The best luxury hotels on Lake Como feel less like hotels and more like invitations to someone’s very beautiful house. Terraces step down to the water, wooden boats wait at the dock, and the mountains do the decorating. Here are five addresses worth building a trip around, from a nineteenth-century grande dame to a sleek modern retreat.
Villa d’Este, Cernobbio
A Renaissance villa that became a hotel in 1873, Villa d’Este is the lake’s most storied name. Period furniture, silk and antiques fill the rooms; formal gardens run down to the shore; and a pool floats on the lake itself. Dine on the veranda restaurant for views over water and mountains. Few experiences on Como feel so complete.
Grand Hotel Tremezzo
Opened in 1910, this Art Nouveau palace faces Bellagio across the water and wears its age beautifully. There’s a floating pool, more than one other pool besides, and a spa set in the eighteenth-century Villa Emilia. Nearby Villa Carlotta and its gardens make a lovely morning outing.
Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni, Bellagio
Welcoming guests since 1873, the Serbelloni is neoclassical in spirit, with frescoed rooms, Persian carpets and Murano chandeliers. Its Mistral restaurant has held a Michelin star, as of this writing. Step outside and you’re in the heart of Bellagio, where lanes of stone steps lead to boutiques and cafes.
Passalacqua, Moltrasio
An eighteenth-century villa with only about two dozen suites, Passalacqua feels like a private residence. Terraced gardens climb the hillside, and the kitchen draws on the property’s own vegetable garden for traditional Italian cooking. Choose it for stillness.
Il Sereno, Torno
Designed by Patricia Urquiola, Il Sereno is the modern counterpoint, with clean lines, natural materials and suites that look straight onto the lake. An infinity pool seems to melt into the water, and the Berton al Lago restaurant has been recognized with a Michelin star, as of this writing.
Planning a stay on Lake Como
Ferries link Como, Cernobbio, Bellagio, Varenna and the western shore, and a private boat turns any day into an adventure. Ask your hotel to arrange a visit to Villa del Balbianello, the promontory villa near Lenno that appears in so many photographs. Spring and early autumn bring soft light and a gentler pace.
If Italy’s lakes have you dreaming of the coast, our notes from the Amalfi Coast pair nicely with a Como week. For the table, there’s Modena and Alba, a short journey south and west.
