Best tours of Lake Como

There is nothing better than getting to know a region in the company of a tour guide, so I show you some of the best tours of Lago di Como.

Andressa García

Andressa García

12 min read

Best tours of Lake Como

Bellagio, Lake Como, Italy | ©Ray in Manila

This region of Lombardy offers you an endless number of activities to do, but without a doubt, one of the best things to see and do in Lago di Como, is to go as a tourist to walk around the villages around the lake, to know not only its picturesque streets, but also its history and culture.

In each of these tours that I will show you, the tour guides try to show you only the best of the lake. Some of these experiences you will live by boat, others you will have to go on foot and others by motorcycle, but they all share a common feature and that is that you will not miss the fun at any time.

1. Tour of the city of Como

Getting to know Como| ©. Ray in Manila
Getting to know Como| ©. Ray in Manila

In this complete tour of the city of Como, you will start by visiting Piazza Cavour, and then go straight to the Cathedral, also known as the Duomo, where you will have the opportunity to see the structure inside during a guided tour.

Leaving the Duomo, you will go directly to the Broletto, which is the old town hall of the city. Right after that, accompanied by your tour guide, you will visit Piazza Verdi and some historical monuments that stand around the city, including the Walls of the Middle Ages, the Art Nouveau building of Terragni, and the Neoclassical Theater.

Later in the middle of the tour you will go together with your guide and the tour group to Brunate, and to get there you will have to take the funicular, a high altitude experience that will leave you wanting to take lots of pictures. Without a doubt, one of the best things to do in Como is to ride the funicular.

You will travel along the Via V. Emanuele, Como's famous main street, which will take you to the Basilica of San Fedele and the accompanying square. One of the most iconic features of this place is that you can still see some houses dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries, your guide will tell you all about their history.

Interesting details

  • Price: This experience can have an approximate price of about 50 euros per person.
  • Duration: It will take you about 2 hours to complete the entire tour.
  • Means of transportation: The entire tour is on foot, but to get to the meeting point you can travel by private car or public transportation, at your own expense.
  • Advantages of this option: The experienced tour guide is included. Also included is the entrance fee to some of the monuments you will visit in the city.
  • Disadvantages of this option: Drinks, meals and snacks are not included. The weather must be good for this tour.

Book one of the best activities on Lago di Como

2. Intimate and private tour of Lake Como

Sunset by boat| ©www.twin-loc.fr
Sunset by boat| ©www.twin-loc.fr

During this private experience, a tour guide will take you and your group around the city of Como and also through the villages around the lake, to see some of the most beautiful spots of this town.

You will enjoy the panoramic views of Lake Como while the local guide will tell you everything you want to know about this region and its characteristics. When you visit the villages on the shores of the lake, your guide will tell you entertaining and curious anecdotes about the history, traditions and gastronomy of the region.

As you will have the opportunity to taste some of the dishes of the typical Italian cuisine, you may want to attend one of the best cooking classes of Lake Como afterwards to learn how to cook them.

The best thing about this route is that it is methodically planned to visit only the highlights of the area, without leaving out popular sites such as Bellagio and Cernobbio. Plus, if you want to customize the experience according to your interests, you can do that too.

Details of interest

  • Price: This experience can be priced around 550 euros per group of up to four people.
  • Duration: It can take between 7 and 8 hours to do the whole tour of the area.
  • Means of transportation: The tour is done in two parts, one part by car and the other part by ferry.
  • Advantages of this option: You will have access to an air-conditioned vehicle, as well as the ferry ride is included. The company of the tour guide with his accurate commentary is included.
  • Disadvantages of this option: It is not wheelchair friendly. Drinks and tastings are not included.

Participate in a Lago di Como cooking class

3. Walking and boat tour of the flavors of Lake Como

Varenna| ©VV Nincic
Varenna| ©VV Nincic

Not only is this experience one of the best tours, but it is also one of the best boat tours on Lake Como because it captures the spirit of this region in the eight hours it takes.

The experience begins in Varenna, one of the villages on Lake Como, a place that your local guide will take you on a walking tour, just before continuing on to Bellagio. In the middle of the experience, you will make a touristic stop at an olive oil factory, where you will taste special dishes of the region, as well as cured meats and wine.

Later you will disembark at the luxurious Villa del Balbianello, where you will learn many interesting facts about the golden age of the region. At the end you will be invited to share a traditional lunch of Italian flavors, in a restaurant located right in front of the lake.

Details of interest

  • Price: To participate in this experience, you will have to pay approximately about €440 per group of up to 4 people.
  • Duration: The entire tour lasts about 7 hours approximately.
  • Means of transportation: The whole experience is partly on foot and partly on board a boat.
  • Advantages of this option: Entrance fees are included, as well as wine tasting, lunch tasting and activities to do. The tour guide's company is also included.
  • Disadvantages of this option: It is not a wheelchair friendly experience. Meals outside the tour package are not included.

Embark on a boat tour of Lago di Como

4. Motorcycle tour of Lake Como and the Alps

Italian Alps| ©A. Duarte
Italian Alps| ©A. Duarte

Hop on the back of a motorcycle and let yourself be amazed by the experience in the company of your tour guide, in the middle of a completely customized tour according to your needs and interests.

It's a trip you can do in a single day or choose to do it in several days to ride along the lakefront roads all the way to the Italian and Swiss Alps, getting to know each of the villages along the way. This is not only a good tour of the Lake, but also one of the best excursions from Lake Como to go beyond the lake.

In addition, the local guide will recommend the best places to eat, drink and swim around Lake Como. If you love to mix tranquility with adrenaline, you will love to have a coffee and lunch in unconventional places.

Details of interest

  • Price: This experience has an approximate cost of about 500 euros per person.
  • Duration: You can take between 5 and 6 hours to complete the experience, if you do it alone in one day.
  • Means of Transportation: The whole experience is completed by motorcycle.
  • Advantages of this option: The tour includes helmets, jackets and gloves. Fuel is also covered.
  • Disadvantages of this option: It is not a wheelchair friendly experience.

Book an excursion on Lago di Como

5. Private wooden boat tour on Lake Como

Boat trip| ©Michael Costa
Boat trip| ©Michael Costa

This tour on the lake you will take aboard the Navicella del Lario, which is a kind of traditional Venetian cab that is kept moored on Lake Como. It is available to tourists for private tours on the lake for up to seven people. Its interior is made of wood and leather, so, by itself, the wooden boat is already an attraction to see.

The captain of the boat will take you on this beauty of a boat, to see the places you want to see during the tour, which is also completely flexible according to your interests and those of your group. You will be picked up at Lake Como to take you on an incredible sensory experience, because from the boat you will be able to appreciate the lake landscape in all its splendor.

Your tour guide, who is the captain of the boat, will tell you interesting anecdotes about the different villages that stand on the shores of Lake Como, he will also tell you everything you need to know about the culture, history and traditions of the Lombardy region, all that while you have the opportunity to take pictures of everything you see.

Interesting details

  • Price: You can pay up to €1,200 for groups of up to 7 people.
  • Duration: The entire tour lasts approximately 4 hours.
  • Means of transport: The whole tour is done by boat.
  • Advantages of this option: Umbrellas and blankets are included in case of bad weather, so the experience takes place regardless of the weather. On board you can enjoy fresh drinking water, other beverages and food, as long as you make the previous request. Assistance animals are welcome.
  • Disadvantages of this option: It is not a wheelchair friendly experience. No other meals or beverages are included beyond those highlighted in the experience.

6. Private walking tour of Como for 2 hours

Cathedral and square| ©sandromars
Cathedral and square| ©sandromars

In this experience you will walk through the entire historic center of Como in the company of a certified professional guide, who will tell you all about the history and cultural features that are evident in the town of Como. This is one of those experiences that I would include among the list of things to do in Lake Como in one day.

You'll also stroll through the pretty streets of the town, while being able to take endless photos of yourself in each of the most "instagrammable" places in the area. In addition, you will be able to enjoy a close-up view of the beautiful scenery around Lake Como, getting to know this region like a local.

The best thing about this experience is that it is private and you will be able to coordinate with the tour guide, which are the places you want to visit during the walk. Among the sites that cannot be missed on this tour are the medieval walls, the churches of Romanesque and Baroque origin, as well as Piazza Volta and Piazza Duomo with the Town Hall.

Interesting details

  • Price: You can enjoy this experience at an approximate cost of 170 euros per person.
  • Duration: You can take about 2 hours to complete the tour.
  • Means of Transportation: The entire tour is on foot, but you will have to make your own way to the meeting point.
  • Advantages of this option: Headphones are included for up to 10 participants. The tour guide is included and you can select any language.
  • Disadvantages of this option: Transportation to and from the hotel or lodging site is not included, but you can request it for an additional charge.

7. Tour of Como with visit to Villa Olmo and Brunate Funicular

Como from Brunate Funicular| ©Inge Knoff
Como from Brunate Funicular| ©Inge Knoff

In this itinerary of Como, you will be accompanied by a tour guide to walk around the city and the villages around the lake. One of the things you will enjoy most about this tour is walking through the old town, where your tour guide will tell you about the history of silk in the town.

At some point in the itinerary you will stop at Villa Olmo to explore it, just before taking the funicular up to Brunate, where you will have time to take lots of pictures of the panoramic views of the lake. There you will also tour the town of Brunate on foot and learn first hand about its history.

Details of interest

  • Price: You will have to pay around 215 euros per person.
  • Duration: It will take you between 6 and 8 hours to complete this experience.
  • Transportation: You will need to walk and ride the funicular to complete the journey.
  • Advantages of this option: Entrance fees to Villa Olmo and the funicular are included. You can customize the tour to suit your interests. It is a private experience.
  • Disadvantages of this option: Not suitable for people suffering from heart conditions or other similar medical problems.

8. Exclusive tour of Lake Como and its villas

Villa Carlotta| ©. Ray in Manila
Villa Carlotta| ©. Ray in Manila

In this tour of the lake and its villas you will be able to learn how since Roman times, this town has become a place of leisure for the wealth y and the aristocracy, so it is not a destination for mass tourism.

During this exclusive guided tour you will discover the artistic treasures around the lake such as Villa del Balbianello, Villa Erba, Villa Melzi d'Eril and Villa Carlotta. The gardens of these villas are an incredible attraction on their own. Your guide will help you learn about the architecture and landscape of the area.

Details of interest

  • Price: You can find this experience from 715 euros per person.
  • Duration: It will take you up to 8 hours to complete this experience.
  • Means of transportation: The tour is done in a private car with all the comforts.
  • Advantages of this option: Tour guide with accurate commentary is included. It is an exclusive tour.
  • Disadvantages of this option: Food and beverages are not included in the reservation price.

9. Kayak tour on Lake Como

Kayaking in Lake Como| ©Leslie Veen
Kayaking in Lake Como| ©Leslie Veen

This is an independent tour where you can enjoy the attractions of Lake Como on your own. You will rent a kayak for two hours on your own, without guides and without groups.

Before leaving, an expert will give you some tips to get to know the lake and its surroundings. You will be able to stop whenever and wherever you want, and you will be able to focus only on the places on the shore you want to visit. This is definitely a tour to include among the things to do in Lago di Como in summer.

Details of interest

  • Price: You can live this experience paying a price starting from 45 euros per person.
  • Duration: You can enjoy this tour for no more than two hours.
  • Means of transport: The whole tour is done by kayak.
  • Advantages of this option: A waterproof bag is included for your belongings, as well as a life jacket. The starting time is flexible.
  • Disadvantages of this option: Tour guide and maps are not included.

10. Como Farmers' Market Tour

Market in Como| ©Willie Stark
Market in Como| ©Willie Stark

If there's one visit you can't miss during your tour of Lake Como, it's the local market. On this tour, a tour guide will take you through the Como Farmers Market to get to know the real traditional flavors coming from the hands of small local producers.

In addition to that, you will have the opportunity to learn about the work of small farmers and producers who maintain the artisan work, following their traditions of producing and selling their food, so more than a gastronomic experience, it is a deep look into the reality and traditions of local producers.

Details of interest

  • Price: You can live this experience paying an approximate price of 70 euros per person.
  • Duration: It will take you between one and a half to two hours to complete the experience.
  • Transportation: The entire tour is completed on foot. You will have to get to the meeting point on your own.
  • Advantages of this option: You can take baby strollers. You will be accompanied by a tour guide all the time.
  • Disadvantages of this option: Tastings, drinks and meals are not included. Transportation to and from the hotel or lodging site is also not provided.

Tips for a tour of Lago di Como

Comfortable shoes| ©Alexandra Tran
Comfortable shoes| ©Alexandra Tran
  • Wear comfortable and closed shoes, it is important to keep your feet rested, especially when you sign up for a walking tour.
  • Be sure to dress for the weather, because in winter, the cold can cause discomfort.
  • Try to talk to the tour guide before going on the experience, to know what things you need to bring.