The lower station is on the lakefront promenade, a short walk from the centre. The upper station deposits you in Brunate, a small hilltop village perched above the lake with views extending across Como and far into the Alps. The funicular runs about every 30 minutes throughout the day, more frequently in summer.
Brunate itself has a handful of restaurants and cafés, a lighthouse tower (the Volta Lighthouse, built in 1927 to honour Alessandro Volta), and a network of footpaths leading to higher vantage points. The most popular walk from Brunate continues on foot to the hamlet of San Maurizio, passing a carved stone map of the lake; another path descends back to Como along the old mule track, taking about 90 minutes.
The funicular ride in either direction costs a couple of euros. The views justify it even if you turn straight around — but the village at the top, and the walk beyond it, are worth the full afternoon.