Lake Como yacht tour: Villa Balbianello, Bellagio, Varenna

A 4-hour private yacht cruise past lakeside villas and into swimming coves.

A 4-hour private yacht tour of Lake Como aboard an 8-meter Jeanneau Runabout, departing from Como and visiting Villa Balbianello, Bellagio, Varenna, and Menaggio. The captain navigates to villas, gardens, and waterfalls unreachable by road, and stops are customizable. Swim in the lake, taste Italian prosecco, and hear stories about the landmarks and the families who built them.

Step-by-step itinerary

4-hour Lake Como boat tour

• Board elegant Jeanneau Runabout 755 yacht
• Pass charming Lecco branch village
• Pass picturesque small fishermen village
• Visit Bellagio village and landmarks
• Pass Villa Melzi Gardens
• Pass waterfall and medieval Civera bridge
• Pass hamlet with Villa Pliniana and Il Sereno hotel
• Pass villas of Blevio including Mandarin Oriental
• Pass 18th-century villa for cultural events
• Pass elegant village with Villa d’Este Hotel
• Pass Villa Visconti filming location
• Pass cozy town with Villa Fontanelle and Villa Passalacqua
• Pass village with Villa Oleandra and shipyard
• Pass through Brienno, Argegno, Colonno, Sala Comacina
• Pass Isola Comacina island for swimming and prosecco
• Pass Villa del Balbianello and Villa Balbiano
• Pass picturesque village with Grand Hotel Tremezzo and Villa Carlotta
• Pass Menaggio village
• Tour end

The experience

The boat is an 8-meter Jeanneau Runabout 755, a wooden-style day cruiser with the sleek lines and retro charm of early-20th-century Italian runabouts. The captain handles navigation and the boat while you sit back. He entertains with stories about the villas, the lake's history, and the notable guests who have stayed in them: Winston Churchill at Villa Serbelloni in Bellagio, George Clooney at Villa Oleandra in Laglio, the Versace family at Villa Fontanelle in Tremezzo. The route is yours to shape: you tell the captain which stops matter most, how long to linger, and where to anchor for a swim.

Villa Balbianello, built in 1787 on a former Franciscan monastery, sits on a peninsula with views of Isola Comacina and the western shore. It was the set for Casino Royale and Star Wars II. Villa Melzi Gardens in Bellagio, built in 1808 for Napoleon's Vice-president and decorated by sculptor Antonio Canova, opens to the public and is a short walk from the boat. Varenna's waterfall (a 200-meter drop carved by two rivers through a natural canyon) is a swimming spot the road does not reach. Between the named stops, the boat passes Menaggio, Tremezzo, Laglio, and smaller hamlets, each with its own villas and stories.

Prosecco and soft drinks come aboard. The 4-hour window is the standard frame, but stops and timing shift to what you want. Pickup and drop-off at a point other than the standard meeting spot can be arranged by contacting the operator. The captain speaks English, Spanish, Italian, or French.

What’s included

• Italian prosecco.
• bottled water and soft drinks.
• captain's narration on the villas, towns, and lake history.
• customizable stops and swimming time.

Before you book

Lasts 4h, runs every day at 09:00 and 13:00, from € 950 per group, with a live guide in English, Spanish, French and Italian, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00 and 13:00Last departure this season: 30 Nov

Book up to10h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French 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 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Boat Lake Como 1975

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to see the villas and waterfalls of Lake Como without driving or taking a ferry. The yacht reaches coves and landing spots a car cannot, and the captain's knowledge of the families and the landmarks turns the sights into stories worth remembering.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French 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 we swim during the 4-hour tour?

Yes. The boat stops at swimming spots, including the waters around Isola Comacina and the natural canyon at Varenna's waterfall, where you can enter the lake. The captain chooses the stops based on your preferences.

What is Villa Balbianello and why does the tour go there?

Villa Balbianello is an 18th-century villa built on a peninsula overlooking Isola Comacina, now owned by Italy's National Trust and used for private events and film shoots. It is reachable only by boat or a steep walk, so the yacht gives you access without the hike.

Is the tour private, or do we share the boat with other groups?

The tour is private to your group. The Jeanneau Runabout seats a small party, and the captain customizes the route and stops for you alone.

What is included to drink?

Italian prosecco, bottled water, and soft drinks are included. Prosecco is not served to travelers under 18.

Can we change the stops or the length of time we spend at each one?

Yes. The captain arranges stops and timing with you before or during the tour. Villa Balbianello, Bellagio, Varenna, and Menaggio are the main landmarks, but the route is entirely customizable.