Hotel tips: Our favorite 15 hotels at Lake Como

Hotels at Lake Como © Relais Villa Vittoria

Where narrow, romantic alleys lead to the water between pastel-colored facades and where sophisticated villas rest in exotic gardens, Lake Como exudes a unique charm. Historic paddle steamers as well as elegant passenger speedboats share the sometimes-sapphire blue, sometimes diamond-glittering lake surface nestled magestically between rugged, forested mountains. The shores are dotted with palm and pine trees, and in summer the oleander blossoms in many colors. A hotel — big or small, adults only or family friendly — on Lake Como places you within the best lakeside locations and promises all the important things will be taken care of, so you can enjoy your holiday uninterrupted.

Where to stay at a hotel on Lake Como? Top areas at a glance

Menaggio and Tremezzo: The luxurious western shore

© Grand Hotel Tremezzo If you’re looking to experience the very elite version of Lake Como, like many are, head straight to the western coast and towns like Menaggio and Tremezzo, where you’ll find nothing but villas, palaces, and wonderful hotels ranging from 5-star and spa to beach and small hotels. This is where much of James Bond Casino Royale was filmed, where the people watching is mostly of the celeb-class, and is also the place to be for lovers of ancients alleyways and old lakeside villages. Tremezzo is referred to as the Azalea Riviera and is most famous for being home to the amazing Villa Carlotta, bursting at the seams with elegance and comprised of neoclassic architecture and a sophisticated garden concept. A hotel in or near Tremezzo, or the nearby, cute town of Menaggio, operates as the perfect accompaniment to a stay on Como — lakeside dining, floating swimming pools, amazing Italian cuisine, and/or lavish spa centers. Santuario della Madonna del Soccorso, looming above Ossuccio, is a destination for pilgrimages and promises unparalleled views of both the 1537 chapel itself and of the surrounding natural landscape. Down the steep hill and into the perfect waters of the lake is Isola Comacina island, a once medieval settlement dotted with ancient artifacts and spellbinding in its beauty. Villa Balbianello radiates a once-in-a-lifetime kind of grandeur, situated perfectly in perhaps the prettiest corner of Lake Como.

Como, Bellagio, Lecco: Classic Italian beauty!

The towns and cities that line the triangular-shaped piece of land that juts out into Lake Como from the south near Milan are likely what comes to mind in daydreams of a perfect Italian holiday: breathtaking mountain-lake views, spacious hotel rooms with balconies jutting out over the water, panoramas of ancient structures hemmed in by luscious greenery, boat rides under the crisp sun, and really anything else you could conjure up. A hotel in Como places you at the beating heart of the area’s theater scene and café culture — two things you don’t want to miss on a trip to these parts. The iconic Romanesque, Renaissance, Gothic, rococo cupola Duomo spans back to 1396 and is an especially important iteration of late Gothic Italian architecture. Days in Como are best spent slowly, luxuriating in the sun, taking dips off sandy beaches, drinking amazing wine straight from the Lombardy region in the many luxe café and bars, and hanging out all night in your hotel restaurant right on the shore. Up on the tip of the land triangle is Bellagio, purportedly one of the most beautiful cities in Italy let alone the Lake Como region. A walkable city, this is the place to go for those seeking totally luxurious, no-worries-in-the-world kinds of vacations. Your hotel in Bellagio will most likely be beyond luxurious; book here for otherworldly views and service like never before. Last but certainly not least is the magnificent Lecco, a city tucked at the base of the Bergamo Alps and, naturally, on the shores of the brilliant Lake Como. Head to Lecco for all the glitz, glam, natural beauty, food, sights, but without the crowds.

Varenna: Sitting pretty in North Lake Como

© Tullio Hotel The untouched, natural landscapes of the Upper Lario comprise all the best of the Swiss Alps, of Italy’s ancient architecture, and the unparalleled beauty of Lake Como itself. The northern half of the lake is also primed for water sports and other outdoorsy activities, thus making it a great destination for families and the active-inclined. In pretty Varenna, just across the water from Bellagio and marking a sort of entrance to the northern section, wander skinny, cobblestone alleyways to the shore, take in the classic Italian seaside architecture – characterized by colorful facades hosting cute boutiques and bistros –, and opt for a boat ride out on the still waters. A quiet hotel up further north in Gravedona, for example, affords magical mountain-topped views, sprawling pools and saunas, and a location near the beach. Start the day in the north with a lavish breakfast at your hotel, split it with a dose of the must-try Risotto with pesce persico (local fish), and end it with something else delicious and decadent like braised wild boar paired with a Grumello red or Moscato white. To punctuate the meals, head into the lush natural surroundings for bike rides, hikes, canyoning, and water skiing.

Good to know

Getting there: Reaching Lake Como is easiest via Milan. From the Milan Malpensa Airport or the Milano Centrale Railway Station you can take a direct train quite often to Varenna, Como, Lecco, and elsewhere on the Lake. The ride is really beautiful and just around an hour. If you’re headed somewhere without train connect from Milan, you can travel by bus (in the winter) and boat (in the summer) to reach all other destinations on Lake Como.