Lake Como night cruise: Private boat with villas and Prosecco

See Lake Como lit up at night, when the crowds leave and the villas glow

A private 4-hour night cruise on Lake Como departs from Como, Bellagio, Lenno or Menaggio, with your own captain and a boat that becomes your floating living room. You pass illuminated historic villas (Villa del Balbianello, Versace's former home, Richard Branson's lakeside residence, and others used for Casino Royale and Gucci), while the captain shares the lake's history and legends. Prosecco, pizza, sandwiches and fruit are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Private night cruise on Lake Como

• Board private boat "Crissi"
• Cruise Lake Como at night
• Enjoy panoramic lake views
• Pass historic villas and landmarks
• Hear stories and legends from captain
• Spot celebrity residences quietly
• Relax in romantic, tranquil setting

The experience

You're free for an evening and want to see Lake Como the way most visitors don't: after sunset, when the daytime tour boats have docked and the shoreline lights up. This private cruise runs 4 hours, starting from your choice of Como, Bellagio, Lenno or Menaggio. The boat, called the Crissi, is yours alone: no strangers, no fixed schedule beyond the time you board. Your captain, Max, is a guide as much as a pilot. He knows the lake's history, the villas' stories and which homes belong to celebrities who come out on the water once the paparazzi have gone home.

The route passes a string of villas that shaped the lake's reputation. Villa del Balbianello, a sixteenth-century landmark on the Lenno peninsula, appears lit against the dark water. It's been a location for Casino Royale and Star Wars. You'll see the villa Versace bought in the 1970s, the one Leonardo da Vinci is said to have inspired, and Richard Branson's exclusive residence: accessible only from the lake and ranked among the world's ten most exclusive homes. Each stop is optional: you can photograph, sit in silence or ask Max about the people who live there. A waterfall near Nesso drops over 200 meters into the lake, and the Comacina Island, Lake Como's only island, carries ruins from Romanesque times. The boat has Bluetooth speakers if you want music, and the captain can adjust the pace to match your mood.

Prosecco, bottled water, pizza, sandwiches and fruit come aboard. The evening ends where it began, your departure point, and you leave with the lake's night-lit shoreline still visible behind you.

What’s included

• Prosecco and bottled water.
• pizza, sandwiches and fresh fruit.
• Bluetooth sound system.
• captain and fuel for the 4-hour cruise.

Options for this experience

2 options

From Como-Cernobbio-MoltrasioGuide in English, Spanish or Italian · Available from 1 Jun 2027Departures are available from Como, Cernobbio, Moltrasio, Carate Urio and Laglio. Starting points: Piazza Domenico Croggi, 4, 22100 Como CO, Italy; Via Vecchia Regina, 63, 22010 Laglio CO, Italy

From Bellagio-Lenno-Menaggio-VarGuide in English, Spanish or Italian · Available from 1 Mar 2027Departures run from Bellagio, Lenno, Menaggio, Varenna and Tremezzo. Starting points: Contrada del Porto, 1, 23829 Varenna LC, Italy; Lake Como Water Taxi, Viale Benedetto Castelli, 9, 22017 Menaggio CO, Italy; Via Eugenio Vitali, 22021 Bellagio CO, Italy; Via Portici S. Pietro, 12/a, 22019 Tremezzina CO, Italy

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 timesNext departure: 1 Mar 2027

Book up to4h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish 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 yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Crissi sul Lago

Is this one for you?Choose your departure point (Como if you're staying near the city, Bellagio or Lenno if you're on the eastern shore, Menaggio if you're further north), and the captain picks you up from there. The private boat means you set the pace and stop where you want. The fixed 4-hour window is what fits the evening into a single night without running past midnight.

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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.

What time does the private night cruise leave Lake Como?

The cruise departs after sunset, when daytime crowds have left the lake. Exact departure times depend on the season and sunset. You'll confirm the time when you book and choose your starting point: Como, Bellagio, Lenno or Menaggio.

Can we stop at Villa del Balbianello during the cruise?

Villa del Balbianello is a photo stop on the route, and you can linger if you wish. The stop is optional, so you decide whether to photograph it, go ashore for a closer look or stay aboard and admire it from the water.

Is the boat private, or will there be other passengers?

The Crissi is your private boat for the 4 hours. No other groups join you. It's just your party, the captain and the lake.

What's included in the cruise?

Prosecco, bottled water, pizza, sandwiches and fruit are provided aboard. The captain and fuel are included, and the boat has a Bluetooth sound system if you want to play music.

Which villas do you pass on the night cruise?

The route includes Villa del Balbianello (used in Casino Royale and Star Wars), Versace's former residence, a villa built in 1573 that inspired Leonardo da Vinci, Richard Branson's lakeside home, a seventeenth-century villa featured in the Gucci film, and several others. Each is lit at night and visible from the water. Photo stops are optional at every villa.

Do I need experience or fitness to join the cruise?

The cruise suits all physical fitness levels. You're aboard a boat the whole time, so no hiking or strenuous activity is involved.