Private Lake Como boat cruise: Villas and Clooney's Laglio

Two hours on the water, the captain tells you who lives where

A private 2-hour guided boat cruise on Lake Como departing from Como pier, captained by a fisherman and nature lover who narrates the villas and shoreline in English, Italian or French. The Pegaso 22 motorboat carries up to six passengers and includes bottled water, soft drinks and Italian Prosecco. You see Villa Oleandra (George Clooney's summer home in Laglio), Villa Erba, Villa Olmo, the Orrido di Nesso ravine with its 2,000-year-old Roman bridge, and the Grand Hotel Il Sereno, all without arranging transport or managing a car on narrow lakeside roads.

Step-by-step itinerary

Private guided cruise on Lake Como

• Meet at Como pier, Lario bar
• Pass breakwater and Life Elettric installation
• Pass seaplane hangar, head north to Villa Olmo
• Admire Villa Olmo neoclassical villa
• Continue north along western shore to Villa Erba
• Pass Tavernola, Cernobbio, and Villa d'Este hotel
• Reach Punta Pizzo and Villa Le Fontanelle property
• Pass Moltrasio, Carate Urio, and reach Laglio
• See Villa Oleandra, George Clooney's home
• Visit Orrido di Nesso and Roman bridge
• Pass Villa Pliniana and Grand Hotel Il Sereno
• Pass Mandarin Oriental and Villa Troubetzkoy
• Return to Como for drop off

The experience

You meet the captain at the Lario bar on Como pier, where the Pegaso 22 (a 7-meter motorboat built by the A.Mostes shipyard, which has been making boats since 1913) is waiting. The boat has a sundeck and a quiet 260-horsepower sterndrive engine. Once aboard, the captain sets the route north along the western shore, and the two-hour loop begins.

The boat passes the breakwater where you see Life Elettric, a Daniel Libeskind installation, then heads toward Villa Olmo, a neoclassical estate from 1797 designed by Simone Cantoni. From there the route climbs the coast past Villa Erba, built between 1894 and 1898 for Luigi Erba, a pharmaceutical heir, in Alessian mannerist style. The captain continues past Tavernola and Cernobbio, pointing out Villa d'Este (the luxury hotel) and the octagonal church on the grounds of Villa le Fontanelle, once owned by Gianni Versace. In Laglio, you see Villa Oleandra, George Clooney's summer home, and the captain shares the stories and histories tied to each property.

Crossing the lake, you reach the Orrido di Nesso, a natural ravine between steep gorges where a Roman bridge (the Civera bridge, nearly 2,000 years old) spans the water. The route then passes Villa Pliniana, the Mandarin Oriental, and Villa Troubetzkoy before returning to Como for drop-off. Throughout, the captain entertains in Italian, English or French, drawing on his maritime experience and passion for the lake. Bottled water, soft drinks and Italian Prosecco come with the booking.

What’s included

• Two-hour private guided cruise on the Pegaso 22 motorboat.
• captain narration in English, Italian or French.
• bottled water, soft drinks and Italian Prosecco.
• pickup and drop-off at Como pier (alternative locations available on request).

Before you book

Lasts 2h, runs every day, 11 start times, from € 550 per group, with a live guide in English, French and Italian, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day11 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 19:00

Book up to1h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, French and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight 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 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by The Black Pearl

Is this one for you?Book this if you have a free afternoon in Como and want to see the famous villas, especially George Clooney's home, without renting a car or navigating the narrow lakeside roads. The private boat and captain's knowledge mean you move at a relaxed pace and hear the stories behind each estate, which you would miss driving or taking a public ferry.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, French 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 is Villa Oleandra and why do people want to see it on Lake Como?

Villa Oleandra in Laglio is George Clooney's summer home on Lake Como. The captain points it out during the cruise as one of the most elegant villas on the lake, and it is a recognizable landmark that many visitors want to see from the water.

Can I bring children or infants on this private boat cruise?

Yes. Infants can sit on an adult's lap or ride in a pram or stroller. The cruise is suitable for all physical fitness levels, and the boat's sundeck and calm waters make it manageable for families with small children.

What is the Orrido di Nesso and the Roman bridge the captain mentions?

The Orrido di Nesso is a natural ravine on Lake Como between steep gorges where a waterfall flows. The Civera bridge, a Roman bridge nearly 2,000 years old, crosses the water there. The captain sails close enough for you to see both the ravine and the ancient stone bridge from the boat.

What drinks and refreshments are included on the cruise?

Bottled water, soft drinks and Italian Prosecco are included with the booking. You can enjoy them on the sundeck while the captain tells you about the estates and landmarks passing by.

Can I arrange pickup from a hotel instead of meeting at Como pier?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off at locations other than the standard Como pier meeting point are available. Contact the operator for details about your specific hotel or location.