Private Wooden Boat Tour Lake Como: Bellagio & Varenna

Four hours on the water, seeing the lake from inside it instead of from the shore

A private wooden boat tour of Lake Como departing from Como, carrying up to seven passengers to Bellagio and Varenna with stops at lakeside villas including Villa del Balbianello and Villa Oleandra. The Navicella del Lario, a traditional Venetian taxi renovated in 2021, passes Villa Olmo, Villa Erba, and Comacina Island on the route, with the captain available to adjust the itinerary on request.

Step-by-step itinerary

Private 4-hour Lake Como boat tour

• Depart from Como tourist jetty
• Pass breakwater and Life Elettric installation
• Pass seaplane hangar
• Pass Villa Olmo
• Head towards Cernobbio
• Sail past Villa Erba
• Continue to Moltrasio and Laglio
• See Villa Oleandra in Laglio
• Pass Comacina island near Ossuccio
• Pass Villa del Balbianello in Lenno
• Stop in Bellagio for short visit
• Continue to Varenna for short visit
• Return to Como via east shore villas

The experience

The Navicella del Lario is a wooden boat with leather interior, moored at Como's public pier on Lungo Lario Trieste. It holds up to seven passengers and leaves from the standard meeting point in front of Bar Lario, though pickup from other Lake Como towns like Bellagio or Varenna can be arranged by contacting the operator. The boat carries sun awnings and a weather cover, with fresh water, soft drinks and prosecco on board throughout the tour.

The route moves west from Como along the lake's western shore, passing the breakwater where you'll see Daniel Libeskind's Life Elettric installation and the seaplane hangar. Villa Olmo, a neoclassical structure built by the Odescalchi family, appears next, followed by Cernobbio with its cluster of luxury hotels. Villa Erba, built between 1894 and 1898 for pharmaceutical industrialist Luigi Erba, sits on the water's edge before the boat reaches Laglio, where Villa Oleandra, George Clooney's residence, comes into view. Comacina Island, a strip of land in front of Ossuccio, marks another point on the journey. The island is especially striking when fireworks light up the water to commemorate a historical fire. The boat then reaches Bellagio for a short stop in the village before continuing to Varenna, a characteristic hillside town on the eastern shore.

Villa del Balbianello in Lenno is accessible during the tour. The villa and its gardens open daily from 10 to 18, closed Mondays and Wednesdays. The return to Como follows the eastern shore, passing additional villas before arriving back at the starting pier. The captain will adjust stops and timing based on your requests, making the itinerary flexible within the four-hour window.

What’s included

• Prosecco, bottled water and soft drinks.
• sun awnings and weather cover.
• pickup and drop-off at Como's public pier included in the price.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day8 departure times: the first at 09:15, the last at 16:15

Book up to1h 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 today

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Taxi Como Lake

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want a private boat with a captain who adjusts the route to your interests, rather than a fixed group schedule. The wooden interior and small group size suit travelers who value quiet and elegance over speed or a large crowd.

Traveler reviews

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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 and can we visit it on the tour?

Villa del Balbianello is a historic villa with gardens located in Lenno on Lake Como's western shore. It opens daily from 10 to 18 except Mondays and Wednesdays, and the boat passes it during the tour. You can stop to visit if you wish within the four-hour timeframe.

Does the boat stop in Bellagio and Varenna, or just pass by?

The boat stops in Bellagio for a short visit to the village, then continues to Varenna, another characteristic lakeside town. Both stops are included in the standard itinerary.

Can the captain change the route or stops based on what we want to see?

Yes, the captain is available to satisfy requests and adjust the itinerary on the day. Stops and timing can be modified within the four-hour tour window depending on your interests.

What happens if the weather turns bad during the tour?

The boat has a weather cover in addition to sun awnings, so the tour can continue in rain or rough conditions. The cover protects passengers while still allowing views of the lake and villas.

Is pickup available from hotels or towns other than Como?

Standard pickup is from the public pier in Como on Lungo Lario Trieste. Pickup by shuttle van from your hotel can be arranged for an additional fee based on location, or pickup by boat from Bellagio, Varenna or other Lake Como piers is available by contacting the operator to agree on pricing.