There is no shortage of taxi boats and private rentals for hire in Lago di Como. As you can see by…read morethe business name, most of the boat services sound the same by name and it can get confusing! Entrusting your hotel to help you with arranging for a private charter is your best bet. The company is based in Sala Comacina, in the greater Como area, but that's doesn't really matter, because they come to you! Our hotel (Relais Villa Vittoria) had a boat dock so we picked up from the hotel, which was super convenient. They are not just limited to private tours, they also offer taxi services on the entire lake in addition to wedding and special event transport. They have several boats in their fleet that range in size, from 15 seats to 78. We really lucked out with Boat-Service! The company is owned by three partners. Our guide was one of the owners, Marco. Marco arrived on time, the boat was in pristine condition and the entire ride was super smooth. He picked us up in the Castell d'Isola- their Venetian taxi. The emerald green interior was lovely! We really enjoyed our morning with Marco and would do it again! If you've been searching the web for a boat charter in the Como area, you can stop your search now. Cash only for the private boat tour.

The best boats with the greatest guides! It is a must-do on Lake Como. We enjoyed every minute!read more

Mattia and his newly launched Lake Como Water Taxi is a luxury speed boat taxi and tour service…read morethat's a welcome addition to the old-school water taxi businesses that used to dominate the scene here. After earning his degree in mechanical engineering, Mattia decided to invest his money in a custom designed high-performance speed boat that he and his father designed and built. This young Italian entrepreneur is working hard to demonstrate the best in luxury service and custom-designed guided tours. Just outline what you'd be most interested in seeing, how much time/€£$ you'd like to spend, and Mattia will curate a memorable time! Mattia knows a great deal of history regarding historical buildings and towns along Lake Como (from ancient bridges and waterfalls, to famous olive orchards, to natural scenery and grand villas). Mattia is a consummate professional boat captain with years of experience as a Lake Como police officer as well as a captain and guide before starting his own premium service in May of 2015. His English and his restaurant recommendations are both excellent and he accepts credit cards as well as cash. His rates are comparable to other water taxi services with a captain, but they don't all include an eloquent guided tour for the same money. Be sure to call or text him to reserve your time slot during the peak summer months!

Very rude staff. Saw them mistreat some vacationers that mistakenly confused their location for…read moreanother boat rental.

We had a great experience renting a boat with Turari in August 2021 one day prior to showing up!…read more We opted for 4 hours -- anything shorter might feel a bit rushed, especially if you want to take some time and just lounge around/swim in the lake. The boat were in great condition and the owner gave us a thorough overview of features, being out on the lake etc. Performance is tame as its meant to be accessible to anyone, but we still enjoyed cruising fast enough to need to hold on at times :). Everything was very transparent in terms of charges (including gas usage charges) all represented on paper. We liked that it was clearly a family-owned business (they all sat down to lunch together as we departed, which added to the Italian charm).

Giacomo and others were friendly and extremely helpful with restaurant suggestions and…read morereservations, tourist attractions, and a few unusual requests that we needed taken care of. Our room was extremely well constructed and very clean. The view amazing and the breakfast buffet at Albergo was always fresh and we'll stocked even during peak times, never had to wait for a desirable table either. Nice bar off lobby and large restaurant on site. Also walking distance from ferry on Lake Como, fine dining, casual restaurants and gelato. Sports bar also close and beautiful walking path along the lake. We were on our honeymoon and highly suggest recommend this property.

My wife and I were married in Lake Como on June 29th. Our reception was held at Lido Di Lenno. We…read morearrived by boat from the wedding, although it is possible to walk to it from the street. When we stepped off the boat, there was a grassy area where the staff had hors d'oeuvres set up at a long table with a white tablecloth. There were cute little white wicker furniture sets with tables so the guests could mingle, take pictures, sip Prosecco and look out at the lake. When it was time for dinner, we moved from the grassy area to our tables, which were positioned perpendicular to the lake so everyone had a great view. The dinner was in the marquee - a permanent outdoor area with tile flooring covered by a big white tent. We had the garden half of the marquee to ourselves, so our seating area was adjacent to the grassy garden area where the hors d'oeuvres were served. The sides of the marquee were able to be closed independently so that as the sun was setting, strategic flaps were folded down to prevent the sun from annoying people as they ate while still letting a breeze into the marquee. The champagne was poured just before we were seated, and we had enough of it for everyone's toasts. After the champagne, there was red and white wine for the table. The antipasti we chose was the smoked salmon. It was a huge dish of thinly sliced salmon perfectly smoked and beautifully presented. The primi piatti we selected was a pasta with prawns. The pasta was cooked al dente and the prawns were very light and fresh. The secondi piatti was the beef limousine and vegetables. It was cooked to a perfect medium rare with a pink center and was very tender and juicy. Nothing about our wedding was conventional and we stayed true to that with dessert. Instead of a wedding cake, we selected a special dessert. With a wedding party of 32, there will always be a dish that someone doesn't care for because maybe they don't eat fish or they don't eat meat. But EVERYONE LOVED the chocolate fondue. They brought huge dishes of fruit with skewers and bowls of melted dark chocolate. The staff also brought out espresso. It was the perfect ending to a great meal. We had the area under the tent (the marquee) for as long as we wanted. But after dinner and drinks and long day, some people began to go back to the hotel. We stayed at the Albergo Lenno, which was less than a mile around the lake. It is a beautiful walk and very doable, especially since there are gelateria's along the way. But we also rented a bus for those in need of assistance for one reason or another. Inside the bar area was a dance floor and a local DJ (that we did not have to pay for) who played a great selection of popular songs that you would hear off the radio at home. We danced into the night with the locals and had a blast. They closed around 2am. It is also worth noting that on the other side of the dance floor is a large opening to a beach area. This was a large area with sand and lounge chairs. The kids loved playing in the sand in their wedding clothes .

We stay at the guesthouses here as well! The owner is the chef and we had an absolutely fantastic…read moreexperience! Prosecco on patio with the sun setting, a chefs choice homemade pasta sampler, delicious desserts and exceptional service!

No matter where you are or where you are going, coming for a meal here is a Must! The service was…read moreamazing and the food was spectacular. Being here is a whole experience one must have while in Italy! My girlfriend and I came on a 10 day trip and stayed our last 3 days by Lake Como, we made a last minute reservation and took a train over and were amazed by the experience and food. The best meal we had on our trip by far. Try their wines, desserts are amazing. Man we are coming back again next Italy trip, might have to come to Italy just to experience Ristorante il Crotto. Non importa dove sei o dove stai andando, venire a mangiare qui è un must! Il servizio era incredibile e il cibo era spettacolare. Essere qui è un'intera esperienza che si deve fare mentre si è in Italia! Io e la mia ragazza siamo venuti in un viaggio di 10 giorni e abbiamo soggiornato i nostri ultimi 3 giorni sul Lago di Como, abbiamo fatto una prenotazione dell'ultimo minuto e abbiamo preso un treno e siamo rimasti stupiti dall'esperienza e dal cibo. Il miglior pasto che abbiamo fatto durante il nostro viaggio di gran lunga. Prova i loro vini, i dolci sono fantastici. Amico, torneremo di nuovo il prossimo viaggio in Italia, potremmo dover venire in Italia solo per provare il Ristorante il Crotto.

We spent 18 nights in northern Italy travelling all around. Different cities, different hotels…read more All great, all different. This little boutique hotel was so nice. We were on the top floor in a corner room with doors that opened on each side to wonderful views of Lake Como. The staff was incredibly friendly and helpful, giving us recommendations on where to eat. And the breakfast (included) was very good with very attentive staff. This hotel is right in the heart of Bellagio and right on the water. I highly suggest this place!!

This is a charming, "old world" hotel. Great location right on the lake. Very clean and well…read moreappointed rooms; everyone in our party marveled at the quality of the bed linens! The breakfast buffet is one of the best I have had in Europe. Staff is helpful and courteous, especially the front desk staff.

Food was great, view even better. Off the beaten path away from the crowds. A bit more expensive. Oread more

La Pergola was a special treat for me as I had no idea that Bellagio had an "other side" over the…read morehill up and down some wildly steep cobblestone steps facing a different part of the lake. I was in Bellagio for Asif A.'s wedding, and the day before the wedding, Eric R. and others were canyoneering and rappelling. Asif A. told me this is his favorite restaurant in Bellagio, so I joined him for lunch with four others. We sat on the patio and my seat was right next to the water. The server was very patient and friendly. We ordered a half liter of white wine and appetizers of caprese and bresaola. The bresaola also came with pork (oops...) but I focused on the unbelievable mozarella in the caprese salad. I ordered the gnocchi with flame roasted octopus and baby olives. It was pure heaven - the gnocchi tasted like pillows of angels or something. I now know why gnocchi is so hot on Top Chef because it tastes nothing like the packaged stuff I am used to in the U.S. The place is known for lake fish, so Asif A. ordered perch with curry and rice, and I tasted it - wow! David W. shared with me smoked trout from his salad, which was similar to nova. David S. ate some of mine but did not share his duck - I did take a picture of his dish though, as it looked delicious! Robin B. had the sea bass and it definitely looked good (special of the day). The whole menu sounded good and I would definitely have returned if I stayed longer. We had leftover bread at the end of the meal so the server told me to feed it to the birds in the lake. I tossed bread for the ducks and swans, a fun way to end the meal. The setting was gorgeous and I am so glad I was able to discover this hidden gem.

I walked into a mostly empty restaurant and was told no seats outside were available. I was judged…read moreby wearing a tourist outfit and was given one of the worst seats in the restaurant as a result. As I was eating I noticed they had given a dog a chair at a table outside, to sit with his family. Nothing more to be said... save your money on far better food and service anywhere nearby. My fish was under cooked and I was given wrong silverware with my main course. Unacceptable at this price point.

Best value in Como. Great prices and the view is stupendous, right across from Bellagio. The hosts…read moreare wonderful and the restaurant is first class. We can't wait to go back.