Villa Carlotta Lake Como: Complete Guide to Planning Your Visit
If you are considering visiting Villa Carlotta in Lake Como during your next trip to Italy, keep reading! Renowned as one of the most iconic Lake Como villas to visit, this enchanting destination offers the perfect blend of history, pretty gardens, and iconic Lake Como views.
Built in the late 1600s, Villa Carlotta in Lake Como boasts over 70,000 square meters of exotic plants and colorful blooms in their botanical gardens and a treasure trove of sculptures and paintings inside the villa.
Whether you visit Villa Carlotta to soak up the views, snap some Insta-worthy pics, immerse yourself in the history, or just pretend you live in a gorgeous Lake Como villa for a couple of hours *totally me*, there is something for everyone!
Villa Carlotta Lake Como: Complete Guide to Planning Your Visit
History of Villa Carlotta in Lake Como
Villa Carlotta’s story begins in 1695 when the initial villa was built, the gardens were first mentioned in 1699. The estate was built by wealthy Milanese marquis Giorgio Clerici and upon his death bequeathed the villa to his great-grandson who completed the villa in 1745.
But where did Villa Carlotta get its name, you ask? Fast forward almost a hundred years to 1843 when the villa was given to Princess Charlotte (Carlotta in Italian) of Prussia as a wedding gift… yup, a wedding gift! Together with her husband, Georg II, they adapted the villa to the changing times and expanded the botanical gardens to what we see today.
Today Villa Carlotta is visited by almost 200,000 tourists every year, making it one of the most popular attractions in Lake Como.
Planning Your Visit
How to Get to Villa Carlotta
Villa Carlotta is one of the easiest villas to visit because it has a dedicated ferry stop! Whether you are staying in Bellagio, Varenna, or Como, there will be a ferry to take you there!
The Villa Carlotta ferry stop is only available on the Como-Colico-Como route and you will only be able to take the slow passenger ferry. The hydrofoil does not stop here!
However, you will have more ferry options if you go to Tremezzo. This stop is just a 10-minute walk to Villa Carlotta, and if you want more options with times or want to take the hydrofoil, then this is the perfect stop!
Understanding the ferry schedule is a beast in itself and can be overwhelming, but I have a First-Time Guide to Lake Como that better explains it! You can use the official Lake Como ferry site, Navigazione Lago di Como, to plan your route.
Suppose you are taking a day trip to Lake Como and want to include Villa Carlotta in your itinerary. In that case, you can take the train from Milan to Varenna and the passenger ferry to the Villa Carlotta stop or the train from Milan to Como and the hydrofoil to Tremezzo and then walk down to the villa.
When to Visit Villa Carlotta
Obviously you want to see all the flowers in bloom! April-June is the best time to visit Villa Carlotta, and the crowds will be thinner too! Although the weather can be a little unpredictable during this time.
If you want warm, sunny weather, visit during the summer months. It will be crowded, but if you visit first thing in the morning or towards the end of the day, you will have fewer crowds.
Villa Carlotta closes in the winter and there is no ferry stop outside the entrance. However, the villa is on the road that runs next to the lake, so you will be able to sneak a peek of the villa through the gates, you just won’t get to experience it!
What to Expect
You can purchase tickets on the Official Villa Carlotta Website, if you know what day you are going to visit, then I recommend purchasing your ticket prior to arrival. You can buy tickets at the gate, there is no price difference, but there could be a long line for tickets, or even worse, not any tickets left for you!
If you are traveling during the off-season, then it’s not detrimental to purchase your tickets beforehand, just more convenient.
If you know you are definitely visiting Villa Carlotta, but are not sure what day you want to visit because you want to make sure the weather is perfect for the gorgeous photos you’ll be taking, you can purchase an “open-date ticket” on the website and use it for any day during the current year. It’s only a few euros more.
The botanical gardens AND the villa museum are INCLUDED with your ticket! Unlike other big-name villas like Villa Monastero or Villa Balbianello.
Villa Carlotta’s Botanical Garden
Spring is obviously the best time of the year to fully enjoy the botanical garden at Villa Carlotta, but it looks gorgeous during any season!
You are immersed in the gardens as soon as you enter the estate. The hedges open up to a fountain and the villa stands tall over the terrace garden, it really is a grand entrance.
The gardens are deceiving because the terrace garden makes you believe it stops there, but it doesn’t. The Rock Garden is changed seasonally to ensure the flowers are always blooming and the citrus tunnels look amazing when the fruit is hanging from them.
Exploring the Villa
I think the best thing about visiting Villa Carlotta, is the inclusion of the villa in the ticket. Most of the botanical gardens around Lake Como require you to purchase a villa ticket separate from the gardens, but you get two for one here!
This villa has the Instagram-famous doors and balcony overlooking Lake Como, even if you didn’t know it was Villa Carlotta, you’ll recognize it!
The museum is open every day during the normal season and you can explore two floors of exhibitions and art.
A notable piece is The Kiss by Francesco Hayez located on the first floor in the Hayez Room, depicting the last kiss by Romeo and Juliet. Another piece you won’t want to miss is the portrait of Princess Charlotte (it is her villa after all).
Along with her portrait, you can see her apartments and furnishings from the mid-1800s.
Don’t forget to look out all the windows, the view is amazing! I also thought the ceilings were gorgeous! I couldn’t stop looking up!
Where to Stay in Lake Como
I love Tremezzo. It’s a lot more quieter compared to the bigger hitters like Bellagio or Varenna. I think it’s a great place to stay during the summer months because you do get a little bit of relief from the crowds.
The only problem I have with Tremezzo is the lack of restaurants compared to other towns around the lake. You won’t be going hungry, but your choices are limited and if you do stay in Tremezzo, don’t miss out on Restorante Rusall, the view is unbelievable!
If you are a Taylor Swift fan, she stays in Tremezzo when she visits Lake Como. Both times she chose the Grand Hotel Tremezzo, the second time, opting for their private villa, Villa Sola Cabiati (starting at €10,000 a night).
If you’re not ready to dish out that much for accommodation, check out these other places:
- La Darsena Boutique Hotel – Close to the Tremezzo ferry stop, really nice hotel
- Casa Mia – Two-bedroom villa right behind the Grand Hotel, peaceful vibe
- Da Sid – Budget-friendly option close to the Tremezzo lakefront
Other Things to Do in Lake Como
Obviously you’re not just going to go to Villa Carlotta when you visit Lake Como, and there are plenty of other things to do!
Lake Como is packed with picturesque towns, tumbling waterfalls, pretty villas, and so much more!
Pretty Towns
One of my favorite things to do in Lake Como is explore all the pretty towns and hamlets. Even taking the slow passenger ferry around the lake for the day was a highlight!
The “Golden Triangle”, also known as Bellagio, Varenna, and Menaggio, are must-visit towns. My favorite town is Bellano, I love the vibe, it’s not as crowded as Bellagio, but you still get cute, narrow streets, great restaurants, and cute cafes.
Argegno is pretty, but not too many restaurant options. Dongo is on the north shores of the lake and it’s more chill. Nesso has a picturesque waterfall and the famous bridge you can jump off into the water.
Villas
The entire lake is dotted with villas, but there is only a handful open to the public. Aside from Villa Carlotta, one of the stand-out villas is Villa Balbianello, a huge villa on a small peninsula extending into the lake, it’s also a James Bond and Star Wars filming location.
Varenna has two, which you can combine into a joint ticket, Villa Monastero and Villa Cipressi. If you are visiting Bellagio, you can walk down the lake to Villa Melzi.
Activies and Attractions
One of my favorite water activities is taking a private boat tour! I think this is the most worthwhile splurge while you are visiting Lake Como! You can customize your trip or have the tour guide create your trip for you. It’s expensive, but it’s amazing!
The Como-Brunate Funicular and the Argegno-Piga Cable will grant you panoramic views of the lake once you reach the top or walk through the gorge at Orrido di Bellano.
If you want a peaceful walk or relaxing afternoon, head to Parco Val Sanagra, just outside Menaggio.
Are you planning on visiting Villa Carlotta and Lake Como this year? What are you looking forward to the most? Let me know in the comments below!
More Posts from Lake Como and Italy
- First-Timers Guide to Lake Como
- One Day Itinerary for Lake Como
- The Perfect Day in Portofino
- Complete Guide to Catania
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