Lake Como Private Boat Tour: Villa del Balbianello & Bellagio

Drift past the lake's grandest villas from the water itself

A 3-hour private wooden boat tour of Lake Como departing from Como, aboard the Navicella del Lario: a traditional Venetian taxi renovated in 2021 and moored at your disposal. The boat passes Villa Olmo, Villa Erba, and George Clooney's Villa Oleandra in Laglio, then continues to Bellagio for a short stop in the village before returning along the eastern shore. Groups of up to 11 travel with a captain who tailors the route to requests.

Step-by-step itinerary

Private 3-hour Lake Como boat tour

• Depart from Como tourist jetty
• Pass breakwater and seaplane hangar
• View Villa Olmo
• Head towards Cernobbio
• Admire Villa Erba
• Pass Moltrasio to Laglio
• See Villa Oleandra in Laglio
• View Comacina island near Ossuccio
• Visit Villa del Balbianello in Lenno
• Stop for short visit in Bellagio Borgo
• Return to Como via east shore villas

The experience

The Navicella del Lario is a wooden boat with leather and wood interiors, entirely renovated in 2021, moored on Lake Como and available for private hire. You board at the Como tourist jetty on Lungo Lario Trieste and depart toward the breakwater, where you'll see the Life Elettric installation by Daniel Libeskind and the seaplane hangar. The boat then heads toward Cernobbio (known as the Paris of the Lario for its luxury villas and hotels), and passes Villa Olmo, a neoclassical structure built by the Odescalchi family in the 18th century.

As you continue along the western shore, you'll sail past Villa Erba, built between 1894 and 1898 for pharmaceutical industrialist Luigi Erba, and then toward Laglio to see Villa Oleandra, the lakeside home of George Clooney. The route also takes in Comacina Island, a strip of land in front of Ossuccio that becomes especially striking when fireworks recall a historic fire from the past. Villa del Balbianello, located in Lenno with gardens open daily from 10 to 18 (closed Mondays and Wednesdays), is visible from the water and can be visited if you wish to stop. The boat then arrives in Bellagio, where you can disembark for a short visit to the village before the return journey along Lake Como's eastern shore.

Fresh water, soft drinks and prosecco are always on board. Sun awnings and a weather cover protect you from the elements. The captain is at your disposal to adjust the route based on your preferences, and pickups can be arranged from anywhere on Lake Como if you're not starting from Como.

What’s included

• Fresh water and soft drinks.
• prosecco.
• sun awnings and weather cover.
• captain at your disposal to tailor the route.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day9 departure times: the first at 09:15, the last at 17:15

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 effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Taxi Como Lake

Is this one for you?Three hours is long enough to reach Bellagio and see the major villas on both shores, but short enough to fit into a morning or afternoon without consuming your whole day on the lake. The private boat means you set the pace and can linger at any stop or skip ahead based on what interests your group.

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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.

What is Villa del Balbianello and can I visit it from the boat?

Villa del Balbianello is an 18th-century villa in Lenno with gardens that open daily from 10 to 18, except Mondays and Wednesdays. The boat passes it during the tour, and you can arrange a stop to visit if you wish.

Does the tour stop in Bellagio and how long do we stay there?

Yes, the boat arrives in Bellagio for a short visit to the village before returning to Como along the eastern shore. The stop is brief and built into the 3-hour itinerary.

What happens if the weather turns bad during the tour?

The Navicella del Lario has a weather cover that deploys in case of rain, and sun awnings provide shade in clear conditions, so the tour can proceed comfortably in most weather.

Can I see George Clooney's villa from the boat?

Yes, Villa Oleandra in Laglio, George Clooney's lakeside home, is one of the elegant villas you'll pass during the tour on the western shore.

How many people can fit on the boat and is it private?

The boat accommodates up to 11 passengers and operates as a private charter, so your group travels alone with the captain and can request adjustments to the route.