Lake Como Private Boat Tour: Villas & Waterfall from Bellagio

Villa del Balbianello and the lake's most exclusive residences from the water

A private 2-hour boat tour of Lake Como departing from Bellagio, with an expert local guide navigating a 7-meter motorboat past historic villas, including Villa del Balbianello and properties once owned by Gianni Versace, George Clooney and Richard Branson. The boat seats up to six passengers and passes a 200-meter waterfall, the lake's only island, and landmarks featured in films like Casino Royale and Gucci.

Step-by-step itinerary

Private boat tour of Lake Como

• Board private 8-seater motorboat
• Visit historic villa bought by Gianni Versace
• Pass by villa inspiring Leonardo da Vinci
• See Villa D'Este luxury hotel
• View exclusive villa owned by Richard Branson
• Pass by George Clooney's former home
• Admire Villa del Balbianello filming location
• See village with spectacular waterfall
• Pass by Lake Como's only island ruins
• View 16th-century villa used in Gucci film
• Pass Villa Rocca Bruna Mandarin Hotel
• See city birthplace of Alessandro Volta
• Pass villa once owned by Luchino Visconti

The experience

The boat leaves Bellagio with your private guide Max, an expert on Lake Como's known and hidden corners. You'll pass Villa del Balbianello, a 16th-century residence that appears in Casino Royale and Star Wars, then move along the shoreline to see the villa Gianni Versace bought in the 1970s, the 16th-century Villa d'Este (now a five-star hotel), and the exclusive residence that belongs to Richard Branson. The motorboat, Crissi, is a 7-meter Scottiplast with a 203 HP engine and gives you a 360-degree view from the water: the only way to see these properties, since many are reachable only from the lake.

The route includes George Clooney's villa on the Como shore, a historic villa used to film scenes for Gucci, and Villa Rocca Bruna, once home to opera singer Giuditta Pasta and now the Mandarin Hotel Oriental. You'll also see Varenna, a small village where a waterfall drops over 200 meters from the mountainside, and Comacina Island, Lake Como's only island, where Romanesque ruins still stand. The guide speaks English, Spanish or Italian and points out the stories behind each stop, which architects designed them, which families owned them, which films used them as backdrops.

Bottled water is provided on board. The tour runs 2 hours and suits all fitness levels. Infants and small children can travel in a pram or stroller, and service animals are welcome. You depart from Bellagio, and public transportation options are nearby if you need to reach the dock.

What’s included

• Bottled water.
• expert local guide on board.
• private motorboat for your group alone.
• 360-degree views of the lake from the water.

Options for this experience

2 options

2 Hour TourGuide in English, Spanish or Italian · Available from 1 Mar 2027Two-hour tour with Prosecco and Italian wine. Departure: choose from Como, Cernobbio, Moltrasio, Carate Urio or Laglio. Starting points: Piazza Domenico Croggi, 4, 22100 Como CO, Italy; Via Vecchia Regina, 57, 22010 Laglio CO, Italy

Two-hour departure from BellagioGuide in English, Spanish or Italian · Available from 1 Mar 2027Two-hour tour with Prosecco and Italian wine. Departures from Bellagio, Lenno, Menaggio, Varenna or Tremezzo. Starting points: Contrada del Porto, 1, 23829 Varenna LC, Italy; Lake Como Water Taxi, Viale Benedetto Castelli, 9, 22017 Menaggio CO, Italy; Via Eugenio Vitali, 22021 Bellagio CO, Italy; Via Portici S. Pietro, 12/a, 22019 Tremezzina 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 timesNext departure: 1 Mar 2027

Book up to2h 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.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Crissi sul Lago

Is this one for you?Choose the Bellagio departure if you're staying on the lake's central shore and want to avoid a long transfer to the dock. The 2-hour length fits easily into a morning or afternoon without dominating your day in Como.

Traveler reviews

4.76★★★★★★★★★★

38 verified traveler reviews

5 ★35

4 ★1

3 ★0

2 ★0

1 ★2

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish 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 why does it show up in so many films?

Villa del Balbianello is a 16th-century residence on Lake Como's Lenno peninsula that was donated to the Italian Environmental Fund by mountaineer and explorer Guido Monzino. Its dramatic lakeside setting and historic architecture made it a filming location for Casino Royale, the 007 film, and Star Wars, and it's now a popular venue for exclusive weddings and events.

Can I see George Clooney's villa on this tour?

Yes. The boat passes the villa on the Como shore that George Clooney owns. It's one of several private residences you'll see from the water during the 2-hour route.

What happens at Varenna during the tour?

Varenna is a small village on the lake where a waterfall flows from the mountainside with a drop of over 200 meters. The boat passes it so you can see the waterfall from the water.

Is there an island on Lake Como, and does the tour pass it?

Comacina Island is Lake Como's only island, and the boat passes it during the tour. Romanesque ruins dating back centuries are still visible on the island.

How many people can fit on the boat?

The motorboat Crissi seats up to six passengers, so your group travels as a private party with no other bookings mixed in.