Around the Lake Rental in Como: Self-Drive Fisherman Speedboat, No Licence Briefing

Around the lake

Como Lake: boat rental without license and self-driving

★ 4.6 (667) · from $111

Check availability

Prices and timetables checked 2026-10-17. This page contains affiliate links; I earn a commission if you book.

The around the lake rental product is a private self-drive boat hire from Lungo Lario Trieste in Como, run by Around the lake. You get a Marinello Fisherman speedboat, a safety and driving briefing, a life jacket and a bottle of water, and you choose where to go. The ticket starts at $111, about €99 at the 2026-10-16 rate.

The detail that changes the decision is the fuel. The listing leaves it out of the price and says €25 an hour, about $28, is paid on the spot. Two reviewers say they were not told this before boarding, and one was asked for €50. Budget for fuel on top of the ticket.

I have not driven this boat. Everything here comes from the listing, its reviews and the sources linked inline. If you would rather have a skipper, my boat rental on Lake Como page and the Lake Como boat tours comparison cover the options.

What is the Around the lake rental and what do you get?

It is a short course in boat handling followed by a private hire: an instructor shows you the controls and Lake Como rules, then hands you the boat.

1. Briefing: the instructor explains how to operate the boat and the safety rules.
2. Boat: a Marinello Fisherman speedboat with a life jacket for passengers.
3. Your route: you steer; the listing suggests Villa d'Este, the village of Laglio and the Nesso waterfall.
4. Swim stops: you may stop where you like to swim, which is why towels and swimwear are on the bring list.
5. Return: you hand the boat back at the meeting point in Como.

Two points are not in the listing: the maximum number of passengers and the engine power. Both matter, and I would ask the operator before booking a family or a group.

Do you need a licence to drive the Around the lake boat?

The listing says no licence is needed because the operator briefs you first, and Italian rules allow unlicensed driving only below set engine limits.

The Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport states that a boating licence is required on inland waters when the engine is above 30 kW (40.8 hp) and its displacement is also above 750 cc for two-stroke engines, 1,000 cc for four-stroke outboards, 1,300 cc for four-stroke inboards or 2,000 cc for diesels. Its licence page adds that a unit can need a licence on displacement alone.

The listing does not state the engine, so I cannot confirm the boat sits under those limits. Ask the operator for the engine power and age rules in writing, and bring ID: the bring list asks for a passport or ID card.

40.8 hp (30 kW) is the engine power above which the Italian transport ministry requires a boating licence on inland waters.

Where does the rental leave from, and how do you get there?

The main meeting point is Lungo Lario Trieste 28 on Como's lakefront, and the listing says there are two meeting points depending on your option.

The listing does not name the second point. A reviewer was told by message shortly before pick-up to collect the boat in another village because a classic boat race was on near Como, so check your messages on the morning. Another said earlier meeting point information would avoid last-minute changes. Find the main point on Lungo Lario Trieste on Google Maps.

These times come from the listing's coordinates for the meeting point. The Como lakefront is flat, so the walk from the old town is easy. A reviewer also said the area where you drop the boat back off is crowded with other boats, so allow time to dock.

How far can you get in 1, 2 or 4 hours?

In one hour you stay near Como, and the villages in the highlights need more time than most people book.

Several reviewers say they booked one hour and wished for two or more. One said the engine is not powerful and that exploring half the lake needs at least four hours: about two to reach the centre and two to return. I measured the straight-line distances from the pier to the places in the listing.

Distance on the water is longer than a straight line because of the lake's shape, and the listing gives no speed. Use the table to rank places by effort. With a four-hour rental, I would plan Nesso as a one-way target and leave Bellagio for another day.

What does it cost once you add fuel?

The ticket price is only part of the bill: fuel is paid on the spot, so a three-hour rental costs the ticket plus €75.

The ticket prices for each duration are not printed on the listing; they appear at checkout, so add the matching ticket price to the fuel line. One reviewer was asked for €50 for gas, which matches two hours at the listed rate.

What is included and what is not?

The ticket includes the boat, the briefing, a life jacket and a bottle of water; fuel is the only extra the listing names.

Food is not mentioned in either list, so I would pack snacks and extra water. Reviewers describe swim stops, and the listing says you can stop where you like, so a towel matters more than a camera.

How does it compare with the other Como self-drive boats?

This is the cheapest of the self-drive rentals by ticket, and it has the highest guide rating among them.

The table shows that this rental is the only one that goes up to eight hours. The Shusciu product states 40 HP, which is the unlicensed limit in the ministry's rule, whereas this listing does not state any engine size.

Is the Around the lake rental worth it versus a skippered trip?

It is worth it if you want swimming and your own route, and a skippered cruise is better if you want commentary on the villas.

At roughly $14 per listed hour it is mid-priced, below the $39 median. Add €25 of fuel per hour and the cost is close to the shared cruises. The comparison with a guided boat is about what you do with the time: the guided options talk about villas, while here you steer and swim.

The Around the lake rental also depends on the weather. A skippered boat will say no to bad conditions for you, whereas on a self-drive boat you decide, so be conservative.

When is the best time to go?

June to September gives highs of 23 to 29 °C and long evenings, which suits swimming; April and October are possible but cool.

May and July each had 17 rain days in 2025, so check the forecast and the operator's message the day before. Sunset is 21:17 in June, so an evening rental of three hours still ends in light. In October the sun sets at 18:40, and late afternoon hires get cold on the water.

What do renters say?

The 20 reviews I read are all five-star, so they show patterns only; the overall rating is 4.7/5.

• Instructions: most mention a clear, friendly briefing, often naming the instructor.
• Ease: several say the boat was easy to drive for beginners.
• Duration: at least four say they booked one hour and wished for more.
• Fuel: three mention the surprise fuel payment.
• Logistics: one meeting point changed; one found the drop-off area crowded.

One reviewer said the engine speed is moderate. Plan routes that stay on the Como arm of the lake if you only have two hours.

Who should skip it?

Skip the Around the lake rental if you want a guide, if nobody in the group is happy to steer, or if you cannot confirm the passenger limit.

• Villa-history seekers: pick a guided cruise such as the Urban Emotions shared tour.
• Groups wanting a skipper: see private boat tours on Lake Como.
• Rough-water nervous drivers: the listing says the briefing is the training.
• Travellers without ID: the bring list asks for a passport or ID card.

How do you book the Around the lake rental?

1. Pick a duration of at least two hours and check the total covers your group.
2. Keep your phone on the day before for meeting point messages.
3. Bring ID, swimwear, a towel and cash for fuel.

Frequently asked questions

Sources: Listing data and reviews: GetYourGuide, product 620247 (checked 2026-10-17); Open-Meteo archive API; Frankfurter API; Nager.Date API; walking times by OSRM foot routing; Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, boating licence; Navigazione Laghi; Open-Meteo documentation.