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The 10 Best Hotels in Lake Como, from Over-the-top Villas to Chic Resorts

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The 10 Best Hotels in Lake Como, from Over-the-top Villas to Chic Resorts

Stunningly picturesque and quietly luxurious, Lake Como is one of the most glamorous destinations in the world. Sitting at the foothills of Northern Italy’s Alps, the lake is lined with quaint, picturesque villages, offering tourists – and celebrities – some spectacular choices for where to stay. Because the destination is so sprawling, (the lake forms a giant Y shape), the dozens of hotels, resorts, and villas of Lake Como all offer something a little bit different, from total seclusion to old-fashioned grandeur.

As an Italian-American travel journalist who has lived and worked all across Italy, with beautiful stints in Lake Como and the wider Lombardy region it’s home to, I’ve explored the many facets of this destination thoroughly – from the bustling city of Como to the glitzy resort town of Bellagio – and visited a number of these villas myself. Some of these spectacular hotels have landed themselves on Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards list, like the chic, contemporary newcomer Il Sereno and the historic Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni. Other stunners feature on our It List, like the otherworldly retreat, Passalacqua.

Why I’m the Expert

Maria Yagoda is an Italian-speaking travel writer and editor who has spent much of her life living, working, and traveling in Italy, with multiple visits to the Lombardy region and Lake Como. While visiting Lake Como, she’s explored multiple villages, villas, restaurants, and attractions, so she is confident these hotels are the very best of the best in the area.

Courtesy of Grand Hotel Tremezzo


Also available to book at Kayak.com

Referred to as “that happy sunny place” by Greta Garbo in the 1932 film “Grand Hotel,” the iconic Grand Hotel Tremezzo has an exuberant Old World glamor to it that is hard to overstate (and that left me utterly speechless on a 2022 visit) – and it may just be the most iconic hotel on Lake Como. Perched lakeside just steps from the dreamy gardens of Villa Carlotta, the family-run property has dazzled travelers for over a century with immaculate service, regal interiors, and some of the lake’s dreamiest vistas.

The Art Nouveau-style villa, which has 90 rooms and a fine dining restaurant from renowned Italian chef Gualtiero Marchesi, landed on our World’s Best Awards list in 2021, 2022, and 2023. With “water limos,” a glam terrace bar, and a heavenly floating swimming pool built on the lake, there are no shortage of ways to pass the long, luxurious days at this exclusive lago retreat. Looking for another place to luxuriate? In 2020, the hotel debuted its retro-chic T Beach, a stretch of lakefront with spectacular views of the Grigne mountains.

The Details:

  • Location: Tremezzo, Italy
  • Nearby Attractions: Villa Carlotta, Villa del Balbianello
  • Accessibility: Limited wheelchair accessibility; call to inquire.
  • Rates: Starting at $1,500

Courtesy of Mandarin Oriental


Also available to book at Kayak.com

Located atop a renovated 19th-century villa in the charming village of Blevio, this elegant contemporary hotel earned recognition on our World’s Best Awards in 2022 and 2023. The resort is known for its three charming restaurants, attentive service, and an expansive, newly remodeled spa, which includes a zen garden and a holistic heat and water experience area. (A brand-new infinity pool debuted for the 2023 season.)

It’s hard to believe that this peaceful lakeside retreat is just a 10-minute drive from the city of Como and 45 minutes from Milan, making it one of the more easily accessible properties on the lake and a smart home base for exploring the area. All of its 75 rooms and suites, spread out across nine buildings, have gorgeous views overlooking the gardens or the lake, and there are two private villas for guests who are interested in complete seclusion.

The Details:

  • Location: Blevio, Italy
  • Nearby Attractions: Villa Olmo, City of Como
  • Accessibility: The property is wheelchair-accessible and has wheelchair-accessible rooms.
  • Rates: Starting at $915

Courtesy of Villa d’Este


Also available to book at Expedia.com

What We Like

  • The palatial, garden-immersed villa is the only Lake Como hotel that’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it’s very family-friendly.

Spread across two grandiose mansions, one of which dates back to the 16th century, the historic Villa d’Este has provided lakeside refuge to luxury travelers since 1873, with imperial gardens and mosaic walls that earned its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The palatial property, which landed World’s Best Awards in 2021, 2022, and 2023, features 152 rooms and suites, four private villas that sit directly on the lake, and 25 acres of lush botanical gardens that seem to erase the outside world, making it a popular choice for celebrity and royal clientele. The hotel’s elegant restaurants The Veranda and Il Platano are consistently great, and its quaint boutique sells Italian- and locally-made products like hats, bags, and glassware. The property is more family-friendly than most on Lake Como, with babysitting services and a kids’ pool, and the views from its floating swimming pool are pretty unbeatable.

The Details:

  • Location: Cernobbio, Italy
  • Nearby Attractions: Villa Olmo, City of Como
  • Accessibility: The hotel is wheelchair-accessible, with two adapted rooms that are accessible via the elevator.
  • Rates: Starting at $1,500

Ruben Ortiz / Passalacqua


Also available to book at Hotels.com

What We Like

  • This ornate, ultra-luxe boutique villa is brimming with personality, a rich history, and one of Lake Como’s most spectacular spas.

Passalacqua is the lush, vibrant sister property to the iconic Grand Hotel Tremezzo and a stylish newcomer to the Lake Como hotel scene. Sitting on land once owned by Pope Innocent XI, the villa was updated in the 18th century by Milanese architect Carlo Felice Soave for a leading noble family in nearby Como. Its latest iteration as a stunningly glamorous hotel with just 24 rooms surrounded by whimsical gardens debuted in 2022 and landed on our It List 2023.

The sublime Garden Terrace offers refined but heartfelt updates to traditional home cooking featuring produce grown on the property. With bocce courts, yoga, a vegetable garden, and immersive activities like gelato-making classes, guests have endless little discoveries to make while practicing the hotel’s dolce far niente ethos. The spectacular spa, which features the organic Tuscan skincare line Seed to Skin, leads to an underground, vaulted stone chamber excavated in the 18th century, where guests can find the sauna, steam bath, and a stone-covered path to the heated indoor pool that overlooks the gardens.

The Details:

  • Location: Moltrasio, Italy
  • Nearby Attractions: Villa Olmo, City of Como
  • Accessibility: Two wheelchair-accessible rooms and a lift in the villa.
  • Rates: Starting at $1,350

“Lake Como is one of the most beautiful places in Italy, so it’s difficult to imagine that a hotel could compete with it. But Passalacqua has done just that. A passion project for third-generation hotelier Valentina De Santis, the property is set in an opulent 1767 villa and adjoining former stable block with a storied past: originally built for a noble family, it has hosted Napoleon Bonaparte and Winston Churchill, as well as composer Vincenzo Bellini, who wrote the opera “La Sonnambula” there in 1831. Today’s visitors will experience a similarly grand welcome; there are only 24 rooms spread across the two buildings, so the atmosphere of a private estate remains intact.”

– John Wogan, Special Projects Editor

Courtesy of Vista Palazzo


Also available to book at Kayak.com

What We Like

  • It’s conveniently located in Como proper, which is a fascinating, vibrant city worth a few days of exploration.

Located in Como proper, a charming city worth a few days of exploration, this thoroughly modern and palatial hotel offers the best of both worlds: luxurious lake life and city attractions.  There are countless things to do and see just a short walk away, like Como’s magnificent Gothic Duomo and the majestic neoclassical Villa Olmo, and yet the property still feels like a serene country retreat, with all the amenities you need to unwind. (The hotel, which landed on our It List in 2019, is the only five-star luxury hotel in the city of Como.)

The convenience of its location cannot be overstated: after a long international flight, the quick 50-minute drive from Milan Malpensa International Airport to the property is the ultimate luxury, and Como is also easily accessible by train, bus, and car. For aperitivo devotees, its rooftop Infinity Bar is one of the most spectacularly scenic places to drink a spritz.

The Details:

  • Location: Como, Italy
  • Nearby Attractions: Cathedral of Como, Villa Olmo
  • Accessibility: The hotel is wheelchair-accessible and has two wheelchair-accessible rooms.
  • Rates: Starting at $1,075

Courtesy of Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni 


Also available to book at Kayak.com

It’s no wonder that weddings are big business at the magical, grandiose Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni, which is the only five-star luxury property in the charming village of Bellagio. Every night from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m., guests can take their aperitivo or digestivo in the villa’s majestic hall while jazz musicians play the grand piano. On a recent visit, I was utterly dazzled by the property’s fine dining restaurant, helmed by acclaimed chef Ettore Bocchia; the scenic dining room is a destination in its own right, with an impressive wine cellar featuring hundreds of labels, many rare and exclusive.

With striking Neoclassical and Art Nouveau design touches, and botanical gardens I chose to get lost in again and again, the villa has a fascinating 150-year history and some of the most opulent suites on Lake Como. (The hotel opened its doors in 1873, and over the decades has hosted the likes of Winston Churchill, Teddy Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, and Al Pacino.) The villa underwent extensive renovations for the 2024 season, particularly the spa.

The Details:

  • Location: Bellagio, Italy
  • Nearby Attractions: Madonna del Ghisallo, Villa del Balbianello
  • Accessibility: The hotel is equipped with elevators for those who need assistance getting to the various floors of the Villa. That said, there are certain areas of the hotel (like the beach and the Villa’s dock) that do have stairs.
  • Rates: Starting at $870

Courtesy of MUSA Lago di Como


Also available to book at Tripadvisor.com

With just 12 elegant rooms tucked away in the village of Sala Comacina – all of which have sweeping lake views – this sleek, contemporary boutique villa feels properly exclusive, without feeling stuffy. Located on Lake Como’s west shore, right across from the lake’s only island, Isola Comacina, the hotel is well-situated for easy trips to Como, Bellagio, and Menaggio. MUSA’s design elements feel subtle and serene, awash in far more neutrals and white than you usually find on the lake, which contributes to the spot’s profound sense of calm.

Highlights of the property include the lush outdoor gardens and fine dining restaurant Roteo, helmed by acclaimed chefs Rorbert Moretti and Matteo Corridori, who also oversee the entire hotel. For a more casual dining atmosphere, the excellent cocktail bar Gaia serves a bar menu of pizzas and panini on the terrace, with dramatic views of the glistening lake.

The Details:

  • Location: Sala Comacina, Italy
  • Nearby Attractions: Monte Generoso, Villa Balbianello, Villa Carlotta
  • Accessibility: Two wheelchair-accessible rooms
  • Rates: Starting at $570

Courtesy of Il Sereno Lago di Como


Also available to book at Tripadvisor.com

Dreamed up by award-winning designer Patricia Urquiola, this elegant, thoroughly modern boutique hotel on Lake Como’s east shore is just as chic as its sister property Le Sereno in St. Barths. Unlike the ornate, Neoclassical villas that Lake Como is known for, Il Sereno stands out as an ode to refined and artful minimalism, with an understated (though very upscale) sense of glamor to it. In fact, Il Sereno has set itself apart in a number of ways: the hotel was named the number one resort in Europe (and number four in the world) in our World’s Best Awards 2023.

With 40 luxe, roomy suites and a full-service spa, the property also lays claim to the only hotel restaurant in Lake Como with a Michelin star, and it recently opened Lake Como’s first-ever swim-up suite, which is 2,000 square feet and located directly on the water. For guests who want a taste of local life, Il Sereno is just a short walk from the beautiful, quaint village of Torno.

The Details:

  • Location: Torno, Italy
  • Nearby Attractions: Villa Olmo, Tempio Voltiano, Cathedral of Como
  • Accessibility: The property is wheelchair-accessible, with adapted suites and all common areas accessible by elevator.
  • Rates: Starting at $2,600

Lorenzo Pennati / Courtesy of Villa Lario


Also available to book at Tripadvisor.com

This heavenly 19th-century villa with just 18 suites is spread across four buildings, all centered around the recently renovated Il Palazzo, which boasts a gorgeous grand fireplace, mosaic floors, and large, romantic glass doors overlooking the lake. There’s a ferry stop just a 5-minute walk from the property, making it a convenient home base for exploring all of the charming towns on Lake Como. But guests may find it hard to leave: the villa sits on 2 acres of private gardens, and the infinity pool, dramatically situated between cliffs and the lake, is the perfect place to take it all in.

The lakeside Belvedere terrace serves Milan-style aperitivi and frequently hosts local musicians. The property’s private pontoon is another dreamy place to lounge, go for a swim, or wait for your private boat ride – whichever activity you choose, the hotel will prepare a picnic basket for you.

The Details:

  • Location: Pognana Lario, Italy
  • Nearby Attractions: Villa Melzi Gardens
  • Accessibility: Wheelchair-accessible, with some adapted rooms.
  • Rates: Starting at $1,000

Courtesy of Hilton


Also available to book at Kayak.com

For all of the attention that Lake Como gets, the charming city of Como itself is criminally underappreciated. Located on the southern tip of Lake Como, and wrapped in the natural beauty of rolling hills and the glimmering lake, Como is a worthy destination in its own right, with a spectacular Gothic cathedral, excellent trattorie, and lots of great shopping.

This sleek 170-room hotel, which used to be an old silk factory, is positioned just a short walk from the city center, yet it still feels peaceful and secluded (the rooftop pool and spa help with that). Grab aperitivi at the rooftop Terrazza 241 for unmatched lake-and-city views, and book dinner at one of the many great Como restaurants spotlighting traditional regional dishes, which is one of the great benefits of staying at a hotel so close to the city center. My personal favorite is Ristorante Sociale, a family-run spot by the Church of Saint Giacomo that serves the best risotto alla milanese I’ve ever had.

The Details:

  • Location: Como, Italy
  • Nearby Attractions: Villa Olmo, Como City Center
  • Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible
  • Rates: Starting at $400

Know Before You Go

Lake Como is just a quick trip from Milan

For such a serene natural retreat, Lake Como is a surprisingly quick train ride or taxi from the bustling center of Milan, which is why some people opt for a day trip, but we suggest staying longer for the full experience. Some of the villages surrounding the lake take longer to access, and require using the public ferry, bus, or a private car to get there (or a combination of all three), so make sure to research transit options before you book a hotel.

You can explore several of Lake Como’s towns via ferry

The ferry is our favorite way to explore all the charming villages that dot the shores of Lake Como. Whether your hotel is in Bellagio, Varenna, Menaggio, or another town with a ferry stop, let that be your home base as you explore other destinations around the lake. Of course, private boat tours are also an option that your hotel can help arrange.

Consider Lake Como in the off-season

While the most popular time to visit Lake Como is that sunny stretch between July and August, it’s also the period when the area is most crowded with tourists. I love visiting Como in the spring and early fall, when you can get a better sense for the rhythm of life from the people who actually live there. And, in the off-season, it’s less likely you’ll have trouble with dinner reservations or booking a hotel. (Note that most Lake Como hotels close their doors from late fall to early spring.)

How We Chose These Hotels

Maria Yagoda is an Italian-speaking travel writer and editor who has spent much of her life living, working, and traveling in Italy, with beautiful stints in the Lombardy region and Lake Como. The hotels on this list were chosen based on her personal experience and research as well as the firsthand accounts of Travel + Leisure editors and other contributors. Many of these hotels have also been voted into their respective categories in the World’s Best Awards and It List by T+L readers. All of our hotel recommendations also align with our T+L Hotel Values.

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