Lake Como is a glacial lake in Lombardy with an area of 146 square kilometres, making it the third-largest lake in Italy after Garda and Maggiore. At over 400 metres deep it is one of the deepest lakes in Europe, and its inverted Y shape was carved by the ancient Adda glacier. The lake has been a retreat for the powerful since Roman times; its shores are dotted with historic villas and palaces, and the Sacro Monte di Ossuccio is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Grand Hotel Tremezzo
On the western shore in Tremezzina, Grand Hotel Tremezzo opened in 1910 as the project of Enea and Maria Gandola. An Art Nouveau landmark, it has been owned by the De Santis family since the 1970s and is known for its floating pool on the lake. In 2023 it reconfigured its inventory, reducing room count from 90 to 84 rooms and suites; accommodations include lake-view rooms, the Emilia and Greta Suites, and rooftop suites with terraces.
Passalacqua
In Moltrasio, Passalacqua opened as a hotel in June 2022 inside an 18th-century villa. The De Santis family acquired it in 2018 and created a 24-room property across three buildings: the Villa, the Palazz, and the Casa al Lago. It was named No.1 at the inaugural World's 50 Best Hotels awards in London in 2023, a dated result in an annual ranking, but the one that made its reputation.
Villa d'Este
In Cernobbio, Villa d'Este was built in 1568 as the summer residence of Cardinal Tolomeo Gallio and has operated as a luxury hotel since 1873. It holds 152 rooms and suites across the Cardinal Building and the Queen's Pavilion, set in a 25-acre park with its own floating pool on the lake. The Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este, a concours for classic and vintage cars, has been held near the hotel since its inauguration in 1929; since 2011 it takes place in the second half of May, co-organised by BMW Group, with the 2026 edition taking place May 15 to 17.
Getting there
Milan Malpensa is the most convenient airport for Como and the lake's western shore, about 47 kilometres from Como and roughly 85 kilometres, about 70 minutes, from Grand Hotel Tremezzo. Lugano Airport in Switzerland sits about 23 kilometres from the lake; Milan Linate and Bergamo Orio al Serio also serve the area. By rail, direct trains from Milano Centrale reach Como San Giovanni in about 40 minutes; there is no direct train from Malpensa Airport to Como, so at least one change is required. Villa d'Este is about one hour from Malpensa and Linate, and the hotel arranges transfers by car, private boat, and helicopter.
An honest note: the lake's popularity has created overtourism pressure on local infrastructure, environment, and communities, a genuine tension for any honest guide. Go in the shoulder seasons, stay on the western shore, and let the ferry timetable set the pace.
Photography: Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
