Lake Como: Private Gozzo Boat Tour & Villa Views

Glide past five lakeside villas on a private Italian gozzo, drinks in hand

You board a private gozzo at your chosen pier and spend the afternoon gliding past five historic villas and their gardens without fighting tour groups or fixed itineraries. The captain steers, prosecco flows, and you decide whether to linger at Bellagio or push toward Villa del Balbianello. Bring a jacket and expect the lake to be colder than it looks.

Step-by-step itinerary

Private boat tour on Lake Como

• Board boat at chosen meeting point
• Depart from Varenna or Menaggio
• Admire lovers' walk in Varenna
• Pass Villa Cipressi and botanical garden
• View Villa and its botanical garden
• Cross lake to Punta Spartivento viewpoint
• Visit Bellagio's streets and gardens
• Admire Villa Serbelloni park
• Pass Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni
• See Villa Melzi English gardens
• Reach Tremezzo village on western coast
• Admire Villa Carlotta and gardens
• View eclectic style building sailing south
• Pass Gulf of Venus and Villa Balbianello
• Option to visit Villa Balbianello gardens
• Pass Villa la Cassinella gardens
• Skirt eastern shore along Lezzeno banks
• See Ossuccio and bell tower of Santa Maria Maddalena
• Pass Comacina island for swimming
• Admire George Clooney's Villa Oleandra in Laglio
• Cross lake to eastern coast village Nesso
• View Civera Roman bridge in Nesso
• Pass Lezzeno village coastline
• Return to meeting point in Varenna

The experience

The boat pulls away from the pier and you're already moving into open water: no crowds, no schedule beyond what you and the captain agree on. The gozzo cuts across Lake Como with enough room to breathe, and the shoreline starts revealing itself: Villa Cipressi slides past with its botanical gardens spilling down to the water, then Villa Melzi with its 1815 English gardens full of camellias and rhododendrons that have been there longer than most of the hotels on shore. The captain knows the lake and knows how to read it. If the light is right or you want to linger somewhere, he adjusts. If you want music or quiet, that's what you get.

The route depends on which pier you start from (Varenna, Menaggio, or Tremezzo), but either way you're crossing toward the landmarks that actually matter. Punta Spartivento comes up, the watershed that splits Lake Como into two branches, and from there the view opens north toward the mountains. Bellagio sits on the point with its cobbled streets and the terraced gardens of Villa Serbelloni rising behind it. Then you're heading south along the western shore, past Villa Carlotta with its art collection and botanical grounds, and into the Gulf of Venus where Villa del Balbianello sits on its own peninsula. The one that's been in films and hosted writers for centuries. If you want to stop and walk the gardens there, you can. Tickets are on you, but the captain knows the timing. The private boat tour on Lake Como means you're not herded through these places. You're seeing them from the water, which is how they were meant to be seen.

Soft drinks and prosecco come on board, and the captain will bring more if you ask: extra bottles are charged separately. The boat has safety gear for everyone, including kids, and the equipment is there if you want to use it. Bring a jacket. The wind picks up on the water even in summer, and shoes come off once you're aboard. If weather turns rough or the lake gets unsafe, the captain will cut the tour short or cancel. That's not negotiable, and it's the right call. The whole thing runs between two and four hours depending on how many stops you make and where you start.

What’s included

• Your afternoon includes use of the boat's onboard equipment, safety gear for all ages, soft drinks, and a bottle of prosecco.
• The captain steers past Villa del Balbianello, Villa Melzi Gardens, Villa Carlotta, Bellagio, and other lakeside landmarks, with the option to stop at Villa del Balbianello gardens if you want to visit (entry tickets separate).
• The tour runs 2 to 4 hours depending on your starting point and stops.

Options for this experience

3 options

Private boat tour lasting 1 hourGuide in English or Italian · Available from 26 Mar 2027Lasts 1 hour

Private boat tour of 2 hours on an Italian gozzo on Lake ComoAvailable from 26 Mar 2027Lasts 2 hours

Private boat tour lasting 4 hoursGuide in English or Italian · Available from 26 Mar 2027Lasts 4 hours

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: 26 Mar 2027

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 effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by BOAT ME Como Lake

Is this one for you?Pick this if you want to see the lake's main villas without joining a group tour or arranging your own transport: the private boat and flexible captain mean you move at your own pace and stop where the light or your mood says to.

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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 choose where the boat starts from?

Yes. The tour departs from Varenna, Menaggio, or Tremezzo depending on what works for you.

Is Villa del Balbianello included in the tour?

The boat passes it and can stop so you can visit the gardens, but entry tickets are separate and at your own cost.

What's included to drink?

Soft drinks and one bottle of prosecco are on board. Extra bottles cost extra.

How long does the tour last?

Between 2 and 4 hours, depending on stops and which starting point you choose.

Can the tour be cancelled?

Yes, if weather is bad or lake conditions become unsafe, the captain can reduce or cancel the tour.

Is it suitable for children?

Yes. Safety equipment is available for all ages, and the boat is suitable for all fitness levels.

Do I need to wear shoes on the boat?

No, shoes come off once you're aboard.

What if I want to swim?

Comacina Island, the only island on Lake Como, has a safe swimming area in summer.