Elena was absolutely incredible. She communicated with us ahead of time & gave us clear instructions on where & how to meet her. She went over what we would be doing & she could not have undersold it any more. The day itself was beyond belief. We had a private boat pickup for just our small group of 3 & we spent the first hour going around the lake & taking it all of the incredible views of the different coastlines while Elena shared just enough information for it not be overwhelming about some of the history of the different towns & villas. We then got off at the bottom of Villa Balbianello & got there early enough that the crowds were not as busy as they can be at times. It was beyond the highlight of our trip & I can not recommend that you take the opportunity to take advantage of this experience when visiting Lake Como! 10/10 A+++
About Activity
What's Included
Includes
- Entrance Tickets to Villa del Balbianello (gardens + guided visit of the villa)
- Friendly English speaking guide
- 1 h cruise (from Bellagio)
Excludes
- Gratuities
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off - (Private transfers can be organised to fit your schedule)
- Return Public Boat Ticket (Lenno/Bellagio) - Euro 4.60
Departure & Return
Departure Point
- Meet us outside Hotel Excelsior Splendide in Bellagio. Our “Taste & Travel Italy” guide will be there to welcome you. The tour ends at Villa Balbianello.
Return
- The tour ends at Villa Balbianello. You are free to relax in the gardens for as long as you like or enjoy lunch in the village of Lenno. Your guide will provide instructions on how to return to Bellagio by ferry.
Itinerary
Begin your tour in Bellagio by boarding our luxurious boat for a serene 1-hour cruise, where you’ll sail through the heart of Lake Como. As you glide along the shimmering waters, you’ll be captivated by the grand 19th-century noble villas lining the lakeshore, including Villa Serbelloni, Villa Melzi, Villa Carlotta, Villa La Cassinella and Villa Balbiano. You’ll also pass the historic Grand Hotel Tremezzo and the picturesque Isola Comacina. Along the way, enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of the lake’s three branches, all set against the dramatic backdrop of towering alpine peaks. Finally, reach the iconic Villa Balbianello, one of the lake's most celebrated landmarks, offering an unforgettable sight.
Villa del Balbianello is one of the main tourist attractions on Lake Como. Step off the boat and enjoy its magnificent gardens. Take photos at the Loggia and on the many charming terraces before joining a unique 1-hour guided tour of the villa. Count and explorer Guido Monzino was the last private owner. For many years, Villa Balbianello has been used as a set for films and photo shoots, including James Bond 007, Casino Royale, and Star Wars.
Language Offered
Additional Info
Cancellation Policy
Reviews
Worth while to have a private boat and yo visit the villa which was beautiful inside and out. Elena was very informative and entertaining, she had such a bubbly personality.
Excellent tour guide (Rita) with access to the villa. Incredible treasures to see inside and a nice view of a man’s legacy.
It was a great experience, the tour guide was very knowledgeable and even gave us additional points of interest and places to eat. She arranged a car to pick us up and take us at no extra charge.
The tour was well coordinated from the pick up in Bellagio to drop off at the Villa. Thank you Elena for a job well done.
Great experience. Only thing was private boat ride leaves you at the Villa then you need to get a water taxi back to a Lenno which leaves every 20mins. Due to it being a busy day, we waited 40mins in the heat (Summer time). Was a little uncomfortable for my 3 year old. Other than that was excellent.
Elena is a amazing host from the get go she was so bubbly and friendly, the boat tour was fantastic followed up by a amazing tour through the Villa, we then enjoyed a amazing lunch together he expertise knows no bounds, truly a great day such a pleasure to meet her she even assisted with further recommendations for our trip, thank you a million Elena
The best tour on lake como with the best guide!!! Elena was beyond amazing! So helpful and entertaining. She went above and beyond the tour description! Highly recommend as a must do!!!
Elena, our guide, was amazing! She walked us around Bellagio before we caught our water taxi. She is extremely personable and her English is excellent. She even stayed with us after our private tour of the villa (done by another guide) and walked down to Lenno with us. She went above and beyond and called to make a restaurant reservation for us. She seemed to know everyone that worked at the villa and other boat guides. She is very good at what she does and help made a fun memory for our trip.
Elena was incredible!! I could not recommend this enough, the boat cruise was perfect and Elena’s tour was perfect. She had so much knowledge and insight Was way better than I ever imagined
Amazing experience! Our guide Elena was so kind and helped us with everything even beyond the tour. She was very informative and friendly and we had a great time. Our driver Daniel was also amazing! The boat tour was beautiful and fun and the tour of the villa is an absolute must! Highly recommend :)
Miranella was an excellent tour guide, friendly, great sense of humor and photography skills that will make memories to last a lifetime. Can't wait to share with my friends and make sure to ask for her!!! Villa Del Balbienella was totally worth the trip and all its mysterious hiding places, breathtaking views, and collections!!
Elena was excellent! She was very attentive of our needs, went above and beyond I would say! Although there was some rain, the tour still ended being great, esp with her ability to make the small group interact. One of the best tours I’ve had !!!
Wonderful tour …. Loved the boat ride and the Villa was Amazing! Highly recommend this to anyone visiting Lake Como
The boat ride and arrival at the villa was amazing! The Villa was magical - beautiful gardens and fascinating tour of the inside of the villa. The town of Lenno was quiet and picturesque.
We had had wonderful day seeing the sights around Bellagio with Elena. She is friendly and knowledgeable and made for an unforgettable day. She avoided crowds and took us to local spots we would have never experienced on our own. We felt like we were touring with a best friend who happened to be a local. I would not hesitate to book a tour with Elena. We hope to return someday and do another tour with her:)
We met Elena in Bellagio and boarded a water taxi for a relaxing boat tour of Lake Como, that included breathtaking views of Italian villas and quaint villages and the surrounding lush mountains. Elena was quite knowledgeable about the local history, very personable, and simply charmed us. Our highlight was the tour of the Villa del Balbianello. Would highly recommend Taste & Travel Italy. We would give Elena more than 5 stars.
It was a lovely tour however beware of pickup and drop off not as stated . Our tour was supposed to pick up at 11 from specific location but I got a 10:20 location update for pickup and tour to begin at 10:30 . Pick up and drop off were supposed to be in same location but not so . There were no plans for drop off so we had to pay for a ferry to get back . Just a FYI . The tour was great ;)
Thank you Elena for providing the best guide to us!! She’s so helpful and friendly xoxo and of course the captain of the boat!! Thank you for the best memories in lake como!
Glenda was a great tour guide. Tour was a small group which was great. I was a little worried about the small boat which picked us up but it was super smooth. The waves were quite big but we all had a great time. The Villa is a must see.
Monday through Friday 9 am to 7 pm EST
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