Lake Como’s two great classic hotels. Walking into Grand Hotel Tremezzo is like stepping into a Wes Anderson film; it’s fun, sceney and in the middle of the lake. Villa d’Este is the lake’s original grand estate in Cernobbio, polished, warm and livelier than its reputation.
Toured both and had lunch at each · October 2026
Choose Grand Hotel Tremezzo
If you want the middle of the lake
Like stepping into a Wes Anderson film. Tiered gardens behind the hotel with my favorite pool, five restaurants, a clay court, and lake-view junior suites with balconies. It’s fun, it suits families, and it’s busy.
Choose Villa d’Este
If you want the institution
Beautiful gardens, a villa on the lakefront, eight clay tennis courts and dining that impressed me. Service is polished and warm, and it’s the closest of the grand hotels to Como and Milan.
Side by side
How they compare
Grand Hotel Tremezzo
Villa d’Este
Where
Tremezzo, mid-lake on the west shore, facing Bellagio
Cernobbio, at the southern end near the town of Como
My visit
Toured, had lunch
Toured, had lunch
The feel
Fun and sceney; lots of people taking photos
Polished and warm; lively in a good way
Day visitors
Outside guests are welcome, and they come in droves
Welcome too, though the estate is large
Rooms
About 80, recently reworked into more suites and junior suites
Recent client stays have been very positive; I’m told they plan fewer rooms and a refresh
Room to book
A junior suite or above, with a lake view and balcony
Ask me; I’ll match the room to the trip
Pools
My favorite is up in the tiered gardens; there’s also one floating on the lake
The original floating pool on the lake
Tennis
A clay court
Eight clay courts
Dining
Five restaurants; service solid, not overly formal
Fantastic
Getting there
Car to Como, then about 30 minutes by private boat
About an hour by car from Milan
Best for
Families (mind the stairs), first trips, couples who like a buzz
Classicists, tennis trips with friends, multigenerational groups
Work with me and you get two things: Fora perks, typically a space-available upgrade, daily breakfast and a hotel credit, and someone who knows these hotels personally and personalizes your stay. Same rate as booking direct.
The question behind the question
A Wes Anderson set, or the lake’s grand estate?
Grand Hotel Tremezzo is just a fun hotel. The valets made me feel welcome the moment I arrived, there are five restaurants and lots of corners to explore, and the tiered gardens behind the hotel are stunning. Book a junior suite or above: the lake-view rooms with balconies are spacious, beautifully restored, and feel like they sit right on top of the lake. Know that it’s sceney, in an influencer, everyone-taking-photos way, and outside guests come in droves.
Villa d’Este is the classic. The gardens and the villa on the lakefront are beautiful, the dining was fantastic, and the service is polished and warm. With eight clay courts, it’s the best hotel on the lake for a tennis trip with friends, especially if you take one of the estate’s private villas.
If you want to explore the lake, choose Tremezzo. If you want the hotel to be the destination, choose Villa d’Este.
The detail
What to know before you choose
Location is the real decision
Tremezzo is in the central section of the lake, facing Bellagio, so Varenna and Villa del Balbianello are short hops by boat. Cernobbio is at the southern tip, ten minutes from the town of Como and about an hour from Milan, but further from the mid-lake villages.
Arriving at Grand Hotel Tremezzo
I usually split the journey: a private car from Milan to the water in the town of Como, then about 30 minutes by private boat to the hotel’s own dock. The road takes 45 minutes to an hour and it’s narrow and winding. Arriving by boat is faster and far more memorable, especially on a honeymoon.
Which is better with children?
Grand Hotel Tremezzo, for most families. It’s lively, there’s lots to do, and the pools are a big draw. One thing to know: the property is built into the hillside, so there are a lot of stairs. Villa d’Este suits multigenerational trips well.
The pools, honestly
Both hotels have a pool floating on the lake. Personally, I’m not a fan of floating pools: they rock with the water and can make you queasy. At Grand Hotel Tremezzo, my favorite is the pool up in the tiered gardens. If a calm, heated pool matters to you, Il Sereno’s is built on land.
The room to book at Grand Hotel Tremezzo
Garden-view rooms look out on pretty gardens and cost less. The real stars are the junior suites and above with lake views and balconies: spacious, beautifully restored, with gorgeous bathrooms, and you feel like you’re sitting right on top of the lake. The hotel recently reworked its rooms to add more suites and junior suites, which was a smart move.
For tennis: eight courts, or one beautiful one
Villa d’Este has eight clay courts, which makes it the best hotel on the lake for a tennis trip with friends, especially paired with one of the estate’s private villas.
Grand Hotel Tremezzo has a single, beautiful clay court tucked into its gardens. It’s perfect for a game or two between swims.
Before you ask
The questions I get
Which is better, Grand Hotel Tremezzo or Villa d'Este?
Grand Hotel Tremezzo is better for exploring the lake and for families, and it’s more fun and sceney. Villa d’Este is better if you want a polished grand estate close to Milan, great dining and tennis.
Is Grand Hotel Tremezzo busy?
Yes. Outside guests are welcome and they come in large numbers, and it’s a popular spot for photos. Staying there, you’ll share the public spaces with day visitors.
Which rooms are best at Grand Hotel Tremezzo?
The junior suites and above with lake views and balconies. They’re spacious, beautifully restored and have gorgeous bathrooms. Garden-view rooms look out on pretty gardens and cost less.
Does Villa d'Este have tennis courts?
Yes, eight clay courts, which makes it the best hotel on Lake Como for a tennis trip with friends.
Is Grand Hotel Tremezzo good for families?
Yes, it’s one of the most family-friendly hotels on the lake. Be aware there are a lot of stairs.
Who owns Grand Hotel Tremezzo?
The De Santis family, who also opened Passalacqua in Moltrasio.
Still deciding?
Tell me your dates and I’ll tell you which one fits. Work with me and you get Fora perks, plus someone who knows the hotels personally and personalizes your stay. Same rate as booking direct.
