Sala Comacina · Central lake
Runs the shuttle to Isola Comacina plus private Venetian-taxi transfers, lake tours and group boats from Sala Comacina.
Season: Mar–Oct
Languages: EN · ITBoat rental at Lake Como
Most rentals on Lake Como are licence-free motorboats you drive yourself, by the hour or by the day, and many companies also send a skipper. The rules that matter, which boat to pick, and what the companies below charge.
The rules
- No licence
- Up to 40.8 hp (30 kW) engine power, within 6 nautical miles of the shore. Bigger engines need a boating licence. Jet skis always need one. Source
- Speed
- Up to 27 knots by day more than 150 m from the shore, and 10 knots between 50 and 150 m. At night 10 knots, and 7 knots for boats under 7 m that carry only an all-round white light. Source
- Near the shore
- The first 50 m off the shore are for rowing, pedal and sailing boats and small electric motors. Motorboats only cross it to leave or land, straight towards the shore. No boats at all in marked bathing areas, and don’t moor within 100 m of a bathing beach. Source
- Slow zones
- Between Isola Comacina and the Sala Comacina–Ossuccio shore, and in the Laghetto di Piona, motorboats may only go dead slow, engine just in gear. Water-skiing and jet skis are banned there. Source
- Ferries
- Ferries have right of way. Stay at least 50 m from them on every side and don’t get in the way of their routes or their manoeuvres at the piers. Source
A summary, not legal advice. The rental company briefs you before you leave, and its rules and the local ordinances apply.
Which boat?
Licence-free motorboat
Up to 40.8 hp, for a family or a small group. Enough to hop between Bellagio, Varenna, Menaggio and the Tremezzina. The usual choice for a first time.
With a licence
Bigger engines for the long stretches to Como, Lecco or the upper lake. You show your licence when you pick it up.
With a skipper
Someone else drives: no licence, no rules to learn, and they know the villas and where to stop for a swim.
Electric boat
Quiet and licence-free. Rented in Colico on the upper lake, for Piona Bay and the Pian di Spagna nature reserve.
Sailing boat
The upper lake, between Dongo, Domaso, Gera Lario, Colico and Dervio, is the lake’s base for sailing. Bareboat if you can sail, otherwise with a skipper or a course.
Prices
The lowest price published by the 20 companies below that list theirs, for the whole boat. Fuel is not always included.
| Boat | 1 hour | 2 hours | Half day | Full day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Licence-free · 15 | from €60 | from €110 | from €160 | from €240 |
| With licence · 3 | — | from €180 | from €240 | from €360 |
| Electric · 1 | from €75 | from €130 | from €235 | from €295 |
| With skipper · 7 | from €200 | from €350 | from €680 | from €1425 |
| Sailing boat · 1 | — | — | — | from €240 |
Wind right now
Wind →Colico
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Domaso
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Gera Lario
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Dervio
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46 places
Central lake
Sala Comacina 1Tremezzina 7Menaggio 3Bellagio 7Varenna 2
Tremezzina · Central lake
Rents licence-free 40 hp motorboats for up to 7 people near Villa Carlotta (Tremezzina) and on the Menaggio lakefront, and offers Venetian-style boats with a driver.
From €160 for 2 h, licence-free 40 hp boat (fuel incl.)
Languages: IT · ENTremezzina · Central lake
Rents licence-free 40 hp motorboats for up to 7 passengers from the Cadenazzi boatyard, with fuel and insurance included in the hourly packages.
From €100 for 1 h, licence-free 40 hp boat (fuel incl.)
Languages: IT · EN · FR · DETremezzina · Central lake
Based in Lenno, it rents small boats that need no licence and runs a shuttle to Villa del Balbianello plus private excursions around the lake.
Languages: IT · EN
Tremezzina · Central lake
Rents licence-free 40 hp motorboats for up to 7 people, SUPs, pedaloes and canoes from the marina facing Isola Comacina.
From €150 for 2 h, licence-free 40 hp boat (fuel and insurance incl.)
Season: Mar–Oct
Languages: IT · ENTremezzina · Central lake
Runs group excursions, private cruises, transfers and wedding boats on a fleet of motorboats from the pier opposite Villa Carlotta.
Languages: IT · EN
Tremezzina · Central lake
Runs private tours of 2 to 6 hours, lunches, weddings and photo shoots on two Venetian taxis, based in Tremezzina.
Tremezzina · Central lake
Runs private boat tours for up to 6 guests with a licensed skipper from Tremezzo, with pick-up at Cadenabbia, Sala Comacina, Menaggio, Bellagio and Varenna.
From €250 for a 1 h private tour (fuel incl., up to 6 guests)
Menaggio · Central lake
Rents 40–130 hp motorboats with or without a licence, plus kayaks, and runs captained tours in classic Venetian and vintage wooden boats from the Menaggio lakefront.
From €100 for 1 h, licence-free 40 hp boat (fuel incl.)
Season: Mar–Oct
Languages: IT · EN · DE · FR · NL · RUMenaggio · Central lake
Rents licence-free motorboats (driver over 21, fuel included), e-bikes and waterbikes in Menaggio.
Languages: IT · EN
Menaggio · Central lake
Runs private tours from 1 to 8 hours and transfers with a driver on classic Venetian limousines and motorboats from Menaggio.
Languages: EN · IT
Bellagio · Central lake
Rents three licence-free 40 hp self-drive boats with GPS for up to 6 people from San Giovanni, a few minutes from Bellagio's centre.
From €100 for 1 h (fuel and insurance incl.)
Languages: IT · EN · FR · DE · ES · ZHBellagio · Central lake
Rents licence-free 4.20 m, 40 hp self-drive boats for up to 6 people, plus SUP boards, with a short briefing before departure.
From €110 for 1 h (fuel and insurance incl.)
Languages: EN · ITBellagio · Central lake
Runs private skippered cruises on a 38 ft sailing yacht for up to 10 people from the dock at Pescallo, Bellagio, and also rents SUP boards.
€260, minimum 2 h (skipper and fuel incl.)
Languages: EN · ITBellagio · Central lake
Rents licence-free 5.30 m, 40 hp boats for up to 6 people, about 100 m from the Bellagio ferry pier.
From €110 for 1 h (fuel incl.; Jun–Aug costs more)
Season: Mar–Oct
Languages: IT · EN · ES · FRBellagio · Central lake
Rents licence-free 40 hp boats with sun awning and sundeck for up to 6 people from Punta Spartivento in Bellagio.
From €100 for 1 h (fuel and insurance incl.)
Languages: ENBellagio · Central lake
Offers shared tours, private charters and private transfers on wooden water limousines from Piazza Mazzini in Bellagio.
Bellagio · Central lake
Runs private skippered sailing and classic-boat tours, sunset cruises and full-day trips from Pescallo (Bellagio), with boarding also at Menaggio, Varenna and Tremezzo.
Varenna · Central lake
Rents licence-free self-drive boats for up to 6 people from Varenna, run by Nautica Varenna sas.
From €190 for 2 h (fuel incl.)
Languages: EN · ITVarenna · Central lake
Rents licence-free self-drive motorboats from Riva Grande in Varenna and also runs classic-boat water taxis and private tours.
From €100 for 1 h (fuel incl.)
Languages: ENComo arm
Como 8Cernobbio 1Moltrasio 2Laglio 1Argegno 2Blevio 1Faggeto Lario 1Nesso 1
Como · Como arm
Rents licence-free 40 hp self-drive boats by the hour or full day and runs private skippered tours of 1 to 4 hours from the Lungo Lario Trieste quay in Como.
Languages: EN
Como · Como arm
Como operator offering licence-free self-drive boats, private skippered tours and small-group shared tours.
Self-drive from €200 for 2 h (fuel extra)
Languages: EN · IT · DE · FR · RU · AR · ZH · PTComo · Como arm
Private and shared skippered tours on classic and Venetian-taxi boats from the Lungo Lario Trieste pier, plus licence-free 40 hp boats rented for 1 to 5 hours.
Private skippered boat from €270 for 1 h
Languages: EN · ITComo · Como arm
Private tours with a captain on classic wooden boats and a Venetian taxi, departing from the Viale Geno lakefront pier in Como.
Skippered wooden boats from €300
Languages: ENComo · Como arm
Private skippered tours on Riva-style wooden taxi boats from Como, with pick-up at other lake towns and hotel jetties.
Private skippered tour from €350 for 1 h
Languages: EN · ITComo · Como arm
Private skippered tours from Como on a wooden Venetian limousine or a sport boat, from 1 hour to a full day.
Languages: EN
Como · Como arm
Private charters with a captain from Como centre on motorboats, with 2-hour, 4-hour, aperitif and custom tours.
Languages: EN
Como · Como arm
Private skippered boat tours and taxi-boat transfers run by professional skippers.
2-hour private skippered tour from €500
Cernobbio · Como arm
Family operator in Cernobbio with a licence-free boat for up to 7, skippered boats for larger groups, taxi-boat transfers and tours of 1 to 8 hours.
Languages: IT · EN
Moltrasio · Como arm
Licence-free 40 hp boats for up to 7 from the Moltrasio pier, plus skippered tours of 1.5 to 7 hours and taxi-boat transfers.
Fuel included in self-drive rental
Languages: ITMoltrasio · Como arm
Family firm by the small pier in Moltrasio renting 40 hp speedboats and wooden motor and rowing boats, most without a licence.
Languages: IT · EN · DE
Laglio · Como arm
Tours with a captain on classic wooden boats, including Riva, Venetian limousine and an electric Vaporina, lasting 1 to 6 hours.
Skippered wooden boats from €350
Languages: ENArgegno · Como arm
Rents licence-free 40 hp Quicksilver Active 555 motorboats for up to 7 people in Argegno, open every day and taking winter bookings on request.
From €90 for 1 h, licence-free 40 hp boat (fuel extra)
Argegno · Como arm
A captain runs private boat tours from the Argegno dock, including 2-hour garden and villa tours and a longer tour with a lunch stop.
€580 for a 2 h private tour with captain (up to 4 people)
Languages: EN · IT · FR · DE · ESBlevio · Como arm
Rents boats that need no licence and offers a taxi limousine with a private pilot from Blevio.
Languages: IT
Faggeto Lario · Como arm
Wooden-boat yard at Faggeto Lario that rents boats with and without a licence and runs skippered tours.
Fuel included on 40 hp boats
Season: Apr–Sep
Languages: IT · ENNesso · Como arm
Private skippered tours on a vintage wooden boat and a Venetian taxi boat, with pick-up at towns around the southern basin of the lake.
Lecco arm
Oliveto Lario 1Mandello 1Lierna 2
Oliveto Lario · Lecco arm
Family-run base at Vassena with licence-free 40 hp self-drive boats and captained private tours on classic wooden and Venetian taxi boats.
Languages: EN · IT · DE · FR
Mandello · Lecco arm
Runs private captained tours on a wooden Venetian taxi boat or an open boat, with pick-up at Mandello, Onno, Lierna, Varenna, Bellagio, Bellano and other piers.
From €200 for 1 h with captain (fuel incl.)
Languages: ENLierna · Lecco arm
Has rented boats on Lake Como since 2012 to people without a boating licence, with four 5.30–5.75 m boats for up to 7 people.
From €80 (fuel incl. up to 6 h)
Languages: IT · ENLierna · Lecco arm
Runs private 1–6 h tours with a professional skipper on restored vintage mahogany motorboats from Lierna.
Languages: IT · EN
Upper lake
Pianello del Lario 1Dongo 1Domaso 1Colico 2
Pianello del Lario · Upper lake
Has rented licence-free 40 hp inflatable boats and small cabin sailing boats from the Pianello del Lario harbour since 2007.
From €65 for 1 h (licence-free RIB; fuel extra)
Languages: IT · ENDongo · Upper lake
Rents licence-free 40 hp boats and licensed motorboats, with insurance included and departures from its Dongo base.
From €90 for 1 h (licence-free; fuel extra)
Season: Mar–Oct
Languages: IT · ENDomaso · Upper lake
Rental arm of the Circolo Vela Canottieri Domaso, with licence-free 40 hp boats, licensed boats up to 250 hp, and skippered boats.
From €60 for 1 h (licence-free; fuel extra)
Languages: IT · EN · DEColico · Upper lake
Rents licence-free electric boats for up to 6 people from Colico, for trips to Piona Bay and the Pian di Spagna reserve; it also rents bikes.
Electric boat from €75 for 1 h
Languages: IT · ENColico · Upper lake
Colico boating centre that rents licence-free and licensed motorboats and runs private and shared skippered tours.
Languages: EN · IT · DE
No places match these filters. Try the whole lake or any language.
Good to know
- Bring an ID. Most companies take a deposit, and some ask for a card.
- Ask whether fuel is included: some prices include it, others charge for what you use.
- Book ahead in July and August, and go out in the morning: in the afternoon the Breva blows up the lake from the south.
- Watch for swimmers. Further than 50 m out they must tow a float, and divers mark their spot with a buoy flying a red flag with a white diagonal stripe.
Questions people ask
Can I rent a boat on Lake Como without a licence?
Yes. In Italy you can drive a boat with up to 40.8 hp (30 kW) without a licence, within 6 nautical miles of the shore, and most rental boats on the lake are this size. Bigger boats and jet skis need a licence.
Can I rent a boat without a licence in Bellagio or Varenna?
Yes. Several companies in both towns rent licence-free 40 hp boats by the hour; they are listed below with their prices. Anything over 40.8 hp (30 kW) needs a licence, or you hire a boat with a skipper.
How fast can I go?
Up to 27 knots by day more than 150 m from the shore, 10 knots between 50 and 150 m, and 10 knots at night. Inside 50 m you only cross to leave or land, straight towards the shore.
Can I take a rental boat to Isola Comacina?
Yes, but slowly. In the channel between the island and the Sala Comacina–Ossuccio shore motorboats may only go dead slow, engine just in gear, and water-skiing and jet skis are banned.
When is the best time to go out?
In the morning. The Tivano blows from the north through the night and into the morning, and in the afternoon the Breva comes up the lake from the south. The upper lake is where they are used for sailing and windsurfing; the southern arms towards Como and Lecco get less of both.
Listings are compiled from providers’ own websites and tourist boards. Missing a place, or is something wrong? Add your event
sources: normattiva.it, municipium-images-production.s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com, municipium-images-production.s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com, autoritabacinolario.it, autoritabacinolario.it · checked 2026-10-25.