Private Lake Como Boat Tour: Villa del Balbianello & Varenna

Cruise past lakeside villas and mountain peaks reflected in the water

A private customizable boat tour on Lake Como where you choose the duration, from one to six hours, and the guide tailors the route to your interests. Stop at Villa del Balbianello and its gardens, explore the medieval streets of Varenna, drift past Comacina Island, and see the Orrido di Nesso gorge. Bottled water and towels are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Lake Como boat tour and sightseeing

• Photo stop
• Visit hotel, gardens and pool
• Explore villa, gardens and terrace
• Photo stop
• Photo stop
• Photo stop
• Visit Orrido di Nesso gorge
• Explore Comacina Island
• Photo stop at Villa Balbianello
• Visit villa and garden
• Explore Bellagio resort
• Photo stop at Villa Monastero
• Visit Varenna village
• Photo stop at Villa Pliniana
• Visit hotel and gardens
• Explore castle villa, lift and garden

The experience

The boat departs with a live guide who speaks English or Italian and steers toward the stops you want to see. Villa del Balbianello anchors most itineraries: a lakeside residence famous for its architecture and gardens, with tickets running 25–35€ if you choose to enter. Varenna, a charming village across the water, sits at the end of a peninsula with narrow medieval streets and colorful buildings. Villa Monastero there has botanical gardens (tickets around 25–35€). The route also passes Comacina Island, accessible only by boat, and the Orrido di Nesso, a gorge carved into the shoreline with high rock walls and waterfalls.

You pick the length that fits your day: one, two, three, four, five, or six hours. Shorter tours focus on a handful of villas and villages. Longer ones let you linger at each stop or add sites like Villa Pliniana near Torno, known for its hot spring and lush gardens. The guide handles the route. You decide what matters most: architecture, gardens, swimming spots, or simply drifting past the mountains reflected in the water. Bottled water and towels come with every booking.

What’s included

• Bottled water.
• towels.
• fuel surcharge.
• live guide in English or Italian.
• customizable route based on your interests and chosen duration.

Options for this experience

6 options

Boat tour of Lake Como lasting 1 hourGuide in English or Italian · No fixed timeLasts 1 hour

Boat tour of Lake Como lasting 2 hoursGuide in English or Italian · No fixed timeLasts 2 hours

Boat tour of Lake Como lasting 3 hoursGuide in English or Italian · No fixed timeLasts 3 hours

See 3 more options

Boat tour of Lake Como lasting 4 hoursGuide in English or Italian · No fixed timeLasts 4 hours

Boat tour of Lake Como lasting 5 hoursGuide in English or Italian · No fixed timeLasts 5 hours

Boat tour of Lake Como lasting 6 hoursGuide in English or Italian · No fixed timeLasts 6 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 day

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Italian

Audio guideEnglish 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 15 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by Poli

Is this one for you?Choose a longer tour if you want time to explore Varenna's medieval streets and visit multiple villas. Pick a shorter one if you prefer a quick loop past the landmarks and gardens without stopping ashore. The guide adjusts the route to your pace, so the same boat works for a leisurely afternoon or a fast-paced highlight run.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Italian.

What is Villa del Balbianello and can I go inside?

Villa del Balbianello is a historic lakeside residence on Lake Como famous for its elegant architecture and enchanting gardens. Entry tickets cost 25–35€ if you want to walk the grounds. Your guide can arrange access or you can skip it and admire the exterior from the boat.

Which villages and landmarks will I see on the boat?

The tour includes stops or passes at Villa del Balbianello, Varenna (a medieval village with colorful waterfront buildings), Comacina Island, the Orrido di Nesso gorge with waterfalls, and optionally Villa Monastero in Varenna or Villa Pliniana near Torno, depending on your chosen duration and interests.

How do I decide between the one-hour and six-hour options?

The one- and two-hour tours cover the main villas and villages in a quick loop; three to four hours lets you explore Varenna's streets and linger at gardens; five to six hours adds more distant sites like Villa Pliniana and gives time to swim or dine if you wish. Your guide customizes the route to fit the time you book.

What's included in the boat tour price?

Bottled water and towels are included with every tour. Villa entry tickets (25–35€ each) are separate and optional. Your guide can help arrange them or skip them depending on what you want to do.