Private boat tour Lake Como: Villas and mountain views

Four hours on the water, passing Richard Branson's villa, George Clooney's lakeside home, and the gardens of Villa Balbianello

A private motor boat tour of Lake Como for groups up to seven, with a live guide in English, Spanish or Italian. You cruise past centuries-old villas and mountain villages, making photo stops at landmarks like Villa del Balbianello and Villa Oleandra. Prosecco, water and snacks are included. The boat departs from Bellagio, Lenno, Menaggio or Como depending on your choice at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Private boat tour on Lake Como

• Board private motor boat Crissi
• Admire Villa D'Este and gardens
• See Villa Fontanelle by Gianni Versace
• View Villa Oleandra, George Clooney's home
• Pass Villa Pliniana, historic villa
• See Villa la Cassinella and Villa Balbianello
• Visit Villa Rocca Bruna, Mandarin Hotel Oriental
• Explore Villa Carlotta and botanical garden

The experience

You board Crissi, a private motor boat, and spend the morning or afternoon on the water instead of crowded ferries. The lake sits between the Alps, and the route passes villas that are only reachable from the water: properties like Villa la Cassinella, once owned by architect Dr. Mantegazza and now home to Richard Branson, and Villa Oleandra, where George Clooney lives. Your guide points out the landmarks and stops where you want to linger for photos or to step ashore.

Villa del Balbianello, a seventeenth-century residence on the Gulf of Venus of Lenno, appears on the route. It has a botanical garden and was used to film scenes in Casino Royale, 007 and Star Wars. You'll also see Villa Carlotta, famous for its art collections and botanical gardens, and Villa Pliniana, built in 1573 and said to have inspired Leonardo da Vinci. Other stops include the town of Bellagio, positioned where the lake's two branches meet, and smaller villages like Nesso, where a waterfall drops over 200 meters from the hillside. Como itself, birthplace of physicist Alessandro Volta, is included depending on your departure point.

The boat carries prosecco, bottled water, snacks and fruit. The tour runs four hours and departs from one of four lakeside towns (Bellagio, Lenno, Menaggio or Como), so you choose the starting point that fits your hotel or itinerary when you book.

What’s included

• Prosecco Italian wine.
• bottled water.
• snacks and fresh fruit.
• a live guide in English, Spanish or Italian.
• and fuel for the private motor boat.

Options for this experience

2 options

From Como-Cernobbio-MoltrasioGuide in English, Spanish or Italian · Available from 1 Mar 2027Departures from Como, Cernobbio, Moltrasio, Carate Urio and Laglio. Meeting points: Piazza Domenico Croggi, 4, 22100 Como CO, Italy, and Via Vecchia Regina, 63, 22010 Laglio CO, Italy

From Bellagio-Lenno-Menaggio-VarGuide in English, Spanish or Italian · Available from 1 Mar 2027Tour with departures from Bellagio, Lenno, Menaggio, Varenna and Tremezzo. Meeting points: Contrada del Porto, 1, 23829 Varenna LC, Italy, and 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 to1h 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.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Crissi sul Lago

Is this one for you?Choose your departure town based on where you're staying (Bellagio if you're in the central lake region, Como if you're at the southern end), so the boat picks you up close to your hotel and you don't lose time traveling to the dock.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Italian.

Can I stop at Villa del Balbianello to walk around?

Villa del Balbianello is a photo stop on the route. You can go ashore for leisure time and explore the grounds and gardens, then reboard the boat to continue.

What's the difference between the Como and Bellagio departure points?

The tour covers different villas and villages depending on which town you depart from. From Bellagio, Lenno or Menaggio you see the central and western villas. From Como you start at the southern end and cruise north, passing Como's landmarks before reaching the same villa stops.

Is the guide with us the whole time?

Yes, a live guide in English, Spanish or Italian travels with the boat and narrates the route, pointing out each villa and village as you pass.