The best hotels in Lake Como

This hostel sits right in the center of Como, a short walk from the cathedral and the ferry terminal. Dorm beds are clean and the private rooms are surprisingly comfortable for the price. The common area has a lively crowd of backpackers and solo travelers most evenings. Breakfast is basic but included. The staff give genuinely useful local advice rather than tourist brochure recommendations.

Hotel Plinius sits on Via Garibaldi just steps from the Como lakefront and the ferry docks. The building is a classic early 20th century structure with small but well-kept rooms. Breakfast is served in a proper dining room and covers enough to skip lunch. The location makes it easy to hop ferries to Bellagio or Varenna without needing a taxi. Parking is tight in this part of Como so arrive by train if possible.

Lenno is one of the quieter villages on the western shore and this hotel sits right on the main square facing the lake. The rooms facing the water are worth the small premium and several have small balconies. Villa del Balbianello is a ten minute walk along the lakeside path, which is a major convenience. The restaurant downstairs serves solid local fish dishes without inflated tourist pricing. Service is family-run and unhurried.

This small hotel in Varenna occupies a building right on the water, with some rooms looking directly across the lake toward Bellagio. Varenna is the most authentically Italian of the main Como towns and Hotel du Lac keeps that low-key character intact. The terrace restaurant is one of the better spots on the lake for a long lunch with a view. Rooms are modest in size but the location compensates entirely. The Varenna ferry stop is fifty meters from the front door.

Hotel Belvedere sits in the upper part of Bellagio, a few minutes walk above the main waterfront promenade. The views from the pool area are some of the best in town, taking in both arms of the lake simultaneously. Rooms in the main building are larger than those in the annex, so specify when booking. The garden is well maintained and feels genuinely relaxing away from the crowded ferry docks below. Bellagio gets very busy in summer so the elevated position is a real advantage.

Hotel Metropole stands directly on the Bellagio lakefront on Piazza Mazzini, one of the most photographed spots on Lake Como. The building dates to the 19th century and the interiors have been kept classically Italian without feeling dated. Lake-facing rooms are genuinely spectacular and worth the price difference over courtyard options. The bar terrace at sunset is a reliable highlight of any stay. Couples return here repeatedly, which says something about how consistently it delivers.

Tremezzo is a small lakeside town directly opposite Bellagio and Hotel Vapore is positioned on the main strada Regina right at the water. Villa Carlotta with its famous gardens is a five minute walk north along the road. The hotel restaurant has an outdoor terrace that hangs over the lake and is particularly good for dinner as the day-trippers have left. Rooms are traditionally furnished and kept in good condition. The ferry to Bellagio runs frequently from the stop just outside.

Albergo Milano is a small boutique hotel in the historic core of Varenna, tucked into the old stone streets above the lake. Many rooms have lake-facing balconies and the views across to the Bellagio promontory are hard to beat. The owner-managed service is attentive without being intrusive. The hotel restaurant is consistently rated as one of the best in Varenna for traditional Lombard cooking. It has only a handful of rooms so book well in advance for summer stays.

Villa d'Este in Cernobbio is one of the most famous hotels in Europe, occupying a 16th century cardinal's villa on the western shore of the lake. The grounds cover ten acres of formal Italian gardens running down to the water. The floating pool on the lake is genuinely unlike anything else in the region. Rooms and suites are furnished with antiques and the level of service is consistent with its legendary status. Cernobbio is just five kilometers from Como, making this an accessible base despite the seclusion.

Grand Hotel Tremezzo is a Liberty-style palace dating to 1910, positioned directly on the Tremezzo lakefront with an iconic floating pool moored at the water's edge. The hotel has three pools in total and three restaurants, including the formal La Terrazza with full lake views. Rooms are spacious by Italian hotel standards and the suites with private terraces are exceptional. The T Spa is well equipped and the staff manage the balance between grand formality and genuine warmth well. This is one of the benchmark properties on the entire lake.