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
4.3
based on 469 reviews
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
Sarah_N, Oct 2025
Fantastic trip our guide was amazing. Well worth the money . Plenty to see ,very chilled. Short time in lugano but well worth seeing. Plenty of time for shopping and lunch in ballegio.
Russell_P, Oct 2025
Ciara was a fantastic guide. The trip to Lugano and Bellagio was well worth the time. Also we had a beautiful sunny day for this so great all round.
Medina_A, Oct 2025
I couldn’t get a tour to Bellagio, since strike is happening and boat tours were cancelled. We spent a few hours in Lugano , which is not bad, but still my main purpose of buying this tour is to go to Bellagio, didn’t happen
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Dear Medina,
Thank you for sharing your opinion. I would like to point out that adverse weather conditions caused landslides and flooding, which led to road closures and the cancellation of ferry services by the shipping company due to force majeure and safety concerns. Obviously, none of this was our fault, and we also had to carry out our activities during a major national strike. Despite all this, we managed to complete at least part of the tour and gave you a partial refund for the parts you were unable to do.
Unfortunately, your review only penalizes us, who are not at fault, so we kindly ask you to delete it.
Sincerely,
Davide
Monica_B, Oct 2025
Andrian was an amazing guide. Touring on the bus was painless to Lugano. The stop was only an hour however you could walk the park and grab a latte. The ferry ride to Bellagio was short and enjoyable as a small group. Of course the recommendation to eat at Seta was top notch. The ferry back to Como was informative. Great food, drink and conversation.
Thank you for an amazing day!
Laura_A, Sep 2025
We had a good day but were well informed before going on trip. The ferry ride from Bellagio to Como is two hours and we were grateful for Adriano’s narration or it would have been a long trip and we would have never know what we were seeing. Bellagio was Bellagio. He gave great suggestions for food and gelato and place to take wonderful pictures. Lugano wasn’t at its best for a tour group. It was the one Sunday of the year for a marathon. My husband runs so to us it was interesting but the entire city center was shut down to traffic so the bus had to park at solid 10- 15 min walk away. Many areas were roped off and all of the piazzas were full of vendors and tents for the race. Again we found value in it, but wasn’t what we were hoping for in our only visit to Switzerland. The extra walking with so many people in the city center caused some with mobility issues to struggle to keep up. Adriano did his best to keep us together. Some things were out of his hands.
Tiffany_G, Sep 2025
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.
ANDRE_E, Sep 2025
Ignacio was amazing, informative, friendly and thorough. We had a great time on our tour of touring.
Bill_P, Sep 2025
Too much time on the bus. No need to go to Lugano. 1:15 hours to and from and 50 minutes at Lugano doesn’t make sense.
Mary_C, Sep 2025
Not the experience we had enticipated. Not as much as an enchanting boat cruise as advertised. We spent most of the trip on a bus and felt as though we had little time to explore. During the tour, the audio transmitters/receivers didn't work for the majority of the trip so it wasn't a guided tour. I came away from the trip with the same information I had entering it. The boat cruise was actually on the public ferry boat which can be very crowded and difficult to find seating outside with a view. If I was to go again, I would book a space on the ferry and navigate the route myself. However, the view was lovely, the tour guide was friendly and the bus driver was very good.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Dear Mary,
Thank you for sharing your opinion, but some of the information is not accurate. In fact, only 2 hours of the 8-hour tour are spent on the bus. Moreover, the bus is the only way to get to Lugano from Como, and the duration of the journey can easily be verified on Google Maps, so there are no surprises. If the radios don't work, just inform the tour leader and they will be replaced, which you probably didn't do. In any case, as written in the tour description, this tour is led by a tour leader and not a tour guide, which is quite different, and you have free time in both Lugano and Bellagio. In any case, our tour leaders always provide plenty of explanations and are always ready to answer questions and satisfy curiosity. In high season, the boat may be full, but this is a problem for the Lake Como Navigation Company and is certainly not the fault of the agency.
Thank you for allowing us to demonstrate the legitimacy of our work.
Sincerely,
Davide
Yvonne_B, Sep 2025
I am writing this on behalf of my clients, M/M McCormick, had a wonderful trip. Everything could not have been better. Their guide, Andrea, explained everything and had a wondeful sense of humor. His English was very good. *****
Ryan_B, Sep 2025
This is an extremely long day - if you are unfortunate enough to end up with the reversed day where you start on the bus first to Lugano, there is a likely chance you end up in Bellagio at primetime. The ferries are not built to handle the capacity and it turns into madness. We stood in the hot sun with no protection for 45 mins waiting for a late overloaded ferry to get back to Como and it was somewhat miserable. The town was mobbed with people trying to leave. Not completely the tour’s fault but it seems the area needs to adjust the efficiency and process of the ferries or the tour needs to alter their offering to accommodate these glaring issues.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Dear Ryan,
Thank you for sharing your opinion. The duration of the tour is clearly stated in the description, so there should be no surprises, especially since it takes time to reach Lugano first, then Bellagio, and then take a cruise on the lake. The issue of too many tourists in the area obviously cannot be attributed to us.
Best regards,
Davide
Patty_G, Aug 2025
Again Alex made our tour!! He was so knowledgeable about history and details that it was easy to relax and go about our day. He is very conscientious of all the people on the tour. It was filled with boat rides and beautiful scenery. Switzerland was so clean and beautiful.
Bellagio was bustling! The lake was stunning!
Joseph_W, Aug 2025
Information provided was very interesting and unique to the region toured. The tour guide was funny and informative. We had a wonderful day and agreed that this tour was the best experience overall.
Sarah_v, Aug 2025
Alice was a fantastic tour guide. I loved this trip as a solo traveller, it got me to places easily, I don't know if I would have managed half as well if I was doing it myself. Lugano was STUNNING.
Talal_S, Aug 2025
One of the most upscale group trips i had with (andrya) guided.
Every things is managed will and professionals.
Sayuri_U, Aug 2025
As described. Friendly and knowledgeable tour guide. The company was responsible. The bus was comfortable. The sights were beautiful. I'm just not sure that it was a very good value. We spent more time traveling than visiting places.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Dear Sayuri,
Thank you for sharing your opinion. To visit Lugano, Bellagio, and take a boat cruise on the lake, there are obviously some transfers to make, and these transfers take time. However, a total of 2 hours on the bus out of an 8-hour tour is a good compromise.
Best regards,
Davide
Natasha_A, Jul 2025
Amazing experience today with Andrea! He was so knowledgeable, friendly and passionate about everything we did today. The views in Lugano and Bellagio were breathtaking, and the boat ride back to Como was unforgettable. Would 10/10 recommend this experience. Andrea was awesome!!!
Thomas_K, Jul 2025
This tour was a fantastic experience. We had such a great day and learned a ton. Our tour guide was amazing, knowledgeable, kind, outgoing, well organized, and funny. We had a fun short stop in Switzerland, climbed some stairs and looked around the shops. We enjoyed lunch in Bellagio *which on July 28 was overly packed with tourists- fair warning*. The boat ride back to Como was a nice end to the day. We were able to see so many beautiful villas and enjoy the lake, which would not have been remotely possible by car. We were so glad we decided to go on this tour.
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