Two of Lake Como’s historic grand hotels. I stayed at Villa Serbelloni and toured Villa d’Este, and if you’re weighing the two, I’d steer you to Villa d’Este. Here’s why, and who Serbelloni is still right for.
Toured Villa d’Este · stayed at Villa Serbelloni · October 2026
Choose Villa d’Este
My pick of the two
Beautiful gardens, a villa on the lakefront, eight clay tennis courts and fantastic dining, with service that’s polished and warm. It feels lively in a good way, and it’s about an hour from Milan.
Choose Villa Serbelloni
If you love old Italian grand hotels
Very historic and beautifully maintained, with a stunning modern spa, a little speakeasy bar I loved, and the best setup on the lake for actually swimming: a pool, a beach and a floating pier to jump in from. It’s in Bellagio, which is the catch.
Side by side
How they compare
Villa d’Este
Villa Serbelloni
Where
Cernobbio, at the southern end near the town of Como
Bellagio, where the lake’s branches meet
My visit
Toured, had lunch
Stayed
The feel
Polished, warm and lively in a good way
Very historic; formal service that’s still warm
Decor
Classic, with a refresh and fewer rooms planned
Beautifully maintained, but a bit too old for my taste; the spa is the modern exception
Rooms
Recent client stays have been very positive
More than 90
Swimming
The original floating pool on the lake
Pool, beach and a floating pier into the lake; the best for swimming
Dining & drinks
Fantastic
Three dining outlets and a speakeasy cocktail bar
Tennis
Eight clay courts
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Outside the door
Cernobbio and the town of Como nearby
Bellagio, which is incredibly crowded
Getting there
About an hour by car from Milan
Car to Como, then about 30 minutes by private boat
Best for
Most travelers; tennis trips with friends
Lovers of historic hotels and art who want to be in Bellagio
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
Why I’d choose Villa d’Este
Villa d’Este won me over with its gardens, the villa on the lakefront and a fantastic lunch. Service is polished and warm, it felt more lively than Serbelloni in a good way, and 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.
Villa Serbelloni is an interesting hotel, and I’m still making up my mind about it. It’s very historic and beautifully kept, the modern spa is stunning, the speakeasy bar is a gem, and in summer it would be the best hotel on this list for swimming in the lake. But the decor is a bit too old for my taste, and the location is the bigger issue: Bellagio is incredibly crowded. I was there in October; I can’t imagine July and August.
If you love old Italian hotels and art, and Bellagio is the point of your trip, Serbelloni is a beautiful choice. Otherwise, I’d book Villa d’Este.
The detail
What to know before you choose
Should you stay in Bellagio?
Honestly, I’d steer most clients away from it. Bellagio is the lake’s most famous village, and it’s packed with day-trippers. It was crowded when I stayed in October; July and August would be a nightmare. You can visit Bellagio easily by boat from almost anywhere on the lake and come home somewhere calmer.
For swimming and the spa, Serbelloni wins
If being in the lake matters to you, Villa Serbelloni has the best setup I’ve seen on Como: a pool, a beach and a floating pier you can jump into the water from. In summer that’s a real selling point.
Its spa is the other surprise. In a hotel this historic, I didn’t expect something so modern and beautiful. It’s a genuine reason to book.
The rooms at Villa Serbelloni
Very historic and beautifully maintained: frescoed ceilings, chandeliers, damask walls and antique furniture. If you love old Italian grand hotels, this is the real thing. For my taste the decor is a bit too old, which is a big part of why I lean toward Villa d’Este. Ask for a lake-view room with a balcony.
For tennis, Villa d’Este wins
Eight clay courts make Villa d’Este the best hotel on the lake for a tennis trip. For a group of friends, pair the courts with one of the estate’s private villas.
Arriving at Villa Serbelloni
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.
Before you ask
The questions I get
Which is better, Villa d'Este or Villa Serbelloni?
For most travelers, Villa d’Este. It has beautiful gardens, eight clay courts, fantastic dining and warm, polished service, and it’s away from Bellagio’s crowds. Villa Serbelloni suits travelers who love very historic hotels and want to be in Bellagio.
Is Bellagio too crowded?
In my experience, yes. It was crowded even in October, and July and August are far busier. I usually suggest staying elsewhere and visiting Bellagio by boat.
Which Lake Como hotel is best for swimming in the lake?
Villa Serbelloni, of the hotels I’ve seen. It has a pool, a beach and a floating pier you can jump into the lake from.
Does Villa Serbelloni have a spa?
Yes, and it’s one of the hotel’s best features: a stunning, modern spa that contrasts beautifully with the historic hotel around it.
Is Villa Serbelloni formal?
The service is formal, but warm. I never felt unwelcome.
Does Villa d'Este have tennis courts?
Yes, eight clay courts. It’s the hotel I’d choose on Lake Como for a tennis trip with friends.
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.
