Head-to-head · Lake Como
The lake’s original grand hotel, or its newest modern one. Villa d’Este is a polished renaissance estate with a town at the gate. The EDITION is a lively 148-room hotel mid-lake with an outstanding spa and gym. Here is how I would choose.
Toured Villa d’Este, with lunch · Stayed at the EDITION · October 2026
Beautiful gardens, a villa on the lakefront, eight clay courts and a fantastic lunch. Service is polished and warm, it’s livelier than its reputation, and Cernobbio is right outside the gate.
My Villa d’Este review →A social, see-and-be-seen EDITION in Cadenabbia with an excellent spa and one of the best hotel gyms I’ve seen. Book a lake-view room on the third floor or above.
My Lake Como EDITION review →
| Villa d’Este | Lake Como EDITION | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | Cernobbio, at the southern end near the town of Como | Cadenabbia, mid-lake on the west shore, next to Grand Hotel Tremezzo |
| My visit | Toured, had lunch | Stayed |
| The style | The lake’s original grand hotel, a renaissance estate | Modern: white, neutrals, green marble and arches |
| The feel | Polished and warm; lively in a good way | Lively and social; see and be seen |
| Outside the door | Cernobbio: the best town at the door on the lake | Not much within walking distance |
| Rooms | Recent client stays have been very positive; a refresh with fewer rooms is planned | 148; book a lake view on the third floor or above |
| Pool | The original floating pool on the lake | One floating pool; a second is planned |
| Known for | Eight clay courts along the water | An excellent spa and a serious gym |
| Dining | Fantastic | Three or four expensive outlets; Grand Hotel Tremezzo next door |
| Families | Suits multigenerational groups | Good value in the two-bedroom suite |
| Getting there | About an hour by car from Milan | Car to Como, then a private boat |
| Best for | Classicists, tennis trips with friends, multigenerational groups | Younger travelers, LGBTQ+ travelers, fans of modern hotels |
Work with me and you get Fora perks, typically a space-available upgrade, daily breakfast and a hotel credit, plus someone who knows these hotels personally: I match the room to the trip at Villa d’Este, secure a lake-view room above the third floor at the EDITION, and arrange the cars and boats. Same rate as booking direct.
Villa d’Este won me over with its gardens, the villa on the lakefront and a fantastic lunch. Service is polished and warm, it’s livelier than its reputation, and recent client stays have been very positive. It has eight clay courts, and Cernobbio puts a town at your door.
The EDITION is a neat, modern hotel that isn’t for everyone, but is right for a lot of travelers. It’s lively and social, the spa and gym are outstanding, and the two-bedroom suite is good value for a family. Dining on property is limited, there’s no town at the door, and I noticed some early wear in my room.
Villa d’Este sits above the EDITION in my ranking, and for most travelers I’d book it. If you want a modern hotel with a social scene and a serious gym, choose the EDITION.
Villa d’Este is in Cernobbio, on the town side of the lake, about an hour from Milan by car. If you want restaurants and shops within walking distance, it’s the best base of the six hotels in my Lake Como ranking.
The EDITION is in Cadenabbia, next door to Grand Hotel Tremezzo, and there isn’t much else within walking distance. Bellagio is a short boat ride away, though it’s very crowded. The road up from Como is slow, so I arrange a private car to the water in Como and a private boat from there.
At the EDITION, book a lake-view room on the third floor or above. Lower floors sit above the loud casual restaurant, and non-lake-view rooms face the spa across the street or an interior courtyard; there’s no pretty garden view to fall back on, as there is at Villa d’Este. A non-lake-view booking won’t be upgraded to a lake view without a paid supplement.
At Villa d’Este, recent client stays have been very positive. 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. Ask me and I’ll match the room to your trip.
The EDITION has the best spa and gym on the lake: three saunas, a steam room and an indoor heated pool, and a gym with free weights up to 40 kilos and a squat rack. Serious lifters will be happy here. Its outdoor pool floats on the lake, and a second is planned for next season.
Villa d’Este has eight clay courts along the water, #06 on my worldwide tennis ranking. With the estate’s private villas, it’s the best place on the lake for a tennis trip with friends. Its floating pool predates the trend everyone else is chasing.
Lunch at Villa d’Este was fantastic, and the service is polished and warm without being stiff. It felt lively in a good way, and recent client stays have been very positive.
The EDITION has three or four outlets, all on the expensive side, and the casual and in-room menus are short. Lunch by the pool started slowly, then became consistently solid. At checkout, I asked for my luggage and car at 6:40 a.m. and left at 7:10, so allow extra time if you have a train or flight. For meals, Grand Hotel Tremezzo is a short walk away.
For most travelers, Villa d’Este. It’s polished and warm, the dining is fantastic, and it ranks above the EDITION in my list. The EDITION is right for younger travelers, LGBTQ+ travelers and fans of lively modern hotels.
Villa d’Este, about an hour by car. The EDITION is a long way up the lake; add about 45 minutes by road beyond the town of Como, or arrive by private boat, which is what I recommend.
Villa d’Este, with Cernobbio at the gate. The EDITION has little within walking distance beyond Grand Hotel Tremezzo next door; a boat opens up Bellagio, Varenna and the rest of the lake.
It depends on the family. Villa d’Este suits multigenerational groups. At the EDITION, the two-bedroom suite, around $5,500 a night, is good value for a family sharing one suite.
Villa d’Este, with eight clay courts. For a fitness-focused trip, the EDITION has the better gym and spa.
A lake-view room on the third floor or above at the EDITION. A standard lake-view booking can be upgraded to a lake-view loft or suite, so it’s the better starting point.
Tell me your dates and who is coming, and I will tell you which one fits and which room to ask for.
Villa d’Este review → Lake Como EDITION review → Grand Hotel Tremezzo or the EDITION → Grand Hotel Tremezzo or Villa d’Este → My Lake Como guide →