---
title: Villa Balbianello and Flavors of Lake Como Walking and Boating Full-Day Tour
lang: en
type: tour
city: Lake Como
country: Italy
price: 1155
currency: EUR
price_unit: per_person
availability: bookable
rating: 4.84
reviews: 82
duration_minutes: 420
languages: [en, it]
guidekin_pick: Gardens and food in {duration}
rank_in_category: 47 of 67 (Boat Tours)
schedule_checked: 2026-09-26
data_updated: 2026-09-26
canonical: https://guidekin.com/italy/lake-como/tours/villa-balbianello-and-flavors-of-lake-como-walking-and-boating-full-day-tour/
---

# Villa Balbianello and Flavors of Lake Como Walking and Boating Full-Day Tour

**Guidekin's take:** A private full day covering Villa Melzi and Villa del Balbianello gardens, a Varenna walk, olive oil tasting at Vezio castle and a fish and pasta lunch, travelling by open top Venetian taxi. Tickets, tasting and boat are included, pickup and tips are not, and bookings need two adults and cap at ten. 4.84 from 82 reviews at €1155 per person.

## Overview

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.

## Before you book

- Meeting point: Our Tour starts in front of the Ferry…
- Entry ticket included: skip the ticket desk
- Min. 2 to book: not for solo travellers
- Starts 10:00: one departure a day
- Food included: see what is included
- Children from €150: ages 4 to 12

## Key facts

- Price: from €1155 per person
- Duration: 7h
- Rating: 4.84/5 from 82 reviews (collected from Guidekin & Viator & Tripadvisor)
- Recommended by 98% of travellers (share of four- and five-star reviews)
- Operator: Lake Como For You
- Minimum booking: 2 travellers at this price

## What's included

- Guided walking Tour of Varenna
- Tickets to Villa Melzi
- Tasting of locally produced olive oil at a panoramic castle overlooking the lake
- Tickets to the Castle of Vezio
- Tickets to Villa del Balbianello
- Transportation up to the Castle of Vezio
- 2.5h Boat Tour (open top Venetian taxi) including stop at Villa del Balbianello
- Professional, English-speaking guide

## Not included

- Gratuities
- Hotel pickup and drop-off

## Itinerary

1. **Villa Del Balbianello** (1h; admission included) - .
2. **I Giardini Di Villa Melzi** (30m; admission included) - .
3. **Chiesa di San Giorgio** (15m) - The group will enter the church and be given a detailed description.
4. **Castello di Vezio** (40m; admission included) - Panoramic castle overlooking mid lake

## Schedule

- Runs: Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun
- Departures: 10:00
- Schedule last checked: 2026-09-26
- These are published departures, not a live seat count; availability is confirmed at checkout.

## Cancellation

If you cancel at least 6 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.<br>If you cancel between 2 and 6 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a 50% refund.<br>If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.

## Meeting 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.
Map: https://www.google.com/maps/place/?q=place_id:ChIJW4cVfsUXhEcR3HZI-AUGZAw

## Good to know

- 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.

## Cost for your party

| People | Total | Per person |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | €2310 | €1155 |
| 4 | €2560 | €640 |
| 6 | €2700 | €450 |

Cheapest option for that party size from the operator's current price tiers; the calendar shows the exact figure for your date. Shared tours in Boat Tours start at €45 per person.

## Compared with other Boat Tours

| Tour | Price | Duration | Rating | Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **This tour · #47 of 67** | €1155 | 7h | 4.84 (82) | private |
| [Lake Como Private Boat Tour from Bellagio with a Local](/italy/lake-como/tours/lake-como-private-boat-tour-from-bellagio-with-a-local/?format=md) | €320 per group | 1h | 5.0 (364) | private |
| [Lake Como Authentic Private Lounge Cruise with Open Bar](/italy/lake-como/tours/lake-como-authentic-private-lounge-cruise-with-open-bar/?format=md) | €300 per group | 1h | 4.98 (410) | private |
| [Small-Group Lake Como & Lugano: 2 Countries in 1 Day, Boat Cruise](/italy/lake-como/tours/small-group-lake-como-lugano-2-countries-in-1-day-boat-cruise/?format=md) | €139 | 10h | 4.96 (1545) | shared |

Ranked #47 of 67 in Boat Tours by Guidekin score (rating weighted by review volume). Prices here run from €45 to €1200, median €148; typical length 2h. 48 of 67 are private. Figures are live from the tour cards; the rubric is our handpicked set, not the whole market.

Full list: https://guidekin.com/italy/lake-como/boat-tours-lake-como/?format=md

## More in Lake Como

- All Lake Como tours: https://guidekin.com/italy/lake-como/?format=md
- This page as HTML: https://guidekin.com/italy/lake-como/tours/villa-balbianello-and-flavors-of-lake-como-walking-and-boating-full-day-tour/


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