Crotto del Sergente
What to order: the pumpkin risotto (for two), the trout ravioli or the lake fish guazzetto with riso in cagnone.
geocalia
Day itinerary · 46.00° N · 9.27° E
Como in a day from Milan, from the 1894 funicular to the seaplane over the lake.
An hour from Milan by train: the funicular to Brunate, lunch at the Crotto del Sergente, in the hills, and in the afternoon 30 minutes in a seaplane over the lake.
Leaving from
Direct flight to Milán fromBarcelona 1 h 45Palma de Mallorca 1 h 45Zaragoza 1 h 45Bilbao 2 hSantander 2 hValencia 2 hAlicante 2 h 15Madrid 2 h 15A Coruña 2 h 30Málaga 2 h 45
Part of Lake ComoItalian LakesAlpsFilm locations
Add to my trip
Total time9 h
By car1 h each way
From MilanTrain, about 60 min
From SpainFlight to Milan and train
Funicular€3.60 each way
Seaplane30 min, from €480 for two
DifficultyEasy
With childrenYes; the flight is expensive per seat
The plan
The day at a glance
Any part can be swapped for another without spoiling the day.
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Leave Milan 1 h by train
Milano Cadorna – Como Lago; €4.80 in second class
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1
Funicular from Como to Brunate and Walk to San Maurizio
7 min climb, €3.60 each way; stroll to the San Maurizio viewpoint
- 15 min by taxi4 km
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2
Crotto del Sergente
kitchen from 12:00 to 14:00 · closed on Wednesdays · book on their website
Via Crotto del Sergente, 13, Como · +39 031 283911
RestaurantBook - 15 min by taxi4,7 km
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3
Seaplane Flight from Como
Como Seaplanes · 30 min from €480 for two · booking; cancelled in bad weather
+39 351 594 2877
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Back home 1 h by train
Como Lago – Milano Cadorna
Approximate cost
About €480 per person
Adds up the activities and meals in the plan at their published prices; travel and accommodation not included.
The route
Funicular from Como to Brunate and Walk to San Maurizio
A day trip from Milan to the city of Como, at the southern tip of the lake, without a car. You go up on the 1894 funicular to Brunate to see the first arm of the lake from above, eat local cooking in an old hillside osteria and, in the afternoon, see it all from the air: 30 minutes by seaplane over Bellagio and Varenna, taking off from the water opposite the promenade.
Getting there from Spain
Fly to Milan (Malpensa or Linate) or to Bergamo and sleep the night before in Milan. Trenord regional trains leave Milano Cadorna station for Como Lago roughly every half hour; the arrival station is beside the lake, a few minutes from the funicular and the seaplane base.
The day, hour by hour
8:45 · Train to Como. From Milano Cadorna, about 60 minutes. It costs €4.80 in second class.
10:00 · Funicular to Brunate. It leaves from Piazza De Gasperi, beside the lake, and climbs in 7 minutes. Up top, continue on foot to the San Maurizio viewpoint, above the first arm of the lake and, on a clear day, towards the Alps. The Faro Voltiano tower has been closed since October 2026, but the esplanade already gives the view. Come back down by funicular.
12:45 · Lunch at the Crotto del Sergente. A short taxi ride to Lora, in the hills of Como. Two small rooms with stone walls, trout ravioli, lake-fish guazzetto with riso in cagnone and more than 200 wines. The kitchen serves from 12:00 to 14:00: book on its website.
15:30 · Seaplane over the lake. Taxi back to the lakefront. With Como Seaplanes, the 30-minute panoramic flight passes over Bellagio, Varenna, Menaggio and Argegno and returns to Como. It costs from €480 for two people. Book beforehand, and be clear that in bad weather it is cancelled.
17:00 · Return to Milan. Train from Como Lago to Milano Cadorna.
What it costs
The train, €4.80 each way. The funicular, €7.20 return. Lunch at the Crotto, according to the menu: the website does not publish prices. The seaplane is the big expense, from €480 for the 30-minute flight for two. Without it, the day comes to about €60–90 per person.
Time2 h
Change the route
Without the seaplane or in wind: boat from Como to Bellagio and back, cheaper and longer:
Boat Between Bellagio, Varenna and Menaggio
From 9 to 27 November 2026, with the funicular closed: bus or boat to Colonno and a stretch of the Greenway:
Lake Como Greenway, from Colonno to Griante
Where to eat
Where to eat?
Lunch is half the plan: book before you set off.
Ristorante La Punta
What to order: the lake antipasto and the riso in cagnone with perch fillet, or the grilled agoni.
Locanda Cavallino
What to order: the mixed lake-fish antipasto and the perch risotto, the house dish.
Map
The stops, in order
With where to park at each one.
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
Getting there
By car or without one?
When to go
When to go to Lake Como
Any day except Wednesday, when the Crotto is closed. Avoid 9 to 27 November 2026, with the funicular closed for works. The seaplane depends on the weather: choose a clear day and have a plan B.
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Best timeGood timeLow season
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Book two things
The table at the Crotto and the flight, which has seats per plane.
- 2Check the weather the night before
If there will be low cloud or wind, swap the flight for the boat.
- 3Not on a Wednesday
The Crotto is closed.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take from Milan to Como by train?
About 60 minutes from Milano Cadorna to Como Lago, with no changes, for €4.80 in second class.
How much does the seaplane cost?
From €480 for the 30-minute flight for two people; the one-hour flight, from €960.
What do I do if the funicular is closed?
From 9 to 27 November 2026 it is closed for works. Swap the morning for a boat or a stretch of the Greenway.
Can it be done with children?
Yes. They like the funicular and the walk to San Maurizio is on tarmac. The flight is paid per seat.
More plans like this
Other days of walking and good food
geocalia.com/en/italy/lombardy/lake-como/itineraries/como-brunate-seaplane-day-from-milan
Prices, opening hours and times are approximate: check them before you go. Each place has its own page on Geocalia.