno
Above Lake Como, there are many beautiful hiking trails with wonderful viewpoints over the lake with its villas and gardens all around. From Como, you can use the Funicolare funicular to Brunate. This way you can easily reach the first meters of altitude and visit the lighthouse dedicated to the physicist Alessandro Volta, who was born in Como. A varied hike for the whole family that requires a bit of physical fitness.
What to Expect from Hiking at Lake Como from Brunate to Torno
The day tour starts in Como, where the lower station of the cable car to Brunate is located. After overcoming the first meters of altitude, the hike to Monte Boletto at 1236 meters with a great panoramic view of the Alps and the lake. On hiking trails that partly lead through the forest, you go north to descend to Torno on Lake Como. From Torno the ship goes back to Como. The hike takes about 5:30 hours and has long descents. It is varied and well suited for families with older children.
Description of the Hike at Lake Como from Brunate to Torno
- Duration: 5.5 Hours, without a lunch break and detours
- Difficulty level: 2 out of 5
- Distance: 14.6 km
- Minimum altitude: Como 198 m
- Maximum altitude: Monte Bolletto 1227 m
- Total climb: 1104 m
- Gradient (total): 1568 m
Starting Point Como
The starting point of the hike is Como. Como ist auch mit öffentlichen Verkehrsmitteln gut erreichbar, so dass man nicht auf das eigene Fahrzeug angewiesen ist. Von Mailand, Bahnhof Cadorna fährt die Nordbahn Trenord bis Como Lago, perfekter Ausgangspunkt, da man nach wenigen Minuten die Funicolare erreicht. Alle 15 min fährt die Standseilbahn Funicolare nach Brunate und überwindet auf ihrer Fahrt einen Höhenunterschied von 500 m, was einen herrlichen Blick über Como und die Bootsanlegestellen freigibt. In Brunate angekommen, kann man sich eine kleine Stärkung und einen Cappuccino mit Aussicht gönnen, bevor die Wanderung beginnt.
From Brunate to the Alessandro Volta Lighthouse
The path is well signposted from Brunate. Passing beautiful villas, which are usually protected from view by high hedges, the Mulattiera, a former donkey trail always leads uphill to the San Maurizio district. In the summer months, numerous visitors and walkers bustle here. In San Maurizio there is a parking lot, a bus goes up from Brunate every hour and there are several restaurants and bars, mostly with a beautiful lake view. It is worth taking a small detour to the left up to the Alessandro Volta lighthouse. On particularly clear days, apart from Como, the lake with its villas in Cernobbio, Chiasso, and nearby Switzerland, you can see the massif of Monte Rosa to the west and the Monviso in the southwest. To the southeast are Lago di Montorfano and Lago di Alserio, with which the Brianza area begins, as the area between Northern Milan and the Prealps is called.
Ascent to Monte Boletto
From San Maurizio, a district of Brunate, a wide, well-signposted hiking trail leads past refreshment points, which are called Trattoria, Locanda, Capanna, Rifugio, and Baita. It goes into the mountains, always uphill to Monte Boletto at an altitude of 1236 m.
Descent to Torno
We go back the same way, past two huts to the junction on the right hand with the sign Monte Piatto / Torno. Since there are no other places to stop on the way down to the lake, it is advisable to check your supplies at this point. After Torno, the path leads exclusively downhill through a dense chestnut forest, and only in the winter months is the view of the lake not blocked. If you are lucky, you will find traces of wild boar and ibex. After about an hour and a half, we reach Monte Piatto, a small housing estate. After the village, a few steps lead up to the church, where you can take a short break with a beautiful view of the lake. Don’t miss the attraction on the way, the boulder Pietra Pendula. It is a small detour and the way to the massive Pietra Pendula stone is well signposted. After a few meters, the path through the forest goes right down to Torno. Passing an estate in which there is another giant erratic block, the path now turns into a forest road that leads directly down to Torno.
From Torno to Como
In Torno, you can almost get lost in the narrow streets before you come across the main street through the village. The church of San Giovanni Battista is worth seeing. You have to walk a bit towards the main street to get to the small harbor of Torno, which is surrounded by a piazza. Bars invite you for an espresso before heading over the lake to Como. The ship docks in Moltrasio, Cernobbio Villa d’Este, and Tavernola before reaching the terminal at Como.
Why Hiking at Lake Como with milano24ore?
Services Included in the Price
We provide a Lombardy authorized Nature Guide that speaks your language. Our guide will accompany you on this hike. He or she will give you interesting details on the way and draws your attention to the special features of the region and the special cuisine around the Como Lake. This will give you some insight into the culture, flora and fauna of Lombardy lakes.
Additional Services
– Lunch during the hike
– Private or public Boat cruise
– Overnight stays with breakfast and dinner in a comfortable hotel
– Tour extensions with a regional wine tasting tour
– Private transfers
Exclusive and in Your Language
The hiking tour is organized only for you and your fellow travelers. They are conducted in the language you choose. We have experienced local guides for Italian, German, English, French. Other languages on request or with an interpreter.
Arrival and Meeting Place
Your guide can meet you at Como funicular station or at your hotel in Como or at the lake. We can organize transport to the meeting point and collect you from the endpoint.
Stages of the Hike at Lake Como
Volta’s Lighthouse
The Alessandro Volta lighthouse was built in 1927 after a project by the engineer Gabriele Giussani in memory of the 100th anniversary of the death of the brilliant physicist Alessandro Volta, to whom the unit of electrical voltage volts is dedicated. The 29-meter high lighthouse has an octagonal base. Inside, a spiral staircase with 143 steps leads to the top of the tower, which opens up a fantastic panorama over Lake Como. Access to the tower is open on Sundays and public holidays.
Monte Boletto 1236 meters altitude
The mountain peak is rather unspectacular but invites you to a fantastic panoramic view of the Alpine belt. To the west: Monviso and Monterosa, to the north Matterhorn and Bernina. The mountain peaks between the lake shores of Lake Como (Monte Bolettono, (Monte Palanzone, and (Monte San Primo)) and the Massif des Grigna and Resegnone on the eastern shore of the Lecco arm are visible to the east.
Pietra Pendula
A huge granite stone from the ice age keeps its balance on a smaller limestone. The limestone was probably worked by people in ancient times so that both stones form a mushroom on top of each other. The huge boulder made of granite of approx. 60 t and size of 2x4x3 meters must have been pushed out of the Val Masino at a height of 610 m in the ice age.
Church San Giovanni Battista of Torno
The exact origins of the temple are unknown, but its history dates back to the 6th century. The original church, built in the Romanesque-Lombard style, also has Gothic elements. The numerous fresco paintings inside the church are particularly beautiful. The relics of the “Holy Nail” and the Santi Innocenti, which were brought here by a German bishop after the first crusade, are said to be behind the altar.
Hiking Alone at the Como Lake
You are welcome to get inspired by our description of this hike. However, we recommend to not hike alone and do not go without an experienced local licensed guide. Mountains are risky and you can get lost or surprised by the weather. Also, our description might have small errors, be incomplete or outdated. Therefore, we recommend you book the tour with us and let us take care of the organization.
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