The Best Hotels on Lake Como: Where to Stay Around the Lake
Our Favourite Picks From Cernobbio to Bellagio, Varenna to Menaggio
Lake Como is one of those places that genuinely looks like it did in your imagination before you arrived. The water is that color. The mountains are that close. The villas really are that grand. It also happens to be one of the most visited places in Northern Italy, which means the hotel decision matters more here than almost anywhere else. The right base gives you the lake on your doorstep, ferry access to the villages and sunsets that require no filter. The wrong base means you spend the trip in traffic or waiting for a water taxi that never comes.
We have stayed at Hotel Villa Flori on the Como shore and in Airbnbs across the lake, and that combination of experiences tells you a lot about what this place offers at different price points. Villa Flori had stunning lake views and the kind of setting that makes you feel like you understand why people have been coming here for centuries. The Airbnbs gave us the flexibility to stay in smaller villages and wake up with the lake entirely to ourselves in the morning. Both approaches work brilliantly for different kinds of trips.
Here are the best hotels on Lake Como across every budget, from iconic grand properties to smaller lakeside stays in the villages the day-trippers never reach.
Where to Stay on Lake Como:
| Como City. The largest town on the lake and the most practical base for transport, restaurants and day trips. Direct trains from Milan in 30 minutes. The cathedral, the silk boutiques and the ferry terminal are all here. Slightly less scenic than the smaller villages but the best value and the easiest entry point to the lake. Bellagio. The most famous village on the lake and for good reason. Sitting on the promontory where the two branches of the lake meet, with views in three directions and an old town that has been beautifully preserved. High summer is extremely busy. Arriving by ferry rather than road avoids the worst of the traffic. Varenna. Our personal favourite for a quieter Lake Como experience. A genuinely beautiful small village on the eastern shore with fewer tourists than Bellagio and arguably better views. The ferry connections to Bellagio and Menaggio run regularly. Best for travellers who want the lake rather than the crowds. Menaggio. A relaxed town on the western shore with good ferry connections and a more local feel than Bellagio. Strong hotel options at slightly lower prices. Excellent for walkers, with trail access into the mountains directly from the town. Cernobbio and Tremezzo. The most exclusive addresses on the lake, where the legendary grand hotels sit. Villa d’Este is in Cernobbio. Grand Hotel Tremezzo is in Tremezzo. Both towns are quieter than Bellagio but the ferry network keeps the whole lake accessible. |
| A Note on Airbnbs at Lake Como Airbnbs are genuinely excellent on Lake Como, particularly for longer stays or groups. We have used them across the lake and the best ones give you private lake access, a terrace with uninterrupted water views and the flexibility to self-cater with produce from the local markets. The villages of Varenna, Lenno and Menaggio have some of the best options. Book early as the top properties go quickly, and prioritise places with direct lake views or garden access over interior apartments. |
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission if you book through our links, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend hotels we’d stay at ourselves.
Luxury Hotels on Lake Como
The grand properties that define what Lake Como looks like in your imagination. Worth every euro for a special occasion stay.
Grand Hotel Tremezzo
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Location: Tremezzo, western shore, directly on the lake
Why Stay Here: One of the most photographed hotels in Italy and absolutely worthy of the attention. The Grand Hotel Tremezzo sits directly on the lake in Tremezzo with an Art Nouveau facade, three pools including a floating lake pool, and views across to Bellagio that you will not forget. The T Grill restaurant is exceptional. The gardens run directly down to the water. The ferry stops directly in front of the hotel, putting every village on the lake within easy reach. For a Lake Como stay that delivers every cliche of the place done at the very highest level, this is it.
Price Range: $$$$-$$$$$
Mandarin Oriental Lake Como
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Location: Blevio, Como shore, north of the city
Why Stay Here: The newest of the great Lake Como luxury properties and arguably the most beautifully designed. The Mandarin Oriental occupies a 19th-century villa on the Como shore at Blevio with direct lake access, a stunning spa and the kind of contemporary design approach that complements the landscape rather than competing with it. The restaurant is exceptional. The private dock and boat excursions make the whole lake accessible. For a luxury Lake Como stay that feels genuinely contemporary rather than historically frozen, this is the finest option currently on the water.
Price Range: $$$$-$$$$$
Il Sereno
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Location: Torno, Como shore
Why Stay Here: The most design-forward hotel on the lake, sitting on the Como shore at Torno with an aesthetic built around clean lines, natural materials and floor-to-ceiling lake views from virtually every room. The Patricia Urquiola-designed interiors are among the most considered of any Italian hotel. The rooftop bar looks out over the water in a direction that catches the evening light perfectly. The restaurant is outstanding. For design-focused travellers who want a genuinely contemporary luxury experience rather than a historic grand hotel, Il Sereno is the answer on Lake Como.
Price Range: $$$$-$$$$$
Boutique and Lake View Hotels on Lake Como
For travellers who want the lake on their doorstep, strong character and an experience that feels personal rather than palatial.
Hotel Villa Flori
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Location: Como shore, between Como city and Cernobbio
Why Stay Here: We stayed at Hotel Villa Flori and the lake views were genuinely stunning. The hotel sits on the Como shore in a 19th-century villa surrounded by terraced gardens running down to the water. The setting is exactly what you picture when you imagine Lake Como: a beautiful old building, the water directly below and the mountains on the far shore filling the horizon. The rooms are comfortable and well-appointed. The terrace is the real reason to be here, particularly in the evening when the light on the water changes everything. The proximity to Como city gives you easy access to the ferry network, the train to Milan and the restaurants and shops of the town itself. A classic Lake Como stay at a price that makes it genuinely accessible.
Price Range: $$$
Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Location: Bellagio, on the promontory
Why Stay Here: The grandest address in Bellagio and one of the oldest hotels on the lake, dating from 1873 and sitting directly on the promontory with views over both branches of the lake simultaneously. The pool garden and the lakeside terraces are extraordinary. The service is traditional grand hotel in the best possible sense. The Bellagio location means the village is immediately outside the door, with the ferry terminal a short walk away. For a Bellagio stay at the highest level, this is the address.
Price Range: $$$$
Hotel du Lac Varenna
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Location: Varenna, eastern shore, directly on the water
Why Stay Here: The most romantic hotel position on the lake. Hotel du Lac sits at the water’s edge in Varenna with a terrace that extends literally over the lake, the kind of table-on-the-water setting that appears in every Lake Como photograph ever taken. The village of Varenna is one of the most beautiful on the eastern shore, quieter and more genuinely Italian than Bellagio and with ferry connections that put the whole lake within reach. The rooms are warm and well-maintained. This is our recommendation every time someone asks where to stay for a romantic Lake Como trip.
Price Range: $$$
Grand Hotel Victoria Menaggio
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Location: Menaggio, western shore
Why Stay Here: A beautifully restored 19th-century hotel in Menaggio with pool, gardens and direct lake access. The Victoria manages to feel genuinely grand without the corresponding price tag of the great Cernobbio and Tremezzo properties. The Menaggio location gives you a calmer, more residential feel than Bellagio while keeping you perfectly connected by ferry to the rest of the lake. The restaurant and terrace are excellent for evening dining. For a classic Lake Como stay at a realistic price, Grand Hotel Victoria is one of the best choices on the western shore.
Price Range: $$$
Hotels in Bellagio, Varenna and the Lake Villages
For the villages rather than the grand hotels. Ferries, cobbled streets, the lake in every direction and the Como that visitors come back to.
Hotel Royal Victoria Varenna
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Location: Varenna, eastern shore
Why Stay Here: A classic lakefront hotel in Varenna with pool, terraced gardens and the same extraordinary water views that make this village one of the most photographed on the lake. Varenna is quieter than Bellagio by a significant margin and the Royal Victoria captures that quality without sacrificing access to the rest of the lake. The ferry to Bellagio, Menaggio and Como runs regularly from just outside. An excellent four-star choice for a less crowded Lake Como experience.
Price Range: $$$
Barchetta Excelsior Como
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Location: Como city, directly on the lakefront
Why Stay Here: The most central Como city hotel and the one with the best lakefront position in town. The Barchetta Excelsior sits directly on the water in Como with views across the lake and easy access to the ferry terminal, the cathedral and the Como shopping streets. For travellers who want to be in Como itself rather than the villages, this is the standout lakefront address. The restaurant terrace over the water is one of the best spots in the city for dinner.
Price Range: $$$
Hotel Belvedere Bellagio
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Location: Bellagio, walking distance from the ferry
Why Stay Here: A well-run, family-owned hotel that has been welcoming guests in Bellagio for generations. The Belvedere sits above the village with a pool, a terrace with lake views and rooms that are comfortable and maintained with genuine care. The price is significantly more accessible than the grand Bellagio properties while keeping you within easy walking distance of everything the village offers. The family atmosphere and the honest value make this one of the most consistently recommended mid-range Bellagio stays.
Price Range: $$
Hotel Lenno
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Location: Lenno, western shore near Villa Balbianello
Why Stay Here: Lenno sits on the western shore close to Villa Balbianello, one of the most beautiful historic villas on the lake, and Hotel Lenno gives you direct access to this stretch of the Como that most visitors never reach. The hotel is small, simple and personal. The terrace has lake views. The village is quiet and genuinely local in the way that Bellagio has not been for a long time. For a slower, more contemplative Lake Como experience that puts you near some of the best lake walking and boat access to the quieter western villages, this is an underrated choice.
Price Range: $$
Great Value Stays on Lake Como
Lake Como does not have to be a once-in-a-decade splurge. These options deliver the lake at a price that lets you come back more often.
Hotel la Darsena
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Location: Menaggio area, western shore
Why Stay Here: A simple, well-run lakeside property on the western shore with direct water access and the kind of unpretentious Italian hospitality that makes a Lake Como stay feel relaxed rather than performative. The location is practical for ferry access to Bellagio and Varenna. The rooms are clean and comfortable without the design ambitions of the pricier properties. For a straightforward, honest Lake Como base at a price that makes a longer stay viable, Hotel la Darsena delivers exactly what it promises.
Price Range: $-$$
Ostello Bello Lake Como
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Location: Como city, near the train station
Why Stay Here: The best budget accommodation on the lake and one of the most sociable. Ostello Bello has become a respected brand across northern Italy for delivering exceptionally well-designed hostel accommodation with private room options, excellent common areas and a genuinely welcoming atmosphere. The Como location puts you directly at the start of the ferry network with the train to Milan 30 minutes away. For solo travellers, couples on a tight budget or anyone who wants to spend their money on ferry tickets and gelato rather than the room, this is the answer.
Price Range: $
Lake Como rewards patience and the right base in equal measure. Stay in Varenna and the mornings are yours before the ferries arrive. Stay at Villa d’Este and the lake becomes a backdrop to something genuinely extraordinary. Rent an Airbnb in Lenno and the western shore feels like a private discovery. The lake is always beautiful. The question is what version of beautiful you want it to be. Use the links above to check current availability and rates across every property on this list.
FAQ About Hotels on Lake Como
It depends on what you want. Bellagio is the most famous and the most scenic but also the busiest. Varenna is quieter, more authentically Italian and our personal preference for a romantic or slower trip. Como city is the most practical for transport, restaurants and day trips. Menaggio and the western shore villages are excellent if you want to avoid the tourist density of Bellagio entirely.
Como city is approximately 50 kilometres north of Milan, with direct trains running in around 30 to 40 minutes from Milan’s central stations. Bellagio takes longer by road or ferry but is still manageable as a day trip from Milan. For a proper lake experience, at least two nights is ideal.
Overnight every time. The day-trippers clear out by late afternoon and what remains is one of the most beautiful evenings in Italy. The morning light on the lake with nobody else around is the reason people fall in love with this place. A single night in any of the lake towns transforms it from a photo stop into something that stays with you.
Yes, genuinely. Lake Como is one of the best places in Italy for Airbnbs, particularly for groups or longer stays. The best properties give you private lake access, a garden or terrace directly on the water and a local experience that hotels cannot replicate. Book well in advance as the top properties go quickly.
Villa d’Este in Cernobbio is the most iconic. Grand Hotel Tremezzo is the most photographed and an extraordinary stay. The Mandarin Oriental is the most contemporary option. Each delivers a different version of Lake Como luxury: historic grandeur, lakefront spectacle or modern design. All three justify the price for a special occasion.
May, June, September and October give you the best combination of weather, light and manageable crowds. July and August are beautiful but extremely busy. April is quieter and increasingly warm. The lake is most beautiful in the shoulder seasons when the summer crowds thin but the water is still warm enough for swimming.
Read More About Italian Lakes
Planning More Italian and European Stays?
These guides cover the cities and destinations closest to Lake Como.
Best Hotels in Milan – Design, fashion and the gateway to the lakes
Best Hotels in Venice – Canal-side properties and where to base yourself
Best Hotels in Florence – The Duomo, Oltrarno and the best Florentine stays
Best Hotels in Rome – Our favourite neighbourhoods and walkable bases
Best Hotels in Dubrovnik – Inside the walls or near the beach