Lake Como Boat Tours: 1 to 8 Hours with Villa Views

Six centuries of villas drift past as the boat cuts across the water.

Lake Como boat tours range from a quick 1-hour cruise to a full 8-hour day on the water, with an English-speaking captain and guide narrating the lake's villas, waterfalls and towns. Depending on which option you choose, you'll stop in Bellagio or Varenna for walking time, pass Villa Oleandra (George Clooney's lakeside home) and Villa Le Fontanelle (Gianni Versace's former residence), and see landmarks like the 600-year-old Villa Pliniana and the dramatic Nesso Ravine. Prosecco or soft drinks come with any tour of 2 hours or longer. The boat holds up to seven guests and departs from multiple locations around the lake. Some pickup points carry an additional fee.

Step-by-step itinerary

Lake Como boat tour highlights

• View Como city and mountains
• Pass Villa Trubezkoy and Mandarin Oriental
• See Torno Town and Villa Pliniana
• Admire Civera's Bridge and Nesso Waterfall
• Stop 1 hour in Bellagio for walking
• Stop 30 minutes in Varenna
• Pass Villa Oleandra, George Clooney's villa
• View lake coast and villas
• Pass Villa Passalacqua and Villa Le Fontanelle
• Pass Villa D'Este, Villa Erba, and Cernobbio town

The experience

The boat leaves from one of several departure points around Lake Como (Como city, Bellagio, Menaggio, Varenna or other lakeside towns), and the captain narrates in English as you move through the water. You'll see the Como Cathedral and Brunate cable car from the lake, then pass a string of villas built in the mid-1800s that are now luxury hotels or private apartments. The route depends on which tour length you pick: a 1-hour option stays close to Como itself, while longer tours venture deeper into the lake's arms and stop in the towns that line the shore.

On the 2-hour Villas and Waterfalls tour, you'll pass Torno (a small town with a church square facing the water), and see the Civera Bridge and Nesso's ravine with its waterfall cutting down the mountainside. Longer options add stops: the 4-hour Bellagio & Varenna tour gives you an hour to walk and shop in Bellagio, then 30 minutes in Varenna, the most photographed town on the lake. The 1-hour Celebrities Villas cruise focuses on homes owned or rented by famous residents, including Villa Oleandra and Villa Le Fontanelle. The full 8-hour day covers the entire lake, passing Como, Bellagio, Varenna, Menaggio and the smaller villages in between, with time to photograph the houses, mountains and water.

Prosecco or soft drinks are included on any tour lasting 2 hours or more (for passengers 18 and up). The boat has a Bluetooth sound system so you can play your own music during the ride. Rain ponchos are on hand if the weather turns. Pickup from some locations requires an additional fee to cover fuel and travel time, which you can pay onboard with cash or card. You'll confirm your departure point by phone or message after booking. The boat accommodates up to seven guests.

What’s included

• English-speaking captain and guide.
• Prosecco wine or soft drinks on tours of 2 hours or longer.
• waterproof poncho.
• Bluetooth sound system for your own music.
• fuel and boat operation.

Options for this experience

6 options

Celebrity Villas (1 hour)Guide in English or Italian · 11 departure times: the first at 09:15, the last at 19:151-hour classic tour: see all the famous celebrity and historic villas of the Lake. Celebrity Villas (1 hour): Villa Erba, Villa d'Este, Villa Versace, Villa Oleandra and all the other stunning villa landmarks and landscapes. Maximum 7 people. Starting points: 22012 Cernobbio, Province of Como, Italy; Lungo Lario Trieste, 14, 22100 Como CO, Italy; Mandarin Oriental, Lago di Como, Via E. Caronti, 69, 22020 Blevio CO, Italy; Tavernola, Como CO, Italy; Villa d'Este, Via Regina, 40, 22012 Cernobbio CO, Italy.

Villas and Waterfalls (2 hours)Guide in English or Italian · 10 departure times: the first at 09:15, the last at 18:15Relaxing "Slow Boat" tour lasting 2 hours: see all the famous villas and waterfalls of the Lake, up to the iconic Nesso Waterfall. Villas and Waterfalls (2 hours): Villa Versace, Villa Oleandra, Nesso Waterfall and all the other stunning villa landmarks and landscapes. Maximum 7 people.

Cruise and See Bellagio (3 hours)Guide in English or Italian · 9 departure times: the first at 09:15, the last at 17:151-hour stop in Bellagio: enjoy Bellagio's narrow streets, the craft and art shops, the lake views and the many restaurants. A 3-hour boat tour in total, cruising to Bellagio with a photo stop and 1 hour in town. Ideal for Bellagio lovers! Cruising along the lakeside: Villa Versace, Villa Oleandra, Nesso Waterfall, Villa del Balbianello and all the other stunning villa landmarks and landscapes. Maximum 7 people.

See 3 more options

Bellagio & Varenna (4 hours)Guide in English or Italian · 8 departure times: the first at 09:15, the last at 16:15Stops in Bellagio and Varenna: enjoy Bellagio's narrow streets and shops, and Varenna with its famous Heaven's Gate! A 4-hour boat tour up to Bellagio and Varenna, with stops for walking and shopping (1 hour in Bellagio and 30 minutes in Varenna). Cruising along the lakeside: Villa Versace, Villa Oleandra, Nesso Waterfall, Villa del Balbianello and all the other stunning villa landmarks and landscapes. Maximum 7 people.

Tailor-made Boat Tour (6 hours)Guide in English or Italian · 6 departure times: the first at 09:15, the last at 14:15Fully customizable 6-hour "Free Riders" boat tour with your choice of routes, destinations and stops (up to Menaggio). Plan with the Captain! 6-hour free ride tour: the boat is at your disposal for 6 hours, with the itinerary and stops of your choice (up to Menaggio). Plan with the Captain! Maximum 7 people.

Full-day cruise on the Lake (8 hours)Guide in English or Italian · 09:15, 10:15, 11:15 and 12:15Fully customizable 8-hour boat tour: a tailor-made tour with your choice of routes, destinations and stops (up to Menaggio). Plan with the Captain! Cruise for a day on the Lake (8 hours): the boat is at your disposal for 6 hours, with the itinerary and stops of your choice (up to Menaggio). Plan with the Captain! Maximum 7 people.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day11 departure times: the first at 09:15, the last at 19:15Last departure this season: 30 Nov

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 nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Como Blue Lake

Is this one for you?Pick the 1-hour Celebrities Villas cruise if you want a quick taste of the lake's famous homes without committing a full day. Choose the 4-hour Bellagio & Varenna option if you want time to walk in the towns and photograph them properly. The full 8-hour day suits travelers who want to see the entire lake and don't mind spending most of the day on the water.

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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.

Can I book a custom tour length if none of the standard options fit my schedule?

Yes. Tours can be tailored starting from 2 hours, and you arrange the details by phone or message after purchase to set the length, departure point and stops that work for your day.

What is Villa Pliniana and why does it matter?

Villa Pliniana is a 600-year-old estate in Torno, protected as a historical monument by FAI (the Italian Foundation for the Environment). It's one of the oldest and most significant villas you'll see from the water on the longer tours.

Do the longer tours actually stop in the towns, or do you just pass by them?

The 4-hour Bellagio & Varenna tour stops for an hour in Bellagio and 30 minutes in Varenna so you can walk, shop and photograph. The 1-hour and 2-hour options pass the towns by water without stopping. The 6-hour and 8-hour options include stops as well.

What's included in the price, and what costs extra?

The tour price covers the boat, captain, English-language guide, fuel, a waterproof poncho, and Prosecco or soft drinks on tours of 2+ hours. Entrance fees to villas (like Villa Balbianello or Villa Carlotta) are not included. Some departure locations charge an additional fee, payable onboard.

How many people can fit on the boat?

The boat holds up to seven guests total, so it stays small and intimate for photography and sightseeing.