Lake Como Boat Tours

You can tour the shores of Lake Como by bike, on foot or by private car, but nothing like a good boat trip on the lake. I show you the best plans.

Andressa García

Andressa García

11 min read

Lake Como Boat Tours

Boat trip on Lake di Como | ©Jim

Around Lake Como there are many villages that you can visit by bus, car or on foot. But there is a much more fun and romantic way to get to know the area, and that is by boat. This type of tour takes you to some of the best spots in the area and gives you the opportunity to take lots of pictures from the water.

I will recommend some of the most incredible boat tours, which in itself, is one of the best things to see and do in Lake Como during your visit. Whether in the morning, afternoon or evening, a boat ride or boat tour will always be a great option during your visit in this luxurious region of Italy.

1. 1 hour private boat tour on Lake Como

Sunset by boat| ©www.twin-loc.fr
Sunset by boat| ©www.twin-loc.fr

On this ride on Lake Como, your guide will tell you the details of this ride, which is ranked as one of the most beautiful in the world. In addition, he will take you to discover some of the secret places that you would not be able to see from land.

During the day tour you will be able to see historic villas and delight in their beautiful and well-kept gardens. You will also be able to see the different fishing villages from the water, not to mention the beautiful scenery.

If you want a more romantic plan, you can request this tour at night or at sunset, to enjoy a traditional aperitif on board the romantic cruise that at the end will take you to some nice restaurants.

Interesting details

  • Price: Enjoying this tour can cost around 300 euros per person.
  • Duration: Your tour will last about one hour.
  • Means of Transportation: The whole experience is completed by boat, but you will have to get to the meeting point on your own.
  • Advantages of this option: You have access to wifi connection on board. You are offered bottled water during the ride. Snacks that you will consume on board are included. The experience is private, so only you and your group will go.
  • Disadvantages of this option: It is not a suitable experience for pregnant women. Transportation to and from your accommodation is not included.

Book your boat tour on Lake Como

2. Private Tour Lago di Como departing from Milan

View of the tour| ©Guilhem Vellut
View of the tour| ©Guilhem Vellut

Considering that to get to Lago di Como you need to get to Milan first, this experience is a great way to start your trip. It is a boat ride to Lago di Como, which is one of the deepest in Europe, to see enchanting places that are located on its shores.

It is basically one of the best excursions from Lago di Como because it takes you to know by boat, cities like Bellagio, Como, Tremezzo and Varenna, no less than the most popular and luxurious areas around the famous lake.

The experience begins when a private luxury vehicle with driver included picks you up in Milan to continue your experience to the lake. Right after that about eight hours of fun awaits you where a tour guide will show you and talk about each of the specified places.

If you are a nature lover, you are going to love this tour especially because your guide will show you how in this place with a perfect Mediterranean climate, it is ideal to see beautiful subtropical plants.

Details of interest

  • Price: This experience has an approximate price of about 705 euros per person.
  • Duration: It can take about 8 hours to complete the tour.
  • Means of Transportation: The whole experience is completed by boat and you have to get to the meeting point on your own.
  • Advantages of this option: Public liability insurance is included. Also included is the guided tour by an expert guide.
  • Disadvantages of this option: Food and beverages during the tour are not included.

Book an excursion on Lake Como

3. Luxury wooden boat tour on Lake Como

Boats in Lake Como| ©Elliott Brown
Boats in Lake Como| ©Elliott Brown

On this tour you will have the opportunity to board a wooden speedboat in the middle of a private tour. You will go all around Lake Como and visit some of its most interesting and beautiful spots, and the friendly captain will tell you everything you want to know about this region.

The motorboat itself is a tourist site to take pictures, because it is a Cadenazzi model with wooden hull that were popular between 1950 and 1960, so they are a very nice attraction to admire. Since you will be touring around the lake on this private experience, this is definitely one of the best Lake Como tours you can take.

Details of interest

  • Price: You will have to pay around 660 per group of up to five people.
  • Duration: The experience lasts approximately two hours.
  • Transportation: The entire tour is completed by boat, but you will have to get to the meeting point on your own.
  • Advantages of this option: You will be able to show the ticket on your mobile device. The tour is included with a captain who is also a tour guide with sufficient experience. The price is valid for up to five people. The experience is private, so only you and your group will participate.
  • Disadvantages of this option: It is not a wheelchair accessible tour. Meals and beverages are not included.

Sign up for a Lake Como Tour

4. Private boat ride on Lake Como

Day trip| ©Elliott Brown
Day trip| ©Elliott Brown

This is an elegant and luxurious experience on a private yacht, which will take you to the most impressive historic villas in the region. It is certainly a stylish way to tour Lake Como.

As it is an activity for the whole family, and also to take your friends, it is certainly one of the best activities you can do in Lake Como. Moreover, it is an excellent choice if you are traveling there with little time, because it is a short tour that you can customize.

Usually the itinerary of this activity includes interesting and beautiful places to see such as Villa Olmo, Laglio, Cernobbio, and more, but as it is a private tour, the itinerary is very flexible.

Details of interest

  • Price: The tour can be priced at around €315 per person.
  • Duration: You can complete this tour in about an hour.
  • Means of Transportation: This experience is completed by boat, although to get to the meeting point, you will have to do it on your own.
  • Advantages of this option: The tour guide and captain are included in the whole experience. It is a private tour, so only you and your group will participate.
  • Disadvantages of this option: It is not an experience recommended for pregnant travelers.

Sign up for an activity on Lake Como

5. Guided private boat tour on Lake Como

Views from the boat| ©David Coggins
Views from the boat| ©David Coggins

On this boat tour on Lake Como, you will learn about many of the historical events that have marked the history of the region and its villages. Your tour guide will also show you some of the attractions that can be seen from the water.

You will see the small villages that stand on the shores of the lake, as well as the green valleys and waterfalls that complete the landscape. During your boat tour you will have the opportunity to have a few glasses of Prosecco.

It is an excellent activity for couples, groups of friends and also for families, even if you go with children. You will have the opportunity to taste some appetizers while on board the boat. You will surely love these appetizers and you will want to attend one of the best cooking classes in Lago di Como to learn how to make them.

Details of interest

  • Price: You can get on board for an approximate price of about €380.
  • Duration: This experience lasts approximately one hour.
  • Means of transportation: The whole tour is completed by boat, but you have to get to the meeting point on your own.
  • Advantages of this option: The tour guide who will accompany you throughout the experience is included. The tasting of a couple of glasses of Prosecco is included.
  • Disadvantages of this option: Not wheelchair accessible. Transfer to and from the lodging site is not included.

Participate in a cooking class at Lake Como

6. Wild experience on Lake Como by sailboat

Sailing on Lake Como| ©Guilhem Vellut
Sailing on Lake Como| ©Guilhem Vellut

On this tour you will get to know nothing less than the wild side of Lake Como. You will be delighted to see how the crystal clear waters behave like mirrors against the breathtaking mountain scenery.

The captain will be in charge of guiding you through the landscapes that you might not see during a quiet tour along the shores of the lake. In addition, the wind will be the main protagonist of the experience because it will be in charge of guiding you around the lake, while you enjoy a couple of glasses of wine.

The best thing about this experience is that you can choose whether to do it during the day or at sunset. And in case you choose the latter option, you can enjoy a dinner on board, without leaving aside, of course, your respective glass of Prosecco.

Interesting details

  • Price: This wild experience can cost around 150 euros per person.
  • Duration: It will take you about 3 to 4 hours to complete this tour.
  • Means of Transportation: You will complete the tour by sailboat, but to get to the meeting point you will have to do it on your own either by private car or public transportation.
  • Advantages of this option: The participation of a skipper and an assistant on board is included. They will also give you accurate comments throughout the trip.
  • Disadvantages of this option: Food and beverages are not included. Transportation to and from your accommodation is also not included.

7. Vintage Wooden Boat Paddle Experience from Bellagio

Boat Tour| ©Michael Costa
Boat Tour| ©Michael Costa

You will start this tour in Bellagio, one of the most emblematic villages on the shores of Lake Como, where you will board a very old wooden boat for an hour and a half experience like a real local rower.

During the tour you will not only live an exciting adventure, but you will also have the opportunity to take many pictures of the mountain scenery. After the tour, you will enjoy a glass of Italian wine accompanied by a focaccia or a pizza.

Interesting details

  • Price: You will have to pay around €190 per person to enjoy this experience.
  • Duration: The tour lasts about an hour and a half.
  • Means of Transportation: You can do this tour by wooden boat.
  • Advantages of this option: This experience includes the company of the local guide. Wine, focaccia and pizza tasting are also included.
  • Disadvantages of this option: Transfer to and from the hotel or accommodation is not included.

8. Romantic sunset sailing

Boat and reflections| ©CLAUDIA DEA
Boat and reflections| ©CLAUDIA DEA

If you are going as a couple, this is a very romantic experience on the lake, which you have to do even if you go to Lake Como in one day. During the experience you will sail at sunset, and in the light of the setting sun. It is an activity far away from the villas and the high altitude restaurants.

Of course this activity is designed for two people, and both you and your partner have to be prepared to enjoy the calm waters of the lake and the beautiful sunset with its changing colors.

Of course a local bistro will serve you some of the more traditional gourmet specialties and you will have the opportunity to taste Franciacorta, which is Italian champagne.

Details of interest

  • Price: You will have to pay around 800 euros per person to live this experience.
  • Duration: The tour lasts around 3 hours.
  • Means of transportation: The whole activity is completed by sailboat, but to get to the meeting point you must do it on your own.
  • Advantages of this option: Life jackets are provided. Also included is the tour guide with accurate commentary.
  • Disadvantages of this option: It is not an activity adapted to people with mobility problems. Food and beverages are not included in the price, except for those included in the package.

9. Coffee Break on a sailing boat on Lake Como

Sailing on Lake Como| ©bill boyd
Sailing on Lake Como| ©bill boyd

For a couple of hours you will be eating traditional cakes and other Italian sweets while sipping hot drinks, at the same time sailing on the lake with all the comforts. This tour is a great way to get away from the hectic city life.

This is one of the most recommended experiences to include among the activities to do in Lago di Como in winter, because you will be able to relax and enjoy the scenery and winter gastronomy.

Interesting details

  • Price: This experience can have an approximate price of about 100 euros per person.
  • Duration: You will be able to complete this experience in approximately 2 hours.
  • Means of transportation: The trip is completed by boat, but you will have to get to the meeting point on your own.
  • Advantages of this option: Hot tea or coffee and freshly baked sweets are included. Also included is the tour in the company of a tour guide.
  • Disadvantages of this option: This tour is not suitable for people with mobility difficulties. Transfer to and from the hotel or lodging site is not included.

10. Motor boat rentals on Lake Como

Motor boat| ©Elliott Brown
Motor boat| ©Elliott Brown

If what you are looking for is privacy and a completely flexible adventure at your own pace on Lake Como, a good option for you is to rent a motor boat that will take you to the most incredible places on Lake Como.

You will be able to use this boat to go to a place inside the lake, ideal for swimming and sunbathing. One of the advantages of this experience is that, if you do not know how to drive the boat, you can learn before you start your experience on the water.

In case you do not know exactly where to go and what to see, you can follow the suggestions you will be given on what to see when you first book the experience. It is one of the best things to do in Lake Como in summer to see all the nuances of the region.

Details of interest

  • Price: Renting this boat will cost you around 140 euros.
  • Duration: You will have about 2 hours to complete your tour.
  • Means of Transportation: This experience is by boat, but you will have to get to the boat rental place on your own.
  • Advantages of this option: You will be given safety equipment and you will also be given some indications before leaving for your experience. It is a solo adventure in which it will be just you and the boat, plus the people who will be traveling with you.
  • Disadvantages of this option: People weighing more than 110 kilos cannot travel. Tour guide and boat captain are not included. Transfers to and from the lodging site are not included.

Tips for a boat trip on Lake Como

Comfortable shoes| ©Alexandra Tran
Comfortable shoes| ©Alexandra Tran
  • Wear comfortable and closed shoes, preferably.
  • Remember to bring sunscreen, to prevent the sun from doing its thing on your skin.
  • Make sure you know how the boat works if you choose to rent one.
  • Dress according to the weather, because in winter it is usually very cold in the Lake Como region.