Lugano, Bellagio Experience from Como with Enchanting Boat Cruise
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Lake Como, Italy
- 8 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Visit two countries and two famous lakes in one day with this day trip from Como. Ride a ferry across Lake Como to see the elegant towns from the water. Traveling with a Tour Leader, you’ll first visit Lugano in Switzerland to sample Swiss chocolate and admire Lake Lugano.
- Save time with prebooked transport to explore Switzerland and Lake Como
- Combine free time in Bellagio and Lugano with commentary as you travel
- Ride a ferry across Lake Como to see the elegant towns from the water
- Perfect for travelers short on time who want to pack in as much as possible
What's Included
- Professional English/Spanish-speaking Tour Leader
- Audio headsets provided (over 10 participants)
- Enchanting Boat Cruise
- Lunch
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Hotel Barchetta ExcelsiorPiazza Camillo Benso Conte di Cavour, 1, 22100 Como CO, Italy
Como, Piazza Cavour n.5 in front of Hotel Barchetta. Please arrive at the meeting point 15 minutes before the starting time. In case of late arrival at the meeting point and missed tour departure, no refund will be possible
End point
- B&B HOTEL Como City CenterV.le Innocenzo XI, 15, 22100 Como CO, Italy
Operating hours.9:15 am
Itinerary
Discover the enchanting lakes and villages of Switzerland and Italy from Como with a guided daytrip.
Your journey begins with a captivating cruise aboard a public boat, heading towards Bellagio, also known as the “Pearl of Lake Como.” This leisurely cruise provides a unique perspective of Lake Como, showcasing its stunning harmony of nature and architecture. Along the way, you can admire the charming lakeside towns, lush gardens, and elegant villas that line the shores.
Upon arrival in Bellagio, take some time to explore this serene and picturesque town. Enjoy the relaxed atmosphere as you wander through its quaint streets, and perhaps take a break for lunch at a local restaurant.
The tour then proceeds to the charming village of Cadenabbia, from there you'll travel by comfortable coach to the Swiss town of Lugano. Enjoy some free time to explore its scenic city center, where you can discover local shops and taste authentic Swiss chocolate.
Your journey begins with a captivating cruise aboard a public boat, heading towards Bellagio, also known as the “Pearl of Lake Como.” This leisurely cruise provides a unique perspective of Lake Como, showcasing its stunning harmony of nature and architecture. Along the way, you can admire the charming lakeside towns, lush gardens, and elegant villas that line the shores.
Upon arrival in Bellagio, take some time to explore this serene and picturesque town. Enjoy the relaxed atmosphere as you wander through its quaint streets, and perhaps take a break for lunch at a local restaurant.
The tour then proceeds to the charming village of Cadenabbia, from there you'll travel by comfortable coach to the Swiss town of Lugano. Enjoy some free time to explore its scenic city center, where you can discover local shops and taste authentic Swiss chocolate.
Como (Pass By)
Lake Como (Pass By)
1
Bellagio
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
Cadenabbia di Griante (Pass By)
2
Lugano
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
Lago Di Lugano (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Most travelers can participate
- For non-European citizens PASSPORT IS MANDATORY to enter Swiss territory while for European citizens is ok the ID card. Each document must be in original (no photo).
- In Lugano, most stores are closed on Sundays and some might be closed on holydays
- For safety reasons, due to bad weather or a water level that is too high in the lake, public navigation will be used instead of the exclusive boat
- We are not responsible for valuables left on the bus
- Please note that purchases over 300€ made in Switzerland require a customs stop for VAT refunds. As our tour does not include this stop, we kindly ask you to avoid purchases exceeding this amount during your free time in Lugano. We cannot be held responsible for any customs issues if this rule is not followed.
- Please be informed that in case of any road closures, the route may be reversed in the summer period.
- Should we reach the required number of participants for a single group, the tour will operate in a single language rather than bilingually
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 50 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Tiffany_G
We had a great day out, even though the weather wasn’t that great. Our guide was great very informative. We had a lovely coaching for the driving part of the trip. Nice to say we had visited Switzerland and purchased some nice chocolates. Belargio was a beautiful place with a lovely boat ride to return. I thought it was great value for money.
Reviews
4.4
based on 564 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
ElsjeDorothea_J, Jul 2026
Good way to travel and get orientated for first time in Lake Como. Spend some time in Lugano and Bellagio. Make sure if there are public or religious holidays. Complete ferry trip, public ferry but nice to do it guided and pass everything on the lake with description.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Dear Guest,
We are delighted to hear that our tour provided the perfect orientation for your first time visiting Lake Como, and that you enjoyed spending time in both Lugano and Bellagio.
Your tip about checking public and religious holidays is also highly appreciated and very useful for fellow travelers.
We are especially glad you enjoyed the guided ferry experience. Using the public ferry for this itinerary is strategic: the route between Bellagio and Como allows you to take in the full beauty of the lake. It offers the absolute best vantage point to admire all the iconic historical villas, the breathtaking alpine landscapes, and the charming, picturesque harbors of the small lakeside villages along the way. Having a guide to share the history and descriptions of these sights makes the journey even more complete.
Thank you again for choosing us for your first Lake Como experience, and we hope to welcome you back in the future!
Best regards,
Davide
Heli_N, Jun 2026
Andrea is an exellent guide!
His stories are interesting and colourful, trip was perfect even though we did not see Clooney...
Best wishes from The Finns
Giuseppe_A, Jun 2026
Places visited where great, wish we had more time to see more in Lugano and Bellagio and wasted less time on ferry back which took way too long.
Patricia_B, Jun 2026
Terrible tour and was not as described when booked. Taking a group on public ferries was not expected. The description sounded like a smaller boat. Didn’t too much time in Lugano. Guide was not that good. Very disappointing.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Dear Patricia Brennan,
Thank you for your feedback. While we respect that everyone has different personal preferences, we must firmly clarify that the tour was executed exactly as described in the official booking materials.
Public Ferry and Boat Description: Our tour description explicitly and clearly states that the cruise is operated via a public ferry/boat. Nowhere in our documentation do we mention a "small" or private boat. The size of the vessel was unfortunately an assumption made on your part, as we are entirely transparent about the use of the public ferry system to navigate the lake efficiently.
Itinerary and Time in Lugano: The schedule and time allocated for Lugano were respected down to the minute, precisely as outlined in the itinerary. We are truly sorry you did not fully enjoy the experience, as this unique cruise offers an unparalleled view of the entirety of Lake Como, allowing guests to admire world-famous historic villas and stunning botanical parks directly from the water. Furthermore, the tour includes a generous 2-hour stop in Bellagio, universally known as the "pearl of the lake."
Our Tour Leader: We are surprised by your comment regarding our guide. You were accompanied by Andrea, who is widely recognized as one of the top, most experienced tour leaders in the entire region. We consider our guests very fortunate to travel with him, though we understand that guiding styles can be a matter of personal taste.
Our tour is carefully structured to showcase the best of both Lake Como and Lugano in a single day, and thousands of satisfied travelers confirm the quality of this specific itinerary.
Best regards,
Davide
Jacqueline_L, Jun 2026
Fantastic way to experience Lake Como and surroundings. Kevin was an amazing and very informative guide.
JanillTatiana_W, Jun 2026
Had a great time exploring beautiful Lugano & Bellagio with Andrea, our tour guide! Highly recommend! It’s warm and muggy during the summer months so come prepared!
Kate_S, May 2026
Great day out with lots to see. Andrea our guide was very informative with los of information and stories to keep it interesting.
Daniel_D, May 2026
Long lines and waiting allot. The guide was okay and the lake of course is beautiful. My partner was sick and they would not let me reschedule
Response from Host, May 2026
Dear Daniel,
Thank you for sharing your feedback. While we are glad you found the guide to be okay and enjoyed the beauty of the lake, we would like to clarify the situation regarding your reschedule request.
We are truly sorry to hear that your partner was unwell on the day of the tour. However, your request to reschedule was sent to us after the tour had already started.
According to Viator's cancellation and modification policies, changes cannot be made past the deadline or once the activity has begun. Furthermore, your non-refundable admission and transport tickets had already been purchased and secured for you by our team well in advance.
As a tour operator, we must strictly respect these guidelines as the slots and costs cannot be recovered at that stage. We appreciate your understanding and wish your partner a speedy recovery.
Best regards,
Davide
Stephen_S, May 2026
Great for solo travellers. Friendly, welcoming and informative guide. Great value and great atmosphere. Plenty of time given at stopping points to walk around Lugano/Bellagio.
Scott_E, May 2026
It was ver well organized and I appreciated the care of the guide who made sure nobody got lost or left behind.
Vickie_H, May 2026
Loved the tour & Andre was a great tour guide….very informative & friendly. Made the best of cooler weather
Vincenzo_D, May 2026
It's best tour to see so much in one day
Plus get to Cross border and can say have been to Switzerland
Mukundrai_K, May 2026
This was done with Andrea who is an experienced guide doing this for more than 10 years.
There is walking involved and steps and some uphills. Good if you are reasonably fit. No too hard though.
Alan_S, May 2026
Travelled in the reverse direction…. bus up to Lugano then Belaggio and boat back to Como.
First section by bus was very good with an excellent, informative and funny guide.
The boat trip was pretty disastrous. The ‘enchanting’ cruise is a sail in a very cramped, noisy public access boat i.e. a public waterbus, on this occasion full with an unruly school trip with not a teacher in site until disembarking.
None of this was the guides fault who tried valiantly to improve the situation.
Beware the boat trip but the bus and walking tours were very good.
Response from Host, May 2026
Dear Alan,
Thank you so much for your detailed feedback. We are thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the first part of the tour and that your guide made the trip informative and entertaining with their humor and local knowledge.
Regarding the boat trip, we would like to highlight that this specific route is chosen because it allows guests to see the very best of Lake Como, passing by all the stunning villas and landscapes between Bellagio and Como that are otherwise inaccessible.
As you correctly noted, this service is part of the public navigation system. Especially during the high season, these boats can be very crowded. While we understand it can be frustrating, please understand that the capacity and the boarding of other passengers (such as school groups) are managed entirely by the public ferry authorities and are not the responsibility of Veditalia.
We are, however, very proud of our guide, who tried their very best to manage the situation and ensure your comfort despite these external factors. We appreciate your understanding and are glad that the bus and walking portions of the tour met your expectations.
Best regards,
Davide
Ronald_T, May 2026
Andrea was full of energy and super knowledgeable. He is a great asset to Viator!
The trip was a must do if your visiting Lake Como!
Pamela_M, May 2026
Basically a shopping trip first in Lugano and then in Bellagio. You pay a lot of money to be left on your own all the time or directed to lousy cafes and restaurants where somebody undoubtedly gets a cut. Also our particular guide Andre? Spent more time talking about his love life than stories/history of Lake Como.
Response from Host, May 2026
Dear Pamela,
Thank you for sharing your feedback with us. We take all guest comments seriously as they help us maintain our service standards.
We would like to clarify that our itinerary is designed to offer a balance of structured travel and independence; in addition to the free time in Lugano and Bellagio, which allows guests to explore the towns at their own pace according to their interests, the tour includes a scenic cruise to admire the most beautiful villas and villages overlooking Lake Como from the water.
Regarding your feedback about your tour leader, Andrea, we are surprised to hear your perspective. He is consistently rated as one of the top Tour Leaders in the Lake Como area, with 99% of his reviews being 5 stars. While he is known for his engaging and personable storytelling style, we understand that every guest has different preferences when it comes to the tone of the commentary.
We also want to assure you that our recommendations for cafes and restaurants are based solely on convenience and local atmosphere; we do not have any commercial agreements with the venues mentioned.
We appreciate your patronage and hope you took home some beautiful memories of the lake scenery.
Best regards,
Davide
KOTA_T, May 2026
Since I was traveling alone, the guide's thoughtfulness in ensuring I didn't feel isolated was wonderful.
I was able to follow the tour without any worries.
Thank you.
Trina_Z, May 2026
Great way to easily see the surrounding area of Lake Como with lots of information given by a knowledgeable local guide.
paul_m, May 2026
It was an amazing tour. Going to Switzerland being on Lake Como and finding out other things was really outstanding.
Norton_S, Apr 2026
Our guide, Ignatio, was informative, thoughtful and clear. He said enough without saying too much. We travelled by bus to Lugano and after a brief tour identifying key options we were left to explore on our own which was great. Part 2 was travelling by bus along Lake Lugano to reach Menaggio from where we boarded a boat to Bellagio. Again after a short explanation, ( and you could ask whatever you wanted to ) we had 3 hours to explore independently. We then met to board the ferry, being given priority accessible the MANY people queued to board . Then for nearly 2 he's we cruised to different ports arriving eventually at Como. Some key mansions/ villas were identified through the voice box on the final stage of the journey.
A truly wonderful 9 hours.
Ruth_T, Apr 2026
If you want to see more of Lake Como and Lugano, a city in Switzerland that borders Italy, in one day, this is the right choice. The guide, Adriano, was very patient and knowledgeable. You have a period where you can just explore the area on your own.
Michael_M, Apr 2026
If you want a tour of Lake Como's highlights, this is it. Between bus and boat, you get to see and visit interesting towns and travel the lake. It also skips over the border to Switzerland. The knowledgeable guide made sure we didn't miss a detail and got to some interesting restaurants.
Carol_D, Apr 2026
The tour guide was very friendly. The “enchanting” boat tour was on the ferry with hundred other people. Was expecting a smaller water vehicle so was disappointed in the water tour.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Dear Carol,
Thank you for sharing your opinion. I would like to emphasize that the two-hour cruise between Bellagio and Como is truly enchanting, as it allows you to sail through one of Italy’s most picturesque and distinctive landscapes. Of course, during peak season, the boats can get quite crowded, but this is the responsibility of the cruise company.
Best regards,
Davide
Nesrine_K, Apr 2026
The tour guide was the only good part of the tour. He was lovely and amazing. However, the wait time and morning walk of several minutes to the bus was absolute ridiculous. We rushed to arrive 15 minutes before tour as instructed and the wait another 15 minutes before we walked 20 minutes to get to the bus. An hour in lugano was wasteful as you cant do much in 1 hour. There was nothing enchanting about riding an overcrowded ferry with people being herded like cattle and running to secure a seat. The 2 hour ride back on a public ferry from Bellagio to Como is miserable. This tour is really a shame and should be taken off.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Dear Nesrine,
Thank you for sharing your feedback. I’d like to point out that the 20-minute walk at the start of the tour is necessary to reach the bus, which is not allowed to enter the city center (this restriction applies to all buses), and it’s also a great opportunity to visit downtown Como. In Lugano, we stop for 1 hour, as clearly stated in the tour description, so there are no surprises. The 15-minute ferry ride It's essential unless you want to swim to Bellagio; besides, the 2-hour cruise between Bellagio and Como is enchanting (as the tour title says) because they allow you to cruise through one of the most beautiful and picturesque landscapes in Italy.
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to demonstrate the value of our work.
Sincerely,
Davide
Michelle_A, Apr 2026
Beautiful day. Smooth and easy travels. Plenty of time in each place. Andrea, our guide, was so friendly and informative. He was excellent!
Karolina_F, Mar 2026
Fantastic trip. Very well organised, great guide Alice who recommended places to eat and see. It was a fabulous day filled with breathtaking views. Thank you !
Gary_S, Nov 2025
Wonderful, interesting and well priced tour around lake Como. This is a not be to missed experience.
Laurence_M, Oct 2025
The trip is bus in one direction, with stops, cruise boat other direction (about 2 hrs). May be bus or boat first
Wendy_G, Oct 2025
Hard to do if handicap. Our guide was very knowledgeable and accommodating especially to our friend who was semi handicap. I Would highly recommend this trip. All the town were magnificent and the boat ride was very pleasant and full with f great sites to see.
Theresa_H, Oct 2025
The tour guide was excellent, but the tour itself and transportation was not what we expected. Especially the boat portion. It was over crowded, difficult to see things, and not enough seating. It seemed like a water taxi.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Dear Theresa,
Thank you for sharing your opinion. We are sorry that you did not enjoy sailing on this beautiful lake. As you can understand, the fact that the boat was full is the responsibility of the shipping company and not ours.
Kind regards,
Davide
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