Urban Emotions Boat Tour on Lake Como: 75-Minute Shared Venetian Taxi Boat from Como
Quick answer
The Urban Emotions boat tour costs from $55 (€49) for 75 minutes to 2 hours, with a hostess, audio guide and a minimum of five people to sail.
I'd book it as the cheapest villa cruise from Como; it rates 4.6/5 from 428 reviews on GetYourGuide, and 15 of the 75 minutes are boarding.
The urban emotions boat tour from Urban Emotions is a shared sightseeing cruise on a Venetian wooden taxi boat that leaves from the Como waterfront. It costs $55 per person, about €49 at the 2026-10-16 rate, for up to 10 guests with a captain and an English-speaking hostess.
The detail that changes the decision is the clock. The listing splits the 75 minutes into 60 minutes on the water and 15 for boarding and disembarking, and it adds that late arrivals are not let on and not refunded. One reviewer said the trip ran shorter than advertised, so count the real cruise as an hour.
I have not been on board. Everything below comes from the listing, its reviews and the sources linked inline. Compare it with the other cruises in my Lake Como boat tours guide.
| Operator | Urban Emotions (staff wear Gimbus uniforms at the meeting point) |
|---|---|
| Boat | Venetian wooden taxi boat; no more than 10 guests |
| Price | From $55 per person (about €49); the price varies by passenger numbers, start time and day |
| Duration | 75 minutes to 2 hours; 75 minutes = 60 minutes cruising plus 15 minutes boarding |
| Minimum group | Departs once five people have booked |
| Meeting point | Gimbus Experience Point by the quay, Via Fratelli Cairoli 21 (Google Maps); be there 15 minutes before |
| Route | Villa Olmo to Torno and back, passing Villa Erba, Villa d'Este, Villa Pizzo, Villa Fontanelle, Villa Oleandra, Villa Pliniana and Blevio |
| On board | Captain, hostess, audio guide in 10 languages; no toilet |
| Not allowed | Food and drinks, strollers, wheelchairs, pets, large bags |
| Cancellation | Free up to 24 hours before the start |
| Rating | 4.6/5 from 428 reviews on GetYourGuide (guide 4.7, transport 4.8, value 4.4) |
What is the Urban Emotions boat tour and what do you see?
It is a one-hour loop of the Como arm of the lake on a wooden taxi boat, with an audio guide that names the villas as you pass them.
- Boarding: you gather at the Gimbus point, then walk to the pier.
- Southern shore: Villa Olmo and Villa Geno come first on the stop list.
- Cernobbio side: Villa Erba, Villa d'Este and Villa Pizzo line the western shore.
- Torno and the far bank: Villa Oleandra, Villa Pliniana and the village of Torno.
- Return: Blevio, Villa Cagni Troubetzkoy and back to the pier.
The listing says the cruise passes the villa that reviewers link to a Hollywood actor, and the audio guide supplies the history. The hostess on board answers questions in English, per the listing.
Where does the cruise leave from?
You meet at the Gimbus point on Via Fratelli Cairoli in Como, close to the pier, 15 minutes before departure.
A staff member in a Gimbus uniform waits there, per the listing. The meeting spot has no restroom either, and parking is scarce, so the listing advises arriving in Como at least an hour early if you drive. Find the street on Via Fratelli Cairoli on Google Maps.
| From | To | Walk | Route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Como Cathedral | Villa Geno pier area | 21 min (1,577 m) | walking route |
| Como Cathedral | Villa Olmo | 27 min (2,067 m) | walking route |
The walk from the old town to the pier area takes about 21 minutes, so a coffee stop is still possible if you leave the cathedral square 45 minutes ahead. The Villa Olmo walk is optional if you want to see the first stop of the cruise from land.
What is the route, villa by villa?
The route has 14 named stops along both shores, and the farthest, Villa Oleandra, is only about 8 km from the pier in a straight line.
| Stop | Side | Distance | Maps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Villa Olmo | Southwest | 1.0 km | Villa Olmo on Google Maps |
| Villa Erba | West | 1.8 km | Villa Erba on Google Maps |
| Villa d'Este | West | 2.4 km | Villa d'Este on Google Maps |
| Villa Pizzo, Villa Fontanelle | West | 2.6 to 3.1 km | Villa Pizzo on Google Maps |
| Villa Oleandra | Northeast | 7.9 km | Villa Oleandra on Google Maps |
| Torno | East | 5.0 km | Torno on Google Maps |
| Villa Cagni Troubetzkoy | Return leg | 1.9 km | Villa Cagni Troubetzkoy on Google Maps |
The listing repeats Villa Geno twice in its stop list, which I read as the departure and return pier. Within 60 minutes, the boat cannot dwell at any villa; it passes them, and the audio guide is the way you learn which is which.
How long is it and when does it sail?
Choose 75 minutes or a longer slot at checkout; the listing does not print departure times, so pick one in the calendar.
Tours leave promptly, and the minimum of five people applies. If fewer book, I expect the operator to cancel or move you, but the listing does not say what happens, so ask the operator. The price also varies by passenger numbers, start time and day.
- Be at the Gimbus point 15 minutes before the departure time.
- Bring the e-ticket, water and sunscreen, per the listing.
- No toilet on the boat, and none at the meeting spot.
- Food and drinks are not allowed on board.
- Strollers, wheelchairs and mobility scooters are not allowed.
What is included and what is not?
The price covers the captain, a hostess, an audio guide and insurance; tips, villa entry and refreshments are not included.
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| Local captain and hostess | Included |
| Audio guide in 10 languages | Included |
| Venetian wooden taxi boat | Included |
| Liability insurance | Included |
| Villa or other entrance tickets | Not included |
| Gratuities | Optional, not included |
| Toilet | Not available |
| Food and drinks on board | Not allowed |
The listing says there are no hidden fees. For comparison, a Prosecco-included small-group option from SuBacco is on the SuBacco 2-hour page.
How does it compare with the other Como shared boats?
It is the cheapest villa cruise from Como on this site, and it carries up to 10 guests where The View's wooden boat takes 8.
| Option | Price | Time | Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Urban Emotions boat tour (this page) | $56 | 75 min - 2 h | 4.6 (428) | Up to 10 guests, audio guide, min. 5 |
| The View wooden boat | $71 | 1 - 4 h | 4.6 (538) | Up to 8 guests, Prosecco |
| SuBacco small group | $135 | 2 - 3 h | 4.5 (412) | Prosecco and villas |
| Z V SRL Milan day trip | $112 | 12 h | 4.3 (1,178) | Includes transport from Milan |
The Urban Emotions boat tour is not the right choice for private groups. For a boat to yourself, see private boat tours on Lake Como, where prices start higher.
Is the Urban Emotions boat tour worth it?
It is worth it as an hour on the water with commentary, and I would book it before a longer cruise if you are unsure about boats.
At about $34 per listed hour it sits below the $39 median, but the hourly figure flatters it because a quarter of the base duration is boarding. One reviewer called the trip overpriced, and another thought the price reasonable for a shared boat. The value rating of 4.4 is the lowest of its three scores.
My pick is this tour for an hour of villa names and a low price. If you want a drink in hand, the View's wooden boat includes Prosecco for $15 more.
€16.70 is the adult price of the public circular ticket from Como to Nesso, valid from 1 April 2026.
When is the best time to go?
May to September gives highs of 22 to 29 °C and the clearest villa views; April and October are cooler, and reviewers mention rain.
| Month | Average high | Rain days | On the water |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 9 °C | 13 | Coat on deck, wind off the water |
| Feb | 10 °C | 7 | Coat on deck, wind off the water |
| Mar | 14 °C | 13 | Light jacket for open seats |
| Apr | 18 °C | 12 | Light jacket for open seats |
| May | 22 °C | 17 | T-shirt weather, light layer |
| Jun | 29 °C | 10 | Shade and water; midday glare |
| Jul | 28 °C | 17 | Shade and water; midday glare |
| Aug | 28 °C | 14 | Shade and water; midday glare |
| Sep | 22 °C | 16 | T-shirt weather, light layer |
| Oct | 18 °C | 8 | Light jacket for open seats |
| Nov | 13 °C | 7 | Light jacket for open seats |
| Dec | 11 °C | 5 | Coat on deck, wind off the water |
| Month | Sunset | Clock |
|---|---|---|
| Apr | 20:11 | CEST |
| May | 20:49 | CEST |
| Jun | 21:17 | CEST |
| Jul | 21:12 | CEST |
| Aug | 20:34 | CEST |
| Sep | 19:37 | CEST |
| Oct | 18:40 | CEST |
One reviewer says the ride was best once the rain stopped, and the 2025 record counts 17 rain days in both May and July. Sunset in June is 21:17, so a late departure in summer still gives good light. The boat has a cover only if the operator says so; the listing does not describe one.
What do passengers say?
The 20 reviews I read are all five-star, so they give themes only; the overall rating is 4.6/5.
- Hostess and guide: by far the most common theme; reviewers name the host and call her friendly and informed.
- Small group: several say it feels more personal than big tourist boats.
- Comfort: the boat is called clean and comfortable.
- Price: mixed; one calls it overpriced, another reasonable.
- Length: the GetYourGuide summary says some travellers found it shorter than advertised.
Who should skip it?
Skip the Urban Emotions boat tour if you need a toilet, a wheelchair space, drinks on board or a private boat.
- Wheelchair users: the listing bans non-folding and electric wheelchairs.
- Parents with strollers: strollers are not allowed on board.
- Long-cruise seekers: choose the four-hour wooden boat.
- Self-drive fans: see boat rental on Lake Como.
How do you book the Urban Emotions boat tour?
The Urban Emotions boat tour costs from $55 per person (€49), free to cancel up to 24 hours before.
Check availabilityI earn a commission if you book through this link, at no extra cost to you.
- Pick a date and slot; check whether five bookings have been reached.
- Save the e-ticket and the Gimbus point address.
- Be at the meeting point 15 minutes early; late arrivals cannot board.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Urban Emotions boat tour on Lake Como?
It starts at $55 per person, about €49 at the 2026-10-16 rate. The price varies by group size, start time and day.
How long is the cruise?
75 minutes in total, of which 60 minutes are on the water and 15 are for boarding and getting off. Longer slots up to 2 hours are listed.
What boat is used?
A Venetian wooden taxi boat, with a captain and an English-speaking hostess on board.
How many people are on the boat?
The group is capped at 10 guests, and the tour runs once five people have booked.
Where do I meet the boat?
At the Gimbus Experience Point by the quay on Via Fratelli Cairoli in Como, 15 minutes before departure.
What if I am late?
Guests who arrive after check-in closes cannot join the tour and are not refunded or rescheduled.
Is there a toilet?
No. The listing says there is no bathroom on board and none at the meeting spot.
Can I bring a stroller or wheelchair?
No. Strollers, non-folding wheelchairs, electric wheelchairs and mobility scooters are not allowed.
Which languages does the audio guide cover?
Ten languages, including English, Italian, Spanish, French, German and Chinese.
Is there parking near the meeting point?
Little. The listing advises arriving in Como at least an hour before the meeting time if you drive.
Can I cancel for free?
Yes, up to 24 hours before the start for a full refund.
Sources: Listing data and reviews: GetYourGuide, product 994021 (checked 2026-10-17); Open-Meteo archive API; Frankfurter API; Nager.Date API; walking times by OSRM foot routing; Navigazione Laghi rates; Open-Meteo documentation; Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport.
