Private Lake Como cruise from Como: Villa del Balbianello

George Clooney's lakeside neighborhood and a thousand-year-old bell tower in one morning

A private four-hour motorboat cruise on Lake Como departs from Como's waterfront and follows the western and eastern shores, passing villas owned by celebrities and historical figures while stopping to swim or visit landmarks. Captains Marco and Stefano navigate the route at your pace, with opportunities to disembark at Comacina Island's sanctuary, swim near the Nesso ravine's natural waterfall, or explore Villa del Balbianello's gardens where Star Wars was filmed.

Step-by-step itinerary

Private 4-hour Lake Como cruise

• Depart from pier in Como
• Admire The Life Electric sculpture
• Pass Villa Olmo and park
• View Villa Erba and Villa d'Este in Cernobbio
• See Villa Le Fontanelle
• Pass Moltrasio and Carate Urio villas
• View George Clooney's Villa Oleandra in Laglio
• Continue to Argegno fishing village
• Pass Colonno and Sala Comacina
• See Villa Il Balbiano and ancient bell tower in Ossuccio
• Stop at Comacina island for visit or swim
• Pass Villa Balbiano and Villa la Cassinella
• Visit Villa del Balbianello gardens (optional)
• Admire Gulf of Venus in Lenno
• Pass villas and hotels in Tremezzo
• Cross lake to Bellagio, optional village stop
• Descend to Lezzeno villas
• Admire Nesso ravine and waterfall
• Swim at Villa Pliniana
• View village of Torno and Mandarin Oriental Hotel
• Tour Villa Troubetzkoy
• Admire viale Geno city villas in Como
• Return and drop off

The experience

The motorboat leaves from the pier in Como in front of Bar Lario and heads north along the western shore, where you'll pass "The Life Electric," an architectural landmark designed by Libeskind, then Villa Olmo with its Italian gardens. The route continues to Cernobbio, where Villa Erba (home of director Luchino Visconti) and Villa d'Este sit on the skyline alongside Villa Le Fontanelle, Gianni Versace's former residence. Each stop reveals a different layer of the lake's history: private villas in Moltrasio and Carate Urio, then Laglio, where George Clooney's Villa Oleandra anchors the international jet set's presence on the water.

Moving north, you'll reach Argegno, a fishing village, then Ossuccio, where a bell tower over 1,000 years old stands near Villa Il Balbiano. Comacina Island offers a choice: disembark to visit the sanctuary or swim in one of Lake Como's most popular swimming spots. The tour then passes Villa Balbiano and Villa la Cassinella before arriving at Villa del Balbianello, the filming location for Star Wars, where you can choose to go ashore and walk the gardens. From there, the route crosses the lake toward Bellagio, the lake's most celebrated village, with time to explore depending on earlier stops.

The return journey follows the eastern bank, passing Lezzeno's villas and the Nesso ravine, a rock gorge carved by two streams with a natural waterfall and the Civera bridge: a spot where swimmers dive directly into the lake. Villa Pliniana overlooks the water near Torno, offering another swimming opportunity. Bottled water, soft drinks, prosecco and beer are included throughout, and the captains share stories and anecdotes about the lake's famous residents. The four-hour window accounts for travel time between attractions, so the actual stops and swimming breaks fit naturally into the day.

What’s included

• Bottled water.
• soft drinks.
• prosecco and beer.
• swimming stops at Comacina Island, the Nesso ravine, or Villa Pliniana.
• optional disembarkation at Villa del Balbianello's gardens and Bellagio village.
• captain-led commentary in English.

Before you book

Lasts 4h, runs every day, 7 start times, from € 1,200 per group, with a live guide in English, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day7 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 15:00

Book up to2h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

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 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by HERCULES

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English, so the anecdotes and stories about Lake Como's villas and residents are accessible throughout the cruise. This works for anyone comfortable on a motorboat who wants the route and stops explained in real time rather than navigating independently.

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Top questions

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 I swim during the Lake Como cruise, or is it just sightseeing from the boat?

Swimming is built into the route. You can take a refreshing bath at Comacina Island, near the Nesso ravine's natural waterfall where the Civera bridge lets swimmers dive into the lake, or at Villa Pliniana on the eastern bank: the captain stops at these spots and you choose whether to get in the water.

What is Villa del Balbianello, and can I actually visit it?

Villa del Balbianello is a lakeside villa that served as a filming location for Star Wars. The motorboat stops there, and you can choose to disembark and walk through the gardens at your discretion. It's not a mandatory visit, so you decide whether to go ashore.

Does the tour really pass George Clooney's house on Lake Como?

Yes. Villa Oleandra in Laglio, George Clooney's residence, is on the western shore route the motorboat follows. The captains share stories about the lake's famous residents as you cruise past.

Is there a stop at Bellagio, the main village on Lake Como?

Bellagio is included on the route, and depending on which stops you've made earlier in the four hours, you may have time to disembark and explore the village itself, described as the pearl of Lake Como.

What drinks are included, and are there food options?

Bottled water, soft drinks, prosecco and beer are included throughout the cruise. Food is not mentioned as part of the tour, though you can stop at villages like Bellagio or Argegno if you want to purchase meals.