Rent a Motorboat on Lake Como: 3-Hour Self-Guided Boat

Steer your own boat across Lake Como without a license or a guide

Rent a motorboat for three hours on Lake Como departing from Como, with a maximum capacity of six passengers and no boating license required. After a 15-minute safety briefing from a SuBacco operator, you take the helm and chart your own route across the lake, passing villas, waterfalls and landmarks at whatever speed suits you. The boat carries GPS, an awning, a swim ladder and full safety equipment.

The experience

You meet at the Sant'Agostino pier on Lungo Lario Trieste in Como and spend 15 minutes learning the boat's controls and the rules of the lake from a SuBacco operator. The Yamaha F40 engine requires no license, so once you understand how to steer, throttle and dock, the lake is yours to explore. Arrive 10 minutes early. Any delay cuts into your three-hour window and cannot be made up.

The boat holds up to six people comfortably, though four or five passengers give you more speed and easier handling. From Como, you can reach the Electric Life museum and Voltiano Lighthouse in under an hour, then push on toward Cernobbio's villas (Villa Erba, Villa D'Este, Villa Pizzo), Moltrasio's Villa Fontanelle, or Laglio's Villa Oleandra and the Ernesto Riva shipyard. Nesso's waterfall is a short detour. Brienno and Argegno sit further north. If you want to go deeper, the Comacina Island and Villa Balbianello (a filming location for Star Wars and James Bond), are reachable in three hours if you skip the stops and focus on the run.

The boat comes equipped with GPS, an awning to shade you from sun, a bow sundeck for forward seating, a swim ladder to drop into the water, and a full safety kit: life jackets, a lifebuoy, paddles, fire extinguisher, bailer and an electronic pump. Insurance is included. If you return more than 15 minutes late, a €50 penalty applies. Fuel and tax (€50) are paid in cash directly on the boat when you arrive.

What’s included

• Three-hour motorboat rental with GPS navigation.
• safety equipment including life jackets, lifebuoy, paddles and fire extinguisher.
• awning and bow sundeck.
• swim ladder.
• insurance and taxes.
• 15-minute safety briefing from a SuBacco operator.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 2 Feb 2027

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 or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on site€ 50

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomeNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by SuBacco Lake Como

Is this one for you?Three hours is enough to explore Como's waterfront and reach one or two distant stops like Villa Balbianello, but not to linger long at each one. If you want a slow, unhurried day with multiple villa tours and swimming breaks, a longer rental or a guided tour works better. If you want to cover ground and choose your own stops, this window fits a morning or an afternoon without eating your whole day.

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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.

Can I take a motorboat out on Lake Como without a boating license?

Yes. The SuBacco motorboat has a Yamaha F40 HETL 40 HP engine that does not require a boating license in Italy. You do need to complete a 15-minute safety briefing with the operator before you depart, and they will assess whether you can navigate safely on the lake.

What's the route from Como, and how far can I go in three hours?

You depart from the Sant'Agostino pier in Como and navigate at your own pace. In three hours you can reach the Voltiano Lighthouse and Electric Life museum (under an hour from Como), the villas of Cernobbio and Moltrasio, or push north to Argegno, Brienno and Villa Balbianello. The GPS on board helps you navigate. You choose the stops and the speed.

How many people can fit in the boat?

The boat holds a maximum of six passengers, though four or five passengers give you better speed and easier handling. The rental price is per boat, not per person.

What safety equipment is on the boat?

The boat includes life jackets, a lifebuoy, paddles, a fire extinguisher, a bailer, an electronic pump for water drainage, and navigation lights. A swim ladder lets you enter the water safely, and an awning provides shade. Insurance is included in the rental.

What happens if I'm late returning the boat?

You have three hours from departure, and any delays cannot be recovered from your rental window. If you return more than 15 minutes late, a €50 penalty is charged. Arrive 10 minutes early to allow time for the safety briefing.