Lake Como Private Boat Tour: Villa Balbianello & Bellagio

Villa Balbianello rises from the water where James Bond and Star Wars were filmed.

A private boat tour from Menaggio on Lake Como takes you past lakeside villas, gardens and villages at your own pace with a captain who speaks five languages. You pass Villa Balbianello (the Star Wars and Casino Royale filming location), sail by Bellagio's waterfront and Villa Melzi Gardens, and see the point where the lake splits into three branches. Prosecco, water and snacks are aboard. You choose between a one-hour, two-hour or three-hour route.

Step-by-step itinerary

Private boat tour of Lake Como villas

• Board comfortable powerboat
• Sail past Villa Maresi
• Sail past Villa Margherita Ricordi
• View Grand Hotel Cadenabbia
• Sail past Villa Carlotta gardens
• Pass Belle Epoque residences and Grand Hotel Tremezzo
• See Villa Sola Busca
• Sail past Villa Balbianello
• View village with church and Vela Placida gardens
• Pass beautiful village of Bellagio
• Sail past Villa Serbelloni and park
• View Villa Melzi gardens
• Sail past Punta Spartivento lake tip

The experience

Menaggio sits on Lake Como's western shore, and the tour departs from there in a private powerboat sized for your group. One boat holds fewer than five passengers, another seats five to nine. Captain Hellen and Captain Vol run the operation and speak English, Spanish, French, German and Italian. The boat moves at a pace that lets you take in each stop without rushing. The one-hour version passes the main attractions, while longer options give you more time at each one.

The route traces the lake's most storied shoreline. You'll see Villa Maresi, rebuilt in the 1500s on medieval castle ruins in English Gothic Revival style; Villa Margherita Ricordi, where composer Giuseppe Verdi wrote "La Traviata"; and Villa Carlotta, known for its azalea gardens and once owned by the Princess of Orange-Nassau. Bellagio appears next, its promenade and narrow streets visible from the water. Villa Melzi Gardens (one of Italy's most celebrated parks, built for Duke Melzi d'Eril) unfolds along the shore, and you see it from the lake, where the perspective shows the full scope of the grounds. Villa Balbianello, the filming location for two James Bond films and Star Wars, sits on a peninsula with its own park and buildings. Near the end, you pass Punta Spartivento, the point that divides Lake Como into three separate branches.

Prosecco (for adults 18 and over), bottled water, soft drinks and snacks travel with you. Wi-Fi is available on board. The captain's role is to guide you through what you're seeing, not to rush the experience. The designated hour is for passing the attractions, so you're not racing between stops. If motion on the water is uncomfortable for you, or if you're pregnant or have spinal injuries, this tour isn't the right fit. Check with the operator before booking.

What’s included

• Prosecco for adults, bottled water and soft drinks.
• snacks.
• private captain guide fluent in five languages.
• Wi-Fi on board.
• gasoline and boat operation.

Options for this experience

3 options

Private boat tour lasting 1 hourGuide in 5 languages · 9 departure times: the first at 10:30, the last at 18:30Lasts 1 hour

Private boat tour lasting 2 hoursGuide in 5 languages · 9 departure times: the first at 10:30, the last at 18:30Lasts 2 hours

Private boat tour of 3 hoursGuide in 5 languages · 10 departure times: the first at 10:30, the last at 19:30Lasts 3 hours

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

Before you book

Lasts 1h, runs Friday and Saturday, 10 start times, from € 450 per group, with live guides in 5 languages, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesFriday and Saturday10 departure times: the first at 10:30, the last at 19:30

Book up to1h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German 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 pregnancyNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Mylariosaurus

Is this one for you?Book the one-hour tour to see Bellagio and Villa Balbianello with minimal time commitment. Choose the longer option if you want to explore smaller villages and gardens at a relaxed pace.

Traveler reviews

4.90★★★★★★★★★★

10 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German 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 Balbianello and why does it matter?

Villa Balbianello is a lakeside estate on a peninsula that served as a filming location for two James Bond films (Casino Royale) and Star Wars. The villa sits within its own park and buildings, and you see it from the water as the boat passes.

Can I see Bellagio on this tour?

Yes. The boat sails in front of Bellagio village, where you can see the famous promenade and the narrow streets that line the waterfront from the lake.

How long does the tour actually take?

You can choose between one hour, two hours or three hours. The one-hour version covers the main attractions. Longer options give you more time to take in each stop.

Is alcohol included?

Prosecco (Italian sparkling wine) is included for adults 18 and older. Bottled water, soft drinks and snacks are available for all passengers.

What is Punta Spartivento?

Punta Spartivento is the point where Lake Como divides into three separate branches. The name means "windshed tip," and the boat passes it so you can see where the lake splits.