Private Lake Como boat tour: Villas and lakeside villages

Sail past Lake Como's grandest villas from the water

A private 1-hour boat tour of Lake Como where two captains guide you past the lake's most famous villas and waterfront villages. You'll pass Villa Olmo, Villa Pliniana (where Rossini and Bellini composed), Gianni Versace's yellow neoclassical villa, and George Clooney's Villa Oleandra in Laglio. Relax on board while the captains handle navigation and share the stories behind each landmark.

Step-by-step itinerary

Private 1 hour boat tour on Lake Como

• Board private powerboat
• Sail past Villa Olmo and Cernobbio
• Pass by Villa Troubetzkoy
• View historic merchant's villa
• See village church and Hotel Mandarin
• Pass Villa Pliniana and Villa Plinianina
• View opera singer Giuditta Pasta's villa
• See Gianni Versace's former villa
• Pass Villa Pizzo, Villa D'Este, and Villa Erba
• View George Clooney's Villa Oleandra in Laglio
• Relax as captain navigates the lake

The experience

Captain Hellen and Captain Vol run this private tour on an elegant powerboat, speaking English, Spanish, French, German and Italian. The route is customizable, but a typical hour covers the lake's most storied waterfront: you'll sail in front of Villa Olmo, an 18th-century symbol of Como surrounded by Italian gardens; Cernobbio and its cluster of historic estates; Torno, where Giorgio Mylius's 19th-century villa still stands; and Laglio, home to George Clooney's Villa Oleandra. The captains' knowledge of the lake's architecture and history shapes what you see and when.

The boat passes Villa Troubetzkoy, built in 1800 by a Russian prince, and Villa Pliniana, where composers Gaetano Donizetti, Gioacchino Rossini and Vincenzo Bellini stayed and wrote operas: Rossini finished Anna Bolena there, and Bellini composed La Sonnambula and Norma within its walls. You'll also see the neoclassical villa that once belonged to opera singer Giuditta Pasta, now a hotel, and the yellow four-story villa built by eccentric Englishman Lord Charles Currie in the early 19th century, later owned by a friend of Giuseppe Verdi and eventually by Gianni Versace. The tour ends with views of Villa Pizzo, Villa d'Este and Villa Erba.

Prosecco and bottled water are included. Wi-Fi is available on board. Pickup is included in the booking. The captains' enthusiasm for the lake is part of the experience. They invite you to relax while they navigate and share the stories that made these villas legendary.

What’s included

• Prosecco and bottled water.
• Wi-Fi on board.
• private driver and gasoline.
• pickup included.

Before you book

Lasts 1h, runs Friday and Saturday at 13:00 and 14:00, from € 450 per group, with live guides in 5 languages, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesFriday and SaturdayDepartures at 13:00 and 14:00

Book up to1h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German 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 3 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Mylariosaurus

Is this one for you?This is a private tour, so you and your group have the boat and both captains' attention for the full hour: ideal if you want to linger at specific villas or ask detailed questions about the lake's history without keeping a larger group waiting. The fixed 1-hour duration fits a morning or afternoon slot without dominating your day in Como.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian.

What villas will I actually see on this Lake Como boat tour?

You'll sail past Villa Olmo, an 18th-century landmark surrounded by Italian gardens; Villa Pliniana, where Rossini and Bellini composed operas; Gianni Versace's yellow neoclassical villa; George Clooney's Villa Oleandra in Laglio; and Villa Troubetzkoy, built by a Russian prince in 1800. The route is customizable, so the captains can adjust which estates you pass depending on your interests.

Can I customize the route during the 1-hour tour?

Yes, the itinerary is customizable. While typical routes include Villa Olmo, Cernobbio, Laglio, Torno and Blevio, the captains will adjust the tour based on what interests you most, whether that's specific villas, villages or stretches of the lake.

What's included in the private boat tour price?

Prosecco and bottled water are included, along with Wi-Fi on board. Pickup is also included in the booking, and the captains handle all navigation and boat operation.