Most Lake Como day trips from Milan aren’t limited to the city of Como along the shore, but include a turn on the Como-Brunate Funicular, built in 1894 to link the lakeside town to Brunate high above. Known as “the balcony of the Alps”, Brunate is a pretty clutch of art nouveau villas with scenic views at every turn, quiet for most of the year though bustling with tourists in the summer months.
From the Brunate cable car stop, you can walk another 30 minutes to San Maurizio and then take 140-plus steps to the top of the Volta lighthouse. Return to Como via the funicular or one of the many hiking trails that descend the hillside to the lakeshore.