Lake Como Small-Group Boat Tour: Balbianello & Bellagio
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
Experience Lake Como's most famous villa and village on a premium small-group tour with maximum ten guests. Board a private boat reserved for your group and cruise to Villa del Balbianello and Bellagio.
Visit Villa del Balbianello gardens, filming location for Star Wars and James Bond. Walk through terraced gardens with ancient trees and panoramic lake views from stone pathways.
After free time for lunch in Lenno, cruise to Bellagio. Stroll through Gardens of Villa Melzi along the waterfront, then explore quiet streets, local shops, and scenic viewpoints with your expert guide.
Throughout the day, your professional guide shares stories via whisper audio system, ensuring every guest hears clearly. Villa Balbianello gardens admission, Villa Melzi gardens admission, private boat transport, and expert guidance are included.
Two villa gardens. One unforgettable day on Lake Como.
Additional Info
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have a high level of physical fitness
Comfortable walking shoes and weather-appropriate clothing are recommended.
This tour is not suitable for guests staying in Bellagio or Lenno. Please consider other options that better match your location.
Please note: Due to the high operational costs, a minimum number of 4 participants is required for the tour to operate. If the minimum is not reached, we will contact you in advance to offer an alternative tour or date. In the unlikely event of a technical issue with the boat, an alternative tour or date will also be offered, or a full refund provided.
Absolutely not suitable for anyone with knee or back issues. The villages around Lake Como are built on steep terrain with uneven, sloped streets—good physical condition is essential. Please do not book if you're not prepared for this.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Piazza Cavour
Your tour begins at Piazza Cavour, Como's iconic lakefront square, where your guide and our boat will be waiting. Please arrive at least 10 minutes before your scheduled departure time. Guests who have booked the Milan pick-up add-on will be collected at 9:15 AM from the designated meeting point in central Milan, arriving in Como in time for the 11:15 AM departure.
Lake Como
Depart from Como and enjoy a panoramic cruise aboard a private boat reserved exclusively for your group. Glide along the western shore of Lake Como, admiring picturesque villages, elegant villas, and mountain scenery while your guide shares stories about the lake’s history and culture.
What‘s Included
Admission to Villa del Balbianello gardens — yes, Star Wars fans, we take you to the wedding terrace
Professional English-speaking guide for the full day
Admission to Villa Melzi gardens in Bellagio
Transfers by our private boat. Transfers from Milan to Como by Mercedes Van.
Whisper audio system — hear your guide clearly at every stop
Max 10 guests. Small enough that everyone gets attention, space, and a view.
Lunch and drinks (own expense; approx. 1h)
Private tour. This is a shared small-group tour (max 10 guests).
Options
Meeting in Como
Piazza Cavour 26
Reviews
137 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Not a good tour on a windy day in a small open boat. Take it on a clam day.
X1303TQpaull,May 17, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
2.00The tour would have been very good but the wind and other boat traffic caused waves that caused all of the passengers to get completely soaked . The tour was modified once we reached Balbianello that caused a walk into the town of Lenno to use the public ferry to Bellagio and then back to Lake Como. This is a good tour but not if it is windy. The guide did a nice job of explaining the history of Balbianello. The scenery is spectacular.
Outstanding communication, integrity and care — a brilliant Lake Como experience
Samantha E,Apr 28, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00We had booked the exclusive private tour of Lake Como, Villa Balbianello and Bellagio, and sadly the weather on the day was so unpredictable that the full exclusive experience wasn’t able to go ahead. But honestly, what could have been a really disappointing situation turned into one of the highlights of our trip, entirely because of how exceptional the operator and team were from start to finish. The communication was outstanding. The night before, we received a thoughtful and detailed email explaining the weather situation, walking us through exactly what was happening, what our options were, and what they recommended. They had thought through every scenario and wanted to make sure we felt informed and looked after. The morning of the tour, they were back in touch promptly with a clear update and offered us an alternative arrangement that still meant we got to see everything we had come for. Nothing felt rushed, nothing felt like a downgrade, it genuinely felt like they were committed to making sure we didn’t miss out. What really stood out was that they proactively refunded us to compensate for the change, without us having to ask, request, or chase anything. In a world where you so often have to fight for fairness when things don’t go to plan, this kind of integrity is incredibly rare and it made an enormous impression on us. It tells you everything about how this operator runs their business and how much they value their guests. Our guide was absolutely lovely, warm, knowledgeable, genuinely passionate about the area, and so helpful with every question we had. You could tell they really cared about us having a wonderful day, not just ticking off the itinerary. The location chosen for lunch was brilliant: the setting was beautiful, the service was efficient and welcoming, and the food was honestly amazing. It was the kind of meal that becomes a memory in itself. Villa Balbianello and Bellagio more than lived up to their reputations, both are extraordinary, and seeing them with knowledgeable guides who could bring the history, the architecture and the local stories to life made the experience so much richer than it would have been on our own. All in all, we could not have been more grateful to have experienced Lake Como, Villa Balbianello and Bellagio with these experts. The fact that the weather worked against us and we still came away feeling completely looked after, well fed, beautifully guided and genuinely delighted speaks volumes about the quality of this operation. If you’re considering booking with them, do it. And trust that even if things don’t go entirely to plan, you’ll be in the very best hands. Thank you so much for a truly memorable day.
Beautiful Lake Como
Janet C,Nov 2, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00A wonderful day from start to finish thanks to our friendly and knowledgeable guide. It was great not have to worry about ferry schedules and timing! She took care of everything so all of us on the tour ( a small group of 6) had to do was enjoy. It was even a sunny day perfect for taking in the beauty of the lake. We got in the queue early so we could all be on the side of the boat to see the villas and grand hotels on route to Lenno (our guide’s tip.) The Villa Balbianello was spectacular. Then on to Bellagio for a late lunch on our own and a walking tour of the town. It’s a full day and well worth it. If you are going to Lake Como and this is you first visit, I highly recommend booking this tour. I have high standards and this met all my expectations.
Great service from guide, who is professional, knowledgeable.
jie a,Oct 12, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Great tour. The tour guide is very professional and knowledgeable. We went to two beautiful places which we enjoyed so much.
The ride on Lake Como and...
Amy K,Oct 12, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00The ride on Lake Como and the views of the mountains and surrounding towns and villas are absolutely stunning. Villa del Balbianello in itself is an incredible place. Our guard Ricardo was a wealth of information and very helpful. I would recommend staying in Como if doing this tour. We started and finished our day in Milan and it was a very long day.
It was such an amazing...
Jose G,Oct 8, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00It was such an amazing experience. My wife and I had so much fun on this and we really enjoyed all of the iconic locations. I highly recommend it!
Wonderful
Kristen G,Oct 8, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Great tour. Our guide was so informative and knowledgeable. Extremely personable and we learned so much.
Excellent tour. Very...
James H,Oct 6, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Excellent tour. Very scenic. Ricardo was great. Very informative info. Just a lot of walking uphill if the boat to the Villa is not running.
Poor
elvislI1295FZ,Oct 4, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
3.00We booked this trip expecting a boat to hold up to 14 people as listed on the advert. However when we arrived we were put on a public taxi boat which had windows that had minimal visibility. Along with the general public, we had another tour sharing this boat. The second tour operator sat next to my partner and I. While on the boat telling us to be quiet while she talks through her microphone to the headsets of her tour. A little shocked at this, we purposely spoke louder. After she was so rude. At our first stop off we soon found that the rest of our tour also felt that we would have a smaller chartered boat just for our own tour rather than taking a public transport after paying £200 per person.
Fun day
Douglas E,Oct 3, 2025
- Review from Viator
4.00The use of the ferries can make it tricky if a strike occurs like when our tour was scheduled. It caused some delays and headaches for not only the tur company but members of our group traveling into Como.
From €335.00
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Operated by Lake Como Explorer