Exploring the lake by boat is a must-do experience during your stay in Lake Como. You will have unforgettable views of the surrounding mountains and majestic villas in the middle of the lake, and above all you will be able to swim away from the crowds.
Lake Como is less than an hour from Milan, so it’s a great place to include in your stay for an immediate change of scenery.
We give you all the options and advice (times, prices, dates…) for visiting the lake by boat below.
Where to take the boat to visit Lake Como?
You can take the ferries or rent a boat or canoe from the main towns on the lake: Como, Bellagio, Varenna, Lecco, Mennagio….
Lake Como by boat all options
Cruising
Departure from Como, Bellagio and Varenna
Favourite ❤️: Departing from the port of Como, we boarded a small boat (15 people maximum), where we enjoyed a lovely view of the city of Como from the water, then set off to discover the other jewels of the lake, including Villa Fontanelle, Villa Olmo and Villa d’Este in Cernobbio.
For 1h30 we sailed along the calm waters of the lake, surrounded by breathtaking scenery. We saw a condensed view of the lake and its main sights.
Urban Emotions, the company operating the cruise, has an excellent reputation. Our guide gave us many anecdotes about the places we visited, in several languages (including French).
➡️ We advise you to book your tickets for a drink cruise on Lake Como online in advance (approx. €50 per person), especially during the tourist season, as these excursions are very popular and the number of places is limited.
🎟️ Info and booking for a drink cruise on Lake Como
Boat cruises are also available from the other two main towns on the lake:
Departure from Milan
Organized tours to Lake Como from Milan offer all-inclusive packages. If you don’t want to rent a car, this is clearly an interesting option, both for saving time and keeping your budget in check.
💡 Everything is planned from transportation from Milan (bus), to towns visited on Lake Como such as Bellagio or Varenna. You’ll also have the chance to explore the lake by boat.
You’ll be able to see a condensed view of the lake and its main sights. With round-trip bus transport from Milan and a cruise on the lake, every detail is designed to maximize your time on site.
No need to worry about organization or transportation. The presence of a guide is also a real plus for understanding the history of the lake, its villas and local anecdotes.
There are also free times to explore the city centers of Como and Bellagio at your own pace and without the group.
🎟️ See prices and availability for a day trip to Lake Como from Milan
Ferry
Another very good option is to take the ferry that connects the main cities of Lake Como, Como, Bellagio, Varenna, Mennagio….
You can buy a day ticket to get on and off whenever you want and stop to discover the incredible villages that surround Lake Como (about 15€ per day).
Find all the information you need about boat times and prices on the Navigazion Lago Como website.
By kayak
This original activity is available from Bellagio, allowing you to explore the coast around Bellagio. A number of rental companies offer kayak hire at the port.
Where to sleep on Lake Como?
Looking for a place to stay on Lake Como? To make your visit easier, we’velisted the most interesting villages to stay in on Lake Como in an article , along with our best hotel addresses in Como, Varenna and Mennagio.
In Mennagio: Suite in Menaggio – Our favorite
Tested and validated. You can’t get more authentic than this!
- 📍 In the center of Menaggio with a beautiful view of the lake
- 🍽️ Fully equipped kitchen
Rated 9.3/10 on Booking
In Como: Albergo Frirenze – Mid-range
- Renovated room
- Ideal location near the port
- Parking 10€ / day
Rated 8.5/10 on Booking
This guide is completely independent, based on our own experience. We visited Lake Como by creating our own itinerary (after extensive research) and selecting our own activities.
Map: our best addresses on Lake Como
Here’s a little map we’ve put together, to help you find your way around the various places and addresses we’ve mentioned above.
You cansave itto your favorites or download it for offline use.
What to do?
- Open map on Google maps
- Click on the icon representing the three vertical dots at top left or on the map description.
- Select the “Add to my saved places” or “Save map” option, depending on your version of the application.
We wish you an excellent trip! Feel free to drop us a note below to let us know if you’re planning this trip, ask any questions you may have here or on Instagram, we’ll get back to you with great pleasure.
