4hr Lake Boat Tour Como-Balbianello-Bellagio-Varenna-Menaggio
Description
Book an exclusive yacht experience to discover the wonders of the most elegant of Italy’s lakes. Enjoy breathtaking sceneries of waterfalls, villas, gardens, and historic towns, admire sights that are inaccessible by car or ferry, swim in magical waters while tasting delicious Italian prosecco. Relax while the captain will take care of the boat and its guests, entertaining them with interesting stories and anecdotes on the visiting places, and making the cruise an unforgettable moment. The tour is entirely customizable, places and duration of the stops can be arranged or planned ahead with the captain. THE BOAT Elegant and with an unmistakable Italian style, the Jeanneau Runabout 755 embodies the retro charm of the wooden boats of the last century. 8 meters (26.5ft) in length, it stands for its sleek lines and high levels of comfort and performance. An original day cruiser ideal for enjoying day trips without passing unnoticed.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Duration: 4 hours Charming spot on the banks of the Lecco branch, characterised by the unmistakable pastel-colored houses and by its narrow streets steeply descending towards the lake.
An enchanting small fishermen village, nestled in the most picturesque bay of all Lake Como
Named "The Pearl of the Lake", and located in the center of the lake, Bellagio is known for the narrow-stepped alleys, passages and arcades, local craft shops. Two famous landmarks are Villa Melzi, open to public, and Villa Serbelloni, illustrious 5-star hotel chosen by Winston Churchill, Roosevelt, the Rothschilds, J.F. Kennedy, Clark Gable and Al Pacino.
Built in 1808-10 for Duke Francesco Melzi d’Eril , Vice-president of Napoleon’s Italian Republic, this elegant and sober villa and its gardens are a splendid expression of the Neoclassical style and have been declared a national monument. Among the artists contributing to the decoration sculptor Antonio Canova and botanist Luigi Villoresi, who shaped the park of the Royal Villa of Monza.
The iconic spot with the waterfall and the Civera, a bridge of medieval origin conneting the two sides of the gorge. A natural canyon in the rocks, dug by two rivers that confluence there, where the strength of the water through the centuries has opened a deep break in the stone resulting in a 200m-high waterfall and making it a marvelous place for swimming.
A charming hamlet dominated by Villa Pliniana - a historical Italian palazzo from the 16th century, offering exquisite views of the lake and the surrounding mountains - and the Il Sereno, hotel designed by world-renowned studio Patricia Urquiola and reinterpreting the rationalism of Giuseppe Terragni ‘s Casa del Fascio, with a contemporary accent.
The nice villas of Blevio, including the famous Mandarin Oriental hotel, once property of worldwide known opera singer Giuditta Pasta. for whom Bellini wrote the lead role in La Sonnambula.
A 18th-century villa now owned by the municipality of Como and used as venue for conferences, painting exhibitions, cultural and musical events.
An elegant village on the lake, boasting a sheltered bay which is the nest of the majestic Villa d’Este Hotel, the epitome of luxury and refinement. One of the finest 5 star hotels in the world, it hosts extremely wealthy visitors as well as world famous celebrities
A majestic classic villa owned by famous Italian movie director Luchino Visconti and shooting location for Oceans’ Twelve.
A cozy town, surrounded by crystalline waters and home of many luxurious properties including Villa Fontanelle – formerly of the Versace family – and 5-star hotel Villa Passalacqua, a home built in the 18th century by one of Como’s leading noble families and counting Winston Churchill and Napoleon Bonaparte among its guests.
A charming village famous for the several villas - including most famous George Clooney's Villa Oleandra - and the historic Cantiere Ernesto Riva, a shipyard crafting wooden boat since 1771. The tour will continue through Brienno, Argegno, Colonno and Sala Comacina.
The one and only island on the lake, it is separated from the mainland by the “Zoca de l’Oli”, a stretch of crystalline waters that is the perfect spot for swimming or sipping a glass of prosecco in total tranquillity.
One of the most beautiful properties on Lake Como, it was built in 1787 on a pre-existing Franciscan monastery and later inherited by the FAI (National Trust for Italy) with the aim of protecting and enhancing Italy's historical, artistic and landscape heritage. Offering dramatic views of Isola Comacina and the western shore of the lake,the villa is now a venue for private events such as weddings, ceremonies and movies such as Star Wars II and James Bond 007 Casino Royale. The tour will also touch Villa Balbiano, an historic building, popular wedding location and set of The House of Gucci movie.
A picturesque village overlooking Bellagio and famous for the Grand Hotel Tremezzo, a 5 star luxury hotel, and Villa Carlotta, a villa open to public, with one of the most beautiful garden of all Italy.
Tour End
One of the most picturesque villages of Lake Como, Menaggio is an enchanting destination offering visitors a perfect mix of natural beauty and historical charm. With a rich history and incredible natural environment, this location offers unforgettable experiences for visitors.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Pickup and drop off other than the standard meeting point are always available. contact us for details.
- Alcoholic beverages will not be served to minors under the age of 18
Reviews(19)
The tour was perfect, comfortable, and covered a ton of ground. Was able to stop at villa del balbianello and enjoy iconic locations for pictures. Alex was great and couldn’t have gone better! Truly an incredible day we will never forget!
Thank you very much for your kind words, Jake, and delighted you and Abril enjoyed the tour. All the best, Alex
Alex was great! Truly the only way to experience Como. Had a chance to stop and enjoy Villa del Balbianello from the iconic vistas. Alex was kind and offered to take picture of us. Boat is in great shape and couldn’t have been a better day! Thanks Alex!!
Alex was amazing. I was a little nervous to book, but his reviews were great, so I booked the experience. I then reached out to Alex to see if it was possible to add time to have lunch on the water and see more of Lake Como. Not only did he say yes, he gave us a number of restaurants to consider and then offered to make the reservation for us. It gave me so much confidence going into the tour having a relationship with Alex. The weather showed rain the day of tour, so he asked to start a little later to avoid the rain, and it was the perfect call. We learned so much, saw the houses of the stars, learned the history of the area, and he dropped us off to walk around in a town for a bit. I can’t say enough about the overall experience. It is definitely a highlight for our family. Thank you, Alex.
Thank you very much for the generous review Andy. It was truly a privilege to have you, Kristin, Caroline and Henry on board. With such marvellous guests, no surprise the tour turned out fantastic. Having the possibility to discuss in advance preferences and wishes for the tour day, allowed to craft the best experience and itinerary accordingly. Thank you also for trusting the recommendation of later start, your experience as boat owner helped greatly to the success of the day. Very best, Alex
A professional smiling skipper who speaks French, a beautiful boat, a beautiful lake, what else? We had a great time of luxury. Thank you Alessandro for this magical afternoon!
Ce fut en effet un plaisir, Frédrique, de vous toi à bord, ainsi que ta belle famille, et merci d’être des invités formidables. Ravi que vous ayez apprécié le tour!
My family of four (husband and I and 2 adult children) thoroughly enjoyed our time on the lake with Alex. Alex is extremely knowledgeable, friendly and went out of his way to cover all of the sights along the lake. We even stopped for a swim and to grab a quick bite in Varenna. The boat is very comfortable. Highly recommend to anyone visiting the area!
Thanks for the kind words, Robin and honoured you enjoyed the cruise. It was lovely to have you, Kelsey Andrew, Griffin and and thanks for being special guests indeed.
This is the best way to experience Lake Como. One on lake feels like a different world. Alex our captain was on time and extremely knowledgeable being a native of the lake.
Thank you very much for your kind words Nick, glad the tour met your expectations. It was indeed my pleasure to have you and your beautiful family onboard. All the best to you, Jane, Nicole and Karina.
The tour was great, everything what we hoped for and more ! Alessandro was super nice with answers to every question we had plus his additional information about the villages and the life on the lake. He even gave us excellent tips for restaurants and other nice stops for our drive around the lake the day after. I can easily recommend Alessandro if you choose to go on a private boat trip. Thank you so much for your guidance and your pleasant company, Alessandro 🥂!
Dear Ásgerður, Thanks for your kind words and delighted you loved the cruise. Glad you also enjoyed the road trip and experienced the lake on the "opposite shore". The feelings are mutual, indeed. Very best, Alex
An amazing day in the Lake with Alex. He was very considerate to give us a tailor made day. Informative and entertaining.
Dear Miranda, Thanks for your kind words and happy you and Andrew enjoyed the tour. It was a memorable day indeed. Best wishes, Alex
Loved it. Alex was recommended to us locally. Absolute gentleman with immense knowledge of the lake and engaging throughout. We had to admire him swimming to rescue a boat who’s owner failed to moor correctly 😂
Dear James, It was an incredible fun day - swimming included - and your and Roseanne's company was first class. Hope to see you again in the future. All the best, Alex
Alex was an amazing skipper and a fantastic host. He was very friendly, considerate to our needs and informative, tailoring the trip to our expectations. He made our day very special, something truly memorable. If we return to Lake Como we would definitely want to book another trip and have no hesitation in wholeheartedly recommending him to anyone sensible enough to check reviews.
Dear Chris, It was my pleasure to share a fantastic afternoon with you Monica, David and Chemin: the energy on board was so good that we truly took the experience to another level. I definitely look forward to welcoming you next year with the rest of the family. Best wishes, Alex
