The grand hotels of Lake Como: the back story

About The grand hotels of Lake Como: the back story

By the ULTIMATE Lake Como Editorial Team

Editor-in-Chief: Jai Michael

Lake Como’s grand hotels began as villas: Villa d’Este at Cernobbio was built as a noble residence in the 16th century and has hosted society since 1873; Passalacqua at Moltrasio was created in the 18th century; the Grand Hotel Tremezzo fills an Art Nouveau villa facing Bellagio. A new generation has joined them: Il Sereno, designed by Patricia Urquiola, on the eastern shore at Torno, Mandarin Oriental around the neoclassical Villa Roccabruna at Blevio, and The Lake Como EDITION in a 19th-century palazzo at Cadenabbia.

Cernobbio and the first basin

Villa d’Este, at Via Regina 40, Cernobbio, has 151 rooms in the Cardinal’s Building and the Queen’s Pavilion, four villas in its park, and La Veranda, in the MICHELIN Guide. Across the water, Mandarin Oriental, Lago di Como fills the gardens of Villa Roccabruna at Blevio, with a floating outdoor pool. Il Sereno, at Torno, holds One MICHELIN Star for Al Lago in the 2026 guide. Passalacqua, at Moltrasio, was created in the 18th century as a place for friends, love and leisure, in its own words.

Tremezzina, Cadenabbia and Menaggio

The Grand Hotel Tremezzo, an Art Nouveau villa on the western shore, has three pools, a private beach and La Terrazza Gualtiero Marchesi. A few minutes north, The Lake Como EDITION opened in a 19th-century palazzo at Cadenabbia, with Cetino by Mauro Colagreco; the Grand Hotel Victoria stands on the lakefront at Menaggio.

Most lakeside hotels close for the winter: check the season on each hotel’s own site before you plan.

Bellagio and Varenna

The Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni, at the tip of the Bellagio peninsula, has the Mistral restaurant, in the 2026 MICHELIN Guide, and the Luce del Lago Spa. The Martinelli-Manoni family has run the Belvedere Bellagio since 1880. In Varenna, the Hotel Royal Victoria and the Hotel Villa Cipressi belong to R Collection.

Como town

In the walled town of Como, DBH fills restored clerical buildings facing the cathedral, and Palazzo Albricci Peregrini a 15th-century palazzo; Villa Flori stands on the lakeshore road to Cernobbio.

Our advice: choose your shore first: the western shore for the evening sun and the boats to Bellagio, the eastern shore for quiet.

Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with The grand hotels of Lake Como: the back story before you go.