Discover What’s New Around Lake Como This Summer

Grand Hotel Tremezzo

The first purpose-built hotel on the lake, Grand Hotel Tremezzo resembles a Wes Anderson fantasy with its perfectly symmetrical butter-yellow art nouveau facade. A “see and be seen” spot for Como regulars for decades (its largest suite is named after longtime fan, Greta Garbo), the hotel is celebrating its 115th birthday in style this year. Its grandiose interiors span 80 guest rooms and suites, which contrast the more contemporary design of the pool terraces at the back of the property. Splashes of bold orange—from awnings and parasols to menus and stationary—evokes the refreshing Aperol Spritzes served at any of its six bars and restaurants. Further up the lake than most of the other hotels, Grand Hotel Tremezzo is located next to Villa Carlota and its famed botanical gardens, and is a short ferry ride from popular Bellagio on the opposite shore.

This year, the hotel is introducing a new restaurant concept in partnership with Milanese culinary hotspot Giacomo Milano right on the water. A seafood-oriented menu that includes king crab, lobster, sea bream, snapper, and more is available at Da Giacomo al Lago for lunch and dinner at the lido-style beach club, which overlooks the hotel’s “water on water” swimming pool and enjoys panoramic views across the lake.

Grand Hotel Tremezzo also collaborated with Gualtiero Marchesi, “the maestro of Italian cuisine,” to update its La Terrazza fine-dining restaurant and build an entirely new kitchen for his  chefs to realize their works of art. Also overlooking the water, though from a loftier vantage point in the main hotel building, the restaurant is an ideal spot to revel in this elegant setting.

Passalacqua

Owned by the same family as Grand Hotel Tremezzo, the De Santises, this stunning 18th-century villa and estate with terraced gardens that cascade down to the water’s edge clinched the top spot on the World’s 50 Best Hotels list for 2023—just a year after opening—for good reason. Although it slipped just one place this year, there’s been no let-up in the service and attention to detail offered by Passalacqua’s staff—and there’s definitely no mistaking the “wow” factor of the villa and its ornately decorated interiors, complete with hand-blown Murano glass chandeliers.

As a newer addition to Lake Como, in the village of Moltrasio, the 24-suite hotel continues to add facilities for guests, including a spa that first opened at the start of the 2024 season. Designed by local firm VenelliKramer Architecture Studio, the wellness facilities include an 18-meter pool inside a historic greenhouse, subterranean relaxation spaces amid granite columns and ribbed vaults, and a wet area carved into the Moltrasio stone. These are connected to a series of secret tunnels that descend from the villa to the lake, which have been restored so that guests can use them to traverse the multi-level site.

New for this year: A new Chris-Craft vessel joins Passalacqua’s fleet, offering guests an unforgettable experience while touring historic towns or savoring a gourmet, chef-prepared “chic-nic” on the water. 

Villa d’Este

Hotel Villa d’Este epitomizes the old-world grandeur and glamor of Lake Como. Built in 1568 as the summer residence of Cardinal Tolomeo Gallio, it was transformed into a luxury hotel in 1873, and today the property encompasses 25 acres of gorgeous gardens that climb up the hill behind the villa, an over-lake swimming pool, five dining and drinking options, and a sporting club with membership options. The rooms, suites, and villas are elegantly appointed with vintage furniture and artworks, allowing guests to feel like they’ve stepped back in time. 

Villa d’Este is famously home to the spectacular annual vintage car show, La Concorso d’Eleganza—a prestigious event held in partnership with BMW Group that attracts auto enthusiasts from around the world. This year, it takes place May 23-25, and will include the car competition as well as live music, food, and drinks, offering a fun-filled day out whether cars are your thing or not.

Outside of that weekend, the hotel will also host a special concert by Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli on August 20, taking place in the stunning Mosaic Garden with the lake as a backdrop. The summer calendar also includes galas for July 4 and Bastille Day, and a brand-new boat, designed and customized for Villa d’Este by Tullio Abbate shipyards, has been added to the hotel’s fleet for 2025.

Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni

In Bellagio, the picturesque village occupying the peninsula where Lakes Como and Lecco meet, the 150-year-old Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni is by far the largest and most impressive hotel. The neoclassical building and waterfront gardens recall a decadent bygone era, with interiors bedecked with Murano glass, frescos, marble staircases, gilding and antiques. 

Many of the hotel’s spaces have received a refresh this year, such as the cozy Cigar Lounge and the lakeside La Goletta Restaurant, while the Drasena Sunset Bar now features new furnishings and navy-blue accents, set up for hosting live musical performances during aperitivo hour. Thirty of the 85 guest rooms have also been renovated, including several signature suites that honor legendary former guests like John F. Kennedy, Winston Churchill, Helmut Newton, and the Queen of Sweden.

But the hotel’s premier introduction this year is the Luce del Lago Spa, which debuts after five years of development. Touted as “the most expansive wellness center on Lake Como,” the oasis includes a hammam complex offering a variety of ancient traditional treatments, plus a private suite with a jacuzzi, a multi-sensory sauna, a relaxation lounge, and more. There’s also three heated swimming pools, a Finnish sauna, and chromotherapy showers.

Villa Làrio

Villa Làrio sits on the lake’s east shore, and with just 18 suites split between four buildings, offers a slower and more intimate atmosphere than many of the other Lake Como properties. 

The main Palazzo building was restored in 2020, and features spacious reception and lounge areas for relaxing both indoors and out. Nearby Villa Bianca hosts the restaurant that spills into the gardens, as well as a couple of suites upstairs, while the Pavilion and Garden Suite buildings house independent accommodations for larger groups. The hotel’s private pier acts as a launch pad for water sports, while a deck suspended from the adjacent cliffside is a perfect spot to watch the sunset with a cocktail.

The villa is welcoming West Village favorite Bar Pisellino for a pop-up that will offer a weekly aperitivo experience, featuring a curated selection of the bar’s signature cocktails and light bites. Drink highlights from the menu include the Il Palazzo Negroni, Garibaldino, Sgroppino, and a special tequila and soda, while seasonal dishes will “blend New York’s culinary edge with the soul of Italian cuisine.” Running from May 14 to August 27, this partnership works both ways, so expect to see Villa Làrio make its mark in Pisellino’s New York space, too.

Il Sereno

Designed through and through by Milan-based star designer and Galerie Creative Mind Patricia Urquiola, Il Sereno is a fresh, contemporary alternative to the lake’s historic properties,  filled with furniture from Italian brands including Cassina, Moroso, and B&B Italia. The first new hotel to be built on Lake Como in decades, the five-star property is located in Torno on the eastern shore, and boasts another example of the highly desirable swimming pool that extends out past the shoreline.

Later in 2025, the hotel will introduce the Listening Suite, a soundproof space outfitted with rare 1940s audio equipment, bespoke walnut furnishings, and a curated vinyl collection from owner Luis Contreras. With private water access, this space can be booked by overnight guests or hired out for events. Over at Il Sereno’s restaurant, Al Lago, executive chef Raffaele Lenzi is also debuting a vegetable-forward menu featuring takes on classic dishes, while a series of exclusive culinary events with Michelin-starred chef Carlo Cracco kicked off on March 29 and runs throughout the season.

More News & Places to Visit

Amongst the other top luxury hotels, the Mandarin Oriental Lago di Como is renovating its CO.MO lounge and bar, although the big reveal isn’t happening until May. Meanwhile, if you’re exploring around the lake by either road or water (the latter is highly recommended), be sure to visit Villa del Balbianello—the stunning 18th-century property where movies like Star Wars: Episode II and Casino Royale were filmed. The villa’s eccentrically decorated interiors and meticulously manicured grounds are open to visitors throughout the season, and the variety of guided tours available include an After Hours option to avoid the inevitable summer crowds.

And for those looking for something a little different, consider a visit to a beautifully restored house boat moored on the lakeside at Ossuccio. Named La Velarca, the vessel was designed in 1959 by Milan-based Studio BBPR—the same firm behind the city’s iconic Torre Velasca—for the Norsa family as a floating summer home for entertaining friends. In 2011, the family donated the boat to FAI, Italy’s historic preservation society, and it has finally been restored for visitors to explore. La Velarca began welcoming the public on deck in September 2024, so this is its first official summer season.