Lake Como Private Boat Tour: Villas, Islands & Bellagio

Four hours crossing Lake Como's most filmed villas and secret swimming spots

A private boat tour of Lake Como lasting 2 to 4 hours, piloted by a local guide who shares stories of the lake's famous residents. You'll pass Villa Balbianello and its botanical gardens, see George Clooney's house and Gianni Versace's villa, stop at Comacina island to swim or have an aperitif, and explore Bellagio's ancient alleys and shops. The guide handles navigation and timing. You choose the duration.

Step-by-step itinerary

Lake Como private boat tour highlights

• Pass by Villa Erba and Villa d'Este gardens
• Pass by Gianni Versace's villa
• Pass by George Clooney's house
• Stop at famous waterfall
• Pass by famous wedding location
• Stop at popular small shops destination
• Stop at famous town with shops and charm
• Pass by Villa del Balbianello
• Visit Comacina island for swim or aperitif

The experience

Four hours on the water lets you move through the lake's most recognizable landmarks without rushing. The boat passes Cernobbio's Villa d'Este gardens, then Moltrasio where Versace's villa sits on the shore, then Tremezzo and its famous waterfall. Each stop has a story: the guide shares anecdotes about the people who've lived here and the films shot on these waters. You're not anchored to a schedule: the commander adjusts the pace and the stops based on weather and what you want to see.

Comacina island, the only island on Lake Como, is where the tour often pauses. If the weather holds, you can swim in the water. If not, you sit in the shade of the awning with a glass of wine and watch the light change on the surrounding peaks. Villa Balbianello comes next: a 18th-century villa with one of the lake's most celebrated gardens, used as a filming location for Star Wars and James Bond. Entry requires your own booking on the villa's website, but seeing it from the water is free. Bellagio, the most famous town on the lake, is the final stop: narrow alleys, small shops, and a particular kind of quiet that only exists in places tourists have already decided are worth visiting.

You pick the length when you book: 2 hours covers the main villas and a quick stop; 3 hours adds Comacina island and time to linger; 4 hours is the full route with room to swim or sit. Bottled water and sun protection are provided. The guide speaks English and Italian, and can arrange an evening aperitif if you want to stay out as the light fades.

What’s included

• Local guide in English or Italian.
• bottled water.
• sun awning.
• navigation lights for evening departures.
• possibility of swimming at Comacina island (weather and guide dependent).

Options for this experience

3 options

Private boat tour lasting 2 hoursGuide in English or Italian · 09:00, 13:00 and 16:00Lasts 2 hours: our medium-length option for those with limited time who still want an unforgettable experience. From Como, you admire the lake's most beautiful villas on the way to the Nesso waterfall, leaving from the Como marina.

Private boat tour lasting 3 hoursGuide in English or Italian · 11:00 and 15:00Lasts 3 hours, from Como to Villa Balbianello: leaving from the marina of Como, the route passes the Nesso waterfall and Comacina island before reaching the scenic Villa Balbianello.

Private boat tour lasting 4 hoursGuide in English or Italian · 10:00 and 14:00Lasts 4 hours, from Como to Bellagio: leaving from the Marina di Como, the route passes the Nesso waterfall, Comacina island and the famous Villa Balbianello.

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 day7 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 16:00

Book up to2h 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.

Paid on site€ 100

Prices and times updated 11 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Lake Como Vacations

Is this one for you?Choose the 2-hour tour if you want the main villas and Bellagio without a full afternoon commitment. Pick 3 or 4 hours if swimming at Comacina island or lingering in the smaller towns matters to you. The guide adjusts stops and pace based on what you want to see, so the tour is shaped by your interests, not a fixed itinerary.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

4 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

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 swim during the Lake Como boat tour?

Swimming is possible at Comacina island when weather permits, and you arrange it with the guide before departure. The tour includes the option. Whether conditions allow it on your date depends on the season and the day's weather.

What is Villa Balbianello and do I get to go inside?

Villa Balbianello is an 18th-century villa with botanical gardens on the lake's western shore, famous as a filming location for Star Wars and 007 films. You see it from the boat, but entry requires a separate ticket you book yourself on the villa's website. The tour does not include admission.

Does the tour pass George Clooney's house?

Yes, the boat passes Tremezzo, where Clooney's house is located on the shore. You'll see it from the water as part of the route, along with other notable villas and lakeside homes the guide can point out.

How long does the tour take and what's included in each option?

The tour runs 2, 3, or 4 hours depending on which option you choose at checkout. All options include a local guide, sun awning, bottled water, and navigation lights for sunset departures. The 2-hour tour covers the main villas. 3 and 4 hours add Comacina island and more time to explore Bellagio.

What is Comacina island like?

Comacina is the only island on Lake Como, a small stop where you can swim if weather allows or sit with a drink and take in the view. It's a break point in the tour, not a destination with shops or attractions. Just the water, the island, and the surrounding peaks.