How to Get to Villa del Balbianello: Comprehensive Guide
When I was planning my trip to Lake Como, I was surprised how there was very little information on how to get to Villa del Balbianello. Unfortunately it is not super straightforward and often can be confusing, therefore I decided to create this comprehensive guide with Google Maps to visiting Villa del Balbianello to help you plan your visit!
In this guide I will explain how to reach Villa del Balbianello from major Lake Como towns, whether you’re travelling by car or using public transportation. Additionally, I will also list the best guided tours to Villa del Balbianello.
✅ If you’re looking for a custom travel plan, find out more about my personalised itinerary service here.
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📖 Planning a trip to Lake Como? Check my Lake Como Itinerary: How to Spend 2 Days in Lake Como blog post.
About Villa del Balbianello
Villa del Balbianello is the most beautiful villa in Lake Como and a must-visit!
The villa was built at the end of the 18th century by Cardinal Angelo Maria Durini on the site of an old Franciscan Monastery. In the 19th century, after Cardinal’s death, Villa del Balbianello was inherited by his grandson Count Luigi Porro Lambertenghi.
Later, the villa was purchased by Marquis Giuseppe Arconati Visconti, who made some improvements to its gardens and the loggia. Unfortunately as the family declined, the villa was neglected.
In 1919, Villa del Balbianello was purchased by Butler Ames, an American soldier and businessman. He restored it and returned its original glory and beauty.
In 1974 Ames’s heirs gave the villa to the famous entrepreneur and explorer Guido Monzino. He decorated the villa with artefacts and souvenirs he got from his travels and expeditions.
Monzino died and donated Villa del Balbianello to FAI (Fondo per l’Ambiente Italiano).
Today, Villa del Balbianello is also used as a wedding venue and often as a filming location.
The two very famous movies were filmed in Villa del Balbianello. You can spot Villa del Balbianello in some scenes from Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones by George Lucas and Casino Royale, James Bond with Daniel Craig.
📖 Read my Villa del Balbianello & Star Wars: Visiting Filming Location blog post for more.
Where is Villa del Balbianello
Villa Balbianello is in the town of Lenno in Lake Como, in the north of the Lombardy region of Italy.
How to Get to Villa del Balbianello
To get to Villa del Balbianello, there are 2 options to choose from. The first one is to get there by car and the second is to use public transport.
I personally rented a car and it is the best and easiest way to explore Lake Como. This enabled us to visit different places in a day and take some alternative and less busy routes.
If you don’t want to rent a car and/or don’t have your own, then you can also use public transport which is very convenient if you’re based in the most popular tourist towns, such as Bellagio, Varenna or Menaggio.
✅ If you’re going to rent a car, the best is to fly to Milan Bergamo Airport because it’s closer to Lake Como, but flying to Milan Malpensa is fine too.
If you’re using public transport, then there’s a direct train line from Milan to Como or Varenna.
Now, let’s explain in detail how you can visit Villa del Balbianello from the main Lake Como towns.
Villa del Balbianello from Bellagio
If you’re based in Bellagio, you can get to Villa del Balbianello by car or public transportation.
By Public Transportation
Bellagio is the most popular and most touristy town in Lake Como. Therefore, it is also very well connected with any other location in Lake Como.
To reach Villa del Balbianello, you will have to hop on a ferry that goes from Bellagio to Lenno as shown on the map below. Total journey will be around 1h15min and the ferry goes every 40 min.
Once you get to Lenno, you will need to walk about 20 min to reach the hiking trail that leads to Villa del Balbianello. You might also find a taxi to drop you there, but it is not that reliable, so it’s better to walk.
Once you are at the hiking trail, there are 2 options to enter the ground of the villa.
First is to actually walk that trail. While official guides and sources say it’s going to take you 20-30 minutes to walk, it took me 10 minutes only!
Of course, it will really depend on your fitness condition and whether you want to stop every second to take a photo (the walk itself is pretty beautiful). Also, it is not that demanding like some people say.
The second option is to take a taxi boat close to the hiking trail. Just bear in mind that the taxi boat is pretty small and can fit only around 10 persons. It goes every 20 minutes and the ride will take about 15-20 min too. Because it doesn’t go that often and it can fit only so few people, if you’re in a rush, it might be better to walk.
💡IMPORTANT: Villa del Balbianello tickets are timed and therefore you need to be on time. You don’t want to miss your time slot, so plan to arrive there accordingly and ahead.
By Car
You will need to drive towards Como town and from there to Villa del Balbianello. It should take you around 1h30min to reach the parking. From there, follow these tips.
Parking lot (it is rather small, so ideally you’d want to come as early as possible):
Villa del Balbianello from Varenna
If you’re based in Varenna, you can get to Villa del Balbianello by car or public transportation.
By Public Transportation
From Varenna, the best is to take the same ferry that stops at Bellagio after Varenna Domaso Como.
While Google Maps might show you a ferry route to Menaggio and then to take a bus from there, the best is to catch the direct ferry. However, this line that goes from Varenna and Bellagio to Lenno runs every 40 minutes, so plan your time ahead.
After that, follow the same logic as explained in the By public transport from Bellagio.
By Car
You will need to take a ferry to Griante and then drive to the free parking lot close to the Villa del Balbianello. It should take you around 1h min to reach the parking. From there, follow these tips.
Villa del Balbianello from Menaggio
If you’re based in Menaggio, you can get to Villa del Balbianello by car or public transportation.
By Public Transportation
From Menaggio it’s very easy to reach Villa del Balbianello. Just hop on the bus C10 for 17 minutes. After that follow the tips as explained here.
By Car
It’s very easy to reach Villa del Balbianello from Menaggio as it’s only a 20 min car drive. Once you are at the parking lot, follow these steps.
Villa del Balbianello from Tremezzo
If you’re based in Tremezzo, you can get to Villa del Balbianello by car or public transportation.
By Public Transportation
Probably the easiest route is from Tremezzo because it’s the closest town to Villa del Balbianello, apart from Lenno obviously.
Just hop on the C10 bus for 6 min and then follow these tips as explained above.
By Car
It’s very easy to reach Villa del Balbianello from Tremezzo as it’s only a 10 min car drive. Once you are at the parking lot, follow these steps.
Villa del Balbianello from Como
If you’re based in Como, you can get to Villa del Balbianello by car only.
By Car
The drive from Como to Villa del Balbianello is pretty straightforward and will take less than 1 hour. Once you are at the parking lot, follow these steps.
Villa del Balbianello from Lecco
If you’re based in Lecco, you can get to Villa del Balbianello by car only.
By Car
The best is to drive towards Como and from there to Villa del Balbianello. It will take you about 1h30min. Once you are at the parking lot, follow these steps.
📖 Looking to explore more villas in Lake Como? Check my 5 Best Villas to Visit in Lake Como: Most Beautiful Spots blog post.
Villa del Balbianello Best Guided Tours
Additionally, you can also join a guided tour to Villa del Balbianello.
These are my top recommendations for you:
Villa del Balbianello Tickets FAQs
💡I’m going to get straight into this: YOU HAVE TO BUY YOUR TICKETS WELL IN ADVANCE!
Villa del Balbianello is the most famous villa in Lake Como and therefore everyone who’s visiting Lake Como wants to see it!
There are 2 kinds of tickets you can get: villa + garden or garden-only ticket.
If you want to buy a villa + garden ticket, you have to do it AT LEAST one month before! For the gardens-only AT LEAST 2 weeks in advance! Unfortunately I was late to the game and was only able to purchase garden tickets and I was visiting in May! I can imagine during the summer months, you have to be even quicker.
If you’re visiting inside the villa too, it is only possible with their guide, so there’s no avoiding it! On the contrary, you can freely explore the gardens and there’s even a store where you can get drinks and snacks. There’s no restaurant there.
There are 3 ways how you can buy the tickets for it:
- If you want to visit the interior of Villa del Balbianello + the gardens, you can only do it on the official website.
- If you want to explore the gardens only, you can get your tickets here (I prefer using GetYourGuide over the official website whenever I can because of their flexible payment and/or cancellation policies). You can also get the gardens tickets on the official website too if that is your preferred way.
- If you’re coming to Villa del Balbianello from Lecco, Bellagio, Varenna, Tremezzo, Como, or Cernobbio and you don’t have a car, then this gardens + the ferry return tickets is the best option for you.
- The only other way for visiting Villa del Balbianello if the entry tickets are sold out is to join a guided tour.
📖 Read my 9 Best Photo Spots in Lake Como: Instagrammable Places blog post.
When to Visit Villa del Balbianello + Opening times
Villa del Balbianello is NOT open all year round and NOT on every day.
The villa is open from mid-March to the end of November from 10 am to 6 pm (last entrance is at 5 pm!).
It is NOT open on Mondays and Wednesdays.
Because your tickets are timed and get sold out easily, the best months for visiting are from March to June and from September to November because of the fewer crowds. I can imagine it’s also gorgeous in the summer time, but you just have to be quick with getting your tickets.
Where to Stay near Villa del Balbianello
My top recommendation for each Lake Como town:
- Tremezzo: Grand Hotel Tremezzo
This is the most EPIC hotel you can stay in Lake Como! It is very close to Villa del Balbianello and while it’s really expensive to stay there, if you’re into luxury travel, look no further!
- Bellagio: Hotel Belvedere
Another luxury hotel, but on the more affordable side. It’s the most popular hotel in Bellagio that’s owned and run by the generations of 4 women since 1880.
- Varenna: Hotel Royal Victoria
Varenna was my favourite town in Lake Como. This hotel is the best choice in Varenna.
- Menaggio: Hotel Du Lac Menaggio
This hotel in Menaggio is pretty affordable with amazing views of Lake Como and not that far away from Villa del Balbianello.
- Lecco: View House – Lake Como
I cannot recommend it more, but only if you have a car! Otherwise, it would be tricky and not that convenient to reach other locations in Lake Como. Otherwise, it was clean, cute and with gorgeous views of Lake Como.
- Lenno: Hotel Lenno
And finally this is the closest hotel and town to Villa del Balbianello because you can literally walk there (about 30 min total). Plus, the hotel is both stunning and affordable! I’d say it’s a win-win!
📖 Check out my Top 12 Hotels in Lake Como with Beautiful Lake Como View for more.
Is Villa del Balbianello worth Visiting
Villa del Balbianello is the most popular attraction in Lake Como and it’s completely justified. I was left in awe as soon as I’ve stepped in.
While getting to Villa del Balbianello is not the easiest because it’s secluded and distant from other attractions, it is definitely worth visiting it. Don’t miss it when you’re in Lake Como and be quick to reserve your tickets!
Read my other Lake Como posts:
✅ If you’re looking for a custom travel plan, find out more about my personalised itinerary service here.
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