The World’s Best Boutique Hotel Is A Historic Lake Como Villa With Opulent Accommodations

Where there are many excellent places to stay on Lake Como in Italy, there is one boutique hotel that stands out as the best in the world. Overlooking the legendary lakeshore, the historic Passalacqua Villa was voted the world’s best boutique hotel by the World’s 50 Best Hotels in 2025, an honor also bestowed in 2024 by hundreds of hospitality industry experts. The distinctions don’t stop there: Passalacqua was also voted best hotel in Europe in 2025.

Although Passalacqua is a relatively new hotel that opened in summer 2022, its history of hospitality dates back centuries. The villa was commissioned in the 18th century by Count Andrea Lucini-Passalacqua and has hosted famous figures such as Winston Churchill and Vincenzo Bellini. In 2018, the family that owns Lake Como’s famous Grand Hotel Tremezzo purchased the villa and transformed it into an opulent boutique hotel. Their goal was to restore the villa to its former grandeur, while retaining the privacy of a private residence. Today, Passalacqua is home to 24 rooms and suites whose interiors harmoniously combine the villa’s baroque heritage with modern fantasy and elegant polish. Outside the villa, seven acres of lush gardens stretch from its perch to the lake. As you descend the tiered grounds, you’ll discover a lakeside pool, clay tennis court, and private dock for boat tours. From here, all the treasures of Lake Como await you, from sailing around the lake in a wooden boat to strolling through Bellagio, the picturesque town known as the pearl of Lake Como.

Passalacqua is located on the western shore of Lake Como, about an hour’s drive from Milan. The best time to visit Passalacqua for lounging by the pool or taking boat trips is between June and September, and the hotel closes between January and March each year.

Read more: Unwritten rules you should know before visiting Italy

Passalacqua’s opulent and historic accommodations

Winning the “World’s Best Boutique Hotel” award two years in a row raises high expectations. However, there are few who will not be seduced by the sumptuous accommodation in Passalacqua. Each room and suite features thoughtful touches that reflect the history of Italian design and craftsmanship, such as headboards lined with curved gold edges and large travel trunks placed at the foot of the beds. The best way to experience the aristocratic elegance of Passalacqua is to stay in a suite in the main villa, featuring original painted ceilings, Murano glass chandeliers and large windows with lake views. Luxury extends to the bathrooms, clad in marble and featuring stand-alone bathtubs. The largest suite in Passalacqua is the Bellini Suite, named after the composer Vincenzo Bellini who stayed in Passalacqua in the 19th century. This sprawling 2,700-square-foot confection is centered around the villa’s original music room (evidenced by the grand piano).

Guests can also stay at the Palazz, the former stables tucked behind the main villa, or in the 1970s Casa al Lago, right on the lakeshore. According to Dorsia Travel, rooms at neighboring Palazz are private but don’t have lake views, while Casa al Lago’s four waterfront suites are ideal for guests who don’t mind the walk up to the villa. Passalacqua’s historic and romantic atmosphere may seem better for adults, but guests have reported that children of all ages are warmly welcomed.

Experience lakeside luxury at Passalacqua

According to The World’s 50 Best, Passalacqua was “designed to enjoy la dolce vita.” Stroll through layers of landscaped gardens amid rose-lined pergolas, trickling fountains, herb gardens, orchards, lily pad-studded ponds, bocce courts and outdoor seating. At the lake’s edge, a private dock extends out onto the water where Adirondack chairs beckon. Guests can spend leisurely days lounging by the property’s oval-shaped pool, just steps from a greenhouse-inspired pool bar offering drinks and snacks. Active guests can play on the hotel’s red clay tennis court, while serenity seekers can unwind in the stunning colonnaded spa with its menu of relaxing massages and facials and glass-enclosed indoor pool.

Although it’s difficult to leave the grounds of Passalacqua, there is plenty to explore outside of the property. Set off aboard a wooden “riva” boat to sail past the emblematic villas of Lake Como. While some are still private, others are open to the public, such as Villa Balbianiello, which is one of the most beautiful villas on Lake Como for art and design lovers, according to Rick Steves. You can also venture to hillside towns, like picturesque Bellagio and Varenna, and even swim in the cool mountain-fed waters. If you want to stay active on land, hike the Sentiero del Viandante, an ancient cliff-clinging path that connects waterside villages, lush forests and medieval castles.

Back in Passalacqua, delicious Italian meals await, from alfresco lunches overlooking the lake to elegant dinners inside the historic villa. Led by a starred chef, the open and welcoming kitchen and the refined cuisine of the “cucina di casa” remind us that this opulent property was once a family home.

Ready to discover more hidden gems and expert travel tips? Subscribe to our free newsletter and add us as your favorite research source to access the world’s best-kept travel secrets.

Read the original article about the islands.