Excellence Luxury Villas · Como
Luxury Villas and Apartments on Lake Como
Lakeside villas and apartments between the Alps and Milan, from Bellagio and Varenna to the gardens of the Tremezzina
As featured in
Villas, gardens and ferries on Italy's deepest lake
Lake Como is a long glacial lake in the foothills of the Alps, shaped like an upside-down Y. Its shores are steep and green, with terraced villages and lakeside villas whose gardens have drawn visitors since the Grand Tour. Pliny the Younger, who was born in Como, kept houses here in the first century, and people have been building handsomely beside the water ever since.
Our Como collection runs to 190+ properties. There are apartments in the old lanes of Varenna and Bellagio, villas with heated pools and their own lake access along both shores, and grand palazzi with room for the whole family.
The lake makes most sense taken village by village, so that is how this guide is arranged.
Como at a glance
- Villas and apartments
- 190+ around the lake, with up to 30 bedrooms
- Guide prices
- Typically £4,600 to £17,500 a week, from around £3,300
- Best areas
- Bellagio, Varenna and the Tremezzina in the centre; Cernobbio, Moltrasio and Torno near Como town
- Best time
- April to June and September; July and August for swimming and boating
- Getting there
- Milan Malpensa, around an hour from Como town; trains from Milan to Como and Varenna
Browse all 190+ villas in Como
Villa numbers and guide prices are updated daily from our live collection.
Rent Villa Pliniana Lake Como17 bedrooms
Villa Isola Ossuccio: Luxury Villa with Pool & Tennis Court – Como1 bedrooms
Villa Palazzo Lake Como Italy17 bedrooms
Villa Monte Argegno: Luxury 8-Bedroom Villa with Infinity Pool & Lake Views – Argegno8 bedrooms
Where the three branches meet
Bellagio sits at the tip of the headland where the lake splits into its Como and Lecco branches. That gives it water on three sides and a view in every direction. Its stepped lanes climb up from the harbour, and the gardens of Villa Melzi run along the shore just south of the village.
Varenna, across the water on the eastern shore, is smaller and grows quiet once the day boats leave. The gardens of Villa Monastero stretch along the lake and the Castello di Vezio looks down from above. Just south of the village is the Fiumelatte, often called Italy's shortest river. Car ferries link Bellagio, Varenna, Menaggio and Cadenabbia, so a house in either village puts the whole centre of the lake within easy reach.
Browse villas in Varenna
Azaleas, a headland villa and the lake's only island
The western shore from Lenno to Tremezzo is now one comune, Tremezzina, and it has two of the finest houses on the lake that you can visit. Villa Carlotta is best known for its rhododendrons and azaleas in spring. Villa del Balbianello stands on a wooded headland at Lenno and appeared in both Casino Royale and Star Wars.
Just offshore is Isola Comacina, the only island on the lake. It was sacked and burned in 1169, and today holds ruins and a single restaurant. Above Ossuccio, the chapels of the Sacro Monte climb the hillside and form part of a UNESCO World Heritage listing. The Greenway, a lakeside walk of around ten kilometres from Colonno to Griante, runs through it all.
Browse villas in Ossuccio
Silk, a funicular and the grand villas of Cernobbio
Como is a handsome working city with a marble Duomo, an old centre with arcaded streets and a long history of silk weaving. Alessandro Volta was born here, and the Tempio Voltiano on the waterfront is dedicated to him. A funicular, running since 1894, climbs to Brunate for a view up the first stretch of the lake.
North of the city on the western shore, Cernobbio is home to the Villa d'Este hotel, and Moltrasio and Laglio follow with grand villas at the water's edge. On the opposite shore, Blevio and Torno are steeper and quieter. Torno's Villa Pliniana shows how long the wealthy have been spending their summers here. Houses at this end of the lake are the quickest to reach from Milan.
Browse villas in Cernobbio
Perch, polenta and a June night of fire
The local food comes from the lake and the mountains: risotto topped with perch fillets, missoltini (shad salted and dried in the sun) and polenta from the valleys above. In spring the gardens come into flower, at their best in April and May. Summer is warm, busy and sociable. On a weekend in late June the Sagra di San Giovanni fills the water around Isola Comacina with boats, lanterns and fireworks. September and October are softer and quieter, and very good for walking. Many hotels and restaurants close for the winter. Our concierge can arrange a boat with a skipper, garden visits, restaurant tables and transfers from Milan.
Ask our conciergeFeatured villas in Como
Villa San Giorgio Varenna: Luxury 9-Bedroom Villa with Pool & Tennis Court – Varenna9 bedrooms · sleeps 20From £48,300 a week
Villa Sasso Ossuccio: Luxury 6-Bedroom Villa with Infinity Pool & Lake Views – Como6 bedrooms · sleeps 12From £47,537 a week
Villa Smeraldo Fiumelatte Varenna: Luxury 4-Bedroom Villa with Sauna & Lake Views – Varenna4 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £44,226 a week
Villa Comacina Ossuccio: Elegant 5-Bedroom Villa with Private Pool – Lake Como5 bedrooms · sleeps 10From £43,862 a week
Villa Promontorio Carate: 9-Bedroom Luxury Villa with Lake Views – Carate9 bedrooms · sleeps 18From £43,554 a week
Villa Santuario Ossuccio: Luxury 6-Bedroom Villa with Infinity Pool – Como6 bedrooms · sleeps 12From £42,945 a week
Palazzo Torno Como: Spacious 8-Bedroom Apartment with Private Pool – Lake Como8 bedrooms · sleeps 17From £39,179 a week
Villa Del Re | 6-Bedroom Villa with Private Pool in Dongo6 bedrooms · sleeps 12From £39,136 a weekWhy book your Como villa with Excellence Luxury Villas
The right house, not the nearest one
Lake Como's villages sit on steep shores that are better linked by ferry than by road, and we know which houses are a short walk from a landing stage, a good restaurant and somewhere to swim. With 190+ properties in Como, we can usually find the house that suits you rather than the one that happens to be free. Search by size, pool, location and price, or tell us what you have in mind and we will put together a shortlist.
Book direct
You book with us directly, with no booking fees. Questions about access, parking, pool heating or how far it really is to the nearest beach go to people who can find out the answer.
A concierge who knows the territory
Private boat hire with a skipper, visits to Villa Carlotta and Villa del Balbianello, lakeside restaurant reservations, a private chef, car hire and transfers from Malpensa and Linate. Our concierge team arranges all of it, leaving you free to decide which terrace to sit on.
A house for every kind of party
Couples, families with small children, three generations together or a crowd of friends celebrating a birthday: we match the house to the group, down to the number of bathrooms and whether the pool is fenced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best place to stay on Lake Como?
Bellagio and Varenna are the best choice if you want ferries, restaurants and evening walks close by. Ossuccio and the Tremezzina suit garden lovers. Cernobbio, Moltrasio and Torno are quickest to reach from Como and Milan, and Lezzeno and Nesso are quieter, with long views across the water.
When is the best time to visit Lake Como?
April to June and September are the best months, with the gardens in flower, mild weather and fewer crowds. July and August are the warmest months for swimming and boating, but also the busiest. Many hotels and restaurants close over the winter.
Do I need a car on Lake Como?
Not always. Ferries run between the main villages, and in Bellagio and Varenna most things are within walking distance. The lakeside roads are narrow and slow in summer, so a car is most useful for houses higher up the hillside or for days out to Milan and the mountains.
Can you arrange a private chef at a villa in Como?
Yes. Our concierge can arrange a private chef for a single dinner or your whole stay, along with cookery lessons, guided visits, transfers and restaurant reservations.
How much does a luxury villa in Como cost?
Across our 190+ villas in Como, weekly rates typically range from £4,600 to £17,500, with the most affordable from around £3,300 a week and the largest estates well above. Prices depend on the size of the property, its location and the season, with July and August the most expensive. These are guide prices based on current listings; each property page shows its own rates for your dates.
How do I get to Lake Como?
Milan Malpensa is around an hour from Como town by road, and Linate and Bergamo airports are also within reach. Trains run from Milan to Como and to Varenna, and ferries link the lakeside villages. Our concierge can arrange private transfers.
Are there villas in Como for large groups?
Yes. Our Como collection includes properties with up to 30 bedrooms. Tell us the size of your party and the occasion, and we will send a shortlist that suits it.
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Find your villa in Como
190+ villas and apartments around Lake Como, booked direct with our concierge on hand