Proceed along the lovers' promenade to Porto Riva Grande, where you will find DOCK 1.You can arrive directly on Pier 1: remember to arrive 10 minutes before departure with the QR code on your Reservation Voucher.
Description
Once you leave the town of Varenna behind, the tour sails to the opposite shore to let you admire the most fascinating historic houses of Lake Como, such as Villa Carlotta, characterized by a unique historical and artistic heritage, Villa del Balbianello, known for its appearances in Star Wars and Casino Royale, and Villa Balbiano, famous for being the location of the movie House of Gucci. The tour continues to Bellagio, where you can discover Villa Melzi, with its picturesque gardens, Villa Gerli and Villa Placida.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
- On the boat there will be a billboard with instructions to download the audio guide app.
*NB:
We inform you that on weekends, due to the large turnout and the restrictive embarkation and disembarkation times on the piers, the tour may take less than the 90 minutes communicated.
In demand: 51 of the next 150 departures are already sold out.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 7.
Tour Options
Shared boat tour from Varenna
Itinerary
Villa Del Balbianello
Pass by
Admire Villa del Balbianello, famous for being the protagonist in many films such as Star Wars and Casino Royale.
Villa del Balbiano - Complesso Architettonico di Ossuccio (ante 1778)
Pass by
Admire one of the most precious jewels of Lake Como, with its large and sumptuous garden, known above all for being the location of the House of Gucci.
Villa Carlotta
Pass by
Enjoy one of the most majestic villas on Lake Como, with its spectacular gardens and the perfect dialogue between art and nature.
Isola Comacina
Pass by
Enjoy the breathtaking view of the only island on Lake Como.
Villa Monastero
Pass by
Villa Monastero was born on the ruins of an ancient Cistercian female monastery, crowned by a splendid garden, rich in rare and exotic botanical species.
What's included
Included
Audio guide in English, Italian, French and Spanish
Restroom on board
Not included
Gratuities
Headphones for audio guide
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
2.8
6 reviews
5
1
4
1
3
2
2
0
1
2
How it compares in Lake Como
Starting price $46 is 70% below the typical $154 for tours of similar length in Lake Como
Excurgo comparison of 759 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Shared boat tour from Varenna take?
Shared boat tour from Varenna lasts about 1h 30min. The itinerary has 5 stops.
How much does Shared boat tour from Varenna cost?
Prices start at $46 per person for this Lake Como experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Shared boat tour from Varenna run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 11:50 AM, 11:55 AM, 12:30 PM, 3:55 PM, and 4:05 PM.
How much does Shared boat tour from Varenna cost for children?
Children aged 4–13 pay from $30, adults from $46. Infants go free.
Does Shared boat tour from Varenna sell out?
It can: 51 of the next 150 departures are already sold out, so booking ahead is a good idea.
Can I cancel Shared boat tour from Varenna for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is Proceed along the lovers' promenade to Porto Riva Grande, where you will find DOCK 1. You can arrive directly on Pier 1: remember to arrive 10 minutes before departure with the QR code on your Reservation Voucher. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is Shared boat tour from Varenna offered in?
The experience is available in DE, EN, EN, IT, IT, FR, ES.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 100 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Reviews(6)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
B
Bruno_B
September 4, 2026 · via Viator
Good, but no one to guide us at boarding.
Not easy to find. Once the dock was found, no one to confirm the departure location for us, no information on the type of boat (small or large); finally, right on time, a large boat relative to the dock arrived. You have to show the QR code to everyone on the jetty to find and confirm the boat. Once finally on the boat, the ride is nice, but the audio guide does not work and does not indicate the geolocation; it is not easy to find the villa locations, you have to search and rely on the photos from the app to download. We are overall happy with this boat ride despite some sweating from not finding the boat corresponding to our ticket.
M
Maira_D
June 22, 2026 · via Viator
Beautiful experience but the provider does not respond
I gave 3 stars because the customer service is catastrophic! I was late because of the train but it was impossible to contact the provider and Viator could do nothing!! I find that the provider is poorly located and difficult to find. Eventually, after some twists and turns, we found them and were able to go on the excursion. This one is very good on a beautiful, comfortable boat.
D
doucila_f
June 21, 2026 · via Viator
Complicated organization
The meeting point was poorly indicated, and it was impossible to contact the company. Organization was not great; however, the boat is clean and spacious, and the trip was nice once we managed to find the agency.
C
Charly_H
June 15, 2025 · via Viator
Highly recommend
Such a good way to see the villas and towns from the lake and to skip the long queues of the public ferries, had audio guide and comfy seats and a bar and toilets on board, we had an amazing afternoon
C
Curiosity06149261164
May 3, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
Catastrophic
How can I put it?
Catastrophic service!!!
The staff is very unpleasant and walks us from dock to dock, absolutely no organization!
If you want to lose half a day, nothing better!
To flee without a doubt!!!
Too bad we can't mention 0 stars
L
Lanee_J
September 20, 2024 · via Viator
Very nice boat ride and...
Very nice boat ride and great view of the villas, homes, and buildings from the lake. The audio on the boat was not working, so that was unfortunate.
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