Lake Como & Lugano tour from Milan: Private boat cruise

A private boat lets you linger on the water instead of timing arrivals around ferry schedules.

This 10-hour day trip from Milan crosses two countries (Italy and Switzerland) with a local guide, walking tours of Como, Bellagio and Lugano, and a one-hour private boat cruise on Lake Como. The exclusive boat means no queuing for public ferries and flexibility to stay longer at stops. You'll see Villa del Balbianello (featured in Star Wars and Casino Royale), Villa Melzi Gardens and Monte Brè, with free time in Lugano for Swiss chocolate. A valid passport is required to enter Switzerland. EU citizens can use an ID card instead.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each3 stops

1. Villa Melzi Gardenspassing by
2. Monte Brè1h
3. Villa del Balbianellopassing by

Explore Lake Como and Lugano

• Travel from Milan to Como
• Guided walking tour in Como
• Visit Cadenabbia village
• Explore Bellagio and have lunch
• Exclusive private boat cruise on Lake Como
• View Villa Carlotta from boat
• View Villa Melzi from boat
• View Villa del Balbianello and Villa Balbiano from boat
• Arrive in Lugano, Switzerland
• Free time in Lugano city center
• Taste Swiss chocolate in Lugano

The experience

The day starts in Milan and moves east toward Como, where a guided walking tour introduces the medieval town's art and history in its ancient squares. From there the route continues to Cadenabbia and then Bellagio, the "Pearl of Lake Como," where you walk the famous narrow staircase alleys lined with colorful houses and have lunch at a local restaurant. This is where the private boat cruise begins. A one-hour sail that gives you a perspective of the lake villas and gardens you would miss from the shore.

During the cruise, your guide points out Villa Carlotta with its botanical gardens, Villa Melzi set among its lakeside gardens, and Villa del Balbianello, the neoclassical villa that appeared in Star Wars and Casino Royale. You sail past the gardens and natural shoreline without the constraints of public ferry timing. The boat is air-conditioned and holds a small group, so the experience stays intimate rather than crowded.

The final stop is Lugano, Switzerland, where you have free time to walk the city center and buy Swiss chocolate. The tour is conducted in English or Spanish, and an audio headset helps you hear your guide over the vehicle and water noise. The full day runs 10 hours, with private transportation between all stops. Note that the order of Como and Lugano may shift depending on the itinerary, and in bad weather or high water levels, the private boat may be replaced with public navigation for safety.

What’s included

• Private transportation throughout the day.
• professional guide speaking English or Spanish.
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• walking tours of Como, Bellagio and Lugano.
• audio headsets.
• one-hour private boat cruise on Lake Como with views of Villa del Balbianello, Villa Melzi Gardens and other lakeside villas.

Before you book

Lasts 10h, runs every day at 08:45, from € 117 per person, with a live guide in English and Spanish and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:45

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (14 and older) · Child (3 to 13 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 53

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Audio guideEnglish and Spanish

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.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

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

Operated by Wanderinitaly

Is this one for you?Choose this if you want a private boat to set your own pace and timing instead of following public ferry schedules, plus a guide who speaks English or Spanish throughout the day.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 13 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What's included in the price for this day trip from Milan?

The tour includes private transportation between Milan and all stops, a professional English or Spanish-speaking guide, an air-conditioned vehicle, walking tours of Como, Bellagio and Lugano, audio headsets, and a one-hour private boat cruise on Lake Como. Lunch is not included. You eat at restaurants in Bellagio at your own cost.

Do I need a passport to visit Lugano on this tour?

Yes, you need a valid passport to enter Switzerland. EU citizens can use a national ID card instead. Bring your original document with you.

What happens if the weather is bad on the day of the tour?

If weather is severe or the lake water level is too high for safety, the private boat cruise is replaced with public ferry navigation. The rest of the tour (the walking tours and visits to Como, Bellagio and Lugano) continues as planned.

How much walking is involved in this tour?

You walk through the medieval streets and staircase alleys of Como and Bellagio, and explore the center of Lugano on foot. The tour requires at least a moderate level of physical fitness. It is not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health.

Can I visit the villas during the tour?

The tour includes views of Villa del Balbianello, Villa Melzi Gardens and Villa Carlotta from the boat and from the shore. Admission to the villas and their museums is not included. You see them from outside or from the water during the cruise.

Is hotel pickup included in this tour?

Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. The tour departs from Milan and returns there. You arrange your own transportation to and from the meeting point.