How Lake Como tours differ
There is no single Lake Como tour. You can ride the public ferry from pier to pier, join a shared boat trip with a skipper, rent a boat and drive it yourself, or visit a villa and garden on its own ticket. Each option has a different price unit. A ferry or shared boat is priced per person, while a rented boat is priced for the whole boat, up to six people in the examples below.
The prices on this page are examples from single providers in 2026, not market ranges. A listed price does not show free seats on your date, and the final amount can change with extras such as fuel or fast boat surcharges.
Tour types compared
Adult prices in 2026. Check the unit in the third column.
| Type | Example | Price unit | Price in 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public ferry | Single ticket, fare band 1 to 8 | Per person | €3.00 to €14.50; day tickets €8.00 to €32.00 |
| Shared boat with skipper | 1 hour from Como | Per person | €48 |
| Shared boat with skipper | 2 hours from Como | Per person | €99 |
| Shared boat with skipper | Bellagio tour, 3 hours | Per person | €105 |
| Self-drive boat | 2 hours, up to 6 people (July 2026) | Per boat | €150 |
| Self-drive boat | 4 hours (July 2026) | Per boat | €250 |
| Self-drive boat | 8 hours (July 2026) | Per boat | €450 |
| Villa and garden | Villa Carlotta | Per person | €17.50 |
| Villa and garden | Villa del Balbianello, park only | Per person | €15 |
| Villa and garden | Villa del Balbianello, villa and park | Per person | €25 |
| Garden | Villa Melzi, Bellagio | Per person | €10 |
The shared boat prices include skipper, fuel and drinks, with up to 12 people per boat. The self-drive boat prices in July 2026 include fuel. The boat pages have the full details: boat tours and ferries.
Our picks: tours compared
A boat tour, a small-group day from Milan and a ticket package for three villas.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Four-hour boat tour with Bellagio and Varenna
A shared boat tour past the villas with walks through Bellagio and Varenna and a prosecco tasting. Tips for the captain are not included.
Check availability →
Three villa entries with a day ferry ticket
Entry vouchers for Villa Monastero, Villa Carlotta and the Villa Melzi gardens plus a day ferry ticket, with no guide. Lunch and tips are extra, and on Tuesdays only the garden of Villa Monastero is open.
Check availability →
Como, Bellagio and Varenna from Milan with a boat cruise
A small-group day with a boat ride, guided visits in all three towns, priority ferry access, reserved seats, first-class train and metro tickets. Food, drinks, hotel pickup and villa entries are not included.
Check availability →Lake Como tours and day trips
Boat trips, villa visits and day trips from Milan, with live prices and availability.
The tour types in detail
What each one involves.
Public ferry
The cheapest way onto the water. The fare depends on the band your route falls into, from €3.00 to €14.50 for an adult single in 2026. Children aged 4 to 11 pay from €1.80. Fast boats cost extra, from €1.50 to €5.50 depending on the band.
Ferry guide →Shared boat with a skipper
A shared trip from Como lists skipper, fuel and drinks in the price, with a maximum of 12 people per boat. Trips of 1 and 2 hours are listed, and the Bellagio tour lasts 3 hours. These conditions belong to the one provider listed here and do not carry over to others.
Boat tours →Self-drive boat
The July 2026 example is a 6-person boat with a 40 hp engine, offered as licence-free. In August, one provider lists a full-day rental from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. for €400 without fuel. Ask whether fuel is included before you book.
Boat tours →Villa Carlotta
Entry to the villa in Tremezzo costs €17.50 for adults. From 19 October to 8 November 2026 the villa opens from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Afterwards it opens on listed winter days only.
Villa Carlotta →Villa del Balbianello
The interior is visited on a guided tour only, lasting 50 minutes for up to 16 people. The park is open on its own. A reservation is required in both cases.
Villa del Balbianello →Villa Melzi and Villa Monastero
Villa Melzi sells normal entry at the ticket office on the day, with no reservation. Guided visits need an e-mail request in advance. Villa Monastero in Varenna charges €13 for the garden and €15 for garden and museum.
Bellagio →What to check before you book
The wording differs more than the prices do.
Price per person or per boat
A shared trip of €48 and a rented boat of €150 cannot be compared directly. The first price is for one person, the second for the whole boat, and with a rental you drive yourself and pay for any extras.
Fuel and deposit
Some rentals include fuel and others do not. One provider lists a €500 deposit and insurance included, with fuel extra. Ask for the total before you pay.
Booked time and entry time
At Balbianello the booked time is when you enter the grounds. The start of the guided interior tour is assigned on site, and the wait can be up to 60 minutes.
Ferry or tour for your route
For a simple town-to-town hop, the ferry is the sensible option. A tour makes sense when you want to see the shore from the water or hire a boat for your group. The Milan day trip page shows how the train and ferry fit together.
Plan the rest of your trip
Where the tours fit.
Boat tours
Shared cruises, self-drive rentals and the water taxi to Balbianello.
Ferries
Fares, timetable periods and the central car ferry network.
Villa Carlotta
Tickets, hours and the walk from the piers.
Villa del Balbianello
Reservations, opening days and how to get there.
Lake Como from Milan
Train times and how to combine them with a boat.
Where to stay
Choose a base that fits your boats and trains.
If you start in Milan, day trips from Milan are covered on our sister site for Lombardy. This site stays with the lake.
Lake Como tours: frequently asked questions
What is the best way to see Lake Como?
That depends on your day. The public ferry is the cheapest way to move between towns, a shared boat shows the villas from the water, and a rented boat gives you freedom. The table above compares examples, not a ranking.
How much does a Lake Como boat tour cost?
The shared boat examples range from €48 for 1 hour to €105 for the 3-hour Bellagio tour, per person. Self-drive boats range from €150 for 2 hours to €450 for 8 hours per boat in July 2026. These are single provider examples for 2026.
Do I need to reserve villa visits?
Villa del Balbianello requires a reservation for the park and the villa. Villa Melzi sells normal tickets at the ticket office on the day. Villa Carlotta and Villa Monastero list ticket prices, and Villa Monastero asks for a reservation from groups only.
Are meals included in the tours?
It depends on the product. The shared boat example lists skipper, fuel and drinks. Check each offer for meals before you book.
Is the ferry cheaper than a tour?
Per person, yes. A single ferry ticket starts at €3.00 and a day ticket at €8.00, while a shared boat tour starts at €48. A shared tour is a planned trip with a skipper.