See the beauty of the Italian Lakes with a Lake Como Boat Hire

There’s something magical about Lake Como. Tucked in the Alpine foothills of northern Italy, this stunning 46-kilometer stretch of blue is lined with picture-perfect villages and grand villas. And the best way to experience it all? On a Lake Como boat hire.

Lake Como has long been a hideaway for celebrities and the well-heeled, but you don’t need your own yacht to enjoy it.

Renting a boat puts you in control of your day – hop between colorful villages, find hidden coves for a refreshing dip, or pull up to a waterfront restaurant where lunch under trailing wisteria awaits.

The boats are surprisingly easy to handle, even for first-timers.

But if this isn’t your thing, you can hire a captain, sit back with a glass of prosecco and soak in those jaw-dropping mountain views.

Whether you’ve got an hour or a full day to spare, Lake Como opens up differently when you’re on the water.

The light is magical on the water, with the mountains casting moody shadows on the pastel buildings that tumble down to the shore.

We’ve mapped out some perfect boat routes to help you make the most of your time.

Read on for everything you need to know about renting a boat on Lake Como – including where to get one, what you shouldn’t miss, and (let’s be honest, the most important part) where to dock for the best lakeside lunch spots.

IS HIRING A BOAT ON LAKE COMO EASY?

Yes, it’s very easy to hire a boat on Lake Como. There are many providers all the way around the lake offering everything from romantic rowboats through to simple speedboats or classic wood-panelled luxurious vessels.

You can either hire a boat to sail yourself or take a private tour with a captain. If you choose to sail yourself you will get a quick demonstration on how to power and steer the boat, along with some brief safety information, before being sent on your way.

If you are comfortable driving a car, you should not have any trouble hiring a speedboat on Lake Como.

WHAT TO SEE FROM A LAKE COMO BOAT RENTAL

Lake Como is a beautiful part of northern Italy in the foothills of the Italian Alps. While the entire lake is stunning, here are a few of the highlights you can expect to see from a Lake Como boat hire.

BELLAGIO

Probably the most beautiful village on Lake Como, Bellagio is famous for the villas overlooking the water, which gives the area its movie-star appeal.

The boutiques in the old town centre focus on leather and perfume, and they are located between the local food stores.

VILLA CARLOTTA

Villa Carlotta is a picturesque villa located at the top of a formal terrace garden with views across the lake to Bellagio. In peak season, the blaze of azaleas and rhododendrons make a colourful spectacle as you cruise past on your Lake Como boat rental.

VARENNA

Varenna is a small village, tucked into the rocks and ideally situated on a promontory where the three legs of the lake meet.

Blessed with charm and character, the Church of San Giorgio and the beautiful lakeside terraces along Villa Monastero and Villa Cipressi stand out from the shore.

GRAND HOTEL TREMEZZO

The beautifully set Grand Hotel Tremezzo has sweeping views across the lake. Sumptuous art nouveau design, plus three swimming pools and a private beach complete this luxurious resort. Backed by the mountains, it’s a beautiful sight.  

VILLA DEL BALBIANELLO

James Bond recuperated at Villa Del Balbianello after his torture by La Chiffre in the 2006 film Casino Royale. Stuck out on a promontory, capture this beautiful building and manicured trees as you make a loop past on your Lake Como boat hire.  

VILLA LA CASSINELLA

Villa la Cassinella is a private villa owned by Richard Branson. It’s only accessible by boat or helicopter and caters to guests in sumptuous lakeside luxury with private terraces and a heated infinity pool. From the boat, the immaculate topiary is worth a photo stop.

VILLA OLEANDRA

Located in the village of Laglio, Villa O’Leandra is George Clooney’s summer pad. The 18th-century building has commanding lake views but required renovations before it could be lived in. George had to buy Villa Margherita next door while the works were underway.   

VILLA D’ESTE

Often voted as one of the best hotels in the world, this Renaissance palace, set on the shores of Cernobbio, is the epitome of luxury and glamour. Sailing past on your Lake Como boat hire might have to be as close as you get.

VILLA PLINIANA

Another leading hotel in the world, Villa Pliniana, stands alone on the eastern bank of Lake Como. The 16th-century building occupies 18 acres on the waterfront with a private boat dock and helipad. As a photo opportunity, it makes a great stop.

SUGGESTED ITINERARIES

All the highlights listed above are scattered along the shores of Lake Como, which you can see on the map below.

To help you with navigation, we’ve put together some suggested itineraries to help you work out what you can see in the time you have.  

1-HOUR ITINERARY

In 1 hour, we suggest you explore the central area of Lake Como and hire your boat from Bellagio or Lenno. Here you could see Bellagio, Villa Carlotta, Hotel Tremezzo, Villa del Balbianello and Villa Casinella before returning to the boat

2-HOUR ITINERARY

In 2 hours, you can complete the 1-hour tour above, and you can also visit beautiful Varenna, the lovely town of Menaggio, and do a loop of Isola Comacina.

You could hire the boat from Bellagio, Varenna or Lenno for this two-hour itinerary.

4-HOUR ITINERARY

In 4 hours you can complete the two-hour circuit but also add in time for some swimming, a picnic on the boat or a stop at a restaurant.

San Giovanni is a small pebble beach near Bellagio, which has a bar selling food and beverages during the summer. There is also a small beach in Griante where you can rent sunbeds and buy a drink.

6-HOUR ITINERARY

In six hours, you can complete the four-hour tour (including lunch) and visit the southern end of the lake, where you will find George Clooney’s villa, Villa D’Este, and Villa Pliniana.

Just ensure you’ve hired a decent speedboat, not a wooden rowing boat! For this tour you can hire the boat from any of the locations mentioned above.

BOAT RENTAL COSTS

Renting a boat for part of the day on Lake Como usually includes the cost of the boat, fuel, insurance and safety equipment. While there are some price differences between the providers, below is a rough guide to what you can expect to pay.

• 1 hour: €100
• 2 hour: €170
• 3 hour: €240
• 6 hour: 450

For a whole day boat rental, which is usually from 9 am to 6 pm, the cost is around €350.

However, keep in mind that a full-day hire usually excludes fuel, which you’ll need to cover yourself.

If you want to just sit back and relax and don’t fancy driving and navigating yourself, you could hire a boat with a captain.

This private boat tour with a captain starts in Milan and visits Varenna and Bellagio with a guided walking tour.

WHERE TO HIRE A BOAT ON LAKE COMO?

You can hire a boat from many locations all around Lake Como.

But driving from one side of the lake to the other either involves a car ferry or takes two hours. So we suggest using a company that is not too far from where you are staying, but also close enough to the sights you want to see (see our Lake Como map below).

If you want to focus on the major sights around the centre of Lake Como, good options for boat rental include Bellagio (central), Varenna (eastern bank) or Lenno (western bank).

To explore the southern end, hire your boat from around Moltrasio.

Here are some of our recommendations.

FROM BELLAGIO

Bellagio is a great place to hire a boat as it is right in the centre of Lake Como and close to many of the best sights.

For a tour with a captain, check out Bellagio Boat Service. However, if you’re keen to rent your own speedboat, try perfectly positioned Lake By Boat right on the tip of Bellagio.

FROM VARENNA

Varenna, on the eastern banks of Lake Como, is a beautiful town that is also well-located to see many of the sights with a quieter feel than Bellagio

Cafe Varenna, just near the harbour, is a great place for a pre-sail coffee. Lake Como Boat offers standard speedboat rental as well as tours with a captain.

FROM LENNO

On the western bank of Lake Como, Lenno is close to all the central sights with Villa del Balbianello and Villa Carlotta just a few minutes’ boat ride away.

Cadenazzi Lake Como Boat Rental offers self-drive speedboats from 1 hour to the whole day.

FROM MOLTRASIO

A great option for exploring the southern end of the lake, Nettuno in Moltrasio offers wooden rowing boats and a range of speedboats. They also provide some very helpful suggested itineraries to help you see the main sights.

RESTAURANTS TO MOOR UP TO ON LAKE COMO

Mooring up to a restaurant and having lunch by the shore is a wonderful thing to do on Lake Como.

There are a number of great restaurants that allow you to do this, however, space can be limited so book in advance to secure your spot.

Alternatively, the boat rental company will be able to make a reservation for you.

LEZZENO

Restaurante Aurora Lezzeno is an easy restaurant to moor up with stunning views from their terrace. They have a fairly traditional Italian menu with a good selection of pizzas.

COMACINA

Moor up to the stunning island of Isola Comacina and have lunch at Locanda Dell’Isola Comacina or just grab a drink at La Botte.

TORNO

One of our favourite spots for lunch is the village of Torno on the southern section of the lake. Moor up to the village and choose between Restaurant Vapore or Belevdere, then grab a drink at one of the nearby bars.

CARATE URIO

On the western shore of Lake Como, the upmarket Aquadolce has a private dock for its visitors. It’s a great option for a special occasion.

BELLAGIO

Just 1.5 kilometres from Bellagio but miles away from the tourists, Ittiturismo Restaurant Mella takes homemade cooking of local fish to the next level. it’s usually possible to dock at the harbour in the village.

The Grand Metropole Bellagio has only a couple of spaces to moor up to, so you’ll need to be lucky or well connected.

WHERE TO SWIM AT LAKE COMO?

Close to the Italian Dolomites, jumping in the water from the boat or finding a secluded (or busy) pebble beach for a swim can be a refreshing experience.

Nonetheless, it’s one of the great things to do from a Lake Como boat rental.

Pescallo Bay (Borgo di Pescallo), just around the corner from Bellagio, is a calm bay ideal for swimming.

San Giovanni is a small pebble beach also near Bellagio, which has a bar selling food and drink during the summer.

The small pebble beach in Griante is a lovely spot where you can rent sunbeds and buy a drink.

Finally, the lido near Parco Civico Tereiso Olivelli is also a great option.

MAP: LAKE COMO

Many of the sights are scattered around the Y-shaped lake, however, each are very easy to see from the boat.

Depending on how long you have, you may need to select a certain section of the lake to see. Use our map to plot your course over the day.

OTHER QUESTIONS

CAN YOU MOOR YOUR RENTAL BOAT AT LAKE COMO’S SIGHTS?

In general, you cannot moor your rental boat at the major sights.

Hiring a boat is great for exploring the lake but not for stopping onshore. If you want to go inside the grand villas and gardens, then you are better off taking the Lake Como ferry, which allows you to get on and off and explore.

Some of the smaller villages have public docking (like Varenna), but they are not always the easiest to find or know how to use.

The exception is Isla Comacina, the only island in Lake Como, where you can easily moor up and go for a stroll around the island.

If you decide to hire a speedboat with a captain, then he will be able to drop you at the sights, wait until you have looked around and then pick you up again. However, seeing more than 1 or 2 sights would start to become expensive.  

CAN YOU MOOR UP AT RESTAURANTS ON LAKE COMO?

Yes, many restaurants have private docks where you can moor, or are close to public docks in the villages.

For a short boat hire, a picnic is probably a good idea, so you’re not using up too much time getting on and off the boat. But, for longer boat hires, pulling up to a lakeside restaurant is a great thing to do. All our restaurant recommendations are above.  

DO YOU NEED A LICENSE TO HIRE A BOAT ON LAKE COMO?

No, you do not need any license to hire a standard speedboat on Lake Como. However, most providers require a passport or driver’s license for identification.

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