Villa d'Este, Lake Como

Hotel review · Toured October 2026 · Cernobbio, Lake Como, Italy

Villa d'Este review

#06 In My Hotel Tennis Court Ranking · 25 Acres Of Renaissance Park Above The Lake

One of Lake Como’s grandest estates: beautiful gardens, eight clay courts and service that’s polished and warm.

Region
Cernobbio, Lake Como, Italy
Style
Grand renaissance estate (Fora Reserve)
Perfect for
Classicists, tennis trips with friends, multigenerational groups
My ranking
#06 in my hotel tennis court ranking
The review

Century-old courts along the water, part of one of Lake Como's grandest estates — old-world tennis at its finest.

On my tennis ranking, Villa d'Este earns its place with century-old courts along the water, part of one of Lake Como's grandest estates. On my featured page I put it more simply: clay courts in a 25-acre renaissance park above the lake — old-world tennis at its finest.

The court is a doorway into what Villa d'Este actually is: the lake's original grand hotel, a renaissance estate whose gardens, mosaics, and floating pool have defined Como luxury for generations. Passalacqua may be the celebrated newcomer, but this is the institution it gets measured against.

It's a Fora Reserve property in my partner book, and my pick on the lake for travelers who want history with their luxury — the sense that everyone from royalty to film stars swam in this same pool.

Villa d'Este, Lake Como
What stood out

The details that made the list

01
Eight clay courts along the water. Old-world tennis at its finest — #06 on my worldwide list. With eight courts and the estate’s private villas, it’s the best place on the lake for a tennis trip with friends.
02
The estate itself. Gardens, grottoes, and grandeur at a scale no modern hotel can rebuild — this is the lake's original icon.
03
The dining and the service. Lunch was fantastic, and the service is polished and warm. It felt lively in a good way, and recent client stays have been very positive.
04
The floating pool. Villa d'Este's lake-borne pool predates the trend everyone else is chasing.
Know before you book

The Fine Print, From Your Advisor

01
Grand, but not stiff. I’m told they plan to reduce the number of rooms and modernize, which will put it in the same tier as Il Sereno, Passalacqua and Grand Hotel Tremezzo. If you’re choosing between Villa d’Este and Villa Serbelloni, I’d steer you here.
02
Cernobbio is a smart base. The town side of the lake — easy access to Como city and the villa circuit by boat.
03
Compare the lake's icons before you book. Villa d'Este, Passalacqua, the Mandarin, Il Sereno, and the EDITION each fit a different couple — my Lake Como proposal shows how I frame the choice.
04
Boats and transfers, arranged. From Milan, a private car is the easiest way in, about an hour. Once you’re here, I arrange private boats for dinners across the lake, a day on the water or the move to your next hotel. I work with the best captains on Como, at fair prices.
05
Comparing Lake Como hotels? Here are my side-by-sides: Grand Hotel Tremezzo or Villa d’Este and Villa d’Este or Villa Serbelloni.
Book Villa d'Este through me

Fora perks.
And someone who knows the hotel.

Work with me and you get two things: Fora perks, and someone who knows Villa d'Este personally. As a Fora advisor, my clients receive a space-available upgrade, daily breakfast, and a hotel credit. I know the property and the team, so I personalize your stay, from the room I request to what’s arranged before you arrive, and I’m your direct line to them while you’re there. Rates are identical to booking direct.

When are you thinking?

Villa d'Este earned its place on my list. Let me match you to the right room, time it to the right season, and build the rest of the trip around it.

Traveling within the next 30 days? You’ll hear from me today.

My Tennis Court Ranking → My Sample Lake Como Proposal →

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