Private Boat Tour Lake Como: Villa del Balbianello and Bellagio
Choose your own route across Lake Como's villas and villages
A private boat tour on Lake Como for up to six people, with a live English or Italian-speaking guide who tailors the route to what you want to see, from the 18th-century Villa del Balbianello and Villa Melzi Gardens to Bellagio's cobbled streets and the lake's quieter coves. You pick the duration (one to four hours) and the guide navigates accordingly. Water and prosecco are included.
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Step-by-step itinerary
Private boat tour on Lake Como
- Depart from Varenna
- Admire the Walk of the Lovers
- Pass Villa Cipressi and gardens
- View Villa and Botanical Garden
- Head to Punta Spartivento viewpoint
- Stop at Bellagio village
- Admire Villa Serbelloni Park
- Pass Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni
- See English gardens of Villa Melzi
- Arrive at Tremezzo village
- View Villa Carlotta and gardens
- Pass eclectic style building
- Admire Gulf of Venus and Villa Balbianello
- Pass Villa la Cassinella residence
- View historic Villa in Ossuccio
- See Ossuccio village and bell tower
- Pass Comacina island
- Admire Villa Oleandra in Laglio
- Cross to Nesso village
- View Nesso ravine waterfall
- Pass Civera bridge
- Pass Lezzeno village
- Return to Varenna
The experience
The boat leaves Varenna along the Lovers' Promenade, a cantilevered walkway that hangs over the water and frames the lake and mountains. From there, the route opens up. You'll pass Villa Cipressi with its botanical gardens descending to the shore, then Villa Melzi, whose English gardens from 1815 hold ancient trees, camellia hedges and forests of azaleas and rhododendrons. The guide points out what matters to you (the architecture, the botanical detail, the history) rather than rushing through a fixed script.
The boat crosses to Punta Spartivento, the watershed where Lake Como's two branches divide, then heads to Bellagio. On the four-hour tour you can get off and walk the village's cobbled streets, visit Villa Serbelloni Park or the Basilica of St. James. On shorter tours you see it from the water. South of Bellagio lies the Gulf of Venus, where Villa del Balbianello sits on a peninsula. An 18th-century mansion that has hosted writers and travelers. On the full four-hour tour, you can land and visit the gardens and villa (tickets are your own cost). The route continues past Villa Carlotta and its botanical collection, then west toward Laglio, where Villa Oleandra, George Clooney's Lake Como home, appears on the eastern shore.
The boat crosses back to the east coast to Nesso, where a natural ravine and waterfall frame the village clinging to steep shores. The Civera Bridge, a Roman structure rebuilt with medieval lines, sits above. From there you head north along Lezzeno's seven-kilometer coastline before returning to Varenna. Water and prosecco (for adults 18 and over) are on board. The guide speaks English or Italian, and you decide in advance which language suits your group.
What’s included
- Live guide in English or Italian.
- bottled water and prosecco for adults 18 and over.
- customizable route tailored to your interests and chosen duration.
Options for this experience
4 optionsYou pick the guide language when booking. Options with the same name differ in details you'll see when you pick a date.
Before you book
Prices and times updated yesterday
Operated by Nautica Garage Custom Park
Is this one for you?Book the four-hour tour if you want to land at Bellagio and Villa del Balbianello to explore on foot. Shorter options stay on the water and cover more distance.
Traveler reviews
Top questions
What languages is the guide 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 24h before the start.
Can I visit Villa del Balbianello and Bellagio on this tour?
On the four-hour tour you can get off at both. Villa del Balbianello requires a separate ticket (your cost) to enter the gardens and villa. Bellagio is free to walk. On shorter tours you see both from the water.
What's included in the boat tour?
Bottled water and prosecco (for adults 18+) are on board. The guide in English or Italian is included. Entry tickets to Villa del Balbianello and any village attractions are not included and are your own cost.
How many people can fit on the boat?
The boat holds up to six passengers, so it stays private to your group.
What happens if I book the one-hour tour instead of the full four hours?
The guide adjusts the route to fit the time. A one-hour tour covers fewer stops (typically Varenna, the Lovers' Promenade and nearby villas), while the four-hour tour reaches Bellagio, Villa del Balbianello and the eastern shore. You choose the duration that suits your schedule.
Is swimming possible on this tour?
Comacina Island, the only island on Lake Como, has a safe swimming area in summer. Whether the boat stops there depends on your chosen route and the guide's recommendation.
Do I need any experience or fitness level for this boat tour?
The tour suits all fitness levels. It's not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health. Infants must sit on an adult's lap.
Private Boat Tour Lake Como: Villa del Balbianello and Bellagio
4h · EN · IT
from € 300 per group
4.84306 reviewsVerified traveler reviews via our booking provider