The experience
Lake Como Villas Tour by Boat: 3 Hours Past Balbianello, Carlotta and Comacina
€750
3 hours · Prices are per boat (up to 6 guests) — not per person.
Lake Como's legendary villas were built to be seen from the water — and that is exactly where you'll be. Three private hours along the central lake, past Balbianello, Balbiano, Villa Carlotta and Isola Comacina, with a swim, prosecco aboard, and the option to stop for an hour in the village you like most.
The villas, from the angle they were designed for
Every great villa on this lake turns its best face toward the water: the staircases, the loggias, the terraced gardens all descend to a private landing. From the road you see a gate. From the boat you see the villa.
Over three hours your private skipper follows the shoreline where the most beautiful estates cluster. Villa del Balbianello on its wooded peninsula, the villa of Star Wars and Casino Royale. The grand baroque facade of Villa Balbiano, the largest private residence on the lake. The botanical terraces of Villa Carlotta at Tremezzo. And the wild green silhouette of Isola Comacina, the only island on Lake Como.
Because we cruise both shores, the route also takes in the promontory of Bellagio, the pastel waterfront of Tremezzo and quiet corners like Ossuccio with its bell tower rising from the water. Your skipper knows the stories behind each facade, which films were shot where, and which villa glows best in the light of your particular afternoon.
Where you set sail
We pick you up anywhere on Lake Como — choose the dock nearest you or your hotel and we’ll be there to welcome you aboard.
Your hour ashore, wherever you like it most
This is what makes the tour yours: within the three hours you can stop for about an hour in the village you prefer, and we wait for you at the dock.
Most guests choose Bellagio, to climb its stepped alleys and have a coffee overlooking the water; others prefer the Tremezzina waterfront for Villa Carlotta's gardens, the Isola Comacina, or a lakeside aperitivo in a small harbour with almost no cars. Tell your skipper at the start, or simply decide on the way once you have seen the places with your own eyes.
Prefer to stay on the water the whole time? That works too: we swap the stop for more coastline, a longer swim in a quiet bay, and extra time drifting in front of the villas.
Swim, prosecco, and a pace that is yours
Somewhere along the route your skipper cuts the engine in a sheltered spot with clear, deep water for a swim — bring a swimsuit and a towel — followed by a glass of prosecco aboard while the boat drifts in front of the scenery.
Nothing is on a timetable. You can linger at a favourite villa, ask for a photo pass in front of Balbianello, or point the bow toward Bellagio or Varenna. It is your boat for the full three hours, and the route is a suggestion, not a schedule.
Private, per boat, pickup anywhere on the lake
You book the whole boat, never a seat on a shared tour: the Villas Tour is EUR 750 per boat for up to 6 guests, with your private skipper and prosecco always included, so the price is the same for a couple or for six friends.
We are based on the central lake, three to four minutes from Balbianello and Isola Comacina, but pickup can be arranged anywhere on the lake — Como, Cernobbio, Torno, Laglio, Argegno, Lenno, Tremezzo, Bellagio, Varenna or your hotel's own pier. Booking is online with instant confirmation and a 30% deposit, and if the weather turns you can cancel free of charge up to the day before.
Frequently asked questions
Can we stop and get off the boat during the tour?+
Yes. Within the three hours you can stop for about an hour in the village you prefer — Bellagio, Tremezzo, Isola Comacina or another spot — and your skipper waits for you at the dock. If you'd rather stay on the water the whole time, we use that hour for more coastline and a longer swim instead.
Can you actually get close to Villa del Balbianello by boat?+
Yes. Balbianello sits on a point that is best seen from the water, and the tour cruises right along its shoreline for photos. Note that landing at the villa and touring the gardens on foot is a separate ticketed visit run by the villa itself, with its own days and hours, so confirm current opening times directly with the villa if you want to go ashore.
Is this tour private, or will we share the boat with strangers?+
It's fully private. You book the entire Cranchi Turchese 24 for up to 6 guests with your own skipper, so it's just your group aboard for the full three hours.
Do we get to swim, and should we bring swimsuits?+
Yes. The skipper stops in a calm, clear spot for a swim, so bring swimsuits and a towel. The water is deep and refreshing, and the swim usually pairs with the prosecco aperitivo aboard.
Where does the tour start, and can you pick us up near our hotel?+
We are based on the central lake, ideally placed for the villas, but pickup can be arranged anywhere on the lake, including Como, Cernobbio, Bellagio, Tremezzo, and Varenna. Tell us where you're staying and we'll set the most convenient meeting point.
What happens if the weather is bad on our date?+
You can cancel free of charge for bad weather up to the day before. Booking is online with instant confirmation and a 30% deposit, and the balance is settled with your skipper.
See Lake Como's legendary villas the way they were meant to be seen, from your own boat with a private skipper and prosecco aboard, so reserve your 3-hour Villas Tour today.
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