Lake Como Private Cruise from Bellagio: Customizable itinerary

Four to eight hours steering your own route past the lake's most exclusive villas

A private speedboat cruise on Lake Como departing from Bellagio with a fully customizable itinerary of 4 to 8 hours. You choose the stops, the pace and the time spent at each villa and village, sailing past residences of celebrities and historic landmarks inaccessible from shore. A local captain adapts the route to your mood and interests, and you can swim from the boat's aft deck whenever you want.

Step-by-step itinerary

Private customizable Lake Como cruise

• Board the private speedboat
• Sail past famous villas and residences
• Photo stop at Villa Balbianello
• Pass by Villa Pliniana and Villa Mantegazza
• View Villa Erba and Villa d'Este from the lake
• See Bellagio village and its parks
• Pass small villages like Moltrasio and Laglio
• Visit Comacina Island and nearby waterfall village
• Enjoy swimming and relaxing on the boat
• Customize stops and speed with the captain

The experience

Four to eight hours is yours to shape. Most Lake Como tours lock you into a fixed schedule and a crowded boat. This one hands you the itinerary. You board the Dream Boat at Bellagio (or Varenna, Lenno or Menaggio if you prefer) and tell the captain where to go. Pass Villa del Balbianello, the 16th-century landmark that doubled as a set for Casino Royale and Star Wars, or skip it and head straight to George Clooney's residence on the Laglio shore. The boat is a high-stability speedboat built for the lake's conditions, not a ferry designed to move bodies through stops on schedule.

What makes this different is the swimming. You're not watching the water from a crowded deck. You're floating in it. The large aft deck is there for a private dip whenever the mood strikes, and the captain will cut the engine and hold position while you're in. Sail past Richard Branson's villa (one of the ten most exclusive residences in the world, the listing notes), then past Villa Pliniana, named after the ancient naturalists Pliny the Elder and Younger who were born in Como. The boat carries bottled water, a refrigerator, a cabin and a toilet, so a full day on the water doesn't mean sitting in the sun for eight hours straight.

The captain speaks English, Spanish or Italian and knows the lake well enough to read the weather and your energy. If you want to linger at Bellagio's stepped streets and craft shops, or walk to Pescallo for a different view of the lake, he'll wait. If you'd rather push north toward Cernobbio and Villa d'Este (now a five-star hotel), that's the route. Comacina Island, the only island on Lake Como, is reachable in minutes. The whole day, or half day, stays in your hands.

What’s included

• Private speedboat transportation for the full duration.
• bottled water and refrigerator.
• cabin and toilet access.
• bath towels.
• 12-volt socket for charging.
• a local captain who speaks English, Spanish or Italian and customizes the route to your preferences.

Options for this experience

2 options

Half Day CruiseGuide in English, Spanish or Italian · 12 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 20:00Lasts 4 hours

Full Day CruiseGuide in English, Spanish or Italian · 5 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 13:00Lasts 8 hours

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 20:00Last departure this season: 31 Dec

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

Prices and times updated 12 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 half-day option if you're splitting your Lake Como time between villages and water, or the full-day cruise if you want to explore both branches of the lake and linger at the villas and villages that catch your eye. The customizable itinerary means you're not locked into a schedule the moment you board.

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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's the difference between the half-day and full-day cruise options?

The half-day cruise runs 4 hours and the full-day cruise runs 8 hours. Both follow the same customizable model. You pick the duration that fits the rest of your Lake Como itinerary and choose your stops within that window.

Can I really swim in Lake Como from the boat?

Yes. The boat has a large aft deck designed for swimming, and the captain will hold position while you're in the water. Bring a swimsuit if you plan to use it, though the choice is entirely yours.

What is Villa del Balbianello and why does it matter?

Villa del Balbianello is a 16th-century villa on the Lenno shore that's now owned by the FAI (Italian National Trust) and open to visitors most days. It's one of the most photographed spots on Lake Como and was used as a filming location for Casino Royale and Star Wars. You can sail past it for photos or arrange a stop if you want to walk the grounds (about a 20-minute walk from Lenno).

Which villas and villages can I visit on this cruise?

The boat passes dozens of named villas and villages depending on your route: George Clooney's residence in Laglio, Richard Branson's villa, Villa Pliniana, Villa d'Este in Cernobbio, Bellagio's center with its stepped streets and gardens, Varenna with its pastel houses, and Comacina Island. You choose which ones to stop at and which to pass.

Do I need boating experience or a license to book this?

No. The captain handles all navigation and boat operation. You're a passenger with control over the itinerary, not the helmsman. No experience or license is required.