villa del balbianello

We were staying in Bellagio just for 2 nights, and wanted to see the sights in the central Lake Como area.So our hotel organised a 2.5hr speedboat tour of the area, past beautiful villas on the Western side of Lake Como (around Menaggio). Then we stopped at the gorgeous Villa del Balbianello for an hour, which included a guided tour. This was the highlight of our boat trip.It was really interesting to look through the Villa, and hear the history of the various owners. One of the owners was a very adventurous mountaineer, and one whole floor of the villa is dedicated to a display of artifacts, photos etc from his various expeditions ... which included to the North Pole. The Loggia which was built as a music room and library for the original owner, a Cardinal, would make a great venue for a small wedding or special occasion (apparently you can hire it out).The gardens are beautiful, very well maintained, and peaceful. It was also featured in one of the James Bond movies. Well worth a couple of hours of your time, to see how the 'other half' live ;-).It is quite hilly (if you arrive by boat like we did), but the paths should be OK for strollers. If you have mobility issues, access around the gardens might be a little difficult. There are stairs within the Villa, between the floors. I didn't notice whether there was a lift sorry.

We have traveled to the northern Italian lakes area several times and each time have visited this villa. It is a magnificent location on a small peninsula jutting out into the lake. The views are superb and the flora and fauna are great to see. We recommend taking the 20 min walk to the villa and then (for a small fee) take one of the small boats that bring you back to the town. You get a great view of the property from the boat.

This was a highlight of our Lakes trip. The grounds are perfectly maintained and the entire property is framed by amazing azure water and cruising timber boats. It's a fair walk to the entrance so take good walking shoes and water. The grounds and verandahs are better than the inside. Well worth a visit. Saw it on the latest 'Nescafe' ad with George Clooney who lives just around the corner

I LOVE THIS PLACE! If I could live here I would. We walked the trail to Villa del Balbianello and took the water taxi back to Lenno. It was beautiful. The views from anywhere you stand are amazing. It is so gorgeous that there were movies made here! It gives off this serene and relaxed feeling where you just want to keep strolling even after your feet get tired. The grounds are beautifully kept. They have 2 prices, one just for the gardens and the other for the gardens and the villa. I paid for just the gardens and I didn't even need to see anything else. If I ever find myself in Italy again I would definitely visit here AGAIN!

Drove to the villa, and you can park at the path leading up to the villa. After parking, you will enter into a park, and the path will lead you to the villa (takes about 10 mins leisure stroll). The path is inclined upwards, and for the elderly, please take it slowly. The walk is well worth it, as you get to see the surrounding water and mountains. Upon paying for the entrance, the tour timings will be informed. Meeting place for tour starts at the centre yellow building covered with vines. The tour takes about 45mins, and brings you through all the rooms of the villa (place can only be visited via tour). The gardens are free for all to roam. The guide who brought us on the tour gave us a good explanation and helped us understand and appreciate the place... and the man who owned this place - explorer Guido Monzino. His motto and life is commendable!Very fascinating experience!

No wonder anyone who visited Villa del Balbianello will instantly falls in love with such a magical and serene place. This is a place that falls into the category which one must visit before you die.

My overall experience with the villa and lake Como was great! The picturesque scenery and the tranquility set you in a happy, peaceful mood. We took the short way to the villa because the longer one was not open. The path that takes ou there is surrounded by trees and you have a view of lenno and the lake throughout your journey. The villa is absolutely stunning, very beatiful, a place you wish you could have for yourself forever. I suggest that you take a tour to see the insides of the villa, not only the gardens. The guide spoke english fluently and didn't hesitate to answer all of our questions. She also showed us a photo of how the gardeners create the distinguishing shape of the trees. Prepare for a handful of surprises while touring on the inside!

You expect Tinkerbell Fairies to glide out from the shadows or see Ewoks running from one pillar to the other. This beautiful villa nesting on a strategic point of Lake Como has been a film location for many famous productions including Star Wars, Casino Royale, The Italian Job, and many more. It is equidistant to Como Centro and Lugano in Switzerland. A favourite location for any stylish wedding it commands a premium investment for what promises to be the experience of a lifetime. I lived in Como a few years teaching English to Italian and Swiss business professionals and one of my students told me that a wedding at Villa del Balbianello costs around one hundred euros per head for a maximum booking of two hours. Now, THAT is chic!The energy of the Lake coupled with the tranquil atmosphere which is accentuated by the classico Italian views of water, earth, air and stone which is simply mesmirizing to the soul. Way after you have passed George Clooney's villa on the Lake you can view the Villa del Balbianello from a distance and comfortably take beautiful pictures of it from the left side of the Como to Bellagio ferry (battello). A must see for anyone who loves anything Italian. Andiamo!

Famous from the films "a Month by the lake", "Star Wars" and more recently "Casino Royale" it is probably the most iconic landmark of Como. Best views are by boat from the lake

The gardens and Villa itself are just beautiful. We visited on a sunny day. We walked up from Lenno and the place was reasonably quiet. We went for the ticket that included a guided tour of the Villa and also the garden area. The English tour guide was great and very informative.We visited the gardens after our tour around the villa. There are the most beautiful views of Lake Como from the garden area. We found a balcony type area overlooking the lake and it was very peaceful. My other half decided this would be the place for a wedding proposal and it was the perfect location!I recommend that anybody that goes to Lake Como visits Villa Balbianello!

Sooo glad we skipped Villa Carlotta and went straight here! The ferry boat doesnt come back for 3 hours so I thought we'd have too much time to kill but Noooo it's just the right amount of time you need to get to the property, frolic in the garden and feel great to be alive. From the ferry pier, you will need to walk a bit to where there's a water taxi service that can take you to and from the boat entrance (which I think is the only way to enter the villa)...very harry potter-ish. Otherwise, you will have to hike up a hill to get to the edge on the other side where the villa is perched. Definitely the highlight of our Lake Como (and even Italy) trip. Surreal views, the garden is gorgeous and interesting and you will never have a bad photo of it!

Well manicured gardens welcome you walking around the Villa. The Villas itself from the outside is grand and has awesome views of the lake. You can get here by car and walk a bit or park the car and take a boat euro 5 each way to the boat jetty at the foot of the gardens. Either ways you have to walk a bit. They do have a guided tour of the villa by the hour each day. But it is good to book ahead , especially during holiday seasons. We could not get to do the tour as we had a wait time of 3 hrs and were pressed for time. There are many villas around lake Como but this one is surely worth a visit.

Words cannot describe this wonderful Villa. The gardens set the Villa precipitously above the lake and superb views abound. It is only 7 euros for the garden only, but 13 euros for the guided tour and gardens is definitely worth it.

Sitting overlooking the lake from a sunny about at this villa on 1st November was pure joy. We arrived early, making the approach from the headland scenic walk along the promontory (car park, free, signed). At 10 a.m.the villa was almost deserted, so totally peaceful. Walk uphill takes about 15 mins. Entrance is reduced for National Trust members to 7 euros, a complete bargain for such a beautiful villa. This includes a guided tour of the villa which is as beautiful inside as out: amazing collection of painted glass pictures (very rare) as well as the owner's museum at the top of the villa of his explorations and expeditions to Everest and the North Pole. The gardens, famously used in Casino Royale, are small but stunningly beautiful. Arrival by boat brings you to the private landing stage. There's a small discreet gift shop, toilets, but no cafe, so that the place appears very uncommercialised. This was a perfect time of year too visit as it must be quite a different scene in the height of summer. Visit of villa took 1 hr and we spent another 2 just sitting in the sun in the gardens, so a great half day trip.

This property is indeed one of the wonders of the world -- from the gardens, to the house itself and the owners who made it the special unique one of kind place! We took the high speed ferry from Como to Lenno and then walked past Diana Van Furtensburg's villa ( the ochre colored estate) and hope on to the water taxi. It is 3.5 Euro's for a round trip to the Villa.