Lake Como private boat tour: Villa d'Este & Villa Versace photos

Two hours on the water, three legendary villas, one captain who knows the angles

A 2-hour private boat tour on Lake Como aboard a luxury Bertram 25, departing from either Como or Bellagio, with a local captain who frames shots of Villa d'Este, Villa Versace, and Villa Balbianello. You choose your departure point at checkout. The tour stays focused on the First Basin's most photographed landmarks, with optional photo stops at each villa and time to take in the shoreline architecture and celebrity history without the crowds of public ferries.

Step-by-step itinerary

Lake Como private boat tour highlights

• Board luxury Bertram 25 boat
• Photograph Villa d'Este and Villa Versace
• View George Clooney's former home
• See Villa Pliniana and waterfall village
• Pass Comacina Island and learn history
• Spot Villa Rocca Bruna and Torno village
• Admire Villa Balbianello from boat
• View Villa Erba and Cernobbio promenade
• See Moltrasio, Carate Urio, and Laglio villages
• Pass Como city and lakeside sights
• View Blevio and Torno villages

The experience

You're staying near Como or Bellagio for a day or two, and the lake is right there, but the public boats run on a schedule and stop everywhere, and you want the villas, not a full-day drift. This tour cuts the crowded ferries and puts you on the Dream Boat, a 25-foot Bertram with an open-air design and the stability to hold steady while you frame a shot. Your captain knows exactly where to position the boat so Villa d'Este's neoclassical facade catches the light, and where Gianni Versace's former residence sits against the water. It's not a sightseeing tour that talks at you from a distance. It's built around the moment you actually want to capture.

The route covers the First Basin's signature stretch: Villa d'Este in Cernobbio, where the hotel maintains the grandeur of a 19th-century palace; Villa Versace, the 1970s fashion empire headquarters now a private residence; Villa Balbianello, the 16th-century cardinal's villa that doubled as a Bond set; and smaller estates like Villa Pliniana and the Rocca Bruna. You pass through villages like Moltrasio and Laglio, where villas line the shore, and you can see Comacina Island, Lake Como's only island, off Ossuccio. The boat makes optional photo stops at each major villa. You decide whether to linger or move on. A small waterfall near Bellaggio and the narrow streets of Torno are also on the route, depending on which departure point you choose.

The tour runs two hours total, which means no half-day commitment and no dead time in a hotel lobby. Bottled water and towels are on board. There's a cabin if the sun gets too much, a toilet, and a 12-volt socket if you need to charge a camera. The captain speaks English, Spanish, or Italian, and knows the history of who lived where and why: the Heinz family, George Clooney, the opera singer Giuditta Pasta. You pick your departure time and your starting point (Como or Bellagio) when you book.

What’s included

• Private boat transportation on a luxury Bertram 25.
• a local captain who speaks English, Spanish, or Italian.
• bottled water and bath towels.
• access to the boat's cabin, toilet, and refrigerator.
• a 12-volt socket for charging cameras or phones.

Options for this experience

2 options

2 hours, departing from Como or CernobbioUp to 8 per booking · Guide in English, Spanish or Italian · 12 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 20:00Duration: 2 hours. Departure options: Como, Cernobbio, Moltrasio, Carate Urio or Laglio. Starting points: Lungo Lario Trieste, 28, 22100 Como CO, Italy; Piazza Risorgimento, 22012 Cernobbio CO, Italy; Via Regina, 24, 22010 Moltrasio CO, Italy; Via Regina, Carate Urio CO, Italy; Via Vecchia Regina, 22010 Laglio CO, Italy

2 hours, departing from Bellagio or VarennaUp to 10 per booking · Guide in English, Spanish or Italian · 12 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 20:00Duration: 2 hours. Departure options: Bellagio, Lenno, Menaggio or Varenna. Starting points: Via Guido Delmati, 22016 Lenno CO, Italy; Via Imbarcadero, 23829 Varenna LC, Italy; Via Lungo Lario Manzoni, 22021 Bellagio CO, Italy; Viale Benedetto Castelli, 22017 Menaggio 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 timesEvery day12 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 20:00

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.

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Bertram sul lago

Is this one for you?Choose the Como departure if you're based on the western shore and want to start early. Choose Bellagio if you're on the eastern side and prefer a later morning slot. Either way, two hours is long enough to see the First Basin's signature villas and take photos without the fatigue of a full-day boat tour.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Italian.

Can I book this tour if I'm staying in Bellagio instead of Como?

Yes, you choose your departure point at checkout. The 2-hour tour departs from either Como or Bellagio, so you pick whichever is closer to where you're staying.

What is Villa d'Este and why is it famous on Lake Como?

Villa d'Este is a neoclassical palace in Cernobbio, built in the 1800s, now one of Italy's most prestigious five-star hotels. The hotel preserves the original architecture and grandeur, so it's instantly recognizable from the water and one of the most photographed villas on the lake.

Does the boat stop so I can swim or get out at the villas?

The tour includes optional photo stops at each villa, but the villas themselves are private residences or hotels. You photograph them from the water. The boat can stop for swimming at certain points along the route if you want to get in the lake.

What's included on the boat during the two hours?

Bottled water, towels, and access to a cabin and toilet are included. The boat also has a refrigerator and a 12-volt socket for charging devices. Your captain provides commentary on the villas and their history in your chosen language.

Is this tour crowded, or is it just my group?

It's a private tour, so only your party is on board. You're not sharing the boat with other travelers or waiting for public ferry schedules.