A Lake Como boat tour is the easiest way to see the lake’s villas, because many of them face the water rather than the road. From Como town, two very different options lead on Viator. The shared tour with prosecco lasts one hour, is rated 4.7 across 372 reviews and starts from about $64. The private wooden boat, for up to six people, is rated 4.9 across 641 reviews and starts from about $406.
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The verdict
The shared tour is our pick for most travelers. It is short, so it fits a day trip from Milan, and the price includes a glass of prosecco, soft drinks and a guide, plus a multilingual audio guide on your phone. Reviewers mention villas along the shore and a friendly driver.
The private wooden boat is a different trip. You get a classic boat, a driver and up to four hours, depending on the option, with drinks included. Reviewers mention swimming stops and a driver who stops for photos wherever you ask. For a couple or a family, it is a splurge; for six people, however, the cost per person drops a lot.
Neither option is wheelchair accessible, since boarding means stepping down into the boat.
The private boat is listed for up to six people, so check at booking whether the price shown covers your whole group. Also, the two tours leave from different piers in Como, so read the meeting point before you go. One low review of the shared tour mentions a hard-to-find pier.
Which one is for you?
Take the shared tour if
- You want the lower price, from about $64.
- You have one hour, for example on a day trip from Milan.
- You like a drink and a guide included.
- You are traveling alone or as a couple.
Take the private wooden boat if
- You want the highest rating: 4.9 from 641 travelers.
- You are a group of four to six.
- You want to swim and choose the stops.
- It is a special occasion.
What each price covers
The shared tour, from about $64
Included: a one-hour shared boat tour in a small group, alcoholic drinks and soft drinks, an Italian and English guide, and an audio guide on your smartphone in several languages.
Not included: lunch and transport to Como.
The private wooden boat, from about $406
Included: a private boat with driver, alcoholic drinks, bottled water and soft drinks, a Bluetooth radio, heating in the cold season, and fuel.
Not included: food and transport to Como.
Where each one starts
- Shared tour: Viale Geno 12, on the Como lakefront.
- Private wooden boat: Lungo Lario Trieste 46, on the Como lakefront.
Side by side
| Shared tour | Private wooden boat | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.7 from 372 | 4.9 from 641 |
| Five-star reviews | 317 (85%) | 616 (96%) |
| Price | from about $64 | from about $406 |
| Length | 1 hour | Up to 4 hours |
| Boat | Shared, small group | Private, up to 6 |
| Drinks | Included | Included |
| Start | Viale Geno, Como | Lungo Lario Trieste, Como |
| Cancellation | Free up to 24 hours before | Free up to 24 hours before |
What travelers say
On the shared tour
Was a great tour to see some villas and part of the lake.
Thinh_L, August 2026, via Viator
Our boat driver Alessandro was excellent.
Glenn_H, August 2026, via Viator
On the private wooden boat
We had a wonderful tour with a stop for swimming.
Jeffrey_H, August 2026, via Viator
Great tour, our boat driver Daniel is great and he accommodated wherever you want to stop for a photo.
Quang_D, August 2026, via Viator
Both are reviewed mostly with five stars: 85% of the shared tour ratings and 96% of the private wooden boat ratings. Three stars or lower make up about 8% of the reviews on the first and about 2% on the second.
How a boat tour fits a trip to Lake Como
Coming from Milan without a car? The Lake Como day trip from Milan handles the transport, and in town the Last Supper tour and the Milan Duomo rooftop tour fill the rest of the stay.
For the bigger picture, see the best day trips from Milan and our northern Italy itinerary.
For a four-hour private cruise, see our Lake Como private boat tour guide, and for more experiences at this level, our guide to luxury experiences in Italy.
Back on land, our Lake Como cooking class page compares a Neapolitan pizza class at a pizzeria in Como with a pasta class in a local home.
Planning more than one lake? Our guide to the lakes in Italy compares Como with Garda, Maggiore, Orta, Iseo and seven more.
Questions travelers ask
Which Lake Como boat tour should I book?
For most travelers, the one-hour shared tour with prosecco, rated 4.7 from 372 reviews on Viator, from about $64 (checked September 2026). For a group or a special day, the private wooden boat, rated 4.9, from about $406.
How long is a Lake Como boat tour?
The shared tour lasts one hour. The private wooden boat runs up to four hours, depending on the option you choose.
Where do Lake Como boat tours start?
Both start on the lakefront in Como town, at different piers: Viale Geno for the shared tour and Lungo Lario Trieste for the private boat.
Are drinks included on a Lake Como boat tour?
Yes, on both. The shared tour includes prosecco and soft drinks; the private boat includes alcoholic drinks, water and soft drinks.
Can I cancel a Lake Como boat tour?
Both offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.
Book the shared tour for one easy hour on the lake; book the private wooden boat for a group, a swim and your own pace.
Editorial assessment by Italy2Love, September 2026. Inclusions and exclusions, meeting points, prices, ratings, review counts and cancellation terms read on both Viator product pages (product codes 273108P2 and 366838P9), September 2026. Reviews quoted with attribution to their authors and to Viator. Next review March 2027, or sooner on any change to either option.