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’ve listed the various options for visiting this sublime lake by boat below, including one that might surprise you.
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
Au départ de la ville de Côme, Bellagio et Varenna
Coup de coeur ❤️: Au départ du port de Côme, nous avons embarqué à bord d’un petit bateau (15 places maximum), où nous avons profité d’une jolie vue sur la ville de Côme depuis l’eau, puis nous sommes partis découvrir les autres joyaux du lac, dont la Fontanelle et Villa d’Este à Cernobbio.
Pendant 1h30 nous avons navigué le long des eaux tranquilles du lac, entouré de paysages à couper le souffle. Nous avons ainsi vu un condensé du lac et des principaux lieux à voir.
La compagnie Bellagio Boat Service, qui opère la croisière, a une excellente réputation. Notre guide nous a donné plusieurs anecdotes sur les lieux visités, en plusieurs langues (dont en français).
➡️ Nous vous conseillons de réserver à l’avance vos billets pour une croisière avec apéritif au lac de Côme en ligne (environ 50€ par personne), surtout pendant la saison touristique, car ces excursions sont très prisées et le nombre de places est limité.
Departure from Milan
Everything from transportation from Milan to Lake Como towns such as Bellagio and Varenna is included. You can also cross 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 transport. What’s more, having a guide helps you grasp the history and anecdotes of the places you visit. However, you’ll obviously have less freedom to explore at your own pace.
Boat rental
Of course, the best thing to do is hire a private boat, so you can explore the lake at your own pace and swim in peace.
Don’t panic if you are new to sailing, you can rent a boat with or without a license and with or without a skipper. In short, you’re bound to find a formula to suit your needs.
Pour louer votre bateau, nous vous recommandons de passer par la plateforme Samboat. C’est bien simple, ils ont l’offre la plus complète de location de bateau et leur site est très simple d’utilisation !
You enter your location“Lake Como“,“Como“,“Lecco“, then your dates, then you can filter by boat type (motorboats, houseboats, small boats…), with or without a license, with or without a skipper: in short, you’re spoilt for choice.
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
Cette activité originale est possible depuis Bellagio, vous pourrez explorer la côte autour de Bellagio. De nombreux loueurs proposent des locations de kayaks au niveau du port.
Where to sleep on Lake Como?
Looking for a place to stay on Lake Como? To make your visit easier, we’ve included an article detailing the most interesting villages to stay in on Lake Como, along with our best hotel addresses.
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.
