Private Boat Tour Lake Como: Bellagio, Varenna & Villas

A professional captain navigates the lake while you stay aboard one handcrafted motorboat.

A private motorboat tour of Lake Como departing from Bellagio or Varenna, with a professional captain guiding you past Villa Carlotta, Villa Balbianello, Villa Melzi Gardens and the village of San Giovanni. You pick the duration (from a single hour to a full day), and the boat is yours alone. Bottled water is included. An aperitif with the best local products arrives at sunset on longer tours.

Step-by-step itinerary

Private boat tour on Lake Como

• Depart from Bellagio or Varenna
• Visit San Giovanni village
• Explore Villa Melzi Gardens
• See Bellagio historic center
• Visit Villa Carlotta
• Tour Villa del Balbianello
• Enjoy cocktail aperitif on board

The experience

Bellagio sits on the promontory where Lake Como splits into two branches, and a private motorboat lets you see both from the water instead of from the shore. The boat itself matters here: the manufacturer is known in the lake region for artisanal production and a limited fleet, so you're not boarding a rental with a hundred others. A professional captain steers, which means you get narration about what you're passing: the 18th-century Villa del Balbianello on its wooded point, the Baroque Villa Carlotta near Tremezzo with its art collection, the Neoclassical gardens of Villa Melzi rising from the shoreline near Bellagio. San Giovanni, a quiet village on the western shore between Bellagio and Menaggio, appears as a peaceful stop where the lake narrows.

The tour length is your choice: one hour for a quick taste, three hours for the main villas, four to six hours to linger at the gardens and villages, or a full seven-hour day if you want to cover everything slowly. On the longer options, an aperitif arrives at sunset with products the operator selects. Bottled water is provided throughout. You'll need to arrive 10 minutes before departure, and the boat accommodates infants on an adult's lap. The captain speaks English, Spanish or Italian depending on your preference.

What’s included

• Motorboat with a professional captain.
• bottled water.
• aperitif with local products at sunset on tours longer than three hours.
• narration of the lake's villas and villages in your chosen language.

Options for this experience

7 options

The Pearl of the Lake, 1 hourGuide in English, Spanish or Italian · 23 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 19:00Duration: 1 hour. Tour, 1 hour

The Wonders of the Lake, 2 hoursGuide in English, Spanish or Italian · 20 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 18:00Duration: 2 hours. The Wonders of the Lake, 2 hours

VIP tour, 3 hoursGuide in English, Spanish or Italian · 19 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 17:00Duration: 3 hours. VIP tour, 3 hours

See 4 more options

Exclusive Lake Como Tour, 4 hoursGuide in English, Spanish or Italian · 17 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 16:00Duration: 4 hours. Exclusive Lake Como Tour, 4 hours

Lake Como Experience, 5 hoursGuide in English, Spanish or Italian · 15 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 15:00Duration: 5 hours. Lake Como Experience, 5 hours

The Gems of Lake Como, 6 hoursGuide in English, Spanish or Italian · 13 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 14:00Duration: 6 hours. The Gems of Lake Como, 6 hours

Full-day luxury lake tour, 7 hoursGuide in English, Spanish or Italian · 13 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 14:00Duration: 7 hours. Full-day luxury lake tour, 7 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 day23 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 19:00Last departure this season: 16 Nov

Book up to3h 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 today

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Bellagio Boat Tour

Is this one for you?Choose this private boat if you want to control your itinerary (linger at villas and villages that appeal to you, or keep it brief) rather than follow a fixed group schedule.

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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 is Villa del Balbianello like from the water?

Villa del Balbianello sits on a wooded promontory with views across Lake Como, an 18th-century mansion that once hosted writers and travelers. From the motorboat, you see the villa and its garden framed against the lake and mountains.

Can I pick how long the tour lasts?

Yes. Tours run from one hour up to a full seven hours, so you choose the length that fits your day. Longer options include time to explore the gardens and villages more slowly, and an aperitif at sunset.

Will I share the boat with other groups?

No. The motorboat is yours alone for the duration you book. The operator limits production to keep the fleet small and the experience private.

Where do I meet the boat?

Departures are from Bellagio or Varenna. Arrive at your chosen meeting point 10 minutes before the start time.