Lake Como boat experiences.
Your questions, answered.

You rent a boat exclusively for your group and drive it yourself. There is no skipper on board. Our team explains the boat controls and main safety rules before you depart.

Our self-drive selection includes Marvel 19, Marino Artemide 500, Marinello and Self Drive Como. Open each boat page to see its photographs and rental options.

Marvel 19 accommodates up to 7 people in self-drive mode. This total includes the person driving.

No. Self-drive rental prices are per boat for the selected duration, rather than per passenger.

Marvel 19 self-drive rental costs €150 for 1 hour, €300 for 2 hours, €400 for 3 hours, €520 for 4 hours, €640 for 5 hours, €700 for 6 hours, €800 for 7 hours and €850 for 8 hours. These are self-drive prices; the private tour with a skipper is a different service.

Yes. Fuel is included in our self-drive rental packages.

Life jackets and a sun canopy are provided. Our team gives you instructions and the relevant rules before use.

Yes. Before departure, our team explains the controls, how to operate the boat and the key rules for your rental.

Yes. You can request Como, Carate Urio, Cernobbio, Laglio, Torno, Blevio or Argegno. The exact boarding point, availability, return arrangements and any transfer charges are confirmed before booking.

Yes. Choose the private Marvel 19 packages rather than self-drive rental. With a skipper, Marvel 19 carries up to 6 passengers and uses the private-tour prices.

You must be at least 18 years old to rent and drive our self-drive boats.

No. A boating licence is not required for the boats in our self-drive selection. Our team gives you a briefing before departure.

Yes. Children are welcome. Include them in your total group size when you enquire so we can check capacity and prepare for your group.

Yes. You can bring food and drinks aboard our self-drive boats. The person driving should remain fully alert; we recommend no alcohol for the driver.

Pets are generally not accepted without prior approval. Contact us before booking with the type of pet and, for a dog, its breed and size. We will confirm whether it can join your chosen boat.

Yes, when the location and conditions are suitable. Follow the instructions given during your briefing and the swimming guidance below.

The boat is reserved exclusively for your group. You travel with a skipper and do not share the tour with other customers.

No. Your skipper takes care of navigation during a private tour.

Either is possible. Choose a 2, 3 or 4-hour tour and compare the available boats, or open a boat first and select its package.

No. The published private-tour package price is for the whole boat. Compare the selected boat and duration because prices vary between boats.

Dolce Far Niente carries up to 7 passengers, excluding the skipper.

The private packages cost €550 for 2 hours, €750 for 3 hours and €1,000 for 4 hours, per boat. Skipper, fuel and one bottle of prosecco are included.

Marvel 19 carries up to 6 passengers, excluding the skipper. Prices per boat are €300 for 2 hours, €450 for 3 hours and €650 for 4 hours. Skipper and fuel are included; prosecco is not included.

No. The four-hour Marvel 19 package goes to Bellagio and offers time ashore there. It does not include Varenna.

Choose 50 minutes in Bellagio and 50 minutes in Varenna, or a two-hour visit in just one of those villages. These are alternative options within the four-hour tour, with the schedule agreed with your skipper.

No. You can also request Carate Urio, Cernobbio, Laglio, Torno, Blevio or Argegno. We confirm the exact boarding point, return arrangements, route and any transfer charges before booking.

Tell us your hotel and preferred departure location. We check boat availability and a suitable boarding point, then confirm the arrangements with you.

No. The standard sightseeing tours view villas from the water. Interior visits and entrance tickets are separate unless the selected package explicitly says otherwise.

Yes. Explore Sunset Escape, Boat & Dine, Como Boat to the Beach, Wedding & Photo Experience, Villa del Balbianello & Museum and the Full Day Lake Cruise. Each package has its own programme and inclusions.

It lasts 7 hours aboard Dolce Far Niente and costs €1,820 per boat. The personalised programme can include Bellagio, Varenna and a restaurant stop. All cruising and stops fit within the seven hours; restaurant meals and drinks are paid separately.

Yes. Children are welcome. Tell us the total number of guests, including children, when requesting your booking.

You may bring your own drinks. Food is generally not permitted aboard private tours. Drinks available aboard and those included in the price depend on your selected package; check its inclusions or ask us before booking.

Pets are generally not accepted without prior approval. Tell us the type of animal and, for a dog, its breed and size before booking. We confirm acceptance for your chosen boat individually.

Yes, a swim can be arranged when the location and lake conditions are suitable. Ask your skipper; the stop must fit within your booked duration and agreed programme.

You book seats rather than the whole boat and cruise with other guests. The tour takes place aboard Dolce Far Niente with a skipper.

The price is €120 per person for a four-hour tour.

Yes. You can request individual seats or several seats. The shared departure is confirmed once a total of 7 participants is booked.

The minimum is 7 confirmed participants in total. You do not need to book all seven yourself; separate bookings can make up the group.

Dolce Far Niente carries a maximum of 7 passengers, excluding the skipper.

Yes. The €120 per-person package includes the skipper, fuel and prosecco.

Yes. There is a 50-minute independent stop in Bellagio and a 50-minute independent stop in Varenna.

No. Both village visits and all cruising take place within the total four-hour duration.

No. Meals, drinks ashore and entrance tickets to attractions are paid separately.

We confirm available seats, departure time and boarding arrangements with you before booking. The departure requires 7 confirmed participants.

Yes. Children are welcome. Tell us how many adults and children wish to join so we can confirm the seats for your group.

Pets are generally not accepted without prior approval. Contact us with the dog’s breed and size before booking; we will confirm whether it can join that departure.

You can ask us about swimming when booking. Any stop depends on safe conditions and must fit the shared departure’s agreed schedule and village visits.

Select the boat or experience and use Book Now. WhatsApp opens with a message for your selected package. Add your date, group size and preferred departure point, then send it. Nothing is sent automatically.

Contact Rent Boat Como on WhatsApp at +39 375 114 3083.

Private-tour package pages include options to change the boat while keeping the duration, or return to the same boat to choose another duration.

Cancel at least 48 hours before the scheduled departure to receive your booking deposit back.

Your booking deposit is not refundable if you cancel less than 48 hours before departure.

We check the forecast in the preceding days and contact you about rescheduling or cancellation. If we cancel because of bad weather and you cannot reschedule, the full amount you have paid is refunded.

We refund the full amount you have paid.

No. We confirm availability and the arrangements with you before the booking is finalised.

No. A boating license is not required for the boats on our website that are specifically marked as “no boating license required.”

These boats are equipped in accordance with the power and engine-capacity limits set by Italian law.
For boats with engines over 40 HP, we offer private tours with a professional skipper, so you can enjoy the experience without having to drive the boat yourself.

Before departure, our team will explain how to operate the boat, how to behave on the lake, and the main safety rules you need to follow.

Yes, provided that the engine and the boat comply with all the legal requirements.
Italian law does not consider engine power alone. Engine displacement and technical specifications also matter.

For this reason, always check the information shown for the specific boat you are booking. If a boat on Rent Boat Como is marked “No boating license required,” it can be rented without a license under the applicable rental conditions.

Boats with engines over 40 HP are available with a professional skipper as part of our private boat tours.

No. Our license-free boats are designed to be easy to operate, even if it is your first time driving a boat.

Before departure, you will receive a short briefing covering:

• starting and stopping the engine;
• forward, reverse and neutral gears;
• steering and basic manoeuvres;
• use of the safety kill switch;
• approaching and leaving the dock;
• speed limits;
• right-of-way rules and ferries;
• onboard safety equipment;
• what to do in case of a problem.

If you prefer not to drive, or if you would like to enjoy one of our more powerful boats, you can choose a private tour with a professional skipper.

At Rent Boat Como, you must be at least 18 years old to rent and drive one of our boats.

This is a Rent Boat Como rental policy designed to keep the experience simple, clear and safe for all our guests.

Guests under 18 cannot independently rent or drive our boats.

You must navigate with particular care near the shoreline.

For standard motorboats:

Within 50 metres of the shore
Navigation with a combustion engine is generally limited to departure and landing manoeuvres. This area should be crossed slowly and, where required, as directly and perpendicularly to the shore as possible.

Between 50 and 150 metres from the shore
The maximum speed is 10 knots.

More than 150 metres from the shore
The general daytime maximum speed is 27 knots, unless lower limits apply in a specific area.

Remember: a speed limit is a maximum, not a target speed. Always slow down when there is traffic, waves, swimmers, docks or poor weather conditions.

Approach slowly and always pay close attention to swimmers, other boats and obstacles.
When departing from or approaching the shore, manoeuvre carefully and, where required, follow a route as perpendicular to the shoreline as possible.

Never approach anyone in the water while the propeller is turning.

During your safety briefing, our team will also show you how to leave and return to our dock correctly.

Public passenger ferries and scheduled transport vessels have priority.
Do not cross directly in front of them, interfere with their route, or obstruct their docking and departure manoeuvres.

These vessels are much larger than your boat and need significantly more space to stop and manoeuvre.

When crossing their wake, slow down and approach the waves carefully, preferably with the bow rather than taking them directly from the side.

No. Conditions can change quickly, even on a sunny day.
Lake Como is affected by local winds such as the Tivano and the Breva, which can create short, steep waves and make navigation more demanding.

We check conditions before departure and always recommend that you:

• follow the instructions provided by our staff;
• avoid heading out if the weather is deteriorating;
• reduce your speed in strong wind or waves;
• return or move to a safe area if conditions become difficult.

Safety always comes before completing your planned itinerary.

For everyone’s safety, Rent Boat Como recommends zero alcohol for the driver.

The person driving the boat must remain fully alert and able to react quickly to traffic, waves and unexpected situations.

If you would like to enjoy your day without worrying about driving, choose a private tour with a skipper.

It depends on the boat you choose.
You must never exceed the maximum number of passengers permitted for that specific boat.

The maximum capacity is shown on the boat’s booking page and confirmed when you make your reservation.

Never overload the boat and always follow our staff’s instructions regarding passenger distribution on board.

Yes. Each boat is supplied with the safety equipment required for the permitted navigation area.
Before departure, we will show you where the life jackets and other safety equipment are located.

We strongly recommend that children, non-swimmers and anyone who feels uncomfortable in the water wear a life jacket throughout the trip.

The kill switch is an emergency safety cord connected to the engine shut-off system.

The driver must attach it correctly before departure.
If the driver suddenly moves away from the helm or falls overboard, the device stops the engine automatically.

It is one of the most important safety devices on board.

The engine must be started with the gear lever in neutral.

Before starting it, always check that nobody is in the water near the stern or propeller.

Follow the procedure explained by our team during your briefing.
To stop the engine normally, use the ignition key or the designated control. The kill switch is mainly intended for emergency shutdown.

Our team checks the boat before every rental.

As the driver, before leaving the dock you should still make sure you know:

• where the life jackets are stored;
• how the engine works;
• how to use the kill switch;
• how to put the engine in neutral;
• how to use reverse and perform slow-speed manoeuvres;
• how to contact Rent Boat Como;
• the main navigation and safety rules.

We also recommend bringing a fully charged phone.

First of all, stay calm.

• Put the gear lever in neutral.
• Check that the safety cord is correctly attached.
• Try restarting the engine.
• Avoid drifting towards the shore, rocks or other boats.
• Contact Rent Boat Como immediately for assistance.

If there is an immediate danger to anyone on board, call 112 or 1530, the Italian Coast Guard emergency number.

If someone is in immediate danger, call:

112 – European Emergency Number
or
1530 – Italian Coast Guard

Give the operator as much information as possible, including:

• your location;
• the name or description of the boat;
• the number of people on board;
• the nature of the emergency;
• whether anyone is injured or in the water.

For technical problems without an immediate danger, contact Rent Boat Como first using the assistance number provided before departure.

No, not with a standard license-free rental boat.
Water skiing is subject to specific legal requirements, including a boating license regardless of engine power.

Do not use the boat to tow people, water skiers, wakeboards, inflatable tubes or similar equipment unless the activity has been expressly authorised and organised by Rent Boat Como.

Yes, when conditions are suitable and you are in a safe area.

Before anyone enters the water:

• switch the engine off completely;
• make sure the boat is stationary and in a safe position;
• avoid swimming in areas with heavy boat traffic;
• keep track of everyone in the water.

Never restart the engine while anyone is close to the propeller.

No.

Not all docks on Lake Como are public. Many are private or reserved for public transport services.

Do not use private docks, moorings or property without permission.
If you want to stop for lunch, visit a village or reach a specific destination, ask us before departure. We will be happy to suggest suitable and safe places to stop.

You can enjoy views of the villas from the lake, but you must respect shoreline distances, restricted areas and private property.

Do not enter private docks or boathouses, use private piers, or navigate excessively close to the shore just to take photos.
The best way to enjoy the villas is from a safe distance and at low speed.

Follow the instructions provided by Rent Boat Como.

If wind, rain or waves increase, reduce your speed and consider returning early.

Do not try to complete your planned itinerary at all costs.

If you are unsure what to do, contact us. We know the lake and can advise you on the safest option based on your location and current conditions.

Absolutely.

For boats with engines over 40 HP, we offer private tours with a professional skipper.

You can also choose a skipper if you simply prefer not to drive and want to relax throughout the experience.

A private skipper tour is ideal if you want to focus on the scenery, the villas and the most beautiful places on Lake Como without worrying about navigation.

Contact us on WhatsApp.
The Rent Boat Como team can help you choose between a license-free boat rental and a private boat tour with a professional skipper, explain the navigation rules and suggest an itinerary based on the time you have available and the conditions on the lake.