6 Best Lago di Como Cruises in Italy
There's no better way to get to know Lake Como than by boat. That's why, in this post, I'll tell you about the best boat trips and tours you can take in this beautiful Italian spot.
Lake Como | ©Robert Stępień
No visit to Lake Como would be complete without a boat trip on its waters. The best perspective of its beautiful villages and the surrounding Alpine mountains is obtained by sailing on the lake itself. Aware of this, there are many tours and boat trips organised to get around and enjoy all that Lago Di Como has to offer.
If you have already seen all the attractions of Milan, a visit to the lake is one of the best excursions you can do if you are travelling around the Italian city. And for this excursion to be as fruitful as possible, you should complete it with a boat trip. Here you have all the information about the different options of boat trips on Lago di Como.
1. Excursion to Lake Como, Bellagio and Varenna with boat trip
Como Lake and Bellagio Day Trip from Milan
This guided tour from Milan will take you to the most beautiful villages around Lago di Como.
This complete tour also includes a one-hour boat ride on the lake itself, from where you will have the most amazing views of your trip to Milan.
The best way to discover Lago di Como and the beautiful landscapes that surround it is to take an organised excursion to Lago di Como, Bellagio and Varenna. The tour, which lasts about 11 hours, includes transport to all three locations from the city of Milan, which will make you forget about the logistics of getting there.
In addition, the boat trip included in the tour will allow you to travel along the waters of one of the largest lakes in Italy and enjoy one of the most spectacular views of northern Italy, with the snowy backdrop of the Alps.
Recommended if... You want to enjoy a comfortable boat trip on Lago di Como without having to find your way around and get to know the surrounding villages with an expert guide.
2. Free sailing for 1 day from Como
Another option for a trip on the waters of Lake Como is to take a day trip voucher. The starting point for the boats is the town that gives its name to the lake, Como.
Como is located on the southern shore of the lake and is the closest town to Milan, so we can say that it is the "access" to the lake. Most of the boats and tours we are interested in leave from its port.
At the ticket offices located at the Como dock you can buy vouchers that will allow you to move freely around the lake from the town of Varenna, located more or less in the central part of Lago Di Como, stopping in many of the villages that lie between these two towns.
This type of voucher allows us to travel around the lake freely, choosing ourselves which stops to get off at and stopping to admire the villages.
In this case it is important to know all the timetables that you can check beforehand on the official website of the Lake Como transport.
Interesting details
- Price: 25 euros per day. 72 euros per week.
- Duration: Depends on the destination you choose. From Como to Varenna about 1 hour.
- Means of transport: Boat.
- Advantages of this option: It gives us total freedom to move around the lake and get off at the stops we want.
- Disadvantages of this option: You have to keep an eye on departure times and there is no local guide.
3. Private boat trips
Lake Como is synonymous with luxury. Not for nothing is it home to luxurious villas, some of the best hotels in the world and the place chosen by many celebrities for their holidays. And that's why there are also luxury options for a boat trip on its waters.
There is the possibility of hiring a small private yacht with a skipper on board to cruise the lake in luxury.
There is a wide range of prices depending on the boat, the extras and the duration, but generally the minimum is around 200 euros per hour. The minimum includes the skipper, drinks and meals on board as well as a tour of the lake with the possibility to stop for a swim.
It is an experience more suited to very special occasions but it is the best way to immerse yourself in the luxury that surrounds Lago Di Como.
Details of interest
- Price: From approximately 200 euros.
- Duration: By the hour.
- Means of transport: Small private yacht.
- Advantages of this option: It is a truly luxurious experience.
- Disadvantages of this option: Price.
4. Recreational sailing trips on a sailboat
Not all boat experiences have to be focused on tourism or luxury. There are also experiences for leisure and fun on the water. For this purpose, sailing boats can be hired on Lake Como, which are ideal for this purpose.
This type of boat has two skippers in charge of navigating the lake and taking you to the best areas to enjoy a swim and a day of relaxation and fun apart from the more touristy routes.
The price usually starts at 125 euros per person, approximately, for half a day. But there are also possibilities to hire the boat for a whole day. In addition to the skippers, these trips include drinks and lunches on board, although these are limited.
If you choose this option, don't forget your swimming costume, sunglasses and, above all, your desire to enjoy yourself.
Interesting details
- Price: From approximately 125 euros.
- Duration: There are half day and full day options.
- Means of transport: Sailing boat.
- Advantages of this option: Best from a recreational point of view.
- Disadvantages of this option: It is somewhat expensive and not recommended if you want to see interesting towns and places on Lake Como.
5. 1 hour boat tours
For those who are looking for a more economical option and have less time available, there are some tours designed for this profile. From the city of Como there is a one hour boat tour that runs along part of the lake.
They stop in less crowded villages such as Tavernola, Cernobbio, Moltrasio, Torno and Urio. Although less known than others such as Bellagio or Varenna, these villages are equally beautiful and with the advantage of being less crowded.
With this tour you have the option of getting off at any of these stops, although if you stay on board you will cover the entire distance covered by these villages in just one hour. Enough time to see much of Lake Como.
The great advantage of these tours is that the prices are much cheaper than the other options. They start from around 9 euros per person.
Interesting details
- Price: From 9 euros.
- Duration: 1 hour.
- Means of transport: Boat.
- Advantages of this option: The cheapest option and the quickest if time is short.
- Disadvantages of this option: There are no stops in the most important towns.
6. Tour from Milan to Bellagio and Lecco with cruise included
One of the best options to go to Lago Di Como and visit the lake is to book one of the excursions from Milan.
In this case if you want to sail around the lake I recommend a tour that starts from Milan and includes a cruise around Bellagio and Lecco, two of the most important towns in the region.
This type of tour includes the transfer from Milan by train to the city of Como from where you take a cruise that goes around most of the lake with stops in Bellagio first and then Lecco. The great advantage of these tours, apart from being organised, is that they include a professional guide and the tour is one of the most extensive you can do on Lake Como.
Interesting details
- Price: From approx. 80 euros
- Duration: The full tour is about 10 hours.
- Means of transport: Train from Milan and boat.
- Advantages of this option: You have everything organised and one of the most extensive tours you can do.
- Disadvantages of this option: Price somewhat higher than a normal tour.
How to book a boat trip on Lago Di Como
To book a boat trip on Lake Como there are two options. Either you book in advance online or you get your tickets at the ticket booths on the docks from where you take the boats.
For guided tours and private boats the best option, and the only option in most cases, is to book online. To take a normal boat with stops in the various villages, you can easily get your ticket at the ticket office. But especially in summer, when it is high season and demand is very high, it is advisable to book your Lake Como cruise tour in advance online to avoid queues and waiting.
Tips for a boat tour of Lake Como
To get the most out of a boat tour of Lake Como, there are a few things to keep in mind:
- If you visit the lake in summer, be aware that it is a very touristy area and the crowds are very high. Bear this in mind when booking your tickets or hotel reservations if you are staying in the area.
- Summer temperatures are very high, so sunscreen, sunglasses and swimming costumes are a must.
- As there are dozens of villages worth visiting on the lake itself, it is advisable to decide what to visit beforehand and make a tour to find the tour that best suits your tastes.
What are the must-see villages on Lake Como?
The villages on the shores of Lake Como are among the most beautiful in Italy. The list is very extensive so you need many days to see them all. As we don't always have that kind of time, I'm going to make things easier for you by leaving you this link with a list of the 10 most beautiful of the whole lake.
To sum up, if you have to prioritise some of them, I recommend you to visit mainly Bellagio and Varenna. They are two of the most beautiful and also the most accessible. Outside of the best known, Nesso is a real hidden gem and one of the most picturesque. Whichever one you choose, you're sure to be disappointed.