Lake Como: Private Boat Cruise with Local Captain & Villas

Summary

Lake Como’s villas, secret stories & prosecco on the water

You’ll set off from Como with a local captain who brings Lake Como’s villas to life through stories and laughter. Glide past historic mansions like Villa Olmo and Clooney’s famous summer home, pause by ancient bridges and waterfalls near Nesso, sip prosecco on deck, and return feeling both relaxed and quietly amazed.

What’s the experience like?

“This is where Clooney waves sometimes — but he never waves back,” Luca grinned as we drifted past Villa Oleandra. I’d only just met him at the Lario Bar pier in Como, but he felt like an old friend by the time we were gliding out onto the lake in his little Pegaso 22. The engine was so quiet I could actually hear the soft slap of water against the hull, and there was this faint smell of sun-warmed wood mixed with something floral from the shore. Not what I expected from a motorboat tour at all.

Luca pointed out Villa Olmo first — honestly, I’d seen it in guidebooks but up close it looked almost too perfect, all pale stone and old trees leaning over the water. He told us about Simone Cantoni (the architect) and how Giuseppe Bisi painted it ages ago. I tried to imagine that scene without any boats or tourists. After that, we cruised past Villa Erba and then Villa d’Este — apparently Obama stayed there once? Luca had a story for every place; sometimes he’d switch to French for my friend or joke in Italian with some folks waving from another boat.

The best part for me was when we reached Nesso. There’s this gorge and a Roman bridge — supposedly two thousand years old — where kids jump into the water for Instagram videos (I definitely wasn’t brave enough). The air felt cooler here, almost damp, and you could hear the waterfall before you saw it. We shared a bottle of prosecco right then, just floating quietly while Luca told us about ghosts at Villa Pliniana (not sure if he was serious). On the way back, my hair was salty and tangled from the wind but I didn’t care. Sometimes you get these moments where everything feels lighter than usual — I still think about that view across the lake at sunset.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Private guided cruise on Lake Como

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

Top questions

How long is the private Lake Como boat cruise?

The cruise lasts approximately 2 hours.

Does the tour include drinks or snacks?

Bottled water, soft drinks, and Italian prosecco are included.

Where does the Lake Como boat tour start?

The meeting point is at the Lario Bar pier in Como; flexible pickup can be arranged upon request.

Is this Lake Como cruise suitable for families?

Yes, infants and small children can join; prams or strollers are allowed.

Will we see George Clooney’s villa on this tour?

Yes, you’ll pass by Villa Oleandra in Laglio, George Clooney’s summer home.

Is there a guide on board?

Your captain Luca guides you personally in English, Italian, or French.

Are hotel pickups available for this Lake Como cruise?

Pickup outside the standard meeting point can be arranged—contact ahead for details.

What’s included

Your private Lake Como boat cruise includes bottled water, soft drinks, a bottle of Italian prosecco to share on deck, plus stories from your multilingual local captain. Pickup at other locations is possible if arranged in advance—just ask when booking.