Como Travel Guide
Como Tours Compared: Walks, Food, Wheels and Day Trips
These are the Como tours you can book from the city itself, from a two-hour guided walk of the old town to a 12.5-hour day on the Bernina line. Each sits beside what the same ground costs by public boat, by funicular or on foot, because much of Como is free to reach and a tour buys the guide, not the access. Skippered cruises on the water have their own comparison on lake como boat tours, so this page keeps the walks, the food, the wheels and the days out. The city itself is on the Como travel guide homepage. Coming from Milan? The two train lines arrive at different Como stations.
Quick answer Every Como tour at a glance: cheapest, dearest, our picks
Every tour on this page starts in Como itself. The cheapest is the guided city tour at $43.56 for two hours on foot, and the dearest is the 3-hour boat rental at $343.93. Our pick on foot is the Lake Como and Brunate guided walk at $66.49, for food the small-group food tour at $113.50, and on the water the skippered cruises from $56.40.
Key takeaways
- Skippered boat tours from Como are compared on their own page, from $56.40 for a shared hour, see lake como boat tours.
- Every tour on this page cancels free up to 24 hours before departure.
- The Bernina Express starts in Tirano, not Como, so the Bernina Express day trip is buying the coach and the seat. The other options are on day trips from Como.
- Every paid entry in town, without a tour, is on Como tickets.
Como Tours on One Table, Sorted by Length
Every tour bookable from Como city except the skippered boat cruises, shortest first, at the platform's listed price. The gate or DIY column is our pick of what the same ground costs by public boat, funicular or on foot.
| Tour | Length | Listed price | Gate or DIY price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Self-drive boat rental without a licence | 1 hour | $113.50 | No public equivalent | Steering your own boat with no licence |
| Self-drive boat rental | 1 hour | $113.50 | No public equivalent | A short self-drive hour from Lungo Lario Trieste |
| Self-drive 40 HP boat | 1 hour | $149.04 | No public equivalent | More power, groups up to 5 |
| Boat tour plus Brunate funicular | 2 hours | $72.23 | Funicular return alone $8.54 (€7.40) | The lake and the hill in one booking |
| Golf cart city tour to Cernobbio | 2 hours | $46.33 | Walk the centre free, boat to Cernobbio $3.46 (€3) each way | Anyone who cannot walk far |
| Guided city tour | 2 hours | $43.56 | Free: every stop is an exterior | The cheapest guided walk of the old town |
| Private walking tour with Villa Olmo | 2 hours | $72.65 | Villa Olmo park is free | A private guide at your own pace |
| Ravioli cooking class with wine | 2 hours | $102.03 | No gate equivalent | A short hands-on pasta class |
| Pasta and tiramisu class at a local's home | 2 hours | $102.03 | No gate equivalent | Cooking in a private home |
| E-bike tour with live guide | 3 hours | $103.18 | No public equivalent | Covering the shore without the effort |
| Pizza-making class with a pizzaiolo | 3 hours | $108.91 | No gate equivalent | Families and first-time pizza makers |
| 3-hour boat rental | 3 hours | $343.93 | No public equivalent | A half day on the water for up to 6 |
| Boat tour with a Bellagio stop | 3 hours | $136.43 | Public boat to Bellagio and back $27.70 (€24), our sum | A short Bellagio visit with a skipper |
| Small-group food tour with meal and wine | 3.5 hours | $113.50 | No gate equivalent | A first evening meal with a guide |
| Classic Vespa rental | 4 hours | $113.50 | No public equivalent | Two riders who want the lake roads |
| Vintage Fiat 500 rental | 4 hours | $223.55 | No public equivalent | Up to three in a vintage car |
| 4-hour boat tour with Bellagio and Varenna stops | 4 hours | $172.38 | One-day boat ticket to Varenna $34.00 (€29.50) | Two villages in one morning or afternoon |
| Lake Como and Brunate guided walk | 4 hours | $66.49 | Funicular return $8.54 (€7.40), cathedral free to enter | A small group of up to five on foot |
| Limousine boat to Bellagio and Varenna | 4.5 hours | $171.97 | One-day boat ticket to Varenna $34.00 (€29.50) | Drinks on board, capped at 11 |
| Cooking class on a panoramic terrace | Not stated | $257.95 | No gate equivalent | A small class of up to six with a view |
| Lugano and Bellagio by coach and boat | Full day | $111.78 | Public boat to Bellagio and back $27.70 (€24), our sum, plus the train to Lugano | Two countries without planning connections |
| Bernina Express and St. Moritz | 12.5 hours | $214.38 | No public connection from Como is priced here | The Bernina Express without the logistics |
| Bernina train and Diavolezza glacier lunch | 12.5 hours | $226.99 | No public connection from Como is priced here | A glacier lunch at 2,978 metres |
Boat tours have their own table on lake como boat tours. Classes and rentals have no gate equivalent. Fuel is billed on top on several boats: $28.80 (€25) an hour on the 40 HP and Daytona self-drive rentals, $57.70 (€50) an hour on the private motorboat with prosecco, and paid to the captain on the private vintage boat. Figures current for in Q3 2026.
Boat Tours From Como, in Short
Six skippered cruises leave from the Como lakefront, and they have a page of their own so they do not crowd the rest of this list.
Where the Boat Comparison Lives
Shared boat tours put you on a small vessel with other travellers for a fixed fare per person, from $56.40 for an hour. Private boats price per boat, from $206.36, so the per-head cost collapses once you fill the seats, and fuel is billed on top on both of them. All six leave from piers a few minutes from Piazza Cavour, none of them lands anywhere, and the public boat covers the same first basin for $3.46 (€3) one way.
The full ranking, the meeting points, the minimum-guest rules and the per-head arithmetic are on lake como boat tours. If you would rather steer, boat rental in Como prices the self-drive boats, and the public boat prices the scheduled crossings.
Sources: the operator listings for the boat tours, and the Navigazione Lago di Como tariff for the public fare.
Drive It Yourself: Boats, Vespas and a Fiat 500
No licence is needed for the self-drive boats: the operator gives a safety briefing and you take the wheel. Check the fuel rule before you book, because several bill fuel on top at the pier. The Vespa needs a category B car or motorcycle licence and prior 125cc experience, and the Fiat 500 needs a manual licence and a refundable $346.10 (€300) deposit.
from $113.50
Lake Como: Self-Drive Boat Rental Without a License
A speedboat you drive yourself for an hour with no licence required, after a briefing from an instructor. Priced per boat, so it works out cheaper the more people share it.
Check Availability
from $149.04
Lake Como: Self-Drive Boat 40 HP - without a driving license
A self-drive 40 HP motorboat rental for up to 5, no licence needed, after a safety briefing. Fuel is billed separately at 25 euro per hour, paid on delivery of the boat.
Check Availability
from $343.93
Lake Como: 3-Hour Boat Rental
A 3-hour self-drive boat rental for up to 6 from a public pier near Como Lago station, with a GPS-equipped boat and a briefing from the instructor. A flat 50 euro cash payment for fuel is paid separately.
Check Availability
from $113.50
Lake Como: Self-Drive Boat Rental
A self-drive 40 HP motorboat rental from Como, 1 to 5 hours, with a safety briefing and no fixed route. Fuel is billed separately at 25 euro per hour and is not included in the price.
Check Availability
from $113.50
Lake Como: 4/8/24-Hour Classic Vespa Rental & Delivery Option
A self-drive rental of a 1985 automatic Vespa PK 125, for four, eight or up to 24 hours, with two helmets and a suggested route around Lake Como. A category B car or motorcycle licence and prior 125cc experience are required.
Check Availability
from $223.55
Lake Como: Vintage Fiat 500 Rental
A self-drive rental of a restored 1970s Fiat 500 for up to four hours, with suggested driving routes around Lake Como. A refundable 300 euro deposit is required and the car needs a manual licence.
Check AvailabilityPrices, ratings and details are the platform's own. dollar figures are the listed prices — the platform bills in your account's currency.
In the City: Walks, Wheels and the Funicular
Como's old town is compact and free to walk, so a city tour buys a guide, not access. These six cover the centre, Villa Olmo, the funicular and the shoreline on foot, by golf cart or by e-bike. The walking tours are where a local explanation changes what you notice.
from $43.56
Como: Guided City Tour
A two-hour guided walk through Como's historic centre, taking in the Cathedral, the Social Theatre and the medieval walls from the outside. Entrance tickets to any monument are not included.
Check Availability
from $72.65
Como: Private Walking Tour with Villa Olmo Visit
A private walking tour of Como's old town, with the 3-hour option adding Villa Olmo and its gardens. Villa Olmo's interior is not always open, per the listing.
Check Availability
from $66.49
Como: Lake Como and Brunate Guided Walking Tour
Four hours on foot around Como with a guide, capped at five people, taking in the cathedral, the lakefront and the funicular ride up to Brunate.
Check Availability
from $46.33
The Iconic Como City Tour • 2-Hour Golf Cart Experience
A two-hour tour of Como and Cernobbio in an open electric golf cart with a driver and a seven-language audio guide, stopping for photos at Villa d'Este and Villa Erba.
Check Availability
from $103.18
Lake Como: eBike Tour with Live Guide, eHelmet, and iPad
A three-hour electric bike tour around Como with a live guide, an audio helmet and an iPad mounted on the handlebars. The height, weight and age limits rule out a wider range of riders than most tours on this list.
Check Availability
from $72.23
Lake Como Boat Tour with Brunate Funicular and Scenic Views
A one-hour shared boat tour out of Como with a Prosecco, bundled with a priority-access Brunate funicular ticket and free time to explore the hilltop village on your own.
Check AvailabilityPrices, ratings and details are the platform's own. dollar figures are the listed prices — the platform bills in your account's currency.
Food Tours and Cooking Classes
All five end with a meal, so compare them with a restaurant bill rather than a ferry fare. The food tour walks the centre from Piazza Duomo, and the classes run in homes, a pizzeria outside the old town and on a terrace. The terrace class is the dearest, capped at six people.
from $113.50
Lake Como: Small-Group Local Food Tour with Full Meal & Wine
Three and a half hours walking Como's centre across four or more food stops, pizza, polenta, cured meats, sciatt, gelato and coffee, with wine included and a local guide.
Check Availability
from $108.91
Como: Premium Pizza-Making Class with a Pizzaiolo
A hands-on Neapolitan pizza class at a Traveller's Choice pizzeria outside Como centre, making and eating your own Margherita with a drink and a limoncello toast. Gluten-free is not offered, though lactose intolerant and vegan diets can be accommodated.
Check Availability
from $102.03
Lake Como: Ravioli Cooking Class with Wine
A hands-on ravioli-making class at a local cook's home outside Como, with a small aperitivo, wine and hotel pickup included. A reviewer notes the venue is a 10-minute train ride from Como, factor that into the price.
Check Availability
from $102.03
Como: Pasta and Tiramisu Class at a Local's Home with Wine
A hands-on class making two pasta types and tiramisu at a local's home near Como, with wine, Prosecco and nibbles included. All dietary requirements can be accommodated on request.
Check Availability
from $257.95
Como: Cooking Class on a Panoramic Lake Como Terrace
A 3.5-hour pasta and tiramisu class on a private panoramic terrace overlooking Lake Como, capped at 6 guests, with an aperitivo, wine and limoncello included. The host notes a household cat, so it does not suit guests with a cat allergy.
Check AvailabilityPrices, ratings and details are the platform's own. dollar figures are the listed prices — the platform bills in your account's currency.
Days Out: Bellagio, Varenna, Lugano and the Bernina Express
Bellagio and Varenna are on the public boat network, so the tours here buy a skipper, a small boat and timed stops. The Bernina Express is different: it runs from Tirano, and the tours solve the road there and back.
from $172.38
Lake Como: 4-Hour Boat Tour with Stops in Bellagio and Varenna
Four hours from Como with real stops: an hour on foot in Varenna and an hour in Bellagio, plus photo passes at Cernobbio, Lenno and Tremezzo on the way.
Check Availability
from $136.43
Lake Como: Boat tour with a visit to Bellagio and Varenna
A shared boat tour from Como with a stop of about an hour in Bellagio, sailing past Villa d'Este and George Clooney's summer home. The tour runs at half length if fewer than 4 guests book.
Check Availability
from $171.97
Como: Cruise Tour with stops in Bellagio and Varenna
Four and a half hours from Como on a limousine boat capped at 11 passengers, with an hour ashore in Bellagio and about 50 minutes in Varenna, wine and soft drinks included.
Check Availability
from $111.78
From Como: Lugano and Bellagio with Enchanting Boat Cruise
A Lugano and Bellagio day trip that departs from Como rather than Milan, combining a coach into Switzerland with a public boat cruise and free time in both towns.
Check Availability
from $214.38
Bernina Panoramic Express & St. Moritz — Start from Como
A 12.5-hour day trip from Como on the Bernina Express, with about 2.5 hours free time in St Moritz and a stop in Tirano. A passport or valid ID is required to cross into Switzerland.
Check Availability
from $226.99
Bernina Train & Diavolezza Glacier Lunch from Como
A 12.5-hour day trip from Como combining the Diavolezza cable car at 2,978 metres, a fixed alpine lunch of pizzoccheri, and the Bernina Red Train to Tirano. Diavolezza is significantly colder than the valley, so a warm layer is recommended even in summer.
Check AvailabilityPrices, ratings and details are the platform's own. dollar figures are the listed prices — the platform bills in your account's currency.
Which Tour, by the Time You Have
Como rewards short bookings. The first basin of the lake, the old town and the funicular all fit inside two hours, and almost every tour on this page is built to that scale. The table below is our pick by available time, with the DIY alternative beside it so you can judge the premium for yourself.
Our Picks by Length
An hour is enough for the water, and the shared cruise with prosecco is the classic version, compared with the rest on lake como boat tours. Two hours suits the old town with a guide. Half a day is the minimum for Bellagio and Varenna with real time ashore.
An evening belongs to the food tour, which ends as a full meal. A full day opens the Alps, where a booked tour solves the road to Tirano.
| Time you have | Our pick | Why | DIY alternative |
|---|---|---|---|
| One hour | Small-group boat tour with prosecco | The first-basin villas with a drink and commentary in the classic shared format | Public boat to Cernobbio and back, $6.92 (€6) return, our sum |
| Two hours | Guided city tour | The cathedral, the Teatro Sociale and the walls with a guide, the cheapest guided card | Walk the same exteriors free on what to see in Como |
| Half a day | 4-hour boat tour with Bellagio and Varenna stops | Real time ashore in both villages plus photo passes at Lenno and Tremezzo | One-day boat ticket to Varenna $34.00 (€29.50), stay as long as you like |
| An evening | Small-group food tour with meal and wine | Four or more stops ending as a full meal with wine | The listing's own alternative: the trattorias behind Piazza Volta, no guide |
| A full day | Bernina Express and St. Moritz | The panoramic carriage seat and the coach to Tirano are solved for you | No public connection from Como to Tirano is priced on this site |
Sources: Navigazione Lago di Como tariff, Como-Brunate funicular fare sheet, Rhaetian Railway, Bernina Express.
What a Tour Price Buys That a Ticket Does Not
A guided tour in Como rarely buys access, because the old town is free to walk and the villas are seen from outside. What it buys is a guide, a vehicle and a fixed clock. The table sets the DIY cost of the same ground beside the tours that cover it, using the funicular fare sheet and the Navigazione tariff.
The DIY Cost Beside the Tours
Tour prices are per person on shared departures and per vehicle on the rentals, so divide accordingly before comparing. The public figures are one way unless the cell says otherwise.
| Ground covered | DIY cost | Tours that cover it | Listed from |
|---|---|---|---|
| The old town on foot | Free, every stop is an exterior | Guided city tour, private walk with Villa Olmo | $43.56 |
| Brunate funicular return | $8.54 (€7.40) | Brunate guided walk, boat plus funicular | $66.49 |
| Como to Cernobbio, band 1 | $3.46 (€3) one way, $6.92 (€6) return, our sum | Golf cart city tour | $46.33 |
| Bellagio and Varenna by public boat | One-day boat ticket band 7 $34.00 (€29.50) | 4-hour Bellagio and Varenna, limousine boat, Bellagio stop | $136.43 |
| A meal out, unguided | The trattorias behind Piazza Volta, no guide | Small-group food tour | $113.50 |
What a Tour Adds, and What It Takes Away
A tour adds three things a ticket does not sell: a guide who explains what you are looking at, a vehicle or a boat, and a route bent to the group. What it takes away is the clock. Time ashore is fixed: the boat tour with a Bellagio stop gives about an hour in Bellagio, and the limousine boat an hour in Bellagio and about 50 minutes in Varenna, while the ferry day ticket lets you stay until the last boat.
The Bellagio stop tour also runs at half length if fewer than 4 guests book. On the water the same trade-off is priced out in full on lake como boat tours.
Sources: Navigazione Lago di Como passenger tariff, Como-Brunate funicular fare sheet.
Where Como Tours Start
Nothing on this page starts far from the centre. The walks start on the squares, the rentals hand over on the lakefront, and the Bernina coaches leave from Viale Innocenzo XI. Every meeting point below comes from the tour listings.
Every Meeting Point on This Page
Como Lago station is on the lakefront near the piers and Como San Giovanni is up the hill, so a train arrival works for nearly every start. Check your own booking, because several listings vary the start by option.
- Piazza Cavour 5, in front of the Frigerio Viaggi agency: the guided city tour. Piazza Cavour 1, in front of Hotel Barchetta: the Lugano and Bellagio day.
- Via Fratelli Cairoli 21: the golf cart city tour. Piazza Duomo: the food tour. Opposite Como Nord Lago station: the e-bike tour.
- Lungo Lario Trieste 28, by Bar Lario: the Daytona self-drive rental and the 4-hour Bellagio and Varenna tour.
- The Sant'Agostino floating pier on Lungo Lario Trieste: the boat plus funicular tour.
- Viale Innocenzo XI, in front of the B&B Hotel Como City Centre: both Bernina coaches.
- The cooking classes at private homes and on the terrace send the address after booking.
- The skippered cruises use Viale Geno and Lungo Lario Trieste, listed pier by pier on lake como boat tours.
Sources: meeting points as published on each tour listing. Public piers: Navigazione Laghi, Lake Como.
If the Tour You Wanted Is Full
Small boats sell their slots first, and the funicular never needs a booking. Every tour here has a public, rental or self-guided substitute, and most of them are good.
Take the Public Boat Instead
The Navigazione Lago di Como boats leave from piers on the Piazza Cavour lakefront and cover Cernobbio for $3.46 (€3), Bellagio for $13.84 (€12) and Varenna for $15.57 (€13.50) one way, with a one-day unlimited band 7 ticket at $34.00 (€29.50). Journey times vary by service, so check the seasonal timetable before you commit to a connection. You lose the skipper and the drinks and gain the whole day.
Ride the Funicular on Your Own
The Como-Brunate funicular needs no booking. It runs daily 06:00-24:00 every 12-15 minutes, takes 7 minutes, and costs $4.27 (€3.70) one way or $8.54 (€7.40) return, with children up to 12 at $2.88 (€2.50). The lower station is at Piazza Alcide De Gasperi 4, a few minutes' walk from the lakefront.
Walk the City Self-Guided
The guided city tour sees its stops from outside, and the outsides are free. What to see in Como strings the cathedral, the walls, the lakefront and Brunate into a route you walk without a guide or a booking.
Rent Instead of Tour
The self-drive boats need no licence and start at $113.50 for the first hour, priced per boat. A classic Vespa or a Fiat 500 rents by the half day with suggested routes. Mind the extras: several boats bill fuel on top, and the Fiat 500 takes a $346.10 (€300) refundable deposit.
Sources: Navigazione Lago di Como tariff, ATM, Como-Brunate funicular.
Cancellation, Weather and Small Print
The small print on these listings agrees on cancellation and differs on weather. Two rules catch people out: the minimum-guest rule on the Bellagio boat, and the fuel billed on top of several rentals.
The Rules That Actually Matter
Every tour on this page offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, so a weather gamble a day out costs nothing. Then the specifics. The boat tour with a Bellagio stop runs at half length if fewer than 4 guests book, and may switch its Varenna leg to a longer Bellagio stop in choppy weather. The Bernina Express day needs a passport or valid ID for Switzerland, and the Diavolezza day warns that the glacier station at 2,978 metres is much colder than the valley even in summer. The e-bike tour can be cancelled for bad weather, and the food tour asks only for weather-appropriate clothing. The weather rules on the skippered cruises, which vary listing by listing, are set out on lake como boat tours.
Sources: cancellation and weather notes as published on each tour listing.
Where to Go Next
Tours are one layer of a Como visit. These pages cover the rest of the ground, from the free sights to the fare tables behind every DIY price on this page.
Things to Do in Como
Every sight and activity in the city numbered to one map. See all 24 to fill the hours a tour does not cover.
Tickets and Passes
Cathedral, museum and combined ticket prices in one table. If a guided tour is full, this is where the DIY money goes instead.
Day Trips from Como
Bellagio, Varenna, Lugano and the Bernina route explained without a tour bus. Compare against the coach tours before you commit.
Como Ferry Guide
Bands, fares and the seasonal timetable for the public boats. The ferry is the benchmark every boat tour here is judged against.
Brunate Funicular
Hours, fares and the 7-minute ride up the hill. It replaces two tours on this page for under nine dollars.
Como Tours: Questions
What is the cheapest way to see Como with a guide?
The guided city tour at $43.56 for two hours is the cheapest guided ticket on this page. It covers the cathedral, the theatre and the historic centre from the outside, with no monument entries, so the price is purely for the guide. For a small group on foot with more ground, the Lake Como and Brunate guided walk runs four hours at $66.49.
What is the cheapest guided tour in Como?
The guided city tour at $43.56 for two hours is the cheapest ticket on this page. It covers the cathedral, the theatre and the historic centre from the outside, with no monument entries. Since every stop is free to reach alone, the price is purely for the guide.
Is a golf cart or e-bike tour worth it in a city this small?
It depends on your legs and your time. The golf cart tour covers the centre and Cernobbio in two hours at $46.33 and is the option for anyone who cannot walk far. The e-bike tour runs three hours at $103.18 and covers shoreline a walker would never reach. The old town itself is compact and free to walk, as what to see in Como lays out.
Which food tour or cooking class should I pick?
Our pick is the small-group food tour with meal and wine at $113.50, because it doubles as an evening orientation across four or more stops. For hands-on cooking, the ravioli class with wine is the shortest at two hours, and the terrace class is the premium choice, capped at six with a lake view.
Can I cancel a Como tour?
Yes. Every tour listed on this page offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. Book early and cancel without cost if the weather turns or plans change.
Which tours from Como go to Switzerland?
Three go into Switzerland: the Lugano and Bellagio day, the Bernina Express and St. Moritz day and the Bernina train with the Diavolezza lunch. The two Bernina days run about 12.5 hours from Viale Innocenzo XI. Carry a passport or valid ID, which the Bernina Express listing requires.
Where are the boat tours compared?
On their own page. Six skippered cruises leave from the Como lakefront, from $56.40 for a shared hour to $252.22 for a private vintage boat, and they are ranked with meeting points, group sizes and the per-head sums on lake como boat tours. Self-drive boats are priced separately in boat rental in Como.
Como Tours on Film: The City, the Sights and a Rental
Three films from Como itself, useful for judging what a guided hour in the city actually covers before you pick a card above.
Como, Italy: Exploring the Old Town
The old town streets every guided city walk on this page covers.
Video: JoyOfTraveler12 Best Things to Do In and Around Lake Como
The wider menu of days out that the tours here package up.
Video: World Wild HeartsWe rented a boat on Lake Como in Italy
A self-drive rental from start to finish, briefing included.
Video: PompsieVideos load from YouTube only when you press play.
Prices, hours and terms are set by the venue or operator and confirmed at checkout.
We may earn a commission if you book through one of our links, at no extra cost to you. Full affiliate disclosure