2-Hour Private Wooden Boat Tour on Lake Como

Sail past the villas that line Lake Como from the water itself

A two-hour private boat tour on Lake Como departing from Como's tourist jetty aboard the Navicella del Lario, a traditional Venetian taxi renovated in 2021. The boat holds up to 11 passengers and follows the lake's shoreline to pass Villa Olmo, the luxury hotels of Cernobbio, Villa Erba, and Villa Oleandra in Laglio, with fresh water, soda and prosecco on board. The captain adjusts the route to your requests, and awnings cover the boat if weather turns.

Step-by-step itinerary

Private wooden boat tour on Lake Como

• Depart from Como tourist jetty
• Pass breakwater and Life Elettric installation
• Pass seaplane hangar
• Pass Villa Olmo neoclassical villa
• Head towards Cernobbio luxury villas
• Sail past Villa Erba
• Continue towards Moltrasio
• Pass Laglio and Villa Oleandra
• See Comacina island near Ossuccio
• Return to Como via east shore villas

The experience

Two hours on the water means you see the lake from the vantage point the villas were built to command. The Navicella del Lario leaves the Como tourist jetty and heads toward the breakwater, where you'll pass a Daniel Libeskind installation called Life Elettric, then the seaplane hangar. From there the boat moves along the western shore, passing Villa Olmo (a neoclassical structure built by the Odescalchi family), and continuing toward Cernobbio, where the concentration of luxury hotels and villas earned it the nickname "the Paris of the Lario." The boat then reaches Villa Erba, built between 1894 and 1898 for Luigi Erba, a major pharmaceutical industrialist of the time.

The route continues to Laglio to pass Villa Oleandra, the lakeside home of George Clooney, and then moves along Comacina Island, which sits across from Ossuccio and becomes especially striking during the fireworks that commemorate a historical fire. On the return to Como, the boat traces the eastern shore, showing the villas that face back across the water. The captain is available to adjust the itinerary or linger at any point that interests your group, and the boat carries awnings and full weather cover if conditions change.

The Navicella del Lario is wood and leather inside, designed for groups who want the lake without roughing it. Fresh water, soda and prosecco stay on board throughout, and the boat accommodates up to 11 passengers. Service animals are welcome. Dogs are not.

What’s included

• Fresh water, soda and prosecco on board.
• awnings and weather cover.
• captain available to adjust the route and linger at sites of your choice.
• service animals welcome.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day10 departure times: the first at 09:15, the last at 18:15

Book up to1h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Italian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Taxi Como Lake

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English and Italian, so you can follow the commentary in whichever language suits your group. Book this tour if you want to see Lake Como's villas from the water rather than from the shore, and if your group is small enough to fit on one private boat without splitting up.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Italian.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What villas will I actually see on this Lake Como boat tour?

Villa Olmo, a neoclassical villa built by the Odescalchi family; Villa Erba, constructed between 1894 and 1898 for a pharmaceutical industrialist; the luxury hotels and villas of Cernobbio; and Villa Oleandra in Laglio, the home of George Clooney. The boat also passes the Daniel Libeskind installation called Life Elettric at the breakwater and Comacina Island.

Can the captain change the route or spend more time at certain spots?

Yes. The captain is at your complete disposal to satisfy requests from the group, so you can ask to linger at any villa, island or landmark, or adjust the route based on what interests you most.

What happens if the weather is bad during the tour?

The Navicella del Lario has both awnings and full weather cover, so the tour runs in rain or wind. You'll stay dry and sheltered while still seeing the lake and its villas.

What's included to drink on the boat?

Fresh water, soda and prosecco are always on board and included with your tour.

How many people can fit on the boat?

The Navicella del Lario holds up to 11 passengers, making it suitable for small groups, families or couples who want a private experience.

Where does the boat depart from in Como?

The boat leaves from Como's tourist jetty at Lungo Lario Trieste, 26, 22100 Como. Public transportation options are available nearby if you need to reach the departure point.