Lake Como speedboat tour: Private cruise with swimming & villas

You dock at villages most visitors only see from the water, and swim where the shoreline meets wild forest.

A full-day private speedboat tour of Lake Como takes you cruising between Como, Bellagio, Varenna and Menaggio, with docking stops at lakeside villages, villas and the island of Comacina. You swim in the lake, enjoy Italian wine, cheese and snacks on board, and have time to explore on foot or eat lunch ashore. The tour runs 6 or 8 hours depending on the option you choose.

Step-by-step itinerary

Lake Como speedboat tour and sightseeing

• View city from the lake
• Pass contemporary monument to Alessandro Volta
• See old and modern town views
• Pass neoclassic villas ending at Villa Olmo
• Pass famous wedding and movie locations
• Navigate along shore passing traditional villages
• Stop at island for Prosecco and swim
• Pass The House of Gucci filming location
• Visit Villa del Balbianello garden
• Dock for gelato in small town
• Stroll romantic village
• Dock at famous village for lunch and shopping
• Pass iconic fisherman's village and ancient bridge
• Visit charming small village
• Pass last town on return to Como

The experience

Bellagio and Varenna are the names everyone knows, but the real Lake Como unfolds between the docks. Your speedboat navigates the full shoreline: past George Clooney's villa at Laglio, past the stone bridge and hidden waterfall at Nesso, past the neoclassic villas that line the water like a gallery. You'll see Villa del Balbianello, where James Bond and Star Wars were filmed, and the gardens where scenes from Succession and The House of Gucci were shot. The boat stops at each village so you can walk the narrow streets, browse the shops, or sit down for lunch at a restaurant that opens onto the water. Comacina, the only island on the lake, is the quiet spot where you'll swim: Prosecco in hand, forest rising behind you.

The boat carries Italian wine, bottled water, genuine cheese, fresh fruit and baked snacks for the journey. You're not watching the lake from a distance. You're moving through it, stopping where it matters, and spending real time on foot in the places that drew you there. The 6-hour option covers the main route. The 8-hour version adds more villages and more time to linger. A guide travels with you in English or Italian, pointing out the villas and the history as you go.

Swimming happens at a designated stop where the water is clear and the shoreline is wild. Bring a change of clothes. Towels are not provided. Restrooms are on board. The boat departs from Como and returns there at the end of the day. Pets and service animals are welcome, and infants can travel on an adult's lap or in a pram if you need one.

What’s included

• Genuine Italian cheese, fresh fruit and baked snacks.
• bottled water.
• selected Italian wine.
• a swim stop at Comacina island.
• docking at lakeside villages and villas including Villa del Balbianello.
• a live guide in English or Italian.
• restroom facilities on board.

Options for this experience

2 options

6h private tourGuide in English or Italian · 9 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 17:15Lasts 6 hours: a private cruise aboard a luxury speedboat, stopping at the most scenic spots on Lake Como, namely Como, Bellagio and Varenna. The route runs from Como to Bellagio and Varenna and back, with time to stop at a lakeside restaurant and explore charming small towns. Speedboat: 31 foot. Pickup is included.

8h private tourGuide in English or Italian · 8 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 16:15Pickup is included.

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 day9 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 17:15

Book up to1d before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 22 pickup points.

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 nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Lake Como Cruise

Is this one for you?Choose the 6-hour tour if you want the main highlights and a moderate pace through the villages. Pick the 8-hour option if you prefer more time to explore on foot and linger over lunch at one of the stops.

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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 why does the boat stop there?

Villa del Balbianello is an 18th-century villa on a wild promontory with sumptuous gardens where scenes from James Bond films and Star Wars were shot. The boat docks there so you can walk the gardens and see the villa itself, though it is closed on Mondays and Wednesdays.

Can I choose how long I want to spend in Bellagio or Varenna?

Yes. The boat docks at both villages and you decide how long to stay: browse the shops, walk the streets, or sit down for lunch. The 8-hour tour gives you more time at each stop than the 6-hour option.

Where exactly do we swim, and what is the water like?

You swim at Comacina, the only island on Lake Como, in a natural setting surrounded by forest. The water is clear and calm at the designated swim stop, and the boat provides wine and snacks while you're there.

Is lunch included, or do I pay for it on the shore?

Lunch is not included in the tour price. You can eat at a lakeside restaurant or in one of the villages where the boat docks, and you pay for it separately.

What villages does the boat visit besides Bellagio and Varenna?

The boat docks at Menaggio, Nesso (where you'll see an ancient stone bridge and hidden waterfall), Laglio (home to a famous villa), and several other small villages along the shore. You also pass Moltrasio, Brienno and Argegno from the water.