Lake Como is shaped like an upside-down Y, and that shape decides everything about a stay. The lake is long and narrow, the roads run along the shore, and a short distance on the map can be a long drive. So the question that matters is not simply which hotel to book. It is which part of the lake you choose and how you will arrive. This guide names some well-known hotels as places to stay, explains the airports and the options by air and water, and says what we check before a trip. It is editorial, and it is not a price list.
Choosing a shore
The lake has three arms: the south-west arm toward Como, the south-east arm toward Lecco, and the long northern stretch. For a first visit, most people look at the south-west arm and the centre of the lake, where the villages face each other across the water.
The Como end is the easiest to reach and the closest to Milan. The western shore north of the town has some of the best-known grand hotels. Bellagio sits on the point where the arms meet, with Tremezzo, Menaggio and Varenna around it. The further north you go, the quieter and more alpine the lake becomes, and the longer the arrival. If your trip is short, stay in the south or the centre. If you have a week and want to be away from other visitors, go further up.
Where to stay: a short list of names
These are places to stay, not recommendations of price or availability, and each is described as its own website and the wider press describe it. We do not represent any of them as a partner.
Villa d'Este in Cernobbio, near Como, is a lakeside hotel that opened in 1873 and stands in a large private park. Passalacqua in Moltrasio is a smaller historic villa hotel on the western shore. Grand Hotel Tremezzo, in Tremezzo, has welcomed guests since 1910 and faces Bellagio across the water; it is known for its floating pool. Mandarin Oriental, Lago di Como, in Blevio on the eastern side of the south-west arm, occupies an eighteenth-century residence. Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni in Bellagio opened in 1873 and sits in the centre of the village. These are not the only good choices on the lake, but they give a sense of the range, from a grand villa with extensive grounds to a small house with a handful of rooms.
How to choose between them: first the shore, then the style. Do you want to walk to a village for dinner, or have the hotel be the destination? Is a pool or a spa important? Do you need a boat at the door? We check availability for your dates, the room types and the policies on children, and we confirm in writing.
Arriving by air: the Milan airports
Lake Como has no commercial airport of its own, so most guests arrive through Milan. Milan Malpensa is about 48 kilometres from the city, and it is the larger international hub. Milan Linate is about 8 kilometres from the city centre and is on the Milan metro network. Both are run by SEA. Bergamo's airport is a third option, particularly for the eastern side of the lake. As a general rule, Malpensa is the best match for the south-west arm and the Como end, while Linate suits a private arrival followed by a car or boat.
Arriving by private jet
For private aircraft, SEA runs dedicated general-aviation terminals at both Milan airports, called Milano Linate Prime and Milano Malpensa Prime. Linate Prime is the nearer to the city and is the terminal most business and leisure travellers use, and Malpensa Prime is used for larger aircraft. Arrival through a private terminal means a separate check-in area and a car that meets the aircraft where the airport allows it. Our page on private jets to Milan sets out the airports and the route, and the wider private jets section explains how a quote works. For the general picture of cost and process, see our private jet charter guide.
From the terminal, the lake is a road transfer, with a helicopter onward to the lake as a further option for some travellers. Road journey time depends heavily on the time of day and the day of the week, since the roads around Milan and the lake fill up on summer weekends. We tell you the likely range for your dates and arrange the car in advance.
Arriving by train
Trains run from Milan to Como, to Lecco and to Varenna on the eastern shore. From Milan Centrale, Como is a short ride, and Varenna is about an hour. Malpensa has its own rail service to the area. A train is practical for travellers with light luggage and no fixed hotel pick-up, but most guests at the top hotels arrive by car. If you do take a train, confirm the timetable on the day, as services change.
Moving around by boat
The lake's public ferry and hydrofoil service is run by Navigazione Laghi. Its Como fleet includes four hydrofoils, and the faster services carry a supplement on top of the standard fare. The car ferry between the central points of the lake runs only at the stops marked for vehicles. Timetables change with the season, and the operator publishes notices of disruption, so check the current timetable close to travel. The public boats are the cheapest and most scenic way to cross the lake, but they run to a timetable and are not suited to heavy luggage.
Private boat transfers are the other option, for example from a hotel dock to a restaurant, or from a pier near Como to a hotel on the far shore. A private boat gets you door to door without the traffic on the shore road, and it works well for dinners on the other side of the water. We arrange them on request, and we confirm what the hotel's own boat does and does not include. Always ask about luggage, the number of passengers and the weather policy.
When to go
Spring and early autumn are the most comfortable months for walking and boat days, while high summer is the busiest and warmest period. Many lakeside hotels close for the winter, and ferry timetables thin out, so confirm opening dates if you plan to travel outside the main season. Ask each hotel for its opening dates and any works planned for next year.
Planning it with us
Tell us the dates, who is travelling, the shore you prefer and how you want to arrive, and we shape the stay around it: the hotel, the airport or terminal, the car and the boat. Message the concierge on WhatsApp to start.