Milan · VILLA & GARDEN TOURS
Every trip has one free day too few. These 15 villa & garden visits justify the slot, priced and timed so you can decide in minutes and get back to the fun part.
See Villa Balbianello, Bellagio, and Lake Como by ferry on a full-day guided tour with local insight and a small group.
“I already wrote a review on tripadvisor.com on the dayc of the trip. I sent a copy to the tour guide. The tour guide Violetta is excellent”
Cruise Lake Como to Villa Balbianello and Bellagio with a small group, expert guide, gardens, scenic boat rides, and free lunch time.
“Francesca was an amazing tour guide and we loved the experience! Everyone should know that this is strenuous exercise and you are walking about 3-4 miles up and down very steep hills to and from. You are on a ferry as well. If I had to do it over; I’d book a private boat for the trip.”
Cook pasta, gnocchi, and tiramisu above Lake Como, then visit Villa Melzi with a small group, wine, and round-trip transfer from Bellagio.
“The view was gorgeous, the chef was very friendly and made it an amazing experience. The food that we were served after the class was delicious and the presentation made it seem like we were eating at a very high class restaurant.”
See Varenna, Bellagio, Villa Balbianello, and Lake Como by Venetian water taxi, with olive oil tasting, lunch, gardens, and expert guiding.
“Outstanding experience. Pietro was a spectacular guide. He showed us every gem on Lake Como. Highly recommend!”
Hike from Varenna to Castle of Vezio, Fiumelatte, Villa Monastero, and Lake Como views with local guide Nadia.
“Nadia was an excellent and knowledgeable guide.We saw some beautiful scenery and spectacular views .Especially from the the Top of the Castle.You have to be relatively fit for the days hike ,but it was worth it.”
Review of Bellagio’s six-hour food walk and Villa Melzi visit, with local tastings, farm produce, village lanes, hills, and practical tips.
“This was our first time in Italy, and booking a food tour and Villa Balbianello tour with Elena on our first day in Bellagio was a stroke of good fortune. She was an amazing tour guide, the food was incredible, the boat ride bellisimo, Elena is as knowledgeable as she is personable. Would recommend this to anyone who wants a tour from someone who loves her job and loves food. Wear good walking shoes and an appetite, you will need them.”
Explore Bellagio by e-bike, visit Villa Melzi, and enjoy a lakeside lunch on this small-group Lake Como tour.
“The guide was very knowledgeable and helpful and kind! All the beautiful views were so amazing! Absolutely loved it!”
Explore Bellagio on foot, enjoy a hilltop lunch, and visit Villa Balbianello with a local guide on this full-day Lake Como tour.
“An incredible, local experience exploring the streets of Bellagio and passageways in the Lake Como area. Elena was incredibly personal and invited each guest to share about themselves as part of the experience. She taught us about hidden treasures on the Lake, and brought us to sample a few (pastries, lake fish, cappuccino). We absolutely loved spending our time learning more about the area and visiting the gorgeous Villa Balbienello. Highly reccomend and would be fortunate to experience another tour with Elena if we return (🤞🏻) in the future! Thank you Elena!!”
Cruise Lake Como from Bellagio to Villa Balbianello, tour its gardens and interiors with a guide, then return by ferry from Lenno.
“We met Elena in Bellagio and boarded a water taxi for a relaxing boat tour of Lake Como, that included breathtaking views of Italian villas and quaint villages and the surrounding lush mountains. Elena was quite knowledgeable about the local history, very personable, and simply charmed us. Our highlight was the tour of the Villa del Balbianello. Would highly recommend Taste & Travel Italy. We would give Elena more than 5 stars.”
Tour Villa Monastero in Varenna, stroll its Lake Como botanical garden, explore its museum, and enjoy an aperitif with a view.
Walk Como’s old center, visit Villa Olmo, and ride the Brunate funicular for lake views on a private, guide-led tour.
“The walking tour with Leonardo was exceptional! He was extremely knowledgeable and interesting to listen to. We especially like the walk to the funicular and the amazing views.”
Taste five regional wines in Bellagio with local food, then visit Villa Melzi’s gardens in this compact Lake Como outing.
“Wonderful wine and cheese/meat platter but have a few concerns. The wine cellar was lovely but I faced the restrooms so I had a poor view the entire time. The tour advertised pasta and acompliments too but the owner forgot to serve them. We felt that the tour was overpriced and we could have walked in and paid half the price.”
Cruise Lake Como by private yacht with Helena and Roberto, viewing Villa Balbianello, Como villas, film sites, waterfalls, and towns.
“Wonderful 2 hr boat ride from Como with a charming and informative couple at the helm. Hit all the highlights while making sure we were comfortable; prosecco was a nice touch.”
Walk Varenna’s lakefront, follow the Greenway of the Patriarchs, see Fiumelatte, and tour Villa Monastero in a seven-hour outing.
“You just have to visit the Castle and enjoy the views. About €5 to get in and access to everything. Fantastic panorama and little cafe. Only criticism is the climb but more importantly coming back down. Very uneven path and in the wet, lethal.”
Walk Lake Como’s Greenway, explore Isola Comacina, and tour Villa Balbianello with a local guide in a small group of 10.
“Nadia was an excellent guide! So great to connect with a local who grew up on the lake and is also well travelled! She took us on a nice scenic route away from the crowds giving us some great insight into the area. We walked a lot, learned a lot, ate lunch at a local restaurant and wrapped it all up with an amazing gelato. Highly recommend!”
Pick a roof, a refectory, a kitchen or a jetty.
