By Franki Hanke

Lake Como, or Lago di Como, is one of northern Italy’s most stunning landscapes with water and mountain views alike, but it’s spread out across the natural landscape of the lake and the Alps, so staying in the right place can save you a lot of time and headaches. As a place renowned for luxury, Lake Como is the place to splurge on one of the best hotels.

But before you can look for a specific hotel or villa, you’ll need to choose which city you’d like to stay in. It can be difficult to travel between cities as you often have to cross Lake Como itself to go between. When picking your lodging, consider what kind of trip you’d like to have:

→ Will you go between towns often to see everything or will you spend more time at your lodging itself with your traveling companions?

→ How do you prioritize atmosphere and comfort compared with access to sights, dining, or other travelers? 

→ When are you visiting? 

If you’re planning to spend more time enjoying the amazing views, atmosphere, and company at your lodging itself, find someplace with amenities and space to enjoy. If you’d like to do more sightseeing, prioritize one of the cities with some of your top choices and plan to travel to the others. Stay closer to transport options if you do plan to travel across the lake. 

The colder months are less busy, and some of the smaller towns across Lombardy may be less lively. 

Eastern Shore Near Switzerland

Como

The largest town on the lake, Como, is your best base if you’re aiming to “see it all” during your visit. Many of the iconic Como spots are in, or near, the city itself including the funicular. Como has access to train, boat, and ferry transport for getting to other locales or catching a boat tour. 

DBH’s Boutique Hotel Lake Como

To stay in the center of Como with a few-minute walk to the shops and cafes of the city, stay in this DBH property. Choose a range of room sizes up to a two-bedroom suite which includes soundproofing and air conditioning for uninterrupted sleep even in the busiest summer season. Many suites have private balconies, perfect for a morning coffee and people-watching. This property is within walking distance of a train station and only 50 KM from Milan’s airport, so you’ll have access to a number of sights from here. 

Cernobbio

Cernobbio, Blevio, Brunate, and Bartolomeo are all close, neighboring towns to Como. 

Villa d’Este

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Set within 25 acres of landscaping, Lake Como is a verdant property originally owned as a summer residence for Cardinal Tolomeo Gallio (back in 1568). The luxury hotel building itself showcases the Baroque style. You could spend your entire time in Italy on the grounds of Villa d’Este and you’d likely go home happy with a golf club, tennis court, gymnasium, and lakeside swimming pool to explore within the sightline of Lake Como’s scenery. For a bit more exploration, look through their offered experiences for an easy time finding excursions. 

Villa d’Este is nearby to Moltrasio, on the same side of the lake as Tremezzo and Menaggio. It’s a popular, smaller village if you’d like to explore more with minimal distance traveled. 

“Romance on the Lake” Villa

With seven bedrooms and staff including a butler and private chef, this stunning villa offers a chance to envision a life of luxury on the lake. Your rental includes a complimentary boat, so you can do all of your lakefront sightseeing and water sports from here. 

Pognana Lario

Villa Lario

With only 18 suites and a comparably removed location, Villa Lario is a world all its own. The property’s suites are split over four buildings including a 19th-century classical villa and an independent Garden Suite within the historic gardens. Compared to other villas on the lake, the interiors at Villa Lario are modern. When you stay, see seamless lake views from their infinity pool. 

Lake Como Center

Compared to Lecco or Como, Varenna, Bellagio, Menaggio, and Tremezzo are smaller, but full of historic sights. Bellagio tends to be a bit busier due to tourist popularity, but all four are worth visiting. Varenna, in particular, has vocal proponents and is home to the famous Villa Monastero. 

Bellagio

On the center point of the lake with Lezzeno, Vergonese, and Civenna, Bellagio is a very popular place to stay or visit on the lake. 

Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni

Boasting the title of Bellagio’s only 5-star hotel, Villa Serbelloni is where you stay if you’ve always longed to live inside a castle. The interiors are historic with grand, golden chandeliers to notice (when you’re not taking in the views of the lake from their private beach). 

Tremezzo (Western Shore)

Grand Hotel Tremezzo

Choose between several unique suites or splurge on their separate, stand-alone villa for a truly unique stay. Several suites offer lake-view balconies and hot tubs for warm soaks after a day outside. Their property has a private beach and three pools each in a uniquely great location from floating on the lake to within their floral garden. 

Menaggio

Grand Hotel Victoria

One of the newest, notable properties on the lake, Grand Hotel Victoria is a 19th-century neoclassic property at the center point of the lake. You’ll see some of the best panoramic views from the corner positioning on the lake, plus shortened access to other towns. 

Lecco

Villa Confalonieri  

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Large enough to house a large traveling party, this Airbnb find is a not-so-hidden gem in one of the smaller lakeside towns. It features eight bedrooms, so several families traveling together can share the grounds. There are patio spaces and an outdoor pool for maximum time to enjoy the shore of Lake Como. The owner will arrange chef-hosted meals by Chef Maria if asked, which is highly recommended by previous renters. 

Wherever you stay, you’ll have stunning views of Lake Como with the unique context of each part of the lake’s own landscapes. It’s a getaway your camera will love in any of the best towns. 

If you’re not looking to splurge on luxury properties, there are budget-friendly options near Lake Como too. Historic villas and service-focused hotels tend to be pricier, but visiting Lake Como is possible on a low to mid-range budget too. Other Lake Como hotels like Hotel Du Lac (in various locations) offer some of the same experiences at a lower cost per night. If all you need is WiFi and a bed, you can easily find cheaper accommodations! 

Continue your Italian tour or venture off into more of Europe with the rest of our travel content including advice for visiting Paris, London, and Sicily. 

If you’re holding your breath hoping for a George Clooney sighting during your visit, I wish you luck!

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