LA DOLCE VITA : Lake Como 1h Cruise + Villa Balbianello (Guided)
Recommended by 100% of travelers
Lake Como, Italy
- 2 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Lake Como is best visited by water to admire its scenic shoreline and historic villas, but the ferries are notoriously slow and crowded. With this small-group experience, enjoy a taste of “La Dolce Vita” with an hour-long mini cruise from Bellagio to Villa Balbianello, where you’ll disembark for a guided tour of the villa. Afterwards, linger in the villa’s gardens and nearby town of Lenno for as long as you wish.
- Optimize your time on Lake Como with a mini cruise to Villa Balbianello
- Take in the views from the water between Bellagio and Lenno
- Enjoy a guided tour of one of the lake’s most famous historic villas
- End at the villa, with free time to explore Lenno and take a ferry back
What's Included
- 1 h cruise (from Bellagio)
- Entrance Tickets to Villa del Balbianello (gardens + guided visit of the villa)
- Friendly English speaking guide
- Gratuities
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off - (Private transfers can be organised to fit your schedule)
- Return Public Boat Ticket (Lenno/Bellagio) - Euro 4.60
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Hotel Excelsior SplendideVia Lungo Lario Manzoni, 28, 22021 Bellagio CO, Italy
Meet us outside Hotel Excelsior Splendide in Bellagio. Our “Taste & Travel Italy” guide will be there to welcome you. The tour ends at Villa Balbianello.
End point
- Villa del Balbianello22016 Tremezzina, Province of Como, Italy
The tour ends at Villa Balbianello. You are free to relax in the gardens for as long as you like or enjoy lunch in the village of Lenno. Your guide will provide instructions on how to return to Bellagio by ferry.
Operating hours.10:30 am
Itinerary
1
Bellagio
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
2
Villa Del Balbianello
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- Not wheelchair accessible
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
This experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
FLORENCE_P
Miranella was an excellent tour guide, friendly, great sense of humor and photography skills that will make memories to last a lifetime. Can't wait to share with my friends and make sure to ask for her!!! Villa Del Balbienella was totally worth the trip and all its mysterious hiding places, breathtaking views, and collections!!
Reviews
4.9
based on 18 reviews
Dustin_B, Sep 2025
Excellent tour guide (Rita) with access to the villa. Incredible treasures to see inside and a nice view of a man’s legacy.
Gregory_W, May 2025
It was a great experience, the tour guide was very knowledgeable and even gave us additional points of interest and places to eat. She arranged a car to pick us up and take us at no extra charge.
Anthony_M, May 2025
The tour was well coordinated from the pick up in Bellagio to drop off at the Villa. Thank you Elena for a job well done.
Zoe_W, Aug 2024
Great experience. Only thing was private boat ride leaves you at the Villa then you need to get a water taxi back to a Lenno which leaves every 20mins. Due to it being a busy day, we waited 40mins in the heat (Summer time). Was a little uncomfortable for my 3 year old. Other than that was excellent.
Response from Host, Aug 2024
Thank you Zoe for your review. The tour ends at Villa del Balbianello. Our clients have the option to get back to Lenno by taking the Balbianello Boat (euro 6pp - 5 min cruise) or walk back to the Village (20min walk). We always tell our clients to check the length of the queue for the Balbianello boat for if it is too long it is better to walk back to Lenno (an easy path which is also in the shade)
declan_m, Jul 2024
Elena is a amazing host from the get go she was so bubbly and friendly, the boat tour was fantastic followed up by a amazing tour through the Villa, we then enjoyed a amazing lunch together he expertise knows no bounds, truly a great day such a pleasure to meet her she even assisted with further recommendations for our trip, thank you a million Elena
Allison_G, Jul 2024
The best tour on lake como with the best guide!!! Elena was beyond amazing! So helpful and entertaining. She went above and beyond the tour description! Highly recommend as a must do!!!
Jennifer_C, Jul 2024
Elena, our guide, was amazing! She walked us around Bellagio before we caught our water taxi. She is extremely personable and her English is excellent. She even stayed with us after our private tour of the villa (done by another guide) and walked down to Lenno with us. She went above and beyond and called to make a restaurant reservation for us. She seemed to know everyone that worked at the villa and other boat guides. She is very good at what she does and help made a fun memory for our trip.
paolo_c, Jun 2024
Elena was incredible!! I could not recommend this enough, the boat cruise was perfect and Elena’s tour was perfect. She had so much knowledge and insight
Was way better than I ever imagined
Angela_B, Apr 2024
Amazing experience! Our guide Elena was so kind and helped us with everything even beyond the tour. She was very informative and friendly and we had a great time. Our driver Daniel was also amazing! The boat tour was beautiful and fun and the tour of the villa is an absolute must!
Highly recommend :)
FLORENCE_P, Apr 2024
Miranella was an excellent tour guide, friendly, great sense of humor and photography skills that will make memories to last a lifetime. Can't wait to share with my friends and make sure to ask for her!!! Villa Del Balbienella was totally worth the trip and all its mysterious hiding places, breathtaking views, and collections!!
mariaadelma_p, Oct 2023
Elena was excellent! She was very attentive of our needs, went above and beyond I would say! Although there was some rain, the tour still ended being great, esp with her ability to make the small group interact. One of the best tours I’ve had !!!
William_L, Sep 2023
Wonderful tour …. Loved the boat ride and the Villa was Amazing! Highly recommend this to anyone visiting Lake Como
Jeff_N, Aug 2023
The boat ride and arrival at the villa was amazing! The Villa was magical - beautiful gardens and fascinating tour of the inside of the villa. The town of Lenno was quiet and picturesque.
Kristi_W, Aug 2023
We had had wonderful day seeing the sights around Bellagio with Elena. She is friendly and knowledgeable and made for an unforgettable day. She avoided crowds and took us to local spots we would have never experienced on our own. We felt like we were touring with a best friend who happened to be a local. I would not hesitate to book a tour with Elena. We hope to return someday and do another tour with her:)
Forrest_M, Jul 2023
We met Elena in Bellagio and boarded a water taxi for a relaxing boat tour of Lake Como, that included breathtaking views of Italian villas and quaint villages and the surrounding lush mountains. Elena was quite knowledgeable about the local history, very personable, and simply charmed us. Our highlight was the tour of the Villa del Balbianello. Would highly recommend Taste & Travel Italy. We would give Elena more than 5 stars.
leannecords, Jul 2023
It was a lovely tour however beware of pickup and drop off not as stated . Our tour was supposed to pick up at 11 from specific location but I got a 10:20 location update for pickup and tour to begin at 10:30 . Pick up and drop off were supposed to be in same location but not so . There were no plans for drop off so we had to pay for a ferry to get back . Just a FYI . The tour was great ;)
Response from Host, Jul 2023
We had to start the cruise earlier at 1030 for there were no boats available later on. We informed you through Viator and you confirmed the new time and pick up address. The meeting point was at 10am to offer you a free short walking tour of Bellagio before taking the boat. As stated in the description the tour ends in Lenno to give you the opportunity to have lunch there (a charming romantic village) but our guides always go back to Bellagio and can take you to the meeting point if you prefer to do so. Your travel consultant might have booked this tour for you and did not inform you of the new time and meeting point. I am sorry for that but we are happy you enjoyed our tour.
Scarlett, Jul 2023
Thank you Elena for providing the best guide to us!! She’s so helpful and friendly xoxo and of course the captain of the boat!! Thank you for the best memories in lake como!
Sharon_K, May 2023
Glenda was a great tour guide. Tour was a small group which was great. I was a little worried about the small boat which picked us up but it was super smooth. The waves were quite big but we all had a great time. The Villa is a must see.
From $449.72
per person-You will not receive a refund if you cancel.
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LA DOLCE VITA : Lake Como 1h Cruise + Villa Balbianello (Guided)
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