The 11 Private Boat Charters in Italy That Earn Their Price

1.Murano & Burano Islands Guided Small-Group Tour by Private Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 7,580 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $36Our pick

Travel from central Venice to Murano and Burano by private water taxi with a guide such as Silvia, Serena, Frankie, or Elena. Watch glassblowing, see handmade lace, browse colorful canals, and return by boat. Groups are limited to 22, though demonstrations are brief and much of the island time is independent.

“Great guided tour. Sylvia was very informative and had a lot of stories to tell about the other islands surrounding Murano and Bruano. The glass making was very interesting to watch and seeing all the products in the shop that was made were all very beautifully crafted. Bruano was gorgeous with all the colourful houses and we got some very yummy Gelato from there. Highly recommend doing this tour!”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Como Private Boat, Bellagio and Lugano Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 6,271 reviews · 11 hours · from $78

Spend 11 hours visiting Como, Bellagio, Lake Como, and Lugano from Milan. Your English-speaking guide, such as Luca, Amalia, or Marina, handles the timing, history, and meeting points while you enjoy coach transport, a private boat cruise, Como Cathedral, lakeside views, and free time for food and shopping.

“Would not recommend Sunday trips because the shops are generally closed. Otherwise this was an excellent trip with our guide Barbara. She was knowledgeable and friendly.”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Murano & Burano Guided Tour by Private Boat with Glassmaking

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 5,658 reviews · 5 hours · from $35Best value

See Murano glass made before your eyes, then visit Burano for traditional lace work and candy-colored houses. Guides such as Serena, Elena, Monica, and Frankie bring Venetian history to life during the boat rides. You get about 100 minutes on Murano and 90 minutes on Burano, with time to shop, eat, and wander.

“Elly was a fantastic guide and was super charming and knowledgeable. Allora!”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Lake Como & Bellagio DayTour with Private Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 2,830 reviews · from $111

Travel from Milan to Como, Varenna, and Bellagio with an English or Spanish-speaking guide. You’ll tour Como Cathedral, cruise Lake Como by private boat, ride a public ferry, and get free time for lunch and wandering. Guides such as Monica, Anna, Sara, and Alessandro are praised for clear commentary and warm, organized service.

“The scenes were amazing on the lake! The bus was comfy and the guide was great and full of knowledge. It was a great experience!”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Lake Como & Bellagio Day Trip with Private Boat Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 2,587 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $120

Travel from Milan to Como, cruise Lake Como by private boat from Tremezzina, and spend free time in Bellagio and Como. The boat runs about two hours from April to October and one hour in winter. Guides such as Anna, Sarah, Angelo, and Rafaele have led praised departures, but group size and commentary style can vary.

“Great trip by this company. Comfortable double decker bus. On time. Short drive to Lake Como. Nice tour boat ride and a few hours in Bellagio. Our guides Guillermo and Rafaela were informative and entertaining. Marcelo our bus driver did a great job. A beautiful place to visit if only for a short while. No toilet on the bus however so be prepared. The brief visit to Como was not too exciting but there is a beautiful church in the town. Very crowded town with tourists groups in late September.”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Capri & Blue Grotto Semi Private Boat Day Trip from Sorrento

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,053 reviews · 7 to 8 hours (approx.) · from $216Top rated

Cruise from Sorrento to Capri in a traditional gozzo boat with up to eight people, stopping at coastal grottoes, swimming spots, and the Blue Grotto. Guides such as Luca, Anna, Francesco, and Nello add local tips, snacks, drinks, and history. You also get 3 to 5 hours to explore Capri independently.

“We had such a great time on our trip! We didn't get to see the Blue Grotto due to high tides, but our boat captains made up for it. They took us to another inlet which had beautiful turquoise water. The drinks flowed, the music was great and the company was fantastic. We also had an amazing time on Capri. I highly suggest eating at Billy's Bar. The views are amazing and the food was delicious. I would 100% do this excursion again in the future!”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Private Boat to Como Lake, Lugano, and Bellagio

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,555 reviews · 10 hours · from $79

Spend 10 hours crossing from Milan into Switzerland and around Lake Como. A live English or Spanish guide leads walks in Como, Bellagio, and Lugano, while the private boat ride brings you past famous villas including Villa del Balbianello and Villa Balbiano. Guides vary by departure, with Anna, Laura, Amato, and Josephine among the guides recently leading tours.

“It was really beautiful day and amazingly tour guided by Ana. She have a great knowledge about the places we went.”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Lake Como by Private Boat, Bellagio & Lugano

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,417 reviews · 10h 30m · from $81

Leave Milan by premium coach for a 45-minute private cruise on Lake Como, two and a half hours in Bellagio, and 100 minutes in Lugano. English-speaking guides such as Amato, Sara, Marika, and Jo lead the day, while a professional driver handles the roads. Bring your passport for Switzerland.

“Amato and Ion are fantastic. I like how Ion had water and coffee available and how he kept the bus very comfortable. Amato is one of the best guides we have had. He spoke English very well and was very entertaining. I would choose this company again if we could get Amato. We highly recommend the Lake Como,Bellagio& Lugano tour. If it were possible to give 10 stars, we would give them to Amato and Ion!”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Lake Como, Bellagio & Varenna with Private Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 1,187 reviews · from $111

Spend 11 hours exploring Lake Como from Milan with an English- or Spanish-speaking guide. Ride an air-conditioned coach, tour Como, cruise by private boat past villas and gardens, then visit Varenna and Bellagio. Guides such as Anna, Monica, Lina, and Inna have been praised for clear directions and helpful local advice.

“The whole experience was very well put together. I travelled with 4 friends and we arrived at the meeting point at 8:15 and were greeted by our tour guide. We then left promptly at 8:30. We drove to Bellagio, with commentary from Anna, the wonderful tour guide, in both English and Spanish. We then got off and had a 45 minute boat ride on the lake where we were able to take photos and take in the view. After this, we walked around the town and had some free time to get some lunch too. We then boarded a ferry back to the meeting point where we then took a…”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.Lake Como, Bellagio, Varenna & private boat tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 490 reviews · 10 - 12 hours · from $76

Spend a full day around Lake Como with a Spanish or English-speaking guide, private coach, and one-hour private boat cruise. Visit Como, Bellagio, and Varenna, with time to stroll, shop, and eat. Guides such as Anna, Angelo, Andrea, and Raffaele have been praised for clear directions and good local stories.

“After many thousand of steps, I must say it was worth it all the steps for this trip! It was fantastic warm weather & meeting good people from this trip too.”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.Bellagio & Lugano with Lake Como Private Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 470 reviews · from $113

Travel from Milan to Como, Bellagio, and Lugano in one full day by luxury coach and private boat. You’ll hear live commentary in English and Spanish, cruise Lake Como for an hour, stroll Como and Lugano with guidance, and enjoy free time in Bellagio. Guides such as Lina, Andrea, and Viviana have been praised for clear, lively explanations.

“It was very nice trip. The guide was amazing! And not too long day, you had enough time to eat! Would highly recommend”

Check availability →Read our full review