Lake Como boat tour: Villas and villages on a wooden gozzo

Two hours on the water past film-set villas and lakeside villages

A private boat tour of Lake Como aboard an 8-meter mahogany gozzo, departing from Bellagio and passing the major villas and villages of the lake's southern arms. You'll cruise past Villa Balbianello (used in Star Wars and James Bond films), Villa Carlotta, and the villages of Varenna, Tremezzo and Menaggio, with the option to stop for a swim at Isola Comacina. The tour runs two hours and holds up to seven people.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Lake Como by private boat

• Depart from Bellagio
• Visit Villa Melzi Gardens
• Stop at Varenna village
• Pass by Menaggio lakeside
• Explore Tremezzina area
• See Villa Carlotta gardens
• Pass Villa Balbiano
• Pass Villa del Balbianello
• Optional swim at Isola Comacina

The experience

You board an elegant wooden gozzo, a traditional Lake Como fishing boat, with a sun deck and comfortable seating for the full group. Luca and Giorgio, brothers who grew up on the lake, run the tour and know where to point the boat to catch each villa and village at its best angle. The route is flexible: you can ask to linger at a particular stop, skip ahead, or adjust the itinerary to fit what you want to see. If the water is calm, you can request a swim break at Isola Comacina, a small island in the middle of the lake.

The tour passes all the significant sites in a single arc: Bellagio's waterfront and the neoclassical gardens of Villa Melzi; Varenna's fishing-village character and the villas tucked into its shoreline; Tremezzo's two grand estates. Villa Balbianello on its wooded promontory and Villa Carlotta with its botanical gardens. You'll see Menaggio's flower-lined promenade and the Orrido di Nesso, a narrow gorge where the water cuts into the rock. The boat stays on the water the whole time. You're not landing at each stop, but seeing them from the vantage point of the lake itself.

Soda, snacks and wine come aboard, so you're not managing a separate meal or stopping to buy drinks. The guide speaks English, Spanish or Italian depending on your group. Two hours is enough to take in the whole southern lake without the fatigue of a full-day excursion, leaving the rest of your afternoon free for a meal in one of the villages or time back at your hotel.

What’s included

• Soda and soft drinks.
• wine and alcoholic beverages.
• snacks.
• live guide in English, Spanish or Italian.
• two hours of navigation time on the lake.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 16 Mar 2027

Book up to3h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 22 pickup points.

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.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

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

Operated by Blue Royal Charter

Is this one for you?Two hours leaves room for a leisurely lunch in Bellagio or Varenna afterward, or a morning tour that doesn't consume your whole day. The boat holds seven at most, so you're not competing for deck space or the guide's attention with a larger crowd.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish 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.

Can we stop to swim during the Lake Como boat tour?

Yes, if conditions allow. The tour can include a refreshing swim stop at Isola Comacina, a small island in the middle of the lake, though this is optional and depends on the water and weather on the day.

What are Villa Balbianello and Villa Carlotta, and why do they matter?

Villa Balbianello is an 18th-century estate on a wooded promontory that has been used as a filming location for Star Wars and James Bond films. Villa Carlotta is a museum and botanical garden built in the late 17th century and now one of the lake's major attractions. Both are visible from the boat as you cruise past Tremezzo.

Is the tour route fixed, or can we change it?

The tour can be customized to your liking. You can ask to linger at a particular village or villa, skip stops, or adjust the route based on what interests you most.

What's included in the two-hour tour price?

The tour includes soda, snacks and wine, so refreshments are covered. The guide is also included and speaks English, Spanish or Italian.

How many people can fit on the boat?

The wooden gozzo holds a maximum of seven people, so the group stays small and the boat doesn't feel crowded.