---
title: Como, Bellagio & Varenna: Small Group from Milan, Villas Cruise
lang: en
type: tour
city: Milan
country: Italy
price: 109
currency: EUR
price_unit: per_person
availability: bookable
rating: 4.77
reviews: 79
duration_minutes: 600
languages: [en]
free_cancellation: true
rank_in_category: 10 of 16 (Lake Como Day Trips)
schedule_checked: 2026-09-24
data_updated: 2026-09-25
canonical: https://guidekin.com/italy/milan/tours/como-bellagio-varenna-small-group-from-milan-villas-cruise/
---

# Como, Bellagio & Varenna: Small Group from Milan, Villas Cruise

**Guidekin's take:** A small group Lake Como day planned around ferry timings, with first class trains from Milan, skip the line boat entry, Como in the morning and Bellagio before Varenna, all with one guide. Lunch and drinks are your own, hotel pickup is not offered, and the group stays capped at fifteen. 4.77 from 79 reviews at €109 per person.

## Overview

Lake Como is one of Italy’s most beautiful corners — but in summer, the wrong timing can mean hours lost in ferry queues.

This small-group tour, limited to 15 guests, is planned by a guide who knows exactly when and where the crowds hit. You’ll reach Como in the morning, then explore Bellagio before continuing to Varenna. It’s the classic Lake Como day trip from Milan, with the timing planned to make the most of your day.

On the cruise from Como to Bellagio, you’ll see famous villas from the water — George Clooney’s home, Versace’s villa, Villa Passalacqua, voted the world’s best hotel, and filming locations from *House of Gucci*, *The Devil Wears Prada 2*, *James Bond* and *Star Wars*. Your guide will share the stories behind them.

In Bellagio, you can also visit Villa Melzi, one of the lake’s most spectacular gardens. Entrance is not included and the visit is optional.

Your train tickets and skip-the-line ferry boarding are arranged for you.

## Before you book

- Meeting point: MEETING TIME: 7.25 AM - sharp on time…
- Max 15 people: shared group
- Starts 07:30: one departure a day
- Food not included: Lunch and drinks — your guide will point…
- Age 7+: minimum age to join

## Key facts

- Price: from €109 per person
- Duration: 10h
- Rating: 4.77/5 from 79 reviews (collected from Guidekin & Viator & Tripadvisor)
- Free cancellation (see policy below)
- Recommended by 94% of travellers (share of four- and five-star reviews)
- Operator: Abroads Tours

## What's included

- Professional, English-speaking local guide with you all day
- Skip-the-line boat entrance for the boat cruise
- First-class train tickets (Milan ⇆ Lake Como)
- Radio whispering system (if necessary)
- ✅ Small group, capped at 15 — never a big bus or a crowd to follow
- A balanced day: guided touring plus free time to explore on your own

## Not included

- Lunch and drinks — your guide will point you to the best lake-view spots in Bellagio
- Hotel pickup and drop-off

## Itinerary

1. **Como** (1h) - Explore Como, Lake Como’s largest town, before the crowds arrive. Discover its historic Duomo, wander through cobblestone streets, and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of the city in the morning.
2. **Villa Carlotta** (pass by, no stop) - A grand 17th-century villa famous for its terraced botanical gardens and art collection, seen from the water.
3. **Villa del Balbiano - Complesso Architettonico di Ossuccio (ante 1778)** (pass by, no stop) - The opulent palazzo from Ridley Scott's House of Gucci and The Devil Wears Prada 2 (2026) — one of the most lavish private estates on the lake.
4. **Villa Del Balbianello** (pass by, no stop) - One of Lake Como's most iconic villas — the film setting for Star Wars: Attack of the Clones and the James Bond film Casino Royale, with dramatic gardens cascading to the lake.
5. **Laglio** (pass by, no stop) - ✅ Villa Oleandra George Clooney's celebrated Lake Como home, the villa that helped turn the lake into a global icon.
6. **Villa Le Fontanelle** (pass by, no stop) - The lavish lakeside villa once owned by fashion designer Gianni Versace, who transformed it into one of the most glamorous private homes on Lake Como.
7. **Villa Erba** (pass by, no stop) - A 19th-century estate used in Ocean's Twelve and in the famous Nespresso commercial with George Clooney.
8. **Villa Passalacqua** (pass by, no stop) - A spectacular 18th-century villa-turned-hotel, recently crowned among the very best hotels in the world.
9. **Cernobbio** (pass by, no stop) - Villa d'Este, Cernobbio A legendary 16th-century estate turned world-famous luxury hotel, set in vast lakeside gardens.
10. **Bellagio** (2h) - The "pearl of Lake Como." Wander its steep stone staircases, elegant gardens, and boutiques with your guide, with free time to explore and enjoy lunch at a lake-view restaurant your guide recommends
11. **Varenna** (1h 30m) - Your last stop. Explore Varenna's romantic lakeside "Walk of Lovers," pastel houses, and cobblestone lanes with your guide, then enjoy free time before the crowds arrive. (Optional, on your own: the gardens of Villa Monastero)

## Schedule

- Runs: daily
- Departures: 07:30
- Schedule last checked: 2026-09-24
- These are published departures, not a live seat count; availability is confirmed at checkout.

## Cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

## Meeting point

MEETING TIME: 7.25 AM - sharp on time 
PLEASE BE ON TIME

LOCATION: THE SQUARE IN FRONT OF THE TRAIN STATION, NEXT TO THE GIANT APPLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SQUARE

The guide will hold a stick with the Italian flag. 
Map: https://www.google.com/maps/place/?q=place_id:ChIJtbS4Q8XGhkcRP3MHgJcjQkQ

## Good to know

- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels

## Compared with other Lake Como Day Trips

| Tour | Price | Duration | Rating | Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **This tour · #10 of 16** | €109 | 10h | 4.77 (79) | shared, max 15 |
| [Small-Group Lake Como & Lugano: 2 Countries in 1 Day, Boat Cruise](/italy/milan/tours/small-group-lake-como-lugano-2-countries-in-1-day-boat-cruise/?format=md) | €139 | 10h | 4.96 (1544) | shared |
| [Small-Group Lake Como: Bellagio, Varenna, Hidden Gorge & Boat](/italy/milan/tours/small-group-lake-como-bellagio-varenna-hidden-gorge-boat/?format=md) | €119 | 10h | 4.94 (860) | shared |
| [Small-Group Lake Como Experience with Boat and Van from Milan](/italy/milan/tours/small-group-lake-como-experience-with-boat-and-van-from-milan/?format=md) | €85 | 10h 30m | 4.97 (235) | shared |

Ranked #10 of 16 in Lake Como Day Trips by Guidekin score (rating weighted by review volume). Prices here run from €70 to €1039, median €113; typical length 10h. 3 of 16 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/milan/lake-como-from-milan/?format=md

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