4-Hour Private Boat Cruise Lake Como: Villa del Balbianello

A private captain navigates you past the villas where film stars live and Napoleon once stayed.

A 4-hour private boat cruise on Lake Como with a dedicated captain who knows the lake's history and landmarks. You'll pass Villa del Balbianello, Villa Oleandra (George Clooney's home), Villa Melzi in Bellagio, and other historic villas while swimming stops are available at your request. The boat holds up to six passengers and includes Italian sparkling wine and water on board.

Step-by-step itinerary

Private 4-hour Lake Como boat cruise

• Start tour at Sant'Agostino dock
• Admire Life Electric sculpture
• View Villa Olmo and gardens
• See Villa Erba in Cernobbio
• Pass Villa d'Este shore
• Arrive at Moltrasio, see Villa le Cassinelle
• Pass Carate Urio village
• Admire Villa Oleandra in Laglio
• Visit Comacina island and swim
• Go to Villa del Balbianello and Gulf of Venus
• Admire Villa Balbiano and Lenno
• See Tremezzo, Grand Hotel and Villa Carlotta
• Cross lake to Villa Melzi and Bellagio square
• Reach tip spartivento, aperitif and swim
• Sail along Varenna coast
• Pass Lezzeno towards Nesso
• Visit Orrido di Nesso and Roman bridge
• See Villa Pliniana and Grand Hotel Il Sereno
• Pass Mandarin Oriental and Villa Troubetzkoy
• Return to Como for drop off

The experience

Four hours on the water means you cover the full span of Lake Como without rushing. The boat departs from Sant'Agostino's floating dock and heads north along the western shore, where the captain points out Life Electric, Daniel Libeskind's sculpture, then Villa Olmo, a neoclassical mansion set in an Italian garden. From there the route passes Cernobbio to show Villa Erba (once Luchino Visconti's home) and Villa d'Este, the luxury hotel that hosts the Concorso d'Eleganza. You'll see Moltrasio, where Gianni Versace's villa le Cassinelle sits on the shore, and then Laglio, where Villa Oleandra belongs to George Clooney.

The boat continues to Comacina Island, Lake Como's only island, where swimming is possible. Then you reach Villa del Balbianello and the Gulf of Venus before crossing to Tremezzo to see Villa Carlotta and its grand hotel. From Lenno the route crosses the lake to Bellagio, where Villa Melzi (where Napoleon Bonaparte lived) comes into view. You'll pass the square and reach Spartivento, the point where the lake splits into two branches. This is where the captain serves the aperitif and offers another swim stop in one of the lake's clearest sections.

The return follows the eastern shore past Varenna, one of the lake's most characteristic villages, then Lezzeno and Nesso. You'll see the Orrido di Nesso and the Roman bridge of Civera, famous for photos, then Villa Pliniana (surrounded by ghost legends), the recently renovated Grand Hotel Il Sereno, and the Mandarin Oriental before dropping back at Como. Every stop and swim break is yours to choose. The captain adjusts the route to what you want to see and how long you want to linger.

What’s included

• Private boat with a dedicated captain.
• Italian sparkling wine.
• bottled water.
• onboard restroom.
• swimming stops at your choice of locations.
• personalized routing based on your interests.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day8 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 16:00

Book up to1h before

GroupPrivate

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.

Paid on site€ 1

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Boston Lake Como

Is this one for you?Book this if you're traveling as a couple, a family or a small group of friends: the private boat means no strangers, and the captain adjusts the route and pace entirely to what you want to see and how long you want to stay at each stop.

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Top questions

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 is Villa del Balbianello and why is it on this route?

Villa del Balbianello is a historic villa on the western shore of Lake Como near Lenno, and the boat coasts along its grounds and the adjacent Gulf of Venus as part of the full lake circuit. It's one of the named landmarks the captain navigates to on this cruise.

Can we swim during the 4-hour cruise?

Yes, swimming stops are included and available at your request. The captain can stop at Comacina Island or at a point near Bellagio where the lake is particularly clean and clear, depending on your preference.

Does the boat pass George Clooney's villa?

Yes, Villa Oleandra in Laglio, where George Clooney lives, is one of the villas you'll see from the water as the boat travels north along the western shore.

What happens if we want to explore a village instead of staying on the boat?

You can stop ashore at different towns and villages to explore at your own pace. The itinerary is entirely customizable, so you tell the captain where you want to spend time and the route adjusts around it.

How many people can fit on the private boat?

The boat accommodates up to six passengers, so it works for couples, families or small groups of friends without feeling crowded.