Private Vintage Wooden Boat Tour Lake Como: Villa del Balbianello

A wooden boat built for the lake, not a modern speedboat.

A private vintage wooden boat tour on Lake Como lets you set the pace and duration, from 1 to 6 hours, visiting lakeside villas, gardens and villages at your own speed. You pass Villa del Balbianello's wooded promontory, the Neoclassical gardens of Villa Melzi d'Eril, the tiny island of Isola Comacina, and the village of Nesso with its waterfalls and gorge. Swimming stops are yours to take when the water calls.

Step-by-step itinerary

Private vintage boat tour on Lake Como

• Visit Villa Melzi Gardens
• Pass through Nesso village
• See Orrido di Nesso gorge
• Explore Isola Comacina island
• View Villa Balbiano
• View Villa La Cassinella
• Pass Villa del Balbianello
• Pass Villa Carlotta
• Pass historic lakeside villa
• Pass picturesque lakeside village
• Pass Bellagio village

The experience

How long do you want to stay on the water? The boat is yours alone, so the itinerary bends to your day. A 1-hour run hits the highlights close to your starting point; 3 hours reaches the villas and gardens on both branches of the lake; 6 hours lets you linger at each stop and explore the smaller villages tucked into the shoreline. The vintage wooden hull moves at a pace that lets you see the water and the mountains, not race past them.

Villa del Balbianello sits on a wooded point with an 18th-century mansion and gardens that drop straight to the lake. Villa Melzi d'Eril's Neoclassical gardens are among Europe's finest and open onto the water. Nesso is a working village with cobblestone streets, ancient bridges and a gorge called the Orrido where water cascades down the rocks. Isola Comacina, a small island with historic ruins, rises in the middle of the lake. The boat stops where you want to swim, and the water is clear enough to see down.

Bottled water, sodas and alcoholic beverages come aboard. Towels are provided. The boat suits all fitness levels and infants travel on an adult's lap. You pick the departure time and the length of the tour when you book: the operator adjusts the route to fit.

What’s included

• Bottled water and sodas.
• alcoholic beverages.
• towels.
• all fees and taxes.

Options for this experience

6 options

1-Hour Private Boat TourGuide in English or Italian · 12 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 20:00Lasts 1 hour

2-Hour Private Boat TourGuide in English or Italian · 12 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 20:00Lasts 2 hours

3-Hour Private Boat TourGuide in English or Italian · 12 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 20:00Lasts 3 hours

See 3 more options

4-Hour Private Boat TourGuide in English or Italian · 12 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 20:00Lasts 4 hours

5-Hour Private Boat TourGuide in English or Italian · 12 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 20:00Lasts 5 hours

6-Hour Private Boat TourGuide in English or Italian · 10 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 20:00Lasts 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 timesThursday and Friday12 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 20:00

Book up to4h before

GroupPrivate

Live 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.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 13 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Private Boat Tour on Como Lake

Is this one for you?Pick the 3-hour tour if you want the main villas and gardens without a full day on the water. Choose 6 hours if you're staying on Lake Como for the day and want to explore the villages and smaller stops without watching the clock.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English 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 when you arrive by boat?

Villa del Balbianello is an 18th-century mansion on a wooded promontory with gardens that face the lake directly. The elegant architecture and lakefront setting have drawn writers, scholars and travelers for centuries, and the gardens are designed to frame the water and mountains beyond.

Can you actually swim in Lake Como on this tour?

Yes. The boat stops where you want to swim, and the water is clear. Towels are provided, and you can take as many swimming breaks as the duration of your tour allows.

What is the difference between the 3-hour and 6-hour options?

The 3-hour tour covers the main villas and gardens on both branches of the lake. The 6-hour tour includes those stops plus time to explore smaller villages like Nesso, visit the Orrido gorge, and linger longer at each site without rushing between them.

Does the boat stop at Isola Comacina?

Isola Comacina is a small island in the lake with historic ruins and lush greenery. The boat passes it on the tour, and whether you stop depends on the duration you choose and your preferences. The itinerary is yours to shape.

What time of day does the tour depart?

You choose the departure time when you book. The boat is private, so it leaves when you're ready and returns on your schedule.