Sightseeing suggestions
Pay attention to the opening days and times during winter season from November to March !!!
Bruante is a beautiful village with numerous viewpoints and it is often called "Il balcone sulle Alpi" - "The Balcony on the Alps". It is connected to Como center by a 7-minute funicular ride. Brunate is famous for its Liberty-style villas, that had been built beginning of last century in the middle of mountain forests. It also attracts lots of visitors looking to hike in the surrounding natural landscapes. The beautiful views of plains, Milan, the Alps and even sometimes the Apennine (depending on the weather) can be enjoyed. Several bars and cafes offer local cuisine and pizza.
Funicular stop in Como:
Piazza Gasperi, 4
“Flat” walking tour - minimum climbing - walk to the panoramic point along the Liberty Villas way (10-15 minutes each way).
If you are not afraid of climbing 215 m up from the top station - even better view from the Lighthouse Faro Voltiano, named in the honour of Alessandro Volta (30-45 minutes walk each way).
Don’t forget to take some water with you for the trip. No special footwear is required, although hiking shoes are recommended. Restaurants/WC are available up on the hill near the lighthouse depending on the weather.
Bear in mind, that during touristic season the queue to get on funicular might be long, as the location is quite popular. Still, it is usually not worse, than trying to get a ferry trip...
If you're looking for a full-day hiking trip options - just ask and I will provide you with more details.
Funicular stop in Como:
Piazza Gasperi, 4
“Flat” walking tour - minimum climbing - walk to the panoramic point along the Liberty Villas way (10-15 minutes each way).
If you are not afraid of climbing 215 m up from the top station - even better view from the Lighthouse Faro Voltiano, named in the honour of Alessandro Volta (30-45 minutes walk each way).
Don’t forget to take some water with you for the trip. No special footwear is required, although hiking shoes are recommended. Restaurants/WC are available up on the hill near the lighthouse depending on the weather.
Bear in mind, that during touristic season the queue to get on funicular might be long, as the location is quite popular. Still, it is usually not worse, than trying to get a ferry trip...
If you're looking for a full-day hiking trip options - just ask and I will provide you with more details.
Villa del Balbianello
Via Guido Monzino, 1, 22016 Tremezzina COClosed on Monday and Wednesday
The famous villa, where the Star Wars wedding scene and James Bond hospital scene has been filmed.
The villa can be accessed only with a tour guide, so the tickets sell out fast, especially from May to September. Nevertheless, if you can't get into the villa, I still recommend visiting the garden as a part of your trip to Tremezzo area.
To get to the villa, take Fast Service (Servizio Rapido) ferry boat from Como to Lenno. From Lenno you can take a shuttle boat to the Villa.
You will have a fantastic photo opportunity from this boat while approaching the villa.
After having finished the visit in the villa or the garden of the villa, walk back to Lenno instead of taking a boat, to enjoy the surrounding forest (about 30 minutes walk).
After Villa Balbianello you can take a walk along The Greenway del Lago di Como and visit Villa Carlotta. See the dedicated section on this page below.
Parking options in Lenno in the vicinity of Villa del Balbianello
Paid parking - closest to the entrance - Via degli Artigiani, 2, 22016 Lenno CO
Free parking - 8 minutes walk from the entrance - 550m - Via Armando Diaz, 11, Lenno
Free parking - 10 minutes walk from the entrance - 750m - Via degli Ulivi, 3, Lenno
Free parking - 12 minutes walk from the entrance - 900m - Via dei Poeti, 10-12, Lenno
Free parking - 13 minutes walk from the entrance - 950m - Via Mattia del Riccio, 4-6, Lenno
Free parking - 16 minutes walk from the entrance - 1200m - Via Luigi Vaccani, 39, Ossucio
Remember, that a walk to the actual Gardens from the entrance gate takes at least additional 20-25 minutes through the park.
Villa Carlotta
Botanical gardens on the lake and historical villa.Greenway del Lago di Como
Hiking trail along the lake with panoramic viewsThe walk between Villa del Balbianello and Villa Carlotta is about 6 km and takes between 1,5 to 2 hours. Some parts of the way are uphill and cross the open areas with no shade, so make sure to use sunscreen in hot summer months and have water with you.
Official site
Parking lots along the trail
The Gardens of Villa Melzi
Gardens on the lake.If you want to avoid queueing for the Fast Service boat tickets, but still have a voyage on Lago di Como with some beautiful and picturesque spots - you can buy an online ticket for Regular Service and take a boat to Torno. The Regular Service boats are more frequent, than Fast Service, and tend to be less crowded.
!!! UPDATE Summer 2024 - Due to the high demand, the online sales have been suspended by Navigation Company of Como for routes to/from Torno. You can still get the tickets in the ticketing office on the lake shore.
Another possibility is to take a direct bus n.6 to Cernobbio from this stop, which is about 15 minutes walk rom the apartment. Buses run every 30 minutes (every hour on Sundays and on all days in August).
And from Cernobbio pier take a return ticket to Torno.
Torno is a nice little village on the lake with about 1100 inhabitants. Walk up the winding streets to get a better view of the lake or simply enjoy a drink in one of the bars near the peer.
On your way back, take a boat and disembark at Cernobbio. Walk around the lakeside historic part and approach the water for a photo with an outstanding background. Then have a coffee and a cake in famous Pasticceria Poletti - Via Regina, 34, 22012 Cernobbio CO.
Now you are ready to walk back to Villa Olmo - Via Simone Cantoni, 1, 22100 Como CO along the promenade with lake view (about 45 minutes - 2,5 km). On the way you can visit Museo Villa Bernasconi.
Feel free to message or call me in case you have any questions/doubts.
!!! UPDATE Summer 2024 - Due to the high demand, the online sales have been suspended by Navigation Company of Como for routes to/from Torno. You can still get the tickets in the ticketing office on the lake shore.
Another possibility is to take a direct bus n.6 to Cernobbio from this stop, which is about 15 minutes walk rom the apartment. Buses run every 30 minutes (every hour on Sundays and on all days in August).
And from Cernobbio pier take a return ticket to Torno.
Torno is a nice little village on the lake with about 1100 inhabitants. Walk up the winding streets to get a better view of the lake or simply enjoy a drink in one of the bars near the peer.
On your way back, take a boat and disembark at Cernobbio. Walk around the lakeside historic part and approach the water for a photo with an outstanding background. Then have a coffee and a cake in famous Pasticceria Poletti - Via Regina, 34, 22012 Cernobbio CO.
Now you are ready to walk back to Villa Olmo - Via Simone Cantoni, 1, 22100 Como CO along the promenade with lake view (about 45 minutes - 2,5 km). On the way you can visit Museo Villa Bernasconi.
Feel free to message or call me in case you have any questions/doubts.
If you're looking for a private boat tour on the lake (although it is quite pricey), my recommendation is this company:
Como Boat Rental
https://www.comoboatrental.it/
phone +39-340-648-7574
For reference, the 2024 prices for standard trips are as follows:
1 hour - 300 EUR
2 hours - 550 EUR
3 hours - 750 EUR
You can also ask for a drop off at Lenno, if you arrange the tour on the same day at Villa Balbianello and you can take a Fast Service ferry boat back to Como. Make sure, you get a ticket to Villa Balbianello in advance, as you will need it to disembark at the pier and enter the gardens.
They also have an option of renting a boat without a driver at a lower price - starting at 150 EUR an hour fuel included.
Como Boat Rental
https://www.comoboatrental.it/
phone +39-340-648-7574
For reference, the 2024 prices for standard trips are as follows:
1 hour - 300 EUR
2 hours - 550 EUR
3 hours - 750 EUR
You can also ask for a drop off at Lenno, if you arrange the tour on the same day at Villa Balbianello and you can take a Fast Service ferry boat back to Como. Make sure, you get a ticket to Villa Balbianello in advance, as you will need it to disembark at the pier and enter the gardens.
They also have an option of renting a boat without a driver at a lower price - starting at 150 EUR an hour fuel included.