Lake Como Grand: Villa Balbianello & Culinary Cruise
Price From $443.78 per person
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Explore Lake Como by land and water on this full-day walking and boating tour, with a visit to the gardens of Villa Melzi and Villa del Balbianello. Sample local olive oil at a panoramic castle overlooking the lake, take a walking tour of Varenna and gain insight into the region’s Celtic heritage. Savor a tasty lunch of fish appetizers and pasta in a local restaurant, then admire sweeping views over Lake Como’s villas and gardens during a sightseeing cruise in a Venetian taxi. Disembark at Villa del Balbianello to take pics and enjoy the view, then cruise onwards to Bellagio, where you shall be guided through the wonderful Villa Melzi gardens, followed by a stroll along the lakeside.
Reviews
Reviews and Rating (Tripadvisor)
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Reviews by Tripadvisor travelers
Amber_S, 8/27/2025 3:08:28 AM
Julia was very knowledgeable. We learned a lot about the history of the area. It was beautiful. We were able to see the views from both the land and the water.
pinchp2025, 1/15/2025 7:36:17 AM
Subject: Inquiry About Equipment Placement Opportunities Text: Good day! I am a representative of Pinch Pita, a company specializing in the development and placement of autonomous equipment for preparing fast food, as well as coffee vending machines. Could you kindly let me know who I can speak with regarding the terms and conditions for placing our equipment in your facility? Looking forward to your response. Best regards, Pinch Pita
karenfoley2020, 9/18/2024 3:14:48 AM
The Villa and gardens were stunning. Truly magical. The only negative was all of the wedding and fashion photoshoots, we needed to move out of the way. Being on a tour we had limited time and weren't able to completely immerse ourselves in the moment.
kayg339, 9/11/2024 3:25:03 AM
The tour was very enjoyable and a good introduction to Lake Como. The guide was very knowledgeable and friendly/ helpful. The food / wine served was very tasty. Everything went smoothly. I would definitely recommend.
William_T, 7/22/2024 1:52:17 AM
The best thing we did on our trip here. You get to see so much and learn so much! Martina was wonderful and it ended up that my wife and I were the only people that signed up and so we got to have a completely private tour. Incredible.
Hugh_W, 6/10/2024 3:52:19 PM
What a fantastic day- from friendly and extremely knowledgeable guide , to great locations, to fantastic food. Bravo !
Michelle_L, 6/6/2024 1:24:04 AM
Beautiful views, tasty food, excellent tour. Guide was friendly, informative & the tour is packed with fun.
Lillian_G, 5/5/2024 5:58:21 AM
The boat ride and tour of Varenna was wonderful! Our tour guide Nartino provided great explanation of the area and the different villas. Villa Balbianello and Metzi were beautiful to visit. We had only 4 people total on our tour so it was very nice and intimate. The lunch at Varenna was at a posh restaurant with great views of the square. Highly recommend this tour to anyone!!
madmadbreck, 10/1/2023 1:27:13 PM
This is a must do if you are visiting Lake Como! You get to learn some of the history, eat yummy local food and drinks and get to tour two well known (and incredibly stunning) villas on the lake. Our tour guide, Martina, was delightful! She had great information and it was lovely to spend the day with her as our guide. It is wonderful to be in such a small group and it is a good way to see a lot without having to stress over the details. I would absolutely book this again!
Tatiana_T, 9/10/2023 1:13:48 PM
Every bit of it was excellent! Great guide! Magnificent views! Delicious lunch at a beautiful hotel!
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- A minimum of 2 adults per booking is required
- A maximum of 10 people per booking
- Dress code is casual, comfortable shoes
- A fair amount of walking is involved. The trail to the castle for the morning tasting entails a descent with some steep steps which must also be ascended on the return trip. Please make sure you are physically apt and wear comfortable walking shoes.
- Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
- The tour runs rain or shine. In case of bad weather conditions it is possible that the tour undergoes some slight changes and that the transfer to Villa Balbianello is done using public transport and not with the private boat taxi due to safety reasons
- Please Note: hotel pickup is not included for this activity, please get in touch in case you wish for us to organise it as an extra.
Departure point
Our Tour starts in front of the Ferry Terminal Ticket Office in Varenna at 1030 am . Just look for the team with a LAKE COMO FOR YOU sign ! If you are arriving from Como, Cernobbio or Moltrasio please do get in touch with us for directions.Return details
Explore Lake Como by land and water on this full-day walking and boating tour, with a visit to the gardens of Villa Melzi and Villa del Balbianello. Sample local olive oil at a panoramic castle overlooking the lake, take a walking tour of Varenna and gain insight into the region’s Celtic heritage. Savor a tasty lunch of fish appetizers and pasta in a local restaurant, then admire sweeping views over Lake Como’s villas and gardens during a sightseeing cruise in a Venetian taxi. Disembark at Villa del Balbianello to take pics and enjoy the view, then cruise onwards to Bellagio, where you shall be guided through the wonderful Villa Melzi gardens, followed by a stroll along the lakeside.Redemption
• Please provide mobile phone number in case we need to get in touch last minute • Please bring your passport or a copy or a pic of your passport. Our boat supplier may deny you boarding in case you do not have it with you • A moderate amount of walking is involved. The trail to the mill for the morning tasting entails a descent with some steep steps which must also be ascended on the return trip. Please make sure you are physically adapt and wear comfortable walking shoes. • The tour runs rain or shine. In case of bad weather conditions it is possible that the tour undergoes some slight changes and that the transfer to Villa Balbianello is done using public transport and not with the private boat taxi due to safety reasons • Hotel pickup is not included for this activity, however it will be requested at the time of booking. It helps knowing where you are staying, should we need to contact you and can't reach you via phone or email.If you cancel between 2 and 6 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a 50% refund.
If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.
144 hours before travel date - 100% refund
From 48 To 144 hours before travel date - 50% refund
Less than 48 hours before travel date - 0% refund