Varenna: Lake Como Premium Shared Cruise
About This Experience
Ninety minutes on the water from Varenna, out across the centre of Lake Como and back, purely to look at the shore from the angle it was built to be seen from.
The route crosses to Tremezzo for Villa Carlotta, carries on to Lenno bay for Villa del Balbianello — the promontory used in Star Wars and Casino Royale — and Villa Balbiano from House of Gucci, passes Isola Comacina, the lake's only island, and then rounds the Bellagio headland past Villa Melzi and its neighbours before returning.
The boat is bigger and steadier than a speedboat and smaller than a car ferry, which is the point for anyone uneasy on the water. A free audio guide runs through an app: a board on deck tells you how to download it, and only the name of each villa is announced aloud, so bring headphones or you will get the view without the commentary.
Two honest notes. Seating is not guaranteed and standing places are sold, and passengers who board at Varenna sometimes find the top deck already taken by people who joined at Bellagio. And this is a passing cruise, not a landing one — it stops only where passengers disembark. One reviewer's complaint is worth repeating: the commentary mentions Villa Monastero but the route does not really give you a look at it, so do not book this expecting to see the villa from the water.
Highlights
- Ninety minutes across the centre of Lake Como, departing from Varenna itself
- Villa del Balbianello and Villa Balbiano — the Star Wars, Casino Royale and House of Gucci villas — from the water
- Villa Carlotta at Tremezzo, and Isola Comacina, the lake's only island
- Round the Bellagio headland past Villa Melzi and the lakeside residences
- A stable, covered boat with an open upper deck, and a free audio guide by app
What's Included
- ✓ Ninety-minute sightseeing cruise from Varenna
- ✓ Skipper
- ✓ Free audio-guide app
Not Included
- Headphones — bring your own or the audio guide is unusable
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Food and drink
- Entry to any of the villas passed
- Gratuities
What to Bring
- Headphones — the commentary is delivered through your own phone
- Weather-appropriate clothing; the upper deck is open
Good to Know & Caveats
- Seating is not guaranteed and standing places may be sold. Passengers boarding at Varenna sometimes find the top deck already full from Bellagio.
- This is a passing cruise, not a landing one. It does not stop at the villas and does not give a good view of Villa Monastero, despite the commentary naming it.
- Departures are at 11:50 and 15:55; the meeting pier depends on the option booked.
- No pets, smoking or food on board.
- If the Varenna pier is unusable on return, the captain may disembark elsewhere on the route.
- Parking in Varenna is genuinely difficult — if you are driving, arrive well ahead.
Not Suitable For
- Anyone who needs a guaranteed seat
- Visitors hoping to go ashore at the villas — this cruise does not land at them
Meeting Point
The Varenna waterfront — the exact pier depends on the departure option you book, so check the confirmation. Sailings leave at 11:50 and 15:55.
What Travelers Say
Rated 4.2/5 by 912 verified GetYourGuide travelers.
A very pleasant trip. We saw beautiful views of Lake Como. Great for people who are afraid to travel by speedboat - the boat is larger and stable, but also not as big as ferries, so it gives a sense of privacy. It's best to board in Bellagio, where most people boarded. We boarded in Varenna, and unfortunately, all the seats on the top deck of the boat were already taken.
— Katarzyna, August
Not even the rain ruined the tour. The scenery is beautiful. I recommend it!
— Lorena, August
A good boat tour where you see the main villas... except at the end, where it's said that you should see Monastera, but you don't at all
— Degardin Wiart, August
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I get a seat?
Not guaranteed. Standing places are sold and the open upper deck fills first, often with passengers who boarded at Bellagio before the Varenna stop. If sitting matters, board early and go straight up.
Does the cruise stop at the villas?
No. It is a panoramic sightseeing cruise and stops only to let passengers disembark at designated points. You see Villa del Balbianello, Villa Carlotta, Villa Balbiano and Villa Melzi from the water, but you do not go ashore at any of them.
Will I see Villa Monastero from the boat?
Not well. The commentary names it, but at least one reviewer noted the route does not actually deliver a view of it. If Villa Monastero is what you came for, walk into the garden — it is ten minutes from the pier.
Do I need headphones?
Yes, bring your own. The audio guide runs on your phone through a free app; only the name of each villa is announced aloud on board. Without headphones you get the scenery and very little else.
What time does it leave?
There are two sailings, at 11:50 and 15:55. The exact meeting pier on the Varenna waterfront depends on which option you book, so check the confirmation.
Other Varenna Tickets
Varenna: Castello di Vezio Entry Ticket
From Milan: Small Group Como, Bellagio, Varenna, Boat Cruise
Varenna: Villa Cipressi Gardens Entry Ticket on Lake Como
Varenna: Villa Monastero Ticket & Wine Tasting in Bellagio
Varenna: Wine Tasting and Entry Ticket to Villa Monastero
